Detective Comics #138

(August 1948)

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

Kodak / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

The Invisible Crimes! (Table of Contents: 2)

Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Finger ?

Pencils

Dick Sprang

Inks

Dick Sprang

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Dr. Walter Timmin (scientist, introduction); Monty Laird (sports promoter, introduction); Mr. Stacy (magnate, introduction); Mr. Morse (shipping magnate, introduction); The Joker [also as J. O. Kerr] (villain); Joker's gang (villains)

Synopsis

The Joker follows up an article in the newspaper about a scientist discovering a lost elixir of invisibility and becomes a real terror to Batman until the crime fighter takes some of the elixir himself.

Reprints

• in Detective Comics (National Comics Publications of Canada Ltd, 1948 series) #138 (October-November 1948)
• in Batman Archives (DC, 1990 series) #7 (2007 [January 2008])
• in Batman: The Golden Age Omnibus (DC, 2015 series) #6 (2018 [February 2019])

Keywords

Batmobile; belt radio; Gotham City; Laird Ballpark; Second Bank

Indexer Notes

Pencil credit verified by Sprang. Inker credit verified by Craig Delich; we previously suggested Howard Sherman or Gene McDonald.

Splash somewhat replicates the cover.

Bob Elliott (Table of Contents: 3) (Expand) /

Wheaties / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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

Bazooka / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

The Inside Story of Robotman! (Table of Contents: 5)

Robotman / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Otto Binder

Pencils

Jimmy Thompson

Inks

Jimmy Thompson

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Robotman [Robert Crane; aka Paul Dennis]

Reprints

• in World's Finest Comics (DC, 1941 series) #208 (December 1971)

Indexer Notes

Origin retold. Series continues from Star-Spangled Comics.

Script credit from Martin O'Hearn.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 6) (Expand) /

Tootsie Roll / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 7) (Expand) /

Scribbly / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Shorty Meets the Champ! (Table of Contents: 8)

Slam Bradley / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Howard Sherman

Inks

Howard Sherman

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

detective-mystery

Characters

Slam Bradley; Shorty Morgan

Reprints

• in Detective Comics (National Comics Publications of Canada Ltd, 1948 series) #138 (October-November 1948)

Indexer Notes

Inker credit verified by Craig Delich; we previously credited John Daly.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 9)

Shorty / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Henry Boltinoff

Pencils

Henry Boltinoff (signed)

Inks

Henry Boltinoff (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

Henry Boltinoff

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Just what I need -- An afternoon of rest!

Genre

humor

Characters

Shorty

Reprints

• in Detective Comics (National Comics Publications of Canada Ltd, 1948 series) #138 (October-November 1948)
• in Superboy (DC, 1949 series) #46 (January 1956)
• in Aquaman (DC, 1962 series) #24 (November-December 1965)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 10) (Expand) /

Monark Super Deluxe / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Everything You Want in a Magazine! (Table of Contents: 11) (Expand) /

Gang Busters; Mr. District Attorney / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Secret Codes Can Be Fun! (Table of Contents: 12)

text article / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Henry Lysing (credited)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

non-fiction

The Mystery of the Mary Celeste II! (Table of Contents: 13)

The Boy Commandos / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

Steve Brodie

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

adventure; war

Characters

The Boy Commandos [Rip Carter; Brooklyn [Dan Turpin]; Andre Chavard; Tex]

Reprints

• in Detective Comics (National Comics Publications of Canada Ltd, 1948 series) #138 (October-November 1948)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 14) (Expand) /

Daydream Mike and His Wonderful Bike!; Columbia / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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

Daffy & Doodle / comic story / 0.5 page (report information)

Script

Lit-Win

Pencils

Lit-Win

Inks

Lit-Win

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Eyow-w!

Genre

humor

Characters

Daffy; Doodle

Reprints

• in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (DC, 1954 series) #17 (December 1956)

Editorial Advisory Board (Table of Contents: 16) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.5 page (report information)

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

Dale Evans Comics / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Duel in the Sand (Table of Contents: 18) (Expand) /

Adventures of "R. C." and Quickie; Royal Crown Cola / advertisement / 1 page (report information)