Detective Comics #41 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 1940.
Synopsis for Batman & Robin: "The Masked Menace of the Boys' School"
After learning of a mysterious murder, Dick Grayson decides to enroll in an all-boys school where the murder took place. Just then, a boy goes missing. Dick learns that the suspected culprit was an escapee from an insane asylum. During his investigations as Robin, he comes across a masked figure, but he can't capture the criminal.
Some time later, Robin finally finds the insane fugitive and captures him. However, the case is not yet solved as the headmaster of the school, Blake, turns up dead in his office. Robin soon realizes that the murderer is actually Graves, the art teacher at the boys' school. Robin then finds the missing boy and captures Graves and his men with some help from Batman.
Appearing in Batman & Robin: "The Masked Menace of the Boys' School"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Mister Blake (Single appearance; dies) (a counterfeiter)
- Mister Graves (Single appearance) (a counterfeiter)
Other Characters:
- Gotham City Police Department
- Greer (Single appearance)
- Hodges (Single appearance)
- Ted Spencer (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Blake's Boys' School
Items:
Synopsis for Bart Regan, Spy: "Norman Novaney"
Appearing in Bart Regan, Spy: "Norman Novaney"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Norman Novaney, notorious international spy
- many hench
Locations:
- Military Research Building
- Waterfront and Harbor
- U.S. Spy Headquarters
Vehicles:
- Taxi, with running boards
- Motorboat
- Yacht
Synopsis for Red Logan, Ace Reporter: "Bugsie Goron"
Bugsie Goron is tried and convicted, and sentenced to be executed on June 16th. He raves and threatens to return from the dead to get revenge. At the scheduled time, he's electrocuted. That very evening Goron appears in the home of the convicting jury's foreman, shoots him twice, and vanishes. At a Bar Association banquet, Goron appears again, and guns down the prosecuting attorney.
Red Logan is assigned to look into this, and his review of the paper's old stories about Bugsie Goron shows that for all his many murders, Goron always had a perfect alibi. From this, Red eventually figures out that Bugsie Goron had a twin, who is now carrying out the murders. At the probable next victim's home, Red and Ivan set an ambush, and catch the "ghost killer."
Appearing in Red Logan, Ace Reporter: "Bugsie Goron"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- "Chief", Editor
- Ivan (Final appearance)
Antagonists:
- Bugsie Goron, gangster (Dies)
- John Goron, murderer
Other Characters:
- Judge Carter
- Evans, his butler
- John Cook, Jury Foreman (Dies)
- District Attorney Plavin (Dies)
- twin blonde ladies
Locations:
- New York City (See Notes.)
- Courthouse
- Prison
- "Times-Courier" office
- City Hall
- Judge Carter's Residence
Synopsis for The Crimson Avenger is "Wanted For Murder"
At midnight on the waterfront, criminals are loading cargo onto trucks when two policemen stop by to confront them. The criminals discard their cargo, and shoot one cop, before fleeing on a boat. Soon the Crimson Avenger emerges, and approaches one of the crates left behind by the smugglers. He opens it, to find a dead body inside. Suddenly, the police arrive, find the dead cop, see the cloaked vigilante, and draw all the wrong conclusions. But the Avenger makes it to his waiting car, and is driven away by Wing How.
The next day, at the Globe-Leader, Mac the editor gives Lee Travis the publisher his headlines for the day, one of them being about the Crimson's encounter with the police. Lee instructs Mac to find more news on this story. As soon as he's gone, Lee phones Wing, and sends him to Chinatown, to visit his relatives and ask them if they know anything about the smuggling ring. This pays off, and that night Crimson and Wing prepare to raid the smugglers' hideout. While stealthily approaching the place, they are jumped and captured, by some of the same gang. The boss decides that the two vigilantes need to be killed, so he pulls out a sword and prepares to execute them both. But the Crimson has already pulled out a lighter, and burns off the rope, and dodges the sword stroke, then kicks the boss with both feet. Once free, Crimson pulls out his gas gun and sprays the criminals, then frees Wing. Crimson directs Wing to tie up the criminals and inform the police.
The next day, the headline of the Globe-Leader newspaper reads: "CRIMSON NABS GANG."
Appearing in The Crimson Avenger is "Wanted For Murder"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Wing
- Mac, editor
Antagonists:
- Smugglers (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Mac
- New York City Police Department
- Mike (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
- New York City
- Globe Leader, newspaper office
- Waterfront
- Chinatown
Synopsis for Speed Saunders, Ace Investigator: "The Railroad Mystery"
Appearing in Speed Saunders, Ace Investigator: "The Railroad Mystery"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- gang
Other Characters:
- Dick
Locations:
Synopsis for Steve Malone: "The Incan Murder"
Appearing in Steve Malone: "The Incan Murder"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Atala D'esta (Incan worshipper)
Other Characters:
- Doctor Drake
- Soames, art dealer
Locations:
Synopsis for Cliff Crosby: "The Invisible Man"
An invisible murderer is at large in New York City. Cliff Crosby defeats him.
Appearing in Cliff Crosby: "The Invisible Man"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Inspector Doyle
Antagonists:
- The Invisible Man (Doctor Ellis) (Single appearance)
Locations:
Synopsis for Slam Bradley: "The Heiress"
Appearing in Slam Bradley: "The Heiress"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Mister Clayton
Other Characters:
- Lucille Danvers
Locations:
Notes
- Published by Detective Comics, Inc.
- Batman: "The Masked Menace of the Boys School" is reprinted in Batman Archives, Volume 1 and Batman Chronicles Vol 2.
- This is the first Robin solo story.
- First issue, of Detective Comics, for Ed Winiarski art on Red Logan. Winiarski also wrote and drew this feature in More Fun Comics #s 31 ~ 37, 39, & 40.
- Starting this issue, Red and Ivan are back in the USA, after many adventures in London.
- After this issue, Ivan no longer appears nor is mentioned.