Detective Comics, #20
Published: October 1938
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Issue Contents:
Storyline
A policeman punches a criminal.
Credits
- Pencils: Leo O'Mealia
- Inks: Leo O'Mealia
Don't Miss: The Masked Ranger
Featuring More Fun Comics
Story Notes
inside front cover
The Jade Buddha
Storyline
Two rival tongs fight over an ancient statue.
Characters
- Speed Saunders (mainstream Universe)
- Mandarin Hapsu (introduction, villain)
- Ming Toy (introduction, death)
Credits
- Script: Gardner Fox
- Pencils: Fred Guardineer
- Inks: Fred Guardineer
French Colonials
Story Notes
page includes two small ads from stamps dealers
Big Prizes and Cash Profits!
The Island of Wanatoba, Part 2 (1)
"Larry and Delores..."
Characters
- Larry Steele (mainstream Universe)
- Delores
- En Rico (dies, villain)
Credits
- Script: Krystal Hennes
- Pencils: Krystal Hennes
- Inks: Krystal Hennes
The Door of Death
Characters
- Buck Marshall (mainstream Universe)
- Bogdan (intro, villain)
- Odell (dies)
Credits
- Script: Fraisic Marot
- Pencils: Fraisic Marot
- Inks: Fraisic Marot
Story Notes
story in black and white
Saving Senator Barkly (1)
"Headquarters of the U.S. Spy Service..."
Characters
- Sally Norris (mainstream Universe)
- Bart Regan (mainstream Universe)
- Senator Barkly (introduction)
- a gang of spies (introduction, villain)
- Wallace (villain)
Credits
- Script: Jerry Siegel
- Pencils: Joe Shuster
- Inks: Joe Shuster
The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu, Part 4 (1)
"You remember the call in the lane..."
Characters
- Dr. Fu Manchu
- Sir Dennis Nayland Smith
- Dr. Petrie
Credits
- Script: Leo O'Mealia
- Pencils: Leo O'Mealia
- Inks: Leo O'Mealia
- Script: 武田愛子
Reprint Notes
from Dr. Fu Manchu daily (Bell Syndicate)
Story Notes
Adapted from The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer. The strip originally appeared in newspapers in 1930 and 1931.
Give and Take
Characters
- Detective Bedford
- Sir Charles Knight
- Wen Tung (villain)
Credits
- Pencils: Fred Guardineer
- Inks: Fred Guardineer
- Script: Gardner Fox
Story Notes
Text story with one illustration.
Story Notes
All-American Fencers Guild
The Song of Death [Part 1]
Storyline
Renick is a show producer whose lead singer keeps dying.
Characters
- Bruce Nelson (mainstream Universe)
- Mrs. Warren (intro, villain)
- Ned Renick
- Kay Livingston
- Kaye
- Billie Bryson
- Johnny Purvis
- The Great Zambini
Credits
- Pencils: Tom Hickey
- Inks: Tom Hickey
- Script: Gardner Fox (uncertain)
Block Buster (1)
"Feared by the Underworld..."
Storyline
Lee Travis, editor of the Globe Leader, dons a weird costume in order to track down a murderer.
Characters
- The Crimson Avenger (mainstream Universe)
- Wing How (mainstream Universe)
- Lee Travis (mainstream Universe)
- Wing (mainstream Universe)
- Myron Block (introduction, villain)
- Joe Marko (introduction, villain)
Credits
- Pencils: Jim Chambers
- Inks: Jim Chambers
- Script: Jim Chambers (uncertain)
Story Notes
First chronological appearance and origin told in Secret Origins (DC, 1986 series) #5.
Boat Race of Doom (1)
"The ballroom of the Royal Yacht Club..."
Storyline
Cosmo foils a plot to steal a speedboat in order to use it to smuggle drugs.
Characters
- Cosmo (mainstream Universe)
- Jim Larrabee (intro, villain)
- Terry Croft
- Jane Hallock
- Ned Trumbull
Credits
- Pencils: Sven Elven
- Inks: Sven Elven
- Letters: Sven Elven
Story Notes
story in black and white
The Magician (1)
"Since Slam Bradley has taken an interest in studying magic..."
Characters
- Slam Bradley (mainstream Universe)
- Shorty Morgan (mainstream Universe)
- Pete Hanson (introduction, villain)
- Muscles (introduction, villain)
- Langley (introduction, villain)
- O'Brien (introduction, villain)
- Mysto (introduction, villain)
Credits
- Script: Jimmy Hansen
- Pencils: Joe Shuster
- Inks: Joe Shuster
Story Notes
Slam Bradley gains magical powers for this story only: teleportation, invisibility, telekinesis, etc.
Here's Good News!
Story Notes
inside back cover
Story Notes
back cover