CATALOG RECORD

Detective Comics #1

DC · Series began 1937 · March 1937

first appearance of Slam Bradley, Speed Saunders, Shorty Morgan and others

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WHY COLLECTORS WANT IT

Slam Bradley (DC, detective) — introduction
Speed Saunders (Cyril Saunders) — introduction
Shorty Morgan (Slam Bradley's sidekick) — introduction
Bart Regan (Spy feature from Detective Comics) — introduction, also as Captain Markham · origin
Bruce Nelson (from Detective Comics) — introduction
Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise (from Detective Comics) — introduction
Buck Marshall (from Detective Comics) — introduction, posing as Sam Wilson
Sally Norris (Spy, DC) — introduction
Gumshoe Gus (from Detective Comics) — introduction
Bret Lawton (from Detective Comics) — introduction

Dates

Cover date: March 1937
On sale: February 10, 1937
Pages: 68

Editions and covers

Original edition
Source ↗

Creators

pencils: Vin Sullivan, Creig Flessel, Sven Elven, Tom Hickey, Bill Patrick, Joe Shuster, Russell Cole, Fred Schwab, Homer Fleminginks: Vin Sullivan, Creig Flessel, Sven Elven, Tom Hickey, Bill Patrick, Joe Shuster, Russell Cole, Fred Schwab, Homer Flemingscript: Creig Flessel, Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, Bill Patrick, Jerry Siegel, Russell Cole, Fred Schwab, Homer Flemingletters: Bill Patrick, Russell Cole, Fred Schwab

Stories

The River Patrol · 6 pages
Speed investigates the murder of several Chinamen along the wharf area and uncovers a human smuggling operation.
The Rhangwa Pearls · 6 pages
A millionaire that has just bought the fabulously valuable Rhangwa Pearls receives a letter from someone threatening to steal them.
The Peruvian Mine Murders, Part 1 · 6 pages
Confronted by a series of murders, Bret forages into the Peruvian jungles to ascertain why a hole appears in each victim's throat, but they were not shot!
The Claws of the Red Dragon [Part 1] · 13 pages
Venturing into downtown San Francisco, Bruce finds it odd to see a Chinese restaurant among the buildings, and no one to wait upon him when he enters desiring a meal. Stranger still, another couple enters and is served anything they desire. When he decides to stick around and see what develops, he and the couple are suddenly grabbed and blindfolded!
The Gotlotz Jewels · 4 pages
Gus is sent to a rich woman's home to watch over her pearls during a party and nabs a man he sees pocketing them. Unfortunately for Gus, it is the Chief!
The Balinoff Case, Part 1 · 4 pages
Bart is called on to volunteer for a secret spy case, but in doing so, he must forgo his own personal agenda, including his marriage to fiance Sally.
The Gotrox Pearls · Eagle-Eyed Jake · 4 pages
Jake is called in to solve the theft of some pearls, and promptly discovers that there were no pearls in the first place!
The Bar S Rustlers · 6 pages
Buck is called in to discover the truth behind some rustling charges between two cattle ranchers that have had hard feelings for each other since a land deal went bad.
The Streets of Chinatown · 13 pages
The daughter of a chain-store magnate wants to hire Slam to guard her valuable poodle, and when he turns it down, Shorty volunteers.

Characters

Slam BradleySpeed SaundersShorty MorganBart ReganCosmo, the Phantom of DisguiseBruce NelsonBuck MarshallSally NorrisGumshoe GusBret Lawton

Reprinted in

Millennium Edition: Detective Comics 1 (2001), Action Comics [ashcan] (1937), The Greatest Golden Age Stories Ever Told (1990)