Batman #1
DC Comics
United States
- Published
- Spring 1940
- Page count
- 68
- Cover price
- 0.10 USD
- Colour
- Colour
- Format
- Comic series
- GCD
- www.comics.org/issue/724
Credits
- Editing
- Whitney Ellsworth
Issue contents
Cover
Untitled
(Batman)
Cover, 1 page
Featuring
- Feature
- Batman
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]
Credits
- Pencils
- Bob Kane
- Inks
- Bob Kane
Jerry Robinson (backgrounds) - Letters
- typeset
Notes
The background inks credit was verified by Robinson.
1Credits
- Letters
- typeset
Synopsis
Ad for winning prizes from the Crowell-Collier Publishing Co., Springfield Ohio.
Notes
Inside front cover. Also includes indicia.
2Featuring
- Feature
- Batman
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Batman [Bruce Wayne] (origin); Thomas Wayne; Martha Wayne; Joe Chill (unnamed)
Credits
- Script
- Bill Finger
- Pencils
- Bob Kane
- Inks
- Bob Kane
Sheldon Moldoff (backgrounds) - Letters
- Sheldon Moldoff
Synopsis
Bruce Wayne's parent are murdered by a cheap crook, and young Bruce vows to avenge their deaths by warring on all criminals.
Notes
Synopsis added by Craig Delich on 2008-10-30.
The background inks and letters credits were verified by Moldoff.
3Featuring
- Feature
- Batman
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Henry Claridge (Death); Jay Wilde (Death); Judge Drake (Death); The Joker (Villain; Intro); Brute Nelson (Death)
Credits
- Script
- Bill Finger
- Pencils
- Bob Kane
Jerry Robinson (see notes) - Inks
- Bob Kane
Jerry Robinson (backgrounds) - Letters
- Jerry Robinson
Synopsis
Batman faces a new criminal who succeeds in killing famous men and stealing their prized possessions, leaving them all with "a smile" on their face!
Notes
First line: "Once again a master criminal stalks the city streets -- a criminal weaving a web of death about him..."
There is an earlier chronological appearance (and origin) of the Joker in Detective Comics #168.
Synopsis added by Craig Delich on 2008-10-30.
Robinson verified with Gary Watson in July 2009 that he did some penciling (including the Joker's card on the splash page specifically), in addition to the background inks and lettering he already confirmed.
4Featuring
- Feature
- Major Bigsbe an' Botts
- Genre
- Western; humor
- Characters
- Major Bigsbe; Botts
Credits
- Script
- Paul Gustavson
- Art
- Paul Gustavson
- Letters
- Paul Gustavson
Synopsis
Having bought the Bar Q Ranch, Major Bigsbe decides to celebrate by shootin' off his pistols...and lands in jail!
Notes
Letterer credit added by Craig Delich on 2008-10-30.
5Featuring
- Feature
- Batman
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Professor Hugo Strange (Villain); unamed monsters (Villain; Death); the Batplane
Credits
- Script
- Bill Finger
- Pencils
- Bob Kane
- Inks
- Bob Kane
Jerry Robinson (backgrounds) - Letters
- Jerry Robinson
Synopsis
The Batman faces an arch criminal who has invented a serum to create a race of giant monsters, and nearly becomes one of them himself!
Notes
First line: "While an innocent metropolis sleeps little does it realize that huge, terrifying man-monsters shall soon stalk the streets..."
This story was originally prepared for Detective Comics #38, but with the introduction of Robin in that issue, the story [sans Robin] was published here.
Oddity: Machine guns are mounted on the Batplane, which are used to kill.
Synopsis added by Craig Delich on 2008-10-30.
The background inks and letters credits were verified by Robinson.
6Featuring
- Genre
- Crime
- Characters
- The Chief; Terry Gallant
Credits
- Author
- Guy Monroe
- Letters
- typeset
Synopsis
Detective Terry Gallant proves to his Chief that the late Barton Barlow had killed himself with a gun in a most mysterious way.
Notes
Synopsis and characters added by Craig Delich on 2008-10-30.
7Featuring
- Genre
- Fact
- Characters
- Bob Kane (photo)
Credits
- Script
- Whitney Ellsworth (signed as The Editor)
- Art
- ? (photo)
- Colours
- ? (photo shaded in magenta)
- Letters
- typeset
Synopsis
Biography of Batman creator Bob Kane.
Notes
First line: "Readers, meet Bob Kane, creator of THE BATMAN!"
8Featuring
- Feature
- Batman
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; John Travers; Martha Travers; The Cat [Selina Kyle; Miss Peggs; Catwoman] (introduction, villain); Denny
Credits
- Script
- Bill Finger
- Pencils
- Bob Kane
- Inks
- Bob Kane
Jerry Robinson (backgrounds) - Letters
- Jerry Robinson
Synopsis
Batman and Robin take a trip aboard an exclusive yacht in order to prevent the theft of the Travers necklace at the hands of the Cat!
Notes
First line: "Among the guests walks a young steward..."
The Cat was later renamed Cat-Woman or Catwoman in next issue; earlier chronological appearance was in issue #52 and in Brave and the Bold #197.
Synopsis added by Craig Delich on 2008-10-30.
The background inks and letters credits were verified by Robinson.
9Featuring
- Genre
- Superhero; science fiction
- Characters
- Superman; Sandman; Ultra-Man; Spectre; Flash; Batman
Credits
- Art
- ? (various)
- Letters
- ?
typeset
Synopsis
Illustrated promotional ad for Action Comics, Adventure Comics, Detective Comics, More Fun Comics, Flash Comics, and All-American Comics, and their headline features.
Notes
Sequence and all information added by Craig Delich 2008-10-30.
10Featuring
- Genre
- Adventure
- Characters
- Lt. Bill Wayne; von Berket (villain; death)
Credits
- Author
- George Shute
- Art
- Raymond Perry
- Colours
- Raymond Perry
- Letters
- typeset
Synopsis
Inventor Doctor Synce gets Navy flier Wayne to fly secret plans from Pensacola, Florida to the coast, when the pilot runs up against an old adversary and ace from years before.
Notes
Colorist added by Craig Delich on 2006-09-24. Synopsis and characters added by Craig Delich on 2008-10-30.
11Featuring
- Feature
- Ginger Snap
- Genre
- Gag
- Characters
- Ginger Snap; Uncle Zep
Credits
- Script
- Bob Kane [as Ted Raye]
- Art
- Bob Kane [as Ted Raye]
- Letters
- Bob Kane ?
Synopsis
Uncle Zep takes Ginger to the soda shop for a soda, but ends up drinking way too many himself!
Notes
Synopsis and characters added by Craig Delich on 2008-10-30.
12Featuring
- Feature
- Fantastic Facts
- Genre
- Fact
- Characters
- Jack Dempsey
Credits
Synopsis
Contains facts about boxer Jack Dempsey, kangaroos and "greetings and salutations."
13Featuring
- Feature
- Batman
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; James Gordon; Chief of Police Chalmers (Death); Edgar Martin (Death); The Joker (Villain)
Credits
- Script
- Bill Finger
- Pencils
- Bob Kane
- Inks
- Bob Kane
Jerry Robinson (backgrounds) - Letters
- Jerry Robinson
Synopsis
The Joker escapes from prison to continue his rampage of death and to steal the famed Cleopatra necklace and Fire Ruby.
Notes
First line: "Once again that harlequin of hate..the Joker..brings grinning death to a terrified people..."
As recounted in various sources, the Joker was supposed to die of his stab wound at the end of the story, but the editors decided this villain was too good to kill off, so the last panels were re-drawn to show him surviving. The last panel of the story, titled "Golden Rules for Robin's Regulars", introduces readers to "Robin's Code" of conduct.
Synopsis added by Craig Delich on 2008-10-30.
The background inks and letters credits were verified by Robinson.
14Featuring
- Feature
- Batman
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Clayface
Credits
- Pencils
- Bob Kane
- Inks
- Jerry Robinson
- Letters
- typeset
Synopsis
Promotional ad for Detective Comics #40, whose cover is shown here.
Notes
Sequence and all information added by Craig Delich on 2008-10-30.
15Credits
- Letters
- ?
typeset
Notes
Advertisement for making your own records at home, from Home Recording Company, New York, N.Y. Appears on the inside back cover.
16Featuring
- Feature
- Batman and Robin
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]
Credits
- Art
- Bob Kane
Synopsis
Pin-up of Batman & Robin.
Notes
Found on the back cover. Made to cut out and frame.
Notes
Indicia: Batman No. 1 Spring 1940 Issue
Published quarterly by DETECTIVE COMICS, INC. 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, N. Y.
Indicia
The indicia for this issue is not recorded. The identified publisher might be an associated or parent company, rather than the specific listed publisher.