Publishers / DC / Detective Comics (1937) / #1
1March 1937
$0.10

Detective Comics #1

DC · March 1937 · on sale 1937-02-10

First appearance: Slam BradleyFirst appearance: Speed SaundersFirst appearance: Shorty MorganOrigin: Bart Regan
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series)
Issue
#1
Publication date
March 1937
Key date
1937-03-00
On-sale date
1937-02-10
Indicia publisher
Detective Comics Inc.
Price
$0.10
Pages
68

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Slam Bradley - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Speed Saunders - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Shorty Morgan - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Bart Regan - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Bruce Nelson - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Buck Marshall - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Sally Norris - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Gumshoe Gus - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Bret Lawton - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

Origin story on record for: Bart Regan.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1pencils: Vin Sullivan; inks: Vin SullivanSen Yoi
3The River Patrolcomic story6script: Creig Flessel; pencils: Creig Flessel; inks: Creig FlesselSpeed Saunders First
4The Rhangwa Pearlscomic story6script: Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson; pencils: Sven Elvén; inks: Sven Elvén; letters: Sven ElvenCosmo, the Phantom of Disguise First
5The Peruvian Mine Murders, Part 1comic story6pencils: Creig Flessel; inks: Creig FlesselBret Lawton First
6The Claws of the Red Dragon [Part 1]comic story13script: Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson; pencils: Tom Hickey; inks: Tom HickeyBruce Nelson First
7The Gotlotz Jewelscomic story4script: Bill Patrick; pencils: Bill Patrick; inks: Bill Patrick; letters: Bill PatrickGumshoe Gus First
8The Balinoff Case, Part 1comic story4script: Jerome Siegel; pencils: Joe Shuster; inks: Joe ShusterSally Norris First, Bart Regan First
9The Gotrox Pearlscomic story4script: Alger; pencils: Alger; inks: Alger; letters: Russell ColeEagle-Eyed Jake (introduction); Mrs. Gotrox (introduction); Hammock Jones (detective); Hortense
10-cartoon1script: Fred Schwab; pencils: Fred Schwab; inks: Fred Schwab; letters: Fred SchwabGus; Inspector Schmaltz; Reilly
11The Bar S Rustlerscomic story6script: Homer Fleming; pencils: Homer Fleming; inks: Homer FlemingBuck Marshall First
12The Streets of Chinatowncomic story13script: Jerome Siegel; pencils: Joe Shuster; inks: Joe ShusterSlam Bradley First, Shorty Morgan First
13Next Month: A Big Second Helping!promo (ad from the publisher)0.67pencils: Joe Shuster; inks: Joe Shuster
14-credits, title page0.33letters: typeset

Plus 3 pages of advertisements and other matter across 3 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Action Comics [ashcan] #11937On eBay ›
The Greatest Golden Age Stories Ever Told #[nn]
ISBN 0-930289-57-9		1990On eBay ›
Millennium Edition: Detective Comics 1 #[nn]2001On eBay ›
The Comic Book in America: An Illustrated History #[nn]
ISBN 0-87833-659-1		1989On eBay ›
DC Comics Before Superman: Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson's Pulp Comics #[nn]
ISBN 9781613451649		2018On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Golden-age paper is brittle. Ask about page suppleness and check edges for chips in the photos.
  • Check for trimmed edges, married covers, and clipped coupons - all common on books this old.
  • Confirm the indicia matches this plate; many golden-age titles changed names mid-run.

Series context

1 of 883#2 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com