Detective Comics #72 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1943.
Synopsis for Batman: "License for Larceny"
J. Spencer Larson is a business financier, who promises his customers to increase any sum of money they invest. Bruce Wayne invests some of his money with the man, not knowing the real threat behind this scheme. Larson is in fact a crime lord known as "Larry the Judge" and he controls the criminal activities of the Gotham underworld. Using his power, he designs a procedure for any sort of criminal activity in which any criminal who wants to perform a crime, must first secure a licence for that crime from him. In this way, Larry ensured that the crimes are strictly under his control.
A crime spree starts in Gotham starting with the robbing of Commissioner Gordon's house. The criminals manage to break inside and subdue Gordon, unaware that Batman and Robin are soon to arrive for a meeting with Gordon. The dynamic duo dispose of the criminals without an effort, and they find the licence to rob Gordon's house, signed by Larry the Judge.
The next day, Bruce is called to Spencer Larson's place, where he receives twice the amount of money he invested. However this is all a setup for Larry's thugs to steal it back from Bruce Wayne later. At Wayne Manor, the thugs strike and Bruce pretends to be defeated to avoid suspicion. After the criminals get away with the money, Bruce changes into Batman, then he and Robin take off in the Batplane in order to capture the criminals. Using a grapple cable, they pick up the getaway vehicle, and drop it into the river below. Batman and Robin descend to fight the thugs and recover their money, learning that these thugs also had a licence to steal from Bruce Wayne.
Learning of Batman's activities, Larry prepares a licence to kill Batman and in order to achieve this, he tells his thugs to leave deliberate clues, to lure Batman into a trap. Batman and Robin follow the clues and they are ambushed by Larry's gang. Before they are captured, Batman manages to reach Larry's car and a few moments later, the dynamic duo are tied up and placed inside the car. However, as they're being taken away, a state trooper starts chasing the car, and taking the opportinity, Batman and Robin attack the criminals, stopping the car. When the vehicle stops, the officer arrests the entire gang including Larry the Judge, who Batman now realizes is Spencer Larson. It is also revealed that the state trooper followed the car because Batman left his cape attached to the license plate of the vehicle.
In the end, the entire wealth of Larry the judge is going to charity.
Appearing in Batman: "License for Larceny"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Larry the Judge (Single appearance)
- Lefty (Single appearance)
- Second-Story Sam (Single appearance)
- Muggsy (Single appearance)
- Gas-Pipe Grogan (Single appearance)
- Iron-Jaw (Single appearance)
- Tommy the Twitch (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Boy Commandos: "Petals of Peril"
Appearing in Boy Commandos: "Petals of Peril"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Cheeder (Single appearance)
- Gus (Single appearance)
- Henry (Single appearance)
- William (Single appearance)
Synopsis for Crimson Avenger: "The Adventure of the Wrong Numbers"
Appearing in Crimson Avenger: "The Adventure of the Wrong Numbers"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Seltzer (Single appearance)
- Joe (Single appearance)
- Charley (Single appearance)
- Lefty (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Gus Ink (Single appearance)
Locations:
Synopsis for Bart Regan, Spy: "The Target Murder"
Appearing in Bart Regan, Spy: "The Target Murder"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Axis Spys
Other Characters:
- Dr. Anderson (Single appearance)
Synopsis for Air Wave: "Larry Jordan Vs. Air Wave"
Appearing in Air Wave: "Larry Jordan Vs. Air Wave"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- John Fields (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Martin Hale (Single appearance)
Locations:
Synopsis for Slam Bradley: "The Mystery of the Missing Monkey"
Appearing in Slam Bradley: "The Mystery of the Missing Monkey"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Monk Mulligan (Single appearance)
Locations:
Notes
- Published by Detective Comics, Inc.
- Batman: "License for Larceny" is reprinted in Batman Archives Vol 3.
Trivia
- This issue's Batman story is the first one to state that Commissioner Gordon is married.
See Also
Links and References
Look at how sad this is making Batman. You did this.