(May 1939)

DC, 1937 Series
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Price
0.10 USD
Pages
68
Indicia Frequency
monthly
On-sale Date
1939-03-30
Indicia / Colophon Publisher
Detective Comics Inc.
Link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detective_Comics_27
Editing
Vin Sullivan (editor)

Issue Notes

The on-sale date is the publication date reported in the U. S. Copyright Office filing.

Indicia:
DETECTIVE COMICS, published monthly by DETECTIVE COMICS, INC., 480 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y. Entered as second class matter at Post-Office, New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates: 12 issues by mail in the United States and its possessions, $1.20; elsewhere $2.20 The Publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material. Entire contents copyright 1939, by Detective Comics, Inc. For advertising rates, address Combined Publications, Inc., 125 East 46th Street, New York City. Western Office: Harley L. Ward, Inc., 360 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents)

The Batman / cover / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
Bob Kane (signed)
Inks
Bob Kane (signed)
Colors
?
Letters
typeset
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Starting this issue: The amazing and unique adventures of The Batman!
Genre
superhero
Characters
The Batman [Bruce Wayne]
Reprints
Keywords
bat rope; revolvers

Indexer Notes

Arlen Schumer has identified panel 5 of the January 17, 1937 Flash Gordon Sunday page by Alex Raymond as the source of Batman's pose.

Cover Thumbnail for Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #27
Edit cover
Cover gallery

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 1)

Crime Never Pays / cartoon / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Letters
?
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Bullets betray no less than fingerprints...
Genre
non-fiction
Characters
Helen Blixt; Luke May
Reprints
Keywords
forensic ballistics; habeas corpus

Indexer Notes

On the inside front cover. Seven separate panels.

The Case of the Chemical Syndicate (Table of Contents: 2)

Batman / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Bill Finger
Pencils
Bob Kane (signed as Rob't Kane)
Inks
Bob Kane (signed as Rob't Kane)
Colors
?
Letters
Bob Kane
First Line of Dialogue or Text
The home of Commissioner Gordon, who at the moment is entertaining his young socialite friend, Bruce Wayne.
Feature Logo
The Bat-Man
Genre
superhero
Characters
The Bat-Man [Bruce Wayne] (introduction); Commissioner James Gordon (introduction); Mr. Lambert (introduction, death); Mel Lambert (introduction); Lambert's son (unnamed in this story); unnamed Police Sergeant (introduction); Steven Crane (introduction, death); Crane's butler (introduction); Paul Rogers (introduction); Alfred Stryker (villain, introduction, death); Jennings (villain, introduction, Stryker's assistant)
Synopsis
In his first case, the Bat-Man investigates the murder of a chemical tycoon, discovering that one of his partners murdered him to steal the secret contracts that would leave him as the sole owner of the Apex Chemical Corporation.
Reprints
Keywords
Apex Chemical Corporation; New York City; Wayne Manor

Indexer Notes

Named "The Bat-Man" in the story.

According to Will Murray and Anthony Tollin, the November 1, 1936, Shadow novel Partners in Peril, written by Theodore Tinsley, was Bill Finger's inspiration for this story.

According to DSK of the Vallely Archives blog, and Robby Reed of the Dial H for Blog, the art in this issue is inspired by Henry Vallely's Gang Busters in Action (Big Little Book 1451) and Tom Lovell's art in Partners in Peril.

The Bat-Man's home city is not identified until Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #33, in which it is named New York City. Only in Batman (DC, 1940 series) #4, the name "Gotham City" was adopted.

This story has been revised and rebooted several times and it is retroactively said to be part of the universe Earth-Two.
- In Secret Origins (DC, 1986 series) #6, Roy Thomas wrote an expanded version of the story, tying it into the rest of Bruce Wayne's origins.
- In Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #387, Mike Friedrich wrote an Earth-One version of the story.
- In Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #627, Marv Wolfman and Alan Grant wrote two different Post-Crisis versions of the story.
- In Detective Comics (DC, 2011 series) #27, Brad Meltzer wrote a version that takes place in New 52 continuity.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 3)

Tenderfoot / comic story / 0.75 page (report information)

Script
Charles Biro ?
Pencils
Charles Biro (signed as Bipo [sic])
Inks
Charles Biro (signed as Bipo [sic])
Colors
?
Letters
?
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Good-night, boys - now don't forget your good deeds!
Genre
humor; children
Synopsis
A young boy scout discovers a lost youngster, attempts to help him find his way home, but gets lost in the process himself!
Reprints

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 4) (Expand) /

Rosati Accordions / advertisement / 0.25 page (report information)

The Killers of Kurdistan (Table of Contents: 5)

Speed Saunders, Ace Investigator / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Gardner Fox
Pencils
Fred Guardineer (credited)
Inks
Fred Guardineer (credited)
Colors
?
Letters
Fred Guardineer
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Well-- what's up?
Genre
detective-mystery
Characters
Speed Saunders; Tom (Trelawney's friend, death); Trelawney (death); Trelawney's maid; The Veiled Prophetress of the Killers of Kurdistan (villain); Killers of Kurdistan (villains, one dies)
Synopsis
Speed investigates the murder of two men, on one of whom the killers left the symbol of a red crescent. This is the symbol of the Kurdistan Killers, a sect that both men belonged to but refused to kill for.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit from Martin O'Hearn.

Bullet Bluff (Table of Contents: 6)

Buck Marshall, Range Detective / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Homer Fleming (credited as H. Fleming)
Pencils
Homer Fleming (credited as H. Fleming)
Inks
Homer Fleming (credited as H. Fleming)
Colors
? (red tones)
Letters
?
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Buck Marshall, Range Detective, loosens his six-gun in its holster as he hears the rapid tattoo of pony hoofs on the stony bottom of the valley trail--
Genre
adventure; western-frontier
Characters
Buck Marshall; The Sheriff; Matt Doyle (Box K Ranch worker); Jerry Kane (Box K Ranch owner, death); Pepper (Buck's horse); The Terror [Jack Stark] (villain)
Synopsis
Buck investigates the death of a ranch owner, in which a black empty cartridge is left behind as a clue to the killer.
Reprints
Keywords
Box K Ranch

Indexer Notes

Story printed in red, white and black only.

[The Mysterious Murders] (Table of Contents: 7)

Spy / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Jerry Siegel (credited)
Pencils
Wayne Boring (ghosted for Joe Shuster)
Inks
Wayne Boring (ghosted for Joe Shuster)
Colors
?
Letters
?
First Line of Dialogue or Text
A dinner is thrown into pandemonium when its guest of honor, Congressman Sneed, head of a commitee investigating unamerican activities clutches his side.
Genre
adventure; spy
Characters
Bart Regan; Congressman Sneed (death); Congressman Little (death); Congressman Booker; Congressman Stoker; unnamed spy (villain, death)
Synopsis
Bart investigates the deaths of members of a Committee on un-American activities that were killed by an explosive capsule hidden in their bananas.
Reprints

[Murder on the Oceanic Line Docks] (Table of Contents: 8)

The Crimson Avenger / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Jim Chambers ?
Pencils
Jim Chambers (credited)
Inks
Jim Chambers (credited)
Colors
?
Letters
?
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Feared by the underworld and hunted by the police, the Crimson carries on the work of befriending the helpless.
Genre
superhero
Characters
The Crimson Avenger [Lee Travis]; Wing; Abe Gold (night club owner, death); unnamed hospital nurse (death); Frank (villain); Mike Moran (villain); Mac; unnamed police chief
Synopsis
The Crimson Avenger tracks down a killer who murdered Abe Gold for welshing on a $100,000 bet.
Reprints

Death on the Airwaves (Table of Contents: 9)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script
Gardner Fox (credited as Paul Dean)
Pencils
Fred Guardineer
Inks
Fred Guardineer
Colors
?
Letters
typeset
First Line of Dialogue or Text
The large and spacious Studio A, of the Federal Broadcasting System, was filled with an appreciative audience.
Genre
crime
Characters
Richard Drew (death); President Benson; Captain Richard Byrne; Brian DeAngelo (villain); Elaine Rutland; Eddie Dorson
Synopsis
Captain Byrne tracks down a revengeful killer who was once spurned in regards to a radio audition.
Reprints
Keywords
Federal Broadcasting Company

Indexer Notes

Artist credits by Craig Delich. There are two illustrated advertisements found on the two pages: one for Daisy Air Rifles, the other by the Crowell Publishing Company.

[The New Orleans Mardi Gras Murder, Part 1] (Table of Contents: 10)

Bruce Nelson / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Tom Hickey (credited) (signed as TH)
Pencils
Tom Hickey (credited) (signed as TH)
Inks
Tom Hickey (credited) (signed as TH)
Colors
?
Letters
?
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Boy! New Orleans at Mardi Gras time. This is something I've always wanted to see.
Genre
adventure; detective-mystery
Characters
Bruce Nelson; Ed Lane (a detective); Lili Grauet (death)
Synopsis
Bruce begins his investigation of the death of a young woman due to black magic.
Reprints
Keywords
French Quarter; voodoo

Indexer Notes

Hickey also signed the story as "TH."

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 11)

The Mysterious Doctor Fu Manchu! / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script
Leo O'Mealia; Sax Rohmer (original author) (credited)
Pencils
Leo O'Mealia
Inks
Leo O'Mealia
Colors
?
Letters
typeset
First Line of Dialogue or Text
You would be a dead man now if it were not for your friend in China...
Genre
adventure; crime
Characters
Rev. J. D. Eltham; Greba Eltham; Sir Dennis Nayland Smith; Vernon Denby; Dr. Petrie; Dr. Fu Manchu (villain); Caesar (dog)
Synopsis
Fu Manchu attempts to kill Greba Eltham, all in an attempt to keep Rev. Eltham from going back to China.
Reprints
Keywords
Nan Yang; Redmoat

Indexer Notes

Artist credits from Craig Delich.

The strip appeared in newspapers in 1930 and 1931.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 12)

Flatfoot Flannigan / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script
Paul Gustavson (credited as Gustavson)
Pencils
Paul Gustavson (credited as Gustavson)
Inks
Paul Gustavson (credited as Gustavson)
Colors
?
Letters
Paul Gustavson
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Calling all cars -- calling all cars -- bank robbery on Main and Center Streets!
Genre
humor
Characters
Flannigan
Synopsis
Flannigan is sent out on a bank robbery, but stops for a red light so he won't get a ticket!
Reprints

Indexer Notes

All Gustavson credits verified and courtesy of Terry Gustafson, Paul Gustavson's son.

[Danzig Marks Anniversary] (Table of Contents: 13)

Stamp Collectors' Corner / text article / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Colors
?
Letters
typeset
First Line of Dialogue or Text
The Free City of Danzig, located about 250 miles from Berlin, has been a most important commercial city of central Europe for centuries, but at the moment its political importance is overshadowing all others claims of distinction.
Characters
Stephen Bathory
Reprints
Keywords
Nicaragua; Prussia

Indexer Notes

Page includes several small ads from stamps dealers.

[Illegal Aliens] (Table of Contents: 14)

Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Sven Elven ?
Pencils
Sven Elven
Inks
Sven Elven
Colors
? (red tones)
Letters
Sven Elven
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Cosmo is called to Immigration Headquarters.
Genre
adventure; crime
Characters
Cosmo [Fo Lee]; Carg (Immigration HQ official); Mike Donovan (Policeman); Yen Lo (villain); Kwan Joy Lo (villain)
Synopsis
Cosmo is placed on a case involving the illegal smuggling of Chinese into America.
Reprints
Keywords
Chinatown; Oshi Pai Shipping

Indexer Notes

Story printed in red, white and black only.

Letterer credit added by Craig Delich. Writer only wrote stories for Sven Elven, therefore assumed to be Sven Elven by writer identification expert, Martin O'Hearn.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 15)

Plain Clothes Pete / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script
Russell Cole (credited as Alger)
Pencils
Russell Cole (credited as Alger)
Inks
Russell Cole (credited as Alger)
Colors
?
Letters
Russell Cole
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Pete, Louie th' Louse is operatin' 'round here again!
Genre
humor; detective-mystery
Characters
Pete; Joe; Louie th' Louse (villain)
Synopsis
Pete and Joe try to discover the whereabouts of the hideout of notorious criminal Louie th' Louse.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit from Craig Delich.

[The Murderer on Vacation] (Table of Contents: 16)

Slam Bradley / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Script
Jerry Siegel (credited)
Pencils
Joe Shuster (credited)
Inks
Joe Shuster (credited)
Colors
?
Letters
?
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Out joy-riding, to relax from the tension of manhunting, Slam Bradley, tough private detective, and his partner pal, Shorty Morgan, find the ride no pleasure when a hurtling sedan forces them off the road, as it whizzes by at a terrific rate of speed!
Genre
detective-mystery
Characters
Slam Bradley; Shorty Morgan; Dick Kelly (death); Gale Dennis (villain); "Black Jack" Benson (villain); Nicky (villain); Helger Wetjen (villain)
Synopsis
Shorty and Slam help to find out the whereabouts of a Federal agent who disappeared after trailing an escaped felon to Switzerland.
Reprints
Keywords
skiing; Switzerland; toboggan

Indexer Notes

According to Alter Ego #112 (August 2012), Paul Cassidy did some art on this story.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 17) (Expand) /

All-American Comics; Movie Comics / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 18) (Expand) /

Johnson Smith & Co. / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Editing
Issue at my.comics.org
Related Scans
Series Information
Table of Contents
  1. 0. ["Starting this issue: The amazing and unique adventures of The Batman!"]
    The Batman
  2. 1. ["Bullets betray no less than fingerprints..."]
    Crime Never Pays
  3. 2. The Case of the Chemical Syndicate
    Batman
  4. 3. ["Good-night, boys - now don't forget your good deeds!"]
    Tenderfoot
  5. 4. ["John, Mildred and Frank are excused for orchestra reherseal."]
    Rosati Accordions
  6. 5. The Killers of Kurdistan
    Speed Saunders, Ace Investigator
  7. 6. Bullet Bluff
    Buck Marshall, Range Detective
  8. 7. [The Mysterious Murders]
    Spy
  9. 8. [Murder on the Oceanic Line Docks]
    The Crimson Avenger
  10. 9. Death on the Airwaves
  11. 10. [The New Orleans Mardi Gras Murder, Part 1]
    Bruce Nelson
  12. 11. ["You would be a dead man now if it were not for your friend in China..."]
    The Mysterious Doctor Fu Manchu!
  13. 12. ["Calling all cars -- calling all cars -- bank robbery on Main and Center Streets!"]
    Flatfoot Flannigan
  14. 13. [Danzig Marks Anniversary]
    Stamp Collectors' Corner
  15. 14. [Illegal Aliens]
    Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise
  16. 15. ["Pete, Louie th' Louse is operatin' 'round here again!"]
    Plain Clothes Pete
  17. 16. [The Murderer on Vacation]
    Slam Bradley
  18. 17. ["Thanks, boys and girls of America..."]
    All-American Comics; Movie Comics
  19. 18. [no title indexed]
    Johnson Smith & Co.
This issue was modified by, among others
  • Darci
  • Katie
  • Henry Andrews
  • Keith Chandler
  • Gordon Davie
  • Craig Delich
  • Lionel English
  • Gregory Fischer
  • Jochen G.
  • Del Gruber
  • Merlin Haas
  • Matthew Head
  • Jerry Hillegas (R.I.P.)
  • Bob Hughes
  • Edgar Loftin
  • R. S. Martin
  • Mike Nielsen
  • Matthew Peets
  • Antonio Pontes Junior
  • Mark Q
  • Tony R. Rose
  • Steven Samuels
  • Per Sandell
  • Jim Van Dore
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