Detective Comics #38 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 1940. It was published on March 6, 1940.
Synopsis for Batman and "Robin the Boy Wonder"
When the owner of a traveling circus, named Mr. Haly, is confronted by thugs, they ask Mr. Haly to pay a "fine," but He refuses and as a result, his bestselling attraction, the Flying Graysons, are killed "accidentally" while performing that night. The Graysons' young son, Dick, overhears an incriminating conversation between Blade, the killer, and his employer Boss Zucco. Dick plans to call the police, but Batman, who has attended the show as the millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, takes in Dick Grayson, instead of immediately pursuing the thugs. Batman trains Dick, already an excellent acrobat, how to become a crime-fighter. When a period of training is over, Dick is given a red, green, and yellow costume and adopts the identity of Robin, the Boy Wonder.
Dick debuts as Batman's sidekick, and the Dynamic Duo hunt down the extortion gang, and their leader, Boss Zucco. Zucco's new plan is to demolish a skyscraper construction site (the Canin Building), but Robin and Batman defeat the gang in a dangerous battle on the high girders, during which Robin uses a sling to knock one thug off a steel beam and kicks a second gunman off another girder. Zucco is recorded by Robin in the act of pushing Blade to his death and this evidence is given to the police, leading to Zucco's conviction for murder. In the end, Robin vows to be Batman's partner against crime.
Appearing in Batman and "Robin the Boy Wonder"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Boss Zucco (First appearance)
- Zucco's bodyguards and enforcers: Blade (Dies), others (two more die)
Other Characters:
- Flying Graysons
- John Grayson (First appearance) (Dies)
- Mary Grayson (First appearance) (Dies)
- Mister Haley (First appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for Bart Regan, Spy: "The Electrical Assassin"
An insane electrical scientist develops a machine that can hit targets with lightning. Bart Regan puts him out of action, and the War Department takes control of the lightning machine.
Appearing in Bart Regan, Spy: "The Electrical Assassin"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Bart's Boss
- Secret Service Forensic Scientist
Antagonists:
- Carter, the Electrical Assassin (wears a monocle) (Single appearance; dies)
- Nell Johnson (Single appearance; dies)
- gunman (Dies)
Other Characters:
- Senator Clayton (Mentioned only) (Dies)
- Chick Cavenaugh, Secret Service (Single appearance; dies)
- cab driver
Locations:
- Washington, D.C.
- U.S. Secret Service Headquarters
- Bart's Apartment
- Carter Laboratories
Items:
- Carter's Lightning Machine
Vehicles:
- Bart's Sedan (Destroyed)
- Carter's Limousine (Destroyed)
Synopsis for Red Logan: "Dr. Hydkil"
In London, Dr. Hydkil is insanely seeking to use the blood of living people to resurrect the dead, and commits a series of murders which are made to appear like vampire attacks. Red Logan investigates, and puts an end to Hydkil's menace.
Appearing in Red Logan: "Dr. Hydkil"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Ivan (First appearance)
- Inspector Enright (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Dr. Hydkil (Single appearance)
- Gluko, assistant (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Officer Simpson
- Officer Mitchell
- Archie, at the Times Courier
- Prominent London Surgeon
- Receptionist
- Cab Driver
Locations:
- London
- Enright's flat
- London Daily Mail Building
- "Times-Courier" office
- lodging house
- old and deserted part of town
- Hydkil's Residence
- Hydkil's Residence
Synopsis for The Crimson Avenger: "The Phoney Jewel Robbery"
Some gem thieves and some insurance fraudsters co-operate to defraud an insurance company out of a lot of money. The Crimson Avenger finds out about this racket, and corners the gang in their own hideout. He gets his gas gun knocked out of his hands, but out-fist-fights the gang, then gases them, carries them away, and dumps them on the sidewalk in front of a police station.
Appearing in The Crimson Avenger: "The Phoney Jewel Robbery"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Wing
- Mac, Ace Reporter
Antagonists:
- Mr. Duprey (wears a monocle)
- Mrs. Duprey
- Joe Scalponi
- "Gimpy" Malone, thug
- Mike, thug
Other Characters:
- Meadows, Dupre's butler
- Police Chief
- Officer Mike
Locations:
- New York City
- Opera House
- Globe-Leader, newspaper office
- Duprey Mansion
- Police Station
- Scalponi's Country Hideout
Vehicles:
- Travis' Limousine
Synopsis for Speed Saunders: "The Kidnaped Singer"
Appearing in Speed Saunders: "The Kidnaped Singer"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- "Lora de Thiessi's fiance" aka "The Gull" {imposter}
Other Characters:
- Lora de Thiessi, Torch Singer
- her maid
- Speed's Theatre Date
- Jim, theatre worker
- Marie, theatre worker
- Police Captain
- Jim, Airport Manager / Pilot
- Charter Pilot
Locations:
- New York City
- Social Theatre
- Police Headquarters
- Miss de Thiessi's residence
- New York City Area
- The Hangforth Dunes
- West Beach Airport
Vehicles:
- Miss de Thiessi's big black car
- Jim's pursuit plane
- Chartered passenger plane
Synopsis for Steve Malone: "The Gambler's Protector"
A gang of gambling racketeers are being protected by corrupt city officials, including the Police Commissioner, until District Attorney Steve Malone takes them down.
Appearing in Steve Malone: "The Gambler's Protector"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Happy, assistant
Antagonists:
- Butch Smaltz, Racket Boss (Single appearance)
- his gang: Spot, others
- Police Commissioner (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Police Chief Runyon
Locations:
- Police HQ
- City Harbor
Vehicles:
- Commissioner's Yacht
- Yacht's Launch
- Yacht's Launch
Synopsis for Cliff Crosby: "At the Arctic Circle"
Cliff Crosby and Dr. Broussard go exploring in the Arctic Circle. They encounter a traveling tribe of African people, who have got a serum that protects them from the cold. The tribe is led by a usurper, who has forced them to migrate to this location, for a reason that is never stated. Cliff fights a cobra, and a pair of polar bears, the neck of one of which he breaks with his bare hands. Cliff also helps sort out a tribal problem about who is the rightful king of the tribe. Everybody parts on friendly terms. Crosby and Broussard return to the U.S. via dog sled.
Appearing in Cliff Crosby: "At the Arctic Circle"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Sabu, usurper (Single appearance; dies)
- Sengi, executioner (Single appearance)
- more knife men
Other Characters:
- Dr. Broussard
- Aga, Rightful King (Single appearance)
- tribe of Africans
Animals:
- two brown polar bears
- one cobra
- one dog sled team
Locations:
- Arctic Circle
- Aga's Tribe's Mountain
- "Safe House" Castle
- Aga's Tribe's Mountain
Vehicles:
- Broussard's airplane (abandoned, crashed)
Items:
- African cold-resistance serum
Synopsis for Slam Bradley: "The Big Fire"
While on their way to a wrestling match, Slam Bradley and Shorty Morgan overhear a police radio call which leads them to an apartment building fire. There they encounter the building's janitor, valiantly rescuing residents, and dash inside to look for more of them. Shorty has some bad luck rescuing one frightened tot, and they both are trapped inside a very large refrigerator. Slam looks for him, and finds them just in time. But then they hear young crippled Tommy Crane on an upper floor; he can't jump so Slam and Shorty do a ladder-climbing, rope-swinging, window-smashing, skylight-climbing rescue, and along the way they find some evidence indicating how the fire got started. Also, Slam gets his hands cut up quite badly on some broken glass. After all the residents are rescued, based on the evidence from upstairs, Slam accuses the janitor of starting the fire; the janitor pulls a gun on him, confirming that suspicion, but Slam and Shorty take him down and turn him over to the police. Afterward, the grateful firemen rush Slam and Shorty to the wrestling match, in a firetruck.
Appearing in Slam Bradley: "The Big Fire"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Janitor
Other Characters:
- Tommy Crane (Single appearance)
- other apartment residents
- firemen and policemen
Locations:
- New York City
- 607 Blackmer Street
- Diner, nearby
Notes
- Published monthly by Detective Comics, Inc.
- This issue is reprinted in its entirety in:
- Batman:
- "Robin the Boy Wonder" is reprinted in:
- Batman Archives Vol 1
- Batman: From the 30's to the 70's
- Batman Chronicles Vol 1
- Secret Origins #7
- Robin, the Boy Wonder: A Celebration of 75 Years
- Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman: The Deluxe Edition
- Detective Comics: Batman 80th Anniversary Giant #1
- Robin: 80 Years of the Boy Wonder: The Deluxe Edition
- Aspects of the Robin costume and even his name are drawn from Jerry Robinson's childhood favorite hero, Robin Hood.
- Three thugs are knocked off a tall building, apparently to their deaths, by Robin, in the story's final battle.
- Robin's debut story was later adapted on the episode Robin's Reckoning from Batman: The Animated Series. His origins were also adapted in the movie Batman Forever.
- Robin appears next in Detective Comics #39, then in Batman #1.
- Batman appeared last in Detective Comics Vol 1 37, and appears next in Detective Comics #39, then in Batman #1.
- "Robin the Boy Wonder" is reprinted in:
- Cliff Crosby gets head-konked unconscious with a blunt weapon.
- Cliff kills two brown polar bears, one with a thrown icicle and one with a wrestling hold. He later kills a cobra with a slammed door.
- The story never does explain why that whole tribe of Africans marched to the Arctic. It was Sabu's idea, and he's dead.
- King Aga gives Cliff Crosby a copy of the secret formula for living in Arctic conditions. This formula is never seen or mentioned again.
- First issue of Detective Comics for Red Logan by Ken Ernst. This feature had earlier appeared in More Fun Comics, and would run until Detective Comics #43.
- First issue for Dennis Neville art on Slam Bradley.
- The 2nd panel of the 1st page has a police radio call for "Radio-Car K-7." This was the vehicle typically assigned to NYPD officers Sandy Keene and Larry Trent of New York's famous Radio Squad, currently appearing monthly in More Fun Comics, by Jerry Siegel and Chad Grothkopf. This would seem to establish New York City as Slam and Shorty's base of operations; earlier in this series they lived and worked in Cleveland, Ohio.
- The title of the Speed Saunders story, as published, was "The Kidnaped Singer," so even though that's wrong, it's accurate.
- Speed and his date, whose name we're not told, are formally attired in tuxedo and evening gown, at the Social Theatre. Whoever she is, she routinely interviews entertainers, seemingly professionally.
- Speed has a hunch, says so, asks the Police Captain for permission to take charge of the kidnap investigation, and receives it, just like that.
- Speed jumps from one moving airplane to another in mid-air.
- Steve Malone gets head-konked unconscious, with a belaying pin.
- Also appearing in this issue of Detective Comics were:
- Detective Stamp Page: "Phono-Post Stamps" (text article)
- Detective Comics Monthly Book Review No. 1: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson (text article)
- "Uncle Otto"
- "The Case of the Vanishing Train" (text story), by John Randall
- "Six Big Headline Features for the "Big Six" Comic Magazines!" (full page ad, same copy and art as last month's ad, for the current issues of Action, Adventure, All-American, Detective, Flash, and More Fun Comics)
Trivia
- Bart Regan kills the fleeing sniper, shooting him so he falls off a building. Also the lightning machine is definitely turned over to the War Department.
- It's a tough month for bears in Adventure AND Detective Comics this month, with Hourman and Cotton Carver killing one bear apiece, and now Cliff Crosby killing two more.
- This same month, over in Adventure Comics, Cotton Carver is also in the Arctic.
See Also