Comic Title: Detective Comics #38
Publisher: DC (Detective Comics, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: April 1940
Approx. On Sale Date: March 5, 1940 Copyright Date March 6, 1940
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1940
Until 1958 DC did not report actual on sale dates to the copyright office
The publication dates listed in LoC records are NOT release dates.

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 64
Editor: Fredric Whitney Ellsworth

Title: "Robin the Boy Wonder"
Pages: 12

Feature(s):
Batman (of Earth-2)

Writer: Bill Finger
Penciller: Bob Kane
Inker: Jerry Robinson

Reprinted In:
Batman from the 30s to the 70s HC (1972)
Secret Origins #7 (1974)
Detective Comics #27 [Oreo Premium] (1984)
Batman Archives Vol. 1 HC (1990)
Detective Comics Special Reprint #38 [Blockbuster Premium] (1995)
Detective Comics #38 [Toys R Us Premium] (1997)
Millennium Edition:Detective Comics 38 (#18) (2000)
Batman in the Forties TPB (2004)
Detective Comics (DC Direct Robin) #38 (2004)
Batman Chronicles Vol. 1 TPB (2005)
Robin, the Boy Wonder:A Celebration of 75 Years HC (2015)
Batman:The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2016)
Batman:The Golden Age Vol. 1 TPB (2016)
Detective Comics:80 Years of Batman HC (2019)
Detective Comics 80th Anniversay Giant #1 [Walmart Exclusive] (2019)
Detective Comics (Facsimile Edition) #38 (2020)
Robin:80 Years of the Boy Wonder HC (2020)
Detective Comics (Facsimile Edition) #38 [Second Printing] (2023)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Detective Comics #37; next appearance in Batman #32)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (Dick Grayson; origin and first appearance; next appearance in Batman #32)

Villain(s)

• Boss Zucco (a gangster; no further appearances)
• Blade and several other gangsters (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• John and Mary Grayson (trapeze artists; die in this story; no further appearances)
• Mr. Haly (a circus owner; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
When a circus owner, Mr. Haly, is confronted by gangsters working a protection racket, he refuses to pay. His star attraction, the Flying Graysons are killed the following night in an "accident" with the trapeze. The Grayson’s young son, Dick, has overheard the gangsters and plans to go to the police, but Batman, who attended the show as Bruce Wayne, takes the boy instead.

Batman trains Dick in the art of crimefighting. Dick already possesses acrobatic skill and ability. When he is ready, Dick dons a red and green costume and appears as Batman’s sidekick, Robin the Boy Wonder.

Batman begins smashing the establishments of the head gangster, Boss Zucco. Angered by the Caped Crusader’s interference, Zucco plans to destroy a constuction site. Robin arrives and battles Zucco and his men. Batman arrives as well and together they gain enough evidence to send Zucco to the electric chair. Robin agrees to stay on permanently as Batman’s partner.