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Graded population
CGC records 49 graded copies for Detective Comics #28 (1939). Population is the number recorded by this grading source, not the total print run or all surviving copies.
The Bat-Man: "Frenchy Blake's Jewel Gang"
There is a series of daring jewel robberies that leave the police baffled. Bruce Wayne) impersonates Commissioner Gordon) to get information from a stool pigeon named Gimpy, who reveals that the culprits are a gang run by Frenchy Blake), and that their next target is the wealthy Vandersmiths.
That night, the Bat-Man waits on the Vandersmiths' rooftop. Two jewel thieves named Gloves and Ricky leave the apartment with their loot. The Bat-Man glides down and attacks Gloves with a flying kick. Ricky runs at the Bat-Man with a knife, so the Bat-Man kicks him off a roof to his death. Gloves draws a gun, so Bat-Man punches him out and takes the jewels. Two police officers arrive to investigate the dead body. The Bat-Man makes it seem as though he is trying to grab the jewels, so the police will think he is a criminal. They try to shoot at him, and he dives off the roof. The Bat-Man does a somersault in mid-air and lands on a rooftop below. Then he takes out a silk rope from his belt and lassos a nearby flagpole. The police are amazed to see the Bat-Man easily swinging to safety.
Newspapers announce that the Bat-Man is head of the gang of jewel thieves. Frenchy Blake believes this is a good thing, as the police will be watching for the Bat-Man instead of him. Blake begins planning his next move. Meanwhile, the Bat-Man is listening outside. He made the police think he was a criminal so Frenchy Blake would act like he wasn't being watched. Frenchy sends Slick and two other henchman to rob the Norton household. The Bat-Man swings through a very large open window and knocks one of them out with a kick. The second one tackles him from behind, and he throws him off. Then he knocks out Slick with a punch to the face. The Bat-Man calls Commissioner Gordon to leave a tip, and leaves using his rope again.
The Bat-Man arrives at Frenchy Blake's apartment, where Frenchy is playing solitaire. Frenchy mistakenly believes he is Slick and lets him in. The Bat-Man gives Frenchy a right jab, then ties him up with the rope, and hangs him outside the window. The Bat-Man demands a written confession, otherwise he will cut the rope and let Frenchy fall to his death. Frenchy agrees and signs a confession. Frenchy tries to attack the Bat-Man one more time, but the Bat-Man beats him until he's begging for mercy. Then the Bat-Man puts Frenchy in his car and drops him off in front of the police station. He is picked up by an Officer Kelly, who finds the stolen jewels and a note on Frenchy's body. Commissioner Gordon reads the note from the Bat-Man, which explains that this was a favor to the Police Department.
Creative credits
Writers: Bill Finger, Homer Fleming, Jerry Siegel, Jim Chambers, Tom Hickey, Sax Rohmer, Sven Elven, Jerry Siegel
Interior art: Bob Kane, Fred Guardineer, Homer Fleming, Wayne Boring, Jim Chambers, Tom Hickey, Leo O'Mealia, Sven Elven, Joe Shuster
Source records & attribution
Panel Profits keeps each source identity attached to its edition record.
COMICBASE: comicbase:342902
GCD: 458