My parents too were killed by a criminal. That's why I've devoted my life to exterminate them. 
- — Batman
Detective Comics #38 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 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 to pay 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:
Antagonists:
- Carter, the Electrical Assassin (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Nell Johnson (Single appearance; dies)
- Chick Cavenaugh (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
- Carter Laboratories
Items:
- Carter's Lightning Machine
Synopsis for Red Logan: "Dr. Hydkil"
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:
- Red Logan (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Ivan
Antagonists:
- Dr. Hydkil (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Archie
Synopsis for The Crimson Avenger: "The Phoney Jewel Robbery"
Some gem thieves and some insurance fraudsters co-operate to defraud some insurance companies out of a lot of money. The Crimson Avenger finds out about this racket and shuts it down.
Appearing in The Crimson Avenger: "The Phoney Jewel Robbery"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Duprey (Single appearance)
- Joe Scalponi (Single appearance)
- "Gimpy" Malone (Single appearance)
- Mike (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Mac
Locations:
- New York City
- Globe Leader, newspaper office
- Globe Leader, newspaper office
Synopsis for Speed Saunders: "The Kidnapped Singer"
Appearing in Speed Saunders: "The Kidnapped Singer"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- "Lora de Thiessi's fiance" {imposter}
Other Characters:
- Lora de Thiessi
- Pilot
Locations:
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
Antagonists:
- Butch Smaltz (Single appearance)
- Crooked Police Commissioner (Single appearance)
- Spot (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Chief Runyon
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. Cliff fights a cobra, and a polar bear, the jaw 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.
Appearing in Cliff Crosby: "At the Arctic Circle"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Dr. Broussard
Antagonists:
- Sabu (Single appearance)
- Sengi (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Aga (Single appearance)
- tribe of Africans
Locations:
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:
Notes
- Published by Detective Comics, Inc.
- This issue is reprinted in its entirety in Millennium Edition: Detective Comics #38.
- The Cliff Crosby story never does explain how or why that whole tribe of Africans got to the Arctic.
- First issue for Red Logan by Ken Ernst. This feature would run until Detective Comics #43.
- "Robin the Boy Wonder" is reprinted in Batman Archives, Volume 1, Batman: From the Thirties to the Seventies, Batman Chronicles, Volume 1, Secret Origins (Volume 1) #7 and Robin, The Boy Wonder: A Celebration of 75 Years.
- Aspects of the Robin costume and even his name are drawn from Robinson's childhood favourite, 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.
- First issue for Dennis Neville art on Slam Bradley.
Trivia
- 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.
- It's a tough month for bears in Adventure AND Detective Comics this month, with Hourman, Cotton Carver, and now Cliff Crosby killing one bear apiece.
- This same month, over in Adventure Comics, Cotton Carver is also in the Arctic.
See Also
Links and References
- Read Slam Bradley: "The Big Fire" online.
Look at how sad this is making Batman. You did this.