WHY COLLECTORS WANT IT
first Batman
- Batman (Bruce Wayne) — introduction
- Commissioner James Gordon (from Batman) — introduction
Dates
- Cover date
- May 1939
- On sale
- March 30, 1939
- Pages
- 68
Editions and covers
- Original editionSource ↗
Detective Comics 27 (Facsimile Edition) (2022). A facsimile reproduces this issue with a modern cover price and barcode; check before buying.
Creators
Stories
- The Case of the Chemical Syndicate · 6 pages
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.
- Tenderfoot · 0.7 pages
A young boy scout discovers a lost youngster, attempts to help him find his way home, but gets lost in the process himself!
- The Killers of Kurdistan · 6 pages
Speed investigates the murder of two men, on one of whom the killers left the symbol of a red crescent. This is the symbol of the Kurdistan Killers, a sect that both men belonged to but refused to kill for.
- Bullet Bluff · 6 pages
Buck investigates the death of a ranch owner, in which a black empty cartridge is left behind as a clue to the killer.
- The Mysterious Murders · 6 pages
Bart investigates the deaths of members of a Committee on un-American activities that were killed by an explosive capsule hidden in their bananas.
- Murder on the Oceanic Line Docks · 6 pages
The Crimson Avenger tracks down a killer who murdered Abe Gold for welshing on a $100,000 bet.
- Death on the Airwaves · 1.75 pages
Captain Byrne tracks down a revengeful killer who was once spurned in regards to a radio audition.
- The New Orleans Mardi Gras Murder, Part 1 · 6 pages
Bruce begins his investigation of the death of a young woman due to black magic.
- The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu, Part 11 · 4 pages
Fu Manchu attempts to kill Greba Eltham, all in an attempt to keep Rev. Eltham from going back to China.
- Flatfoot Flannigan · 1 pages
Flannigan is sent out on a bank robbery, but stops for a red light so he won't get a ticket!
- Danzig Marks Anniversary; Nicaraguan Issue · 0.6 pages
- Illegal Aliens · 6 pages
Cosmo is placed on a case involving the illegal smuggling of Chinese into America.
- Plain Clothes Pete · 4 pages
Pete and Joe try to discover the whereabouts of the hideout of notorious criminal Louie th' Louse.
- The Murderer on Vacation · 9 pages
Shorty and Slam help to find out the whereabouts of a Federal agent who disappeared after trailing an escaped felon to Switzerland.
Characters
Reprinted in
Famous First Edition (1974), Millennium Edition: Detective Comics 27 (2000), Detective Comics 27 (Facsimile Edition) (2022), Fan Expo Detective Comics 27 Limited Edition (2024), Detective Comics 27 Batman Day Special Edition (2024), Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman (2019), Batman (1940), Batman from the 30s to the 70s (1971), A Smithsonian Book of Comic-Book Comics (1981), Batman Archives (1990), Batman in the Forties (2004), Batman: A Celebration of 75 Years (2014), Detective Comics #27 Special Edition (Batman 75 Day Comic 2014) (2014), Batman: The War Years 1939-1945 (2015), Batman: The Golden Age Omnibus (2015), Batman: The Golden Age (2016), Detective Comics: Batman 80th Anniversary Giant (2019), DC Comics: The Golden Age (1938-1956) (2023)