The 19th appearance of The Batman took place in the August 1940 issue of Detective Comics issue 42. The cover was very basic with a nearly generic, smiling Batman watching Robin tackle a mobster in front of a stark yellow background.
Detective Comics issue 42 is a straight by the numbers formulaic story, repetitive of several we have seen recently in the Batman in Order series: A mysterious murderer is at large, we are introduced to a sizeable cast of suspects. Batman and Robin sleuth out the clues which leads to the villain ultimately being captured and unmasked. In this case, at least the killer has a cool design, a skull and skeleton out fit under a robe. The killings are all related to painted portraits which give a clue to the killer.
This issue features both Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson out of costume more than any issue so far as Bruce Wayne tries to infiltrate a high social circle of which the killer is suspected to belong. It leads to a lot of scenes of men in suits standing around talking.
When Batman and Robin finally suit up there is no shortage of potential suspects. The Batmobile, by that name, still does not exist and Batman travels around in a large black sedan. Batman does crawl up a wall using suction cups in this issue.
Batman has had a complicated relationship with the police for years. Eventually, he would be somewhat “official” or a special officer by the silver age, but in the golden age of comics Batman was still a vigilante which leads to this fight with the police in issue 42 of Detective Comics.
We see Robin use his slingshot again in issue 42 of Detective Comics but it fails to knock out the mysterious skull face painter.
Ultimately, Bruce Wayne lures the mysterious skull face killer into a trap by sitting for a painted portrait which draws out the killer, only Batman has placed a wax dummy in a chair rather than Bruce Wayne.
Batman and Robin capture the killer and unmask him revealing him to be Wylie, one of the numerous suspects we had met earlier in the issue. What happens next, however, is shocking. Again, Batman’s moral code of not killing isn’t something that he had early on. In fact, in the first 19 appearances of Batman, Batman himself has killed 16 people (Seriously! Just listen to the podcast!) Batman does not kill Wylie; however, Wylie grabs a gun and commits suicide right in front of Batman, Robin, and the reader.
A strong ending which would be highly controversial by today’s standards to an otherwise “by-the-numbers” comic book story.
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The Batman Timeline and Chronology:
03-30-1939: 1st Appearance of The Batman & Commissioner Gordon. Detective Comics issue 27.
06-1939: Batman swings from building to building with a rope for the first time. Detective Comics issue 28.
07-1939: The Utility Belt is used for the first time.
09-1939: Fiancée Julie Madison is introduced. First Bat-Copter / Bat-Plane
10-1939: Batman uses a gun to kill The Monk.
11-1939: Batman kills Dr. Kruger by causing his plane to crash after knocking him out with gas. Origin of Batman.
12-1939: Batman is depicted holding a smoking gun. Commissioner Gordon returns.
02-1940: First appearance of Prof. Hugo Strange.
04-1940: First appearance of Robin (Dick Grayson). Robin kills a mobster.
04-1940: First appearance of the Joker and Catwoman (AKA: The Cat).
06-1940: First appearance of Clayface.
Batman Kill Count: 16
Robin Kill Count: 1
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