The 14th appearance of The Batman took place in the May 1940 issue of Detective Comics Issue 39. This is the first issue of Detective Comics that takes place after Batman gets his solo series. The cover actually better depicts a scene from the prior issue of Detective Comics rather than issue 39.
This issue finds Batman fighting against a Chinese drug cartel bringing opium into the United States and enslaving Chinese immigrants as well as others with the drug. The cult, which sadly contains a lot of racialized Chinese stereotypes, worships in front of a giant green jade idol statue which Batman will use to kill several of them with… yes, Batman, after giving it a rest for a few issues, is about to kill people again. In fact, he mass kills this time- 7 in one issue!
Batman is investigating a murder where the murder weapon was a Chinese hatchet. Batman follows up by visiting a Chinese alley of his whom he finds murdered as well. With his last dying moment, he scratches “Pier 3” onto the desk where he is sitting. A location for Batman to investigate. Then, a hatchet from off panel is hurled at Batman’s head.
Robin, disobeying Batman’s orders again to remain home, has followed Batman and discovers what has happened. He trails Batman to a warehouse at Pier 3 where Batman has been knocked out during a fight with one of the Chinese henchmen.
Robin again used his slingshot to fight off foes as he tries to locate and help Batman at the warehouse.
Ultimately, the entire Chinese gang (called The Green Dragon) are all together in a room where they are getting commands from their leader. Batman sneaks in behind the giant jade stone idol and pushes it off onto the crowd killing at least seven of them.
Neither Bruce Wayne nor Dick Grayson (Batman and Robin) are too bothered by all the murder. One of the closing panels even shows a Chinese murder and child “praying” for the well-being of Batman because he has helped them escaped the dangers of drugs. The war on drugs begins in the pages of Detective Comics, I guess. The last panel tells us we are about to see the return of Clayface!
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The Batman Timeline and Chronology:
03-30-1939: 1st Appearance of The Batman & Commissioner Gordon. Detective Comics issue 27.
06-1939: Batman swings from building to building with a rope for the first time. Detective Comics issue 28.
07-1939: The Utility Belt is used for the first time.
09-1939: Fiancée Julie Madison is introduced. First Bat-Copter / Bat-Plane
10-1939: Batman uses a gun to kill The Monk.
11-1939: Batman kills Dr. Kruger by causing his plane to crash after knocking him out with gas. Origin of Batman.
12-1939: Batman is depicted holding a smoking gun. Commissioner Gordon returns.
02-1940: First appearance of Prof. Hugo Strange.
04-1940: First appearance of Robin (Dick Grayson). Robin kills a mobster.
04-1940: First appearance of the Joker and Catwoman (AKA: The Cat).
Batman Kill Count: 14
Robin Kill Count: 1
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