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"The Batman: "The Return of Doctor Death"": Bruce Wayne reads in the newspaper about a wealthy man named Mr. Jones who died under mysterious circumstances. The corpse turned purple. Bruce Wayne recognizes this as the work of [[Karl Hellfern (New Earth)|Doctor Death]

Quote1 There is a sickening snap as the Cossack's neck breaks under the mighty pressure of the Batman's boot! Quote2
Narrator

Detective Comics #30 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1939. It was published on June 30, 1939.

Synopsis for The Batman: "The Return of Doctor Death"

Bruce Wayne reads in the newspaper about a wealthy man named Mr. Jones who died under mysterious circumstances. The corpse turned purple. Bruce Wayne recognizes this as the work of Doctor Death, whom he had believed to be dead. Bruce visits Mrs. Jones, who explains that her husband was being blackmailed by Doctor Death. They lost their money in the depression, so Mrs. Jones is going to hand over her diamond heirlooms.

Bruce suits up as the Batman, and prepares to face Doctor Death a second time. He stores gas vials in his belt in case he needs them. The Batman breaks into the Jones estate, and opens their safe.

Doctor Death is indeed still alive, but horribly disfigured by severe burns. His henchman is a burly Cossack named Mikhail. Death sends Mikhail to steal the Jones' diamonds, and the Batman is waiting for him. Mikhail finds the safe open, which makes it easier for the Batman to trail him home. Mrs. Jones interrupts them and Batman is forced to knock Mikhail out. He throws Mikhail out the window, so the big Cossack will wake up and think he got free. The Batman revives the fainted Mrs. Jones, and trails Mikhail to the Ivan Herd Pawn Shop. Mikhail leaves after fencing the diamonds, and returns to his apartment. The Batman climbs up the side of his building, using his rope, and drops down through a skylight. He breaks into Mikhail's bedroom and uses the choking gas to make sure Mikhail stays asleep. But Mikhail recovers, and points a gun at the Batman, who leaps out the window, then swings back around with his rope. Mikhail sticks his head out the window, and the Batman breaks Mikhail's neck by kicking him in the head.

The Batman returns to Ivan Herd's pawn shop to recover the diamonds. He swings in through the window and confronts Ivan Herd, who recognizes him and tries to run, but the Batman catches him with his lasso. It's revealed that Ivan Herd was actually Doctor Death in disguise. He wore a skin mask, to disguise the fact that his face was destroyed in the fire. The Batman leaves Doctor Death tied up for the police. The police are surprised to find the jewels recovered and a note explaining their rightful owner.

Appearing in The Batman: "The Return of Doctor Death"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Mrs. Jones (Single appearance)

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • NYPD
  • Jabah (Mentioned only)

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

  • Bruce Wayne's Specially-Built, High-Powered, Red Roadster


Synopsis for Buck Marshall: "Finger of Doom"


Appearing in Buck Marshall: "Finger of Doom"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Pepper
  • Sheriff

Antagonists:

  • Slade (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Morgan (Single appearance)
  • Vail (Single appearance; dies)

Locations:

Synopsis for Bart Regan, Spy: "The Dictator of the United States"

An unnamed evil genius invents a mind control machine, and uses it to manipulate politicians, in order to take control of the nation for himself. Bart Regan figures out what's going on, finds the villain, and defeats him.

Appearing in Bart Regan, Spy: "The Dictator of the United States"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

  • mad scientist

Other Characters:

  • Senator Kingsley
  • Jack Steele
  • Ray Gordon

Items:

Synopsis for Larry Steele: "The Old Man and the Kidnappers"


Appearing in Larry Steele: "The Old Man and the Kidnappers"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Pops (Single appearance)
  • Son (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Doctor (Single appearance)
  • Nurse (Single appearance)

Synopsis for Speed Saunders: "The Crossbow Mystery"


Appearing in Speed Saunders: "The Crossbow Mystery"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Chief of Police

Antagonists:

  • Nancy Jones
  • Gardener Ted

Other Characters:

  • Butler (Single appearance; dies)
  • Dustin Rhodes (Appears only as a corpse)

Locations:

Synopsis for Bruce Nelson: "The Tea Racketeers"


Appearing in Bruce Nelson: "The Tea Racketeers"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Yan Lee (Single appearance)

Antagonists:

  • Risin Sun Inc. (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Sam Wong (Single appearance)
  • Billie Bryson

Synopsis for Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise: "The Imperial Insurance Swindle"


Appearing in Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise: "The Imperial Insurance Swindle"

Featured Characters:

  • Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise

Supporting Characters:

  • Inspector Grey

Antagonists:

  • Gene Clausen (Single appearance)
  • Clausen's man (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Captain Midland (Single appearance)
  • Captain Alvarez (Single appearance)

Synopsis for Slam Bradley: "The Granville Insane Asylum"


Appearing in Slam Bradley: "The Granville Insane Asylum"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Dr. Granville (Single appearance)
  • Granville's men (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Gloria Travers (Single appearance)
  • Officer Kelly

Locations:

Notes

  • Published by Detective Comics, Inc.
  • Bart Regan: Sally Norris again does not appear in this issue's story.
  • The Batman: "The Return of Doctor Death"
    • This story is partially reprinted in Batman Archives, Volume 1 and Batman Chronicles, Volume 1.
    • First modifications in the Batsuit: more pointed bat ears.
    • This issue marks the final appearance of Doctor Death until Batman #345, March 1982. It should be noted however, that the latter Dr. Death is a reimagined version of the one who appeared during the Golden Age.
    • "Gotham City" hasn't been named yet, and subsequent Batman stories, including Detective Comics #33, identify his home town as New York City. This continues until Batman #4, Dec 1940.
    • This story takes place "about a week" after Batman's first encounter with Dr. Death, in Detective Comics #29.
    • Batman breaks Mikhail's neck.
  • Last issue for Will Ely on Larry Steele. Next issue Ken Ernst begins.
  • Also featured in this issue of Detective Comics was:

Trivia

  • Bruce Wayne keeps his Batman costume in a chest, in the living room, at Wayne Manor.


See Also

Recommended Reading

Links and References

Batman 0585
DC Bullet 2024

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