You used a trick to solve my puzzle! It isn't fair! 
Detective Comics #142 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 1948.
Synopsis for Batman: "Crime's Puzzle Contest"
The Riddler is revealed to have survived his last encounter with Batman and Robin. They believed that he drowned, but he actually swam through a storm-drain pipe and escaped. There is an award ceremony held by a national puzzle club. The Riddler traps them in one of his puzzles, declares himself the deserving winner, and steals all of their cash prizes.
The Riddler holds a contest.
This gives him an idea, and he decides to use a puzzle contest for his next crimes.
The Riddler uses lit-up windows in a skyscraper to announce his contest. Batman and Robin find him in the switchboard room. He has turned the floor into jigsaw pieces, and he escapes while they fall through. The citizens of Gotham go wild trying to win the Riddler's cash prizes. The answer to the first riddle is "cart-heater," and they follow this to the drive-in which is a "car theater." There is a huge crowd trying to win the prize, which allows the Riddler to escape Batman and Robin. The prize was $1,000 but the Riddler was able to steal $5,000.
The Riddler's next clue is a blimp towing a rebus puzzle. Batman attacks the blimp with the Batplane, but the Riddler destroys his own vessel and escapes by parachute. Robin is able to stop the blimp from crashing into the city. The rebus spells out "rainbow club," so they follow the Riddler to a nightclub robbery. Batman uses a batarang to stop the robbery. However, the Riddler is once again able to escape through the crowd caused by his contest.
Batman uses a batarang.
The Riddler knocks out a newscaster on live television to reveal his next crime. He does a charade routine, leading Batman and Robin to the Gotham Museum. The Riddler steals Egyptian jewels while a crowd outside clamors to get in so they can win his prize. Realizing he cannot escape, the Riddler hides inside a Sphinx statue until it is safe to leave. Batman arrives to investigate and immediately looks at the Sphinx. The Riddler tries to crush Batman and Robin by pushing the statue over, then he runs into the hall of mirrors. Batman figures out that a reflection is always reversed, so he tackles the only Riddler without a backwards question mark. The Riddler is tied up with a Gordian knot so he can be taken to prison.
Appearing in Batman: "Crime's Puzzle Contest"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Drive-in Theater
- Gotham Harbor
- Gotham Museum
- Rainbow Club
- Wayne Manor
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Slam Bradley: "The Farmer in the Till"
Appearing in Slam Bradley: "The Farmer in the Till"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Shorty Morgan
- Uriah Strawhat (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Mugs Mulligan (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Robotman: "The Robot Bandit"
Appearing in Robotman: "The Robot Bandit"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Joshua Lloyd (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Doc Sparks (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Smithers (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Boy Commandos: "The Mystery of Secret X"
Appearing in Boy Commandos: "The Mystery of Secret X"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Profsesor Vanners (Single appearance)
- Killer Arnie Benet (Single appearance)
- Big Jack Bellaire (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- Crime's Puzzle Contest is reprinted in:
- The Boy Commandos appeared last in World's Finest #37. They appear next in Boy Commandos #31.
- "Crime's Puzzle Contest" is considered to be an early Earth-One Batman story, because The Riddler is an Earth-One character without an Earth-Two counterpart.
See Also
Recommended Reading
Links and References
Look at how sad this is making Batman. You did this.