Batman (1940) Annual comic books

Batman (1940) Annual 1 FR 1.0

Water damage. 5" spine split from the top.

All reprints. Cover pencils by Curt Swan, Sheldon Moldoff, and Dick Sprang, inks by Charles Paris. "How to Be the Batman!", pencils by Lew Sayre Schwartz, inks by Charles Paris; Batman loses his memory after being exposed to amnesia gas, when the antidote fails, Robin must teach the Cowled Crimefighter all that he has forgotten; Origin retold. "The Strange Costumes of Batman!", script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Dick Sprang, inks by Charles Paris; A look at some of the specialized costumes that Batman has utilized over his career, including one garment that he had hoped never to use. "Untold Tales of the Bat-Signal!", script by David Vern, pencils by Lew Sayre Schwartz, inks by Charles Paris; Reporter Dave Purdy saves Batman by dazzling an approaching murderer with the Bat Signal; The Masked Manhunter is happy to let Purdy have the credit. Secrets of Batman's Utility Belt; Famed Batarang. "The Origin of the Bat-Cave!", script by Bill Finger, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Charles Paris; Professor Nicholls sends the Dynamic Duo back in time 300 years, there they meet Jeremy Coe, a frontiersman spy who doubles as a Red Indian. "Batman's Electronic Crime-File!", pencils by Dick Sprang, inks by Charles Paris; The microfilm from Batman's crime file is stolen from the Bat-Cave. "Thrilling Escapes of Batman and Robin!", pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Charles Paris; Villainous Paul King captures Batman and Robin, he then sets about devising an inescapable trap, based on Robin's recollections about their previous ingenious escapes. "The Amazing Inventions of Batman," script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Dick Sprang, inks by Charles Paris; Batman gets word that one of his inventions is to be used against him, he and Robin must then examine their many crime fighting innovations for clues. Superman ad. Secret Origins ad. Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder ad. 84 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.25.

Batman (1940) Annual 3 VG- 3.5

Cover oxidation.

All reprints, with the topic being "Batman and Robin's Most Fantastic Foes!" "The Mad Hatter of Gotham City," script by Bill Finger, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Charles Paris; The Mad Hatter has a superb collection of stolen hats, but with Batman's cowl missing it is incomplete. "The Human Firefly," script by Ed (France) Herron, pencils by Dick Sprang, inks by Charles Paris; When theatrical lighting director Garfield Lynns is prevented from staging his first robbery, he makes his escape thanks to the light given off by a firefly; Inspired, he assumes the identity of the costumed criminal, Firefly. "The Mental Giant of Gotham City," script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Dick Sprang, inks by Charles Paris; A freak accident gives police janitor Barney Barrow a super advanced brain, he then blackmails the Dynamic Duo into aiding him with his ever more dangerous methods of crime fighting. "The Joker's Aces," script by David Vern, pencils by Lew Sayre Schwartz, inks by Charles Paris; The Clown Prince of Crime recruits some new members for his gang, all of whom are perfectly suited for specific felonies. "The Gorilla Boss of Gotham City," script by David Vern, pencils by Lew Sayre Schwartz, inks by Charles Paris; Executed criminal George 'Boss' Dyke's brain is transplanted into a gorilla's head. "The New Crimes of Two-Face," script by Bill Finger, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Charles Paris; Actor Paul Sloane is disfigured in an accident, this unhinges his mind and causes him to turn to crime as the second Two-Face. "The Mysterious Mirror Man," script by Bill Finger, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Charles Paris; Ventris, a convict, escapes jail with the help of a broken mirror; He adopts the identity of the Mirror Man and sets out to uncover Batman's secret identity by using his X-Ray Mirror. 84 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.25.

Batman (1940) Annual 4 GD/VG 3.0

1" spine split from the top. Water damage.

Winter 1962-1963. All reprints. Cover pencils by Curt Swan, Win Mortimer, and Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Stan Kaye and Sheldon Moldoff. "The First Batman," script by Bill Finger, art by Sheldon Moldoff (ghost for Bob Kane); The discovery of an old Batman-type costume in Bruce Wayne's attic re-opens the Wayne murder case, and helps him realize that Joey Chill had only been HIRED to kill his parents. "Am I Really Batman?", script by Bill Finger, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (ghost for Bob Kane), inks by Charles Paris; Batman wakes from a sound sleep to find himself in a mental ward, not realizing that a Professor Milo had given him a dose of amnesia gas that dulls the will to live. "The Batwoman," script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (ghost for Bob Kane), inks by Charles Paris; Bruce Wayne is pleased that a newcomer, Kathy Kane, has taken such a liking to the Batman; However, when a mysterious new crimefighter appears on the scene, usurping much of Batman's glory, the Dynamic Duo steps in to halt her career before she gets seriously hurt. "The Vanished Batman," script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (ghost for Bob Kane), inks by Charles Paris; Gotham City is shocked to see Robin drive up to Police HQ one day in a Robinmobile, and refuses to comment on the disappearance of his long-time partner in crime-fighting. "The Phantom of the Batcave," script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (ghost for Bob Kane), inks by Charles Paris; Batman is puzzled when a trophy of a case he just completed disappears and is replaced by another item....right in the confines of the Bat-Cave. "Batman's College Days," script by Bill Finger, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (ghost for Bob Kane), inks by Charles Paris; Bruce Wayne has been invited on a 3-day reunion cruise with some of his old college athletic team chums. The "Marriage of Batman and Batwoman," script by Bill Finger, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (ghost for Bob Kane), inks by Ray Burnley. "The Man Who Ended Batman's Career," script by Bill Finger, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (ghost for Bob Kane), inks by Charles Paris. 84 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.25.