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129,982
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in: Vincent Sullivan/Executive Editor, Bob Kane/Cover Artist, Gardner Fox/Writer,
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Detective Comics Vol 1 29

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"The Batman Meets Doctor Death": In his study, Doctor Death announces to his servant Jabah that he has completed his laboratory experiments. His method of death by pollen extract will be used to hold hostage the world's wealthy until they pay t

Quote1 Who sent you, may I ask? Your choice, gentlemen! Tell me! Or I'll kill you! Quote2
— The Bat-Man

Detective Comics #29 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 1939. It was published on May 31, 1939.

Synopsis for "The Batman Meets Doctor Death"

In his study, Doctor Death announces to his servant Jabah that he has completed his laboratory experiments. His method of death by pollen extract will be used to hold hostage the world's wealthy until they pay tribute to him. Doctor Death knows that this crime will attract attention from the Batman. He decides to kill the Batman preemptively. Nobody knows the Batmann's secret identity, so they place a personal ad in the newspaper. Bruce Wayne reads this ad, which tells him to pick up a letter from the post office under the name John Jones. The letter announces the time and location of a murder Doctor Death plans to commit that night.

Returning home, Bruce Wayne gathers the equipment he needs to become the Batman. He puts glass pellets of choking gas into his belt compartment. He also carries suction gloves and knee pads to help him climb the building. The Batman drives to the crime scene in his automobile and scales the side of the building with his rope and suction cups. When he enters through the window, two thugs ambush him with guns. They underestimate his agility and he knocks a statue over on top of them. Then while they're both on the ground, he punches them a whole bunch of times... in the face! They refuse to give up their employer, and the Batman threatens to murder them if they don't talk. Jabah enters with a gun and shoots the Batman in the chest. Despite this wound, the Batman is able to escape by throwing a pellet of choking gas and leaping out the window.

Bruce Wayne places an ad in the newspaper, announcing that the Batman accepts Doctor Death's challenge. He visits the family doctor, who is surprised to see him with a bullet wound. Bruce laughs off the doctor's questions and does not explain how he got it.

Doctor Death is furious that his underlings have failed him. He sends Jabah to kill a man named John P. Van Smith who refuses to pay his tribute. Bruce Wayne coincidentally sees Jabah while driving down the street, and follows him. Jabah blows poison at Smith and escapes, but Bruce Wayne saves the man's life. Bruce follows Jabah back to Doctor Death's hideout, and returns as the Batman.

The Batman breaks through Doctor Death's window with a glass cutter. He instantly takes down Jabah by choking him with his lasso. Doctor Death escapes through a trap door in the ground, but the Batman follows him through it. Doctor Death runs back upstairs, and realizes that he is cornered. Returning to his laboratory, Doctor Death grabs his chemicals, to throw at the Batman, but Batman grabs a fire extinguisher and throws it at Doctor Death, which makes his chemicals fall on the floor, where they ignite a terrible blaze, and the entire laboratory goes up in flames. Doctor Death stands in the fire and laughs at the Batman for being a fool. The Batman remarks that Doctor Death is the poor fool, having gone completely mad. Doctor Death dies in the fire, or so it seems.

Appearing in "The Batman Meets Doctor Death"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • John P. Van Smith (Single appearance)

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

  • Bruce Wayne's Red Sedan


Synopsis for Larry Steele, Private Detective: "The Murder of Ace Mullins"


Appearing in Larry Steele, Private Detective: "The Murder of Ace Mullins"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Jake (Single appearance)
  • crook (Dies)

Other Characters:

  • Ace Mullins (Single appearance; dies)

Synopsis for Bart Regan, Spy: "Colonel Walsh and the Coastal Defense Plans"


Appearing in Bart Regan, Spy: "Colonel Walsh and the Coastal Defense Plans"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Jack Steele

Antagonists:

  • Chief (Single appearance; dies)
  • Rita Mason (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Colonel Francis Walsh (Single appearance)
  • Major General Criley (Single appearance)

Synopsis for The Crimson Avenger: "The McNeal Kidnappers"

At night, a car dropped of a man named Joe who was carrying money at a house, where his associate Lou was waiting for him. Lou and Joe also held a man named McNeal in the house and considered executing him, but decided not to as federal agents were already monitoring them. Hank, an employee at the Globe-Leader informed Lee Travis that McNeal was returned to his home unharmed. Later, McNeal went to the office to be interviewed by the Globe-Leader. A police officer asked Lee not to print McNeal's testimony until he gave his approval. Lee and Wing decided to go to the country to hunt kidnappers under the guise that they were going on vacation. Lee drove to a farm in an old truck, disguised as a peddler and offered to sell Jed, the owner, and his wife new curtains. Lee entered the house to take the old curtains and found a man hiding behind them. Meanwhile, Lou and Joe emerged and restrained Lee, then lit a fire. When Wing saw the burning house, he rushed to it, saved Lee, and gave him his Crimson Avenger disguise. The Crimson Avenger emerged and got into his car with Wing to chase down the criminals. Crimson eventually caught up to the criminals and sprayed their car full of gas, causing them to drive off of a cliff. Crimson followed the car, apprehended Joe and Lou, and anonymously informed the police over phone.

Appearing in The Crimson Avenger: "The McNeal Kidnappers"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Lou (Single appearance)
  • Joe (Single appearance)
  • Hymie (Single appearance; dies)
  • 2 unnamed bandits (Single appearance; dies)

Other Characters:

Locations:

Synopsis for Speed Saunders, Ace Investigator: "The Perfect Crime"


Appearing in Speed Saunders, Ace Investigator: "The Perfect Crime"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Oldbourne (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • John Brent (Single appearance; dies)

Locations:

Items:

  • dictophone

Synopsis for Bruce Nelson: "The New Orleans Mardi Gras Murder, Part 3"

Bruce Nelson continues to investigate Lili Gravet's murder. The butler did it.

Appearing in Bruce Nelson: "The New Orleans Mardi Gras Murder, Part 3"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Ed Lane

Antagonists:

  • Anthony (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Don Hernandez Covina (Final appearance)
  • Maria Tonelli (Final appearance)
  • Lili Gravet (Mentioned only)

Locations:

Synopsis for Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise: "The Avenger"

The insane Professor Salvini adopts a mystery identity as "the Avenger" and uses a disintegrator ray to destroy a church, killing thousands of people. He soon destroys a battleship, and an important dam, before Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise, tracks him down. In their clash, a freak accident causes the ray to destroy itself, and its inventor along with it.

Appearing in Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise: "The Avenger"

Featured Characters:

  • Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise

Antagonists:

  • Professor Salvini, aka The Avenger (Single appearance; dies)

Other Characters:

  • Dean Hollyday (Single appearance)
  • Inspector Grey

Items:

Synopsis for Slam Bradley versus "Chang and Hiaroto"


Appearing in Slam Bradley versus "Chang and Hiaroto"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Chang (Single appearance)
  • Hiaroto (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Betty Clark (Single appearance)
  • Charles Clark (Single appearance)
  • Hawaiian chief

Locations:

Notes

Trivia


See Also

Recommended Reading

Links and References

Batman 0585
DC Bullet 2024

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