DETECTIVE COMICS #33

Publisher: Detective Comics, Inc. | Writer: Bill Finger and Gardner Fox Artist: Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff

COVER PRICE: $10 | CURRENT ESTIMATED VALUE: $500,000 (DEPENDENT ON CONDITION)

Retro Review

Debuting in November of 1939, what makes this issue extra special is the two-page spread the precedes nearly a dozen anthology stories. In the two-page story “How Batman Came to Be”, we finally get the origin of Batman that we know by heart decades later. We are introduced to Joe Chill as well as Thomas and Martha Wayne. This is arguably one of the most important issues in the establishment of the Batman mythology. Another interesting aspect is that for the first time we see that Batman has a special area 9.0/10 every movement. While that level of exposition was necessary to move the story along, it also made Batman look psychotic. All things considered, with Batman still in his infancy as a superhero, this is a fun issue. You can tell the art style is developing as are the depictions of action in the book. Batman as a character was developing into the hero that we know today. Sure, he was shot, used a gun himself and was concussed, but he was still Batman! inside of Wayne Manor that he uses to develop his weapons. It is a sort of proto-Batcave as readers were yet to be introduced to the Bat’s infamous hideout. For me, this issue highlights the importance of why Robin is introduced five issues later. Throughout the issue, Batman provides detailed exposition, detailing his every move and thought aloud. I can only imagine the criminals of Gotham City (actually, Gotham wasn’t introduced yet. Batman identifies the city he’s in as Manhattan) paralyzed with fear as a winged man came swooping down upon them to foil their dastardly schemes all the while explaining his