Cover: Dick Sprang

Batman #19

Oct 1943 · DC · 0.10 USD

📊 ~132,147 copies sold its debut month

☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join free

In "Batman Makes a Deadline!", a 1943 classic from the Golden Age, Bruce Wayne’s sudden departure for a vacation sets off a chain of strange events when his lookalike begins treating Robin, Dick Grayson, with cold disdain. When a frantic radio call reveals the real Wayne has been kidnapped by a madman targeting millionaires and using impostors to carry out his schemes, the young partner must confront the deception—before it’s too late. Written by Joe Samachson and brought to life by Dick Sprang’s dynamic art, with Norm Fallon’s inks adding depth, this issue delivers a tense, early mystery with a twist that redefines loyalty. The cover by Dick Sprang captures the urgency of the moment, a striking image that perfectly frames the story’s high-stakes intrigue.

Contains 6 stories

Batman Makes a Deadline!

12 pp · Superhero

Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]unnamed newspaper City EditorLarry Spade (newspaper reporter, death)unnamed toy shop proprietorBig Ben Bolling (villain, introduction, death)Skylark Skelly (villain, death)Legs Lascomb (villain, death)Rattler (villain, death)

Atlantis Goes to War!

13 pp · Superhero

Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Ben Stunsel (introduction, death)Taro (Ruler of Atlantis, introduction)Lanya (Empress of Atlantis, Taro's sister, introduction)Kano (Atlantean High Priest, introduction)other unnamed AtlanteansAdmiral Von Buntz (villain, introduction)Captain Kurt Fritzl (villain, U-Boat Captain, introduction)unnamed Nazis (villains, introduction for all)

In "Atlantis Goes to War!" from Batman #19 (1943), Batman and Robin dive into a mystery when a Nazi submarine begins sabotaging Allied shipping—only to vanish without a trace. Their investigation leads them to an impossible discovery: the submarine’s hidden base lies beneath the ruins of lost Atlantis, a secret the Nazis have weaponized.

Untitled Humor story

1 pp · Humor, Military

Private Pete

The Case of the Timid Lion!

12 pp · Superhero

Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]unnamed zoo attendantThe Joker (villain)Mr. Lyon (villain)

In "The Case of the Timid Lion!" from Batman #19 (1943), a man named Mr. Lyon stirs chaos in Gotham by staging pranks and robberies—each marked with the Joker’s signature card, throwing the city into confusion and drawing the attention of Batman and Robin. The real Joker isn’t amused, and neither is the Dynamic Duo, as they race to untangle a mystery where the lion’s roar is a disguise for a far more cunning game.

Untitled Humor story

1 pp · Humor, Teen

Jerry the Jitterbug

Collector of Millionaires

13 pp · Superhero

Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Judge TowerRonnie Tower (the Judge's son)Carol Tower (Ronnie's sister, the Judge's daughter)Howard Prescott (millionaire)Miles Rockley (millionaire)Reginald Van Astor (millionaire)Ali (villain, introduction)Ali's gang of impersonators (villains)

In "Collector of Millionaires," Bruce Wayne’s sudden, cruel treatment of Dick Grayson raises alarms—especially when a frantic radio call reveals the real Wayne has been kidnapped by a madman who traps wealthy men and sends impostors to carry out his schemes. The story unfolds with a chilling twist, as the man who claims to be Bruce Wayne is anything but, and Dick must uncover the truth before the impostor’s game claims more victims.