Story
Featuring
Batman
"The home of Commissioner Gordon, who at the moment is entertaining his young socialite friend, Bruce Wayne."
Storyline
The Bat-Man investigates the murder of a chemical tycoon, discovering that one of his partners murdered him to steal the secret contracts that would leave him as the sole owner of the Apex Chemical Corporation.
Story Notes
Named "The Bat-Man" in the story.
According to Will Murray and Anthony Tollin, the November 1, 1936, Shadow novel Partners in Peril, written by Theodore Tinsley, was Bill Finger's inspiration for this story.
According to DSK of the Vallely Archives blog, and Robby Reed of the Dial H for Blog, the art in this issue is inspired by Henry Vallely's Gang Busters in Action (Big Little Book 1451) and Tom Lovell's art in Partners in Peril.
The Bat-Man's home city is not identified until Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #33, in which it is named New York City. Only in Batman (DC, 1940 series) #4, the name "Gotham City" was adopted.
This story has been revised and rebooted several times and it is retroactively said to be part of the universe Earth-Two.
- In Secret Origins (DC, 1986 series) #6, Roy Thomas wrote an expanded version of the story, tying it into the rest of Bruce Wayne's origins.
- In Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #387, Mike Friedrich wrote an Earth-One version of the story.
- In Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #627, Marv Wolfman and Alan Grant wrote two different Post-Crisis versions of the story.
- In Detective Comics (DC, 2011 series) #27, Brad Meltzer wrote a version that takes place in New 52 continuity.