| Issue | #27 |
| Published | May 1939 |
| Cover Price | 0.10 |
| Pages | 68 |
| Editing | Vincent Sullivan |
| Notes | Indicia: DETECTIVE COMICS, published monthly by DETECTIVE COMICS, INC., 480 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y. Entered as second class matter at Post-Office, New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates: 12 issues by mail in the United States and its possessions, $1.20; elsewhere $2.20 The Publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material. Entire contents copyright 1939, by Detective Comics, Inc. For advertising rates, address Combined Publications, Inc., 125 East 46th Street, New York City. Western Office: Harley L. Ward, Inc., 360 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill. |
| Characters | Batman [Bruce Wayne] |
| Genre | superhero |
| Pencils | Bob Kane |
| Inks | Bob Kane |
| Letters | typeset |
| Notes | Indicia: DETECTIVE COMICS, published monthly by DETECTIVE COMICS, INC., 480 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y. Entered as second class matter at Post-Office, New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates: 12 issues by mail in the United States and its possessions, $1.20; elsewhere $2.20 The Publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material. Entire contents copyright 1939, by Detective Comics, Inc. For advertising rates, address Combined Publications, Inc., 125 East 46th Street, New York City. Western Office: Harley L. Ward, Inc., 360 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill. |
| Reprinted | in Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28; in Batman from the Thirties to the Seventies (Crown Publishers, Inc., 1971 series) #73-168329; in Batman Archives (DC, 1990 series) #1 (June 1990); in Batman Chronicles, The (DC, 2005 series) #1 |
| Genre | fact |
| Notes | Found on the inside front cover. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Characters | The Bat-Man [Bruce Wayne] (introduction); Commissioner James Gordon (introduction); Lambert; Steven Crane (death); Paul Rogers; Alfred Stryker (villain); Jennings (villain) |
| Synopsis | In his first case, the Bat-Man investigates the murder of a chemical tycoon, discovering that one of his partners murdered him to steal the secret contracts that would leave him as the sole owner of the Apex Chemical Corporation. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Bill Finger |
| Pencils | Bob Kane [as Rob't Kane] (signed) |
| Inks | Bob Kane [as Rob't Kane] (signed) |
| Letters | Bob Kane |
| Notes | Named "Bat-Man" in the story. Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 2-7-09. According to Will Murray, the 1936 Shadow novel "Partners In Peril" was Bill Finger's inspiration for this story. (Added by Darci July 19 2010) |
| Reprinted | in Batman (DC, 1940 series) #200 [one page only]; in Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #387 (May 1969); in Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #627 (March 1991); in Batman from the Thirties to the Seventies (Crown Publishers, Inc., 1971 series) #73-168329; in Batman Archives (DC, 1990 series) #1 (June 1990); in Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974); in Smithsonian Book of Comic-Book Comics, A (Smithsonian Institution / Harry N Abrams, 1981 series) #nn; in Batman Chronicles, The (DC, 2005 series) #1 |
| Synopsis | A young boy scout discovers a lost youngster and attempts to help him find his way home, and gets lost in the process himself! |
| Genre | humor |
| Script | Charles Biro? |
| Pencils | Charles Biro (signed as Biro) |
| Inks | Charles Biro (signed as Biro) |
| Notes | The last .25 of this page is a 6-panel advertisement for Rosati accordians, writer and artist unknown. Note and synopsis added by Craig Delich 2-7-09. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Characters | Speed Saunders; Tom [D]; Trelawney [D]; The Veiled Prophetress of the Killers of Kurdistan [villain].. |
| Synopsis | Speed investigates the murder of two men, on one of which the killers left the symbol of a red crescent, the symbol of the Kurdistan Killers, a sect that both men belonged to, but refused to kill for. |
| Genre | detective |
| Script | Gardner Fox |
| Pencils | Fred Guardineer (signed) |
| Inks | Fred Guardineer (signed) |
| Letters | Fred Guardineer |
| Notes | Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 2-7-09. Writer credit via Martin O'Hearn. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Characters | Buck Marshall; Matt Doyle; The Terror [Jack Stark, villain]. |
| Synopsis | Buck investigates the death of a ranch owner in which a black empty cartridge is left behind as a clue to the killer. |
| Genre | western |
| Pencils | Homer Fleming (signed as H. Fleming) |
| Inks | Homer Fleming (signed as H. Fleming) |
| Notes | Story printed in red and black only. Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 2-7-09. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Characters | Bart Regan; Congressman Sneed [D]; Congressman Little [D]; Congressman Booker; Congressman Stoker; un-named spy [D, villain]. |
| Synopsis | Bart investigates the deaths of members of a Committee on un-American activities that were killed by an explosive capsule hidden in their bananas. |
| Genre | adventure |
| Script | Jerry Siegel (signed) |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Inks | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Notes | Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 2-7-09. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Characters | The Crimson Avenger [Lee Travis]; Wing; Frank [villain]; Mike Moran [villain]. |
| Synopsis | The Crimson tracks down a killer who murdered one Abe Gold for welshing on a $100,000 bet. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Jim Chambers (signed) |
| Pencils | Jim Chambers (signed) |
| Inks | Jim Chambers (signed) |
| Notes | Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 2-7-09. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Characters | Richard Drew [D]; President Benson; Captain Richard Byrne; Brian DeAngelo [villain]. |
| Synopsis | Captain Byrne tracks down a revengeful killer who was once spurned in regards to a radio audtion. |
| Genre | crime |
| Script | Gardner F. Fox (signed as Paul Dean) |
| Pencils | Fred Guardineer |
| Inks | Fred Guardineer |
| Letters | typeset |
| Notes | Artist credits by Craig Delich (Nov. 2005). Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 2-7-09. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Characters | Bruce Nelson; Ed Lane. |
| Synopsis | Bruce begins his investigation of the death of a young woman due to black magic. |
| Genre | detective |
| Script | Tom Hickey (signed) |
| Pencils | Tom Hickey (signed) |
| Inks | Tom Hickey (signed) |
| Notes | Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 2-7-09. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Characters | Rev. J. D. Eltham; Greba Eltham; Nayland Smith; Vernon Denby; Dr. Petrie; Dr. Fu Manchu [villain]. |
| Synopsis | Fu Manchu attempts to kill Greba Eltham, all in an attempt to keep Rev. Eltham from going to China. |
| Genre | adventure |
| Script | Leo O'Mealia (adaption) |
| Pencils | Leo O'Mealia |
| Inks | Leo O'Mealia |
| Letters | typeset |
| Notes | Artist credits by Craig Delich (Nov. 2005). Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 2-7-09. Adopted from the novel by Sax Rohmer. |
| Reprinted | from Fu Manchu (Bell Syndicate), 1931 In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Characters | Flannigan |
| Synopsis | Flannigan is sent out on a bank robbery, but stops for a red light so he won't get a ticket! |
| Genre | humor |
| Script | Paul Gustavson? |
| Pencils | Paul Gustavson (signed as Gustavson) |
| Inks | Paul Gustavson (signed as Gustavson) |
| Letters | Paul Gustavson? |
| Notes | Art credits verified and letterer credit added, along with synopsis and other info, by Craig Delich 2-7-09. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Characters | Cosmo; Carg; Yen Lo [villain]; Kwan Joy Lo [villain]; Fo Lee [villain]. |
| Synopsis | Cosmo is placed on a case involving the illegal smuggling of Chinese into America. |
| Genre | adventure |
| Script | Sven Elven |
| Pencils | Sven Elven (signed) |
| Inks | Sven Elven (signed) |
| Notes | Story printed in red and black only. Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 2-7-09. Writer only wrote stories for Sven Elven, therefore assumed to be Sven Elven by writer identification expert, Martin O'Hearn. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Characters | Pete; Joe; Louie th' Louse [villain]. |
| Synopsis | Pete and Joe try to discover the whereabouts of the hideout of notorious criminal Louie th' Louse. |
| Genre | detective |
| Script | Russell Cole (signed as Alger) |
| Pencils | Russell Cole (signed as Alger) |
| Inks | Russell Cole (signed as Alger) |
| Letters | Russell Cole |
| Notes | Letterer credit, some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 2-7-09. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Characters | Slam Bradley; Shorty Morgan; Dick Kelly [D]; Gale Dennis [villain]; "Black Jack" Benson [villain]; Nicky [villain]; Helger Wetjen [villain]. |
| Synopsis | Shorty and Slam help to find out the whereabouts of a Federal agent who disappeared after trailing an escaped felon to Switzerland. |
| Genre | detective |
| Script | Jerry Siegel (signed) |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Inks | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Notes | Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 2-7-09. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 (1974). |
| Notes | Found on the inside back cover. Illustrated house ads for All-American Comics #2 and Movie Comics #2. |
| Reprinted | In Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #C-28 |