Detective Comics, #142
Published: December 1948
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Issue Contents:
The Riddler's Puzzle Contest
"Team up with Batman and Robin to solve "The Riddler's Puzzle Contest""
Storyline
Batman and Robin surprise The Riddler by bursting through a giant crossword puzzle.
Characters
Credits
- Pencils: Dick Sprang
- Inks: Charles Paris
- Letters: Ira Schnapp
Story Notes
Art credits verified by Sprang.
"Strike or spare... it's a snap!"
"Snaps are right down everybody's alley!"
Storyline
Three late-1940s teens are bowling in a bowling alley, while a fourth teen snaps their picture using Kodak film.
Characters
- four teens in a black and white photo
Story Notes
Ad for Kodak Film "...the film in the familiar yellow box". Black and white ad on inside front cover.
Crime's Puzzle Contest!
"Once again that puzzle-prince of cryptic crime, The Riddler, terrorizes Gotham City with his evil enigmas!"
Storyline
The Riddler returns from the "dead" to continue his campaign of puzzle contests to baffle the police and the Dynamic Duo.
Characters
- Batman [Bruce Wayne]
- Robin [Dick Grayson]
- The Riddler [Edward Nigma] (villain)
Credits
- Pencils: Dick Sprang
- Inks: Charles Paris
Story Notes
Inker credit verified by Craig Delich; we previously suggested Howard Sherman or Gene McDonald. The splash page replicates the cover. The story title does not match the cover title.
Champion Football Coach of Georgia Tech Bobby Dodd
"With Coach Dodd at the throttle Georgia Tech's Engineers steam-rolled to 9 victories last season"
Characters
- Bobby Dodd
Story Notes
Ad for Wheaties cereal featuring Georgia Tech football coach Bobby Dodd.
The Farmer in the Till!
"When slick city crooks apply hoe and shovel to the good earth, you can bet there's going to be dirty work at the crossroads!"
Storyline
City bank robbers dressed as farmers hold up rural banks.
Characters
- Slam Bradley
- Shorty Morgan
- Mugs Mulligan
- Mugs Mulligan's gang
Credits
- Pencils: Howard Sherman
- Inks: Howard Sherman
Story Notes
Inker credit by Craig Delich; we previously credited John Daly.
Fellows! Girls! Get Captain Tootsie's mystifying, baffling "Bag of Magic Tricks"
"Over $1.00 Retail Value! Only 25¢ with any wrapper from Tootsie Roll, Tootsie Pop, Tootsie Cocoanut Fudge"
Characters
Story Notes
Ad for Tootsie Roll candies offering "Captain Tootsie's Mystifying, Baffling Bag of Magic Tricks" for just 25¢ with a wrapper from any Tootsie Roll candy.
Boys - It's Free!
"Exciting new book about atomic energy and "The Wonders of Chemistry"."
Story Notes
Ad for Chemcraft chemistry sets offering a free book "The Wonders of Chemistry". Top half of page.
"Champ wants to see you wearing a Gene Autry Sweatshirt... and so do I!"
"All over the country, wherever Champ and I go, we see boys and girls wearing our sweatshirts."
Characters
- Gene Autry
- Champion (Gene Autry's horse)
- boy wearing a Gene Autry sweatshirt
Story Notes
Ad for Gene Autry Sweatshirt from J. T. Flagg Knitting Co., Inc. All characters and merchandise are pencil and ink drawings, no photographs. Lower half of page.
The Robot Bandit!
"Robotman - let me introduce you to my servants. They're all robots... costly machines... obeying spoken commends - yet one of them is robbing me!"
Storyline
Millionaire in a wheelchair Joshua Lloyd is being robbed by one of his nine robot servants (with which he replaced his staff), and asks Robotman to investigate undercover as "robot servant number 10".
Characters
- Robotman [Robert Crane
- aka Paul Dennis]
- Joshua Lloyd
- robot servants numbers 1-9
- Smithers
- Doc Sparks
Credits
- Script: Otto Binder
- Pencils: Jimmy Thompson
- Inks: Jimmy Thompson
Boys! Look at all the Spectacular Buzz-With-Action Models you can build with Erector
"Erector has girders of steel - to build like real!"
Characters
- boys building with Erector sets
- Superman
Story Notes
Comics-style illustrated ad for Erector construction sets by Gilbert. Also offered by mail, the free booklet "Superman Shows You the Wonders of the Gilbert Hall of Science". The bottom of the page says: "When in New York, visit the Gilbert Hall of Science. Fifth Ave. and 25th St. Admission Free!"
Cold Feet, Courtesy of Pete (1)
"Pete asked me to meet him downtown!"
Storyline
Jerry's pal Pete requests that Jerry meet him on a cold street corner - for an unconventional reason.
Characters
- Jerry the Jitterbug
- Pete
Credits
- Script: Henry Boltinoff
- Pencils: Henry Boltinoff
- Inks: Henry Boltinoff
- Letters: Henry Boltinoff
Story Notes
Top half of page.
Most Exciting Boot You Ever Saw!
"The Hood Rocket Boot made specially for boys!"
Characters
- rocket-riding boy
Story Notes
Illustrated ad for Hood Rocket Boots featuring a boy riding a rocket, while wearing Hood Rocket Boots. "Made by the makers of 'P-F' canvas shoes" (presumably becomes "P-F Flyers sneakers").
When You Close Your Mind
"Why do we sleep?"
Storyline
Text article on the necessity and different reasons for sleep in humans, animals, plants... and even microbes.
Credits
- Script:
Given Premiums or Cash Commission Given
"Girls - Ladies - We Trust You - Boys -Men Send name and Address on coupon - no money now"
Story Notes
Ad for Wilson Chemical Co., offering prizes or money for the sales of Cloverine Brand Salve.
Editorial Advisory Board
Featuring DC Comics
"The following magazines all bear this trademark as your guarantee of the best in comics reading:"
Storyline
A list of DC's advisory board members plus a list of currently published comics. Thirty titles are listed.
Story Notes
DC Comics house ad touting "Superman-DC-National Comics" as quality reading. The ad is comprised of a list of doctors and other consultants that make up the DC Comics Editorial Advisory Board, followed by a list of (presumably) all the titles published at the time by DC. Top half of page.
Saved by Trade and Mark
"Do you think there's treasure in this cave?"
Storyline
Nip and Tuck go hunting in a creepy old cave for Jesse James' treasure. There they are threatened by an angry old hermit with a bad cough. The boys give the hermit Smith Brothers Cough Drops to alleviate his symptoms. In gratitude, the hermit gives the boys a sack of gold.
Characters
- Nip
- Tuck
- old hermit
- Trade (bearded Smith Brother)
- Mark (bearded Smith Brother)
Story Notes
The ad describes Smith Brothers Cough Drops as "Delicious. Relieves Tickle. Soothes Soreness... Still only 5¢" ...Even though old hermit just paid for a box with a sack of gold. Lower half of page.
The Mystery of Secret X
"You are powerless to stop me, Carter! In my hand, I hold Secret X! With it, I can control a nation!"
Storyline
Professor Vanners went to prison taking the mysterious "Secret X" with him. Killer Arnie Benet devises a scheme to break himself and Vanners out of prison, in exchange for being cut in on "Secret X". Once Vanners and Benet are safely hidden away, high stakes robberies begin to mount. Robberies that could only have been pulled-off with confidential information.
Characters
- The Boy Commandos [Captain Rip Carter
- Tex
- Andre Chavard
- Brooklyn [Dan Turpin]]
- Professor Vanners
- Killer Arnie Benet
- Big Jack Bellaire
- prison warden
- police chief
Credits
- Pencils: Curt Swan
- Inks: Steve Brodie
Oh! Boy! Lionel Trains!
"Hear that WHISTLE! - Look at 'em GO! See that Steam Loco puff SMOKE!"
Story Notes
Ad for Lionel Trains, offering a 36-page full color Lionel Train Catalog, a set of 3-dimensional views of Lionel Trains in action - with "Stereopticon Eyeglasses", and a special kit of 6 cut-out colorful buildings for your Lionel Train layout... for just 25 cents. Between pages 8 and 9 of previous story.
For Thrills! For Action!
Featuring DC Comics; Action Comics; Sensation Comics; Adventure Comics
"Ask for these magazines at your favorite newsstand!"
Characters
- Superman [Clark Kent]
- Ralph Edwards (TV show host)
- Wonder Woman [Diana Prince]
- Superboy [Clark Kent]
Credits
- Pencils: Al Plastino
- Pencils: Harry Peter
- Pencils: Al Wenzel
- Inks: Al Plastino
- Inks: Harry Peter
- Inks: Al Wenzel
Story Notes
DC Comics house ad for Action Comics, Sensation Comics, and Adventure Comics. The covers of Action Comics (DC, 1938 Series) #127 (December 1948), Sensation Comics (DC, 1942 Series) #84 (December 1948), and Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 Series) #135 (December 1948) are reproduced. On final interior page of the comic.
Want a Daisy for Christmas? Try This:
"Look! See new Daisys, Action Target Range, Daisy Air pistol... in New Daisy Color Catalog printed in Handbook No. 2. Get copy now!"
Characters
- Red Ryder
- Little Beaver
Story Notes
Ad for Daisy Air Rifles, offering a full-color catalog "featuring the Daisy 1000 shot Red Ryder Cowboy Carbine". The characters of Red Ryder and Little Beaver appear as pencil and ink drawings. Black and white ad on inside back cover.
The Christmas Gift Every Boy and Girl Wants Most...
"...A Schwinn-Built bicycle!"
Characters
- Santa Claus
- nuclear family of four
- various bike riders
Story Notes
Christmas-themed illustrated ad for Schwinn bicycles - with Santa Claus saying "4 times as many kids want a Schwinn as want any other bike". Color ad on back cover.