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#439
Detective Comics, #438

Published: December 1973-January 1974

Cover

Detective Comics #438

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Issue Contents:
A Monster Walks Wayne Manor
1 page superhero
Characters
Credits
Don't Be Half a Man!
Story 1 1 page
Characters
Credits
Story Notes

Inside front cover ad for Charles Atlas, Dept. 81M, 115 E 23 St., N.Y., N.Y. 10010. Features the mini-comic story "The Insult That Made a Man Out of Mac".

A Monster Walks Wayne Manor!
Story 2 12 pages superhero
Storyline

At the unused Wayne Manor, Batman goes up against an obsessed Swiss scientist who desperately needs to study Ra's al Ghul's demented henchman Ubu, to mine the secrets of a Lazarus Pit.

Characters
  • Batman (mainstream Universe)
  • Commissioner Gordon (mainstream Universe)
  • Alfred Pennyworth (mainstream Universe) [Flashback]
  • Bruce Wayne (mainstream Universe)
  • Ubu (also flashback, death)
  • Dr. Varnov (also as Dr. Strang, first appearance)
  • Liverpool (thug, first appearance, death)
  • Kolb (first appearance, flashback, death)
  • Patch (first appearance, bartender)
Credits
World of the Magic Atom!
Story 3 24 pages superhero
Storyline

Atom helps Zatanna search for her father in a sub-atomic world ruled by the Druid.

Characters
Credits
Story Notes

Story across 25 pages in three parts of 11.67, 5.67, and 6.5 pages in length. This is the first chapter of Zatanna's search for her father, which is reprinted in various DC Super Spectaculars in this period. Reprint info correction from Robert Gee.

Superman the Man of Steel - World's Greatest Comics Hero Appears in…
Story 4 0 pages
Story Notes

House ad for various DC comics in which Superman appears. At the bottom of page 12 of "World of the Magic Atom".

Story 5 0 pages

"Hey, fright fans… feast your blood-shot eyes on ghoulish goings-on…"

Story Notes

House ad for various DC mystery comics. At bottom of page 13 of "World of the Magic Atom".

Smash-Up Derby
Story 6 1 page

"Gotcha, Tough Tom!"

Story Notes

Ad for gyro-powered cars that flew apart when crashed together, from the SSP line of Kenner Toys. On first page after page 20 of "World of the Magic Atom!" Set includes fly apart racers Tough Tom and Bugg-Em, and other accessories.

Free 100 Decals
Story 7 1 page
Story Notes

An advertisement for decals from Super Values of New York, New York. On top of second page after page 20 of "World of the Magic Atom!"

Scary, Life Size Monster Ghost
Story 8 0 pages

"Obeys Your Commands!"

Story Notes

Ad for 7 foot polyethylene ghost for $1.00 from Melton Co., with free "Peeping Skeleton Hands" for each order. On bottom of second page after page 20 of "World of the Magic Atom!"

Vampire Bat
Story 9 0 pages

"It's life size."

Story Notes

Advertisement for a vampire bat toy from Guarantee Co. of Chicago, Ill. On bottom of second page after page 20 of "World of the Magic Atom!"

Zatanna Gets the Help of Green Lantern
Story 10 1 page
Characters
Story Notes

House ad for Superman (DC, 1939 series) #272 (February 1974). At bottom of page 25 of "World of the Magic Atom!"

For a Fun-Filled Halloween from--
Story 11 1 page
Credits
Story Notes

House ad for the Limited Collectors' Edition (DC, 1972 series) #C-23 (Winter 1973) featuring House of Mystery.

The Men Who Moved the World!
Story 12 13 pages superhero
Storyline

The Hawks fight three aliens who are trying to move the Earth out of its orbit

Characters
Credits
Pirates Strike Again!
Story 13 2 pages adventure; historical
Story Notes

Heavily illustrated ad for MPC model kits featuring Walt Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. Between pages 3-4 of "The Men Who Moved the World!"

Just Put an X Next to the Comics You Want!
Story 14 1 page
Story Notes

DC subscription ad. At top of third page between pages 3-4 of "The Men Who Moved the World!"

The Masked Manhunter… the World's Greatest Detective Appears in…
Story 15 1 page
Story Notes

House ad for comic books that Batman appears in. At bottom of third page between pages 3-4 of "The Men Who Moved the World!"

Erupting into 3-Dimension
Story 16 0 pages
Story Notes

House ad for DC's "Table-top Diorama Series" in DC's battle mags. At bottom of page 13 of "The Men Who Moved the World!"

Free Patches
Story 17 1 page

"Wow 6 different patches free."

Story Notes

Send for a free assortment of iron-on patches and receive a free product catalog from Super Values of New York, NY.

These 3 Big Drafting Kits Given To You!
Story 18 1 page

"Coast-to-coast shortage of trained draftsmen…"

Story Notes

Advertisement for a career in drafting from North America School of Drafting of Newport Beach, CA.

Make Excellent Extra Cash...
Story 19 1 page
Story Notes

Ad for sales people for engraved metal social security plates from Engravaplates of Jacksonville, FL.

Story 20 1 page

"Jack Pot Bank"

Story Notes

Ad for novelty items from Honor House Prod. Corp. of Lynbrook, NY.

Gotham Gang Line-Up!
Story 21 14 pages superhero
Storyline

Alfred is apparently killed when rescuing Batman and Robin. Dick's aunt, Aunt Harriet, arrives to take care of the two "helpless boys".

Characters
Credits
Story Notes

Story in two parts of 6.67 and 7.67 pages. Death of Alfred, which leads into the Outsider serial. Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder

Super-Hero Stick-Ons! (1)
Story 22 1 page
Characters
  • Hawkman
  • Green Lantern
  • Superman
  • Flash
  • Batman
  • Robin
  • Green Arrow
  • Aquaman
  • Supergirl
Story Notes

Send for fourteen DC super-hero stick-ons for $2.50 from Family Bazaar Inc. of Chicago, IL. Between pages 5-6 of "Gotham Gang Line-Up!"

The New American Revolution
Story 23 0 pages
Characters
Story Notes

House ad for Prez (DC, 1973 series) #3 (December 1973 - January 1974) with cover reproduction. Bottom of page between page 7-8 of "Gotham Gang Line-Up!"

Alfred… Dead?
Story 24 0 pages
Characters
Story Notes

DC promo for Batman-related 100 page super-spectacular comics. At bottom of page 15 of "Gotham Gang Line-Up!"

1972 Shazam Awards (1)
Story 25 1 page
Characters
  • Julie Schwartz (caricature)
Credits
The House That Fought Green Lantern!
Story 26 10 pages superhero
Storyline

Green Lantern pursues a fleeing criminal to a deserted house which has been rigged to seem haunted.

Characters
Credits
Chapter Two: The Manhunter File
Story 27 8 pages superhero
Storyline

Christine St. Clair shows her current file on Manhunter to her boss, Damon Nostrand. She fills him in on the fact that some of the bodies of the men that Paul Kirk has eliminated have his face and fingerprints, and all end up being stolen from the morgues by unknown parties. Christine learns that Kirk is a master of an ancient Japanese fighting discipline called Ninjutsu, and that Kirk must also have some kind of rapid healing abilities. After Christine leaves Nostrand's office, he burns up the files.

Characters
Credits
Story Notes

Part 2 of 6. Story ends in Detective Comics #443.

Story 28 2 pages superhero

"What you're holding..."

Credits
Story Notes

Includes an editorial explaining the switch to the 100 page format. Letters of comment from Mike Shoemaker, Greg Thornhill, David Mollett, and Bob Rozakis.

Karate Judo-Savate
Story 29 1 page
Story Notes

Top of page ad for mail order Karate course. At top of last interior page.

Surprise Coin Packet
Story 30 1 page

"Collect coins... the hobby road to riches"

Characters
  • Boy
  • girl
Story Notes

Ad, with order coupon, from Hobby Coin Co. At bottom of last interior page.

This Can Be Your "Big Break"...
Story 31 1 page
Story Notes

Inside back cover ad in comic strip form for Cleveland Institute of Electronics.

Story 32 1 page

"Peter Revson drives this car."

Story Notes

Sold by Aurora Plastics Corp. of West Hempstead, NY. On back cover.