DETECTIVE COMICS, #28 (JUNE, 1939)
Frenchy Blake’s Jewel Gang
Detective Comics, #28 (June, 1939)
*This story can be found in The Batman Chronicles, Vol. 1.
*This one begins with a young newsboy selling papers about a ‘fifth sensational robbery.’
*The newsboy is shouting, “Wuxtry!” He says it twice. I mean, I guess that’s supposed to be “Extra” and I’ve heard it rendered before as “Extry,” but what the hell is that ‘w’ doing on the front? Wuxtry? I mean, that’s a little odd, isn’t it?
*So, Batman catches up to two of the jewel thieves on the next job they pull. He flings one of them off the roof and knocks the other unconscious.
*I feel I should mention that in this issue, Batman does not wear gloves.
*Batman then makes the police think that he was involved in the jewel robbery. The narrator promises us that we’ll understand why this is shortly.
*So, here’s the explanation. We catch up to Frenchy in his hideout reading the paper: “One good thing though. The cops think ‘Bat-Man’ is in on it. Now that means they’ll be watching for him and that leaves us free to continue our work.”
*The narrator then says, “This is why the Batman wanted to be connected with the robberies . . . so that the jewel thieves would think they weren’t being watched and would continue giving the Batman the opportunity of their capture.”
*What the . . . ?
*Okay, whatever, let ‘s just move on.
*So, Batman ends up capturing Frenchy. He ties a rope around his waist and throws him out the window and says he’ll drop him unless he writes a confession.
*It seems that this would not hold up in court. But whatever.
*Brief appearance of Commissioner Gordon reading the note that Batman pinned to Frenchy Blake’s coat when he dropped him at the police station.
*Once again, it seems that Batman has no real villains to test his mettle against. It feels a little odd to see Batman fighting simple jewel thieves. But this is hardly the oddest thing he’s going to fight in his run, I suppose.
*Also, Body Count: 3.
Bill Finger, Bob Kane
*Next time, The Batman Meets Doctor Death! Yes, it’s the first SUPERVILLAIN! This will be spectacular! I hope.
Batman Chronology!