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Batman: The Golden Age #4 cover
Cover: Evan "Doc" Shaner

Batman: The Golden Age #4

Apr 2018 · DC · 29.99 USD; 39.99 CAD
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About this Collection

This volume collects Batman stories from the late 1940s, including issues of Batman, Detective Comics, and World's Finest Comics. It features classic adventures with the Joker, Penguin, and Two-Face, as well as early appearances of characters like the Riddler and Catwoman. The collection showcases the post-war evolution of the Dark Knight's world, with a focus on mystery and crime-fighting in Gotham City.

In "The Crimes of Two-Face!", Batman takes a bold new approach to outsmarting Gotham’s underworld by posing as the mysterious "Bad News" Brewster, undercutting the Penguin’s deadly crime-for-hire scheme with his own pre-planned operations. Written by Don C. Cameron and brought to life with sharp, classic flair by artists Jack Burnley and Ray Burnley, this Golden Age-inspired tale blends cunning strategy with the era’s signature tension. The cover, by Evan "Doc" Shaner, captures the noir intrigue of the story’s high-stakes game of deception.

Contains 28 stories
The Crimes of Two-Face!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Superman [Clark Kent] (image)Gilda (Harvey Kent's fiancee, a sculptress, introduction)Dr. EkhartTwo-Face [Harvey Kent] [aka "Apollo" Kent] (villain, introduction, origin)Boss Moroni (villain)Joe (villain, death)

In "The Crimes of Two-Face!" from Batman: The Golden Age #4, a courtroom tragedy transforms District Attorney Harvey Kent into a criminal obsessed with duality, his every scheme dictated by the flip of a two-headed silver dollar. When acid scars one side of his face, the man once dedicated to justice becomes a mastermind whose crimes are ruled by chance and the number two.

Brothers in Crime!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Rafferty Brothers [Peter (death)Steve (death)Mike (death)] (villains)

In "Brothers in Crime!" from Batman: The Golden Age #4, Batman and Robin stumble upon a bullet-proof vest in their trophy room, a relic from a past case involving the Rafferty Brothers—one of whom, Peter, was wrongly implicated in a murder. The discovery reignites old memories and raises questions about loyalty, justice, and the blurred lines between brotherhood and crime.

The Wizard of Words!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Commissioner James Gordonun-namewd bankerun-named District Attorneyun-named Mayorthe Joker (villain)Slapsy (villain)

In "The Wizard of Words!" from Batman: The Golden Age #4, Batman faces a twisted new threat as the Harlequin of Hate turns everyday slang into deadly actions, weaponizing the language of the streets. With each phrase spoken, the criminal's schemes unfold in real time—forcing the Dark Knight to outthink a villain who speaks in the very words we use every day.

They Thrill to Conquer!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Ben "Fearless" Ford (stunt man)Nan Ford (Ben's wife)Tommy Ford (Ben and Nan's son)Joe Kirk (villain)Duke (villain)
Around the Clock with the Batman!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]un-named Mayor of Gotham CityMr. Hodge (art connoisseur)Frankie (little boy with infantile paralysis)Margie (villain)"Heist" Andrews (villain)

In "Around the Clock with the Batman!", Gotham City throws a festive "Batman Day" to honor the Dark Knight’s many heroic deeds, while Bruce Wayne finds himself drawn into the very moments that inspire the final pages of his memoir. As the city celebrates, the night unfolds with mystery, motion, and the quiet resolve that defines Gotham’s guardian.

The North Pole Crimes!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Commissioner James GordonCal Daly (introduction)Curly (introduction, death)Angles Bigbee (villain, introduction)The Snow Man Bandits (villains, introduction for all)Ray (villain, introduction)

In "The North Pole Crimes!" from Batman: The Golden Age #4, a mysterious gang of criminals strikes under the Arctic ice, leaving behind a single, unsettling clue: a snowman at each crime scene. With the frozen wilderness hiding more than just cold, Batman and Robin must unravel the chilling pattern before the next blizzard strikes.

Crime's Early Bird!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Sing Hi Lo (stage performer)Mr. Gemly (jewel collector, death)The Penguin [Oswald Cobblepotalso as I. Waddle] (villain)Louie the Lip (villain)Hotfoot Harry (villain)

In "Crime's Early Bird!" from Batman: The Golden Age #4, the Penguin leverages his bird-themed shop to orchestrate a series of clever crimes, turning feathered friends into criminal tools. When Batman notices the pattern, he adapts—turning the bird motif against its master in a battle of wits and strategy.

The Man Who Led a Double Life!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Commissioner James GordonGilda (Harvey's fiancee)Henry Logan (matchstick object collector)Henry Logan's doubleGotham City's Mayora mask makermask maker's sonTwo-Face [Harvey Kent] (villain)Al (villain)"Getaway" George (villain)Two-Face's criminal combine (villains)
The Batman Plays a Lone Hand!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Commissioner James GordonThe Penguin [Oswald Cobblepot] (villain, cameo)The Joker (villain, cameo)The Thumb (villain, introduction)Thumb's henchmen (villains)

In "The Batman Plays a Lone Hand!", Dick finds himself abruptly cast out from Wayne Manor when Bruce coldly kicks him out—leaving the Boy Wonder bewildered and alone. With no warning and no explanation, Dick must face a mystery that’s as personal as it is dangerous, unaware that the real threat is not just out there, but tied to the very person he trusted most.

Comedy of Tears!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Commissioner James GordonJohnny Blake (student)Joe BradyMr. van GildJoe DiMaggio (cameo)Jerry Siegel (cameo)Artemus Bigby (author)The Joker (villain)Bruiser (villain)Pretty Boy Dugan (villain)
The Story of the Seventeen Stones!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Commissioner James GordonMason (reformed villain, architect, introduction)Brenner (reformed villain, diamond cutter)Parks (reformed villain)Rocky Grimes (villain, introduction, death)Lefty Slade (villain, introduction, death)"Fin" Gonzy (villain, loan shark, introduction, death)
Destination Unknown!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Detective GuffeyCommissioner James GordonClyde Clayborn (collector of oddities)Miss Hibbs (Clayborn's Secretary)Mr. Fortesque (man in an iron lung, actually a wax dummy)John Keyes (innocent prisoner)Ken Thorne (President of the railroad)Trigger Turk (villain, introduction)Biff Bolton (villain, introduction)

In "Destination Unknown!" from Batman: The Golden Age #4, a pair of criminals disguised as a doctor and his nurse take a sinister route aboard a train, their target a condemned man en route to the gas chamber—only to reveal their true intentions in a chilling twist. Written by a team known for their sharp storytelling, the story unfolds with tense precision, turning a routine transfer into a deadly game of shadows and deception.

The Harlequin's Hoax!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Commissioner James GordonLinda PageCharles SaundersMr. FordneyRichard MorseJim BrownThe Joker (villain)Joker's henchmen (villains)
The Man Who Could Read Minds!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Carlo (villain, death)

In "The Man Who Could Read Minds!", a sideshow swami gains the uncanny ability to foresee every move—before it's made—after a mysterious accident. Now, with his mind a step ahead of even the Dark Knight and his partner, the truth about the Dynamic Duo's identities hangs in the balance.

The Case Batman Failed to Solve!!!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Commissioner James GordonDana Drye (detective, death)Sheriff Ezra PlunkettDr. TsuGrace Seers (detective, writer)Sir John Bart (of Scotland Yard)Graves Gang (villains, flashback)Red Rip (villain, gangland monarch)

In "The Case Batman Failed to Solve!!!", Batman finds himself at a prestigious detective conference when famed sleuth Dana Drye is murdered in front of a room full of the world’s sharpest minds—leaving the Dark Knight to confront a mystery even he can’t crack.

Prescription for Happiness!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Doctor A. B. Chalmers (Pharmacist)LucyPatton (Policeman)Alphonse Gibbs"One Round" Rickey (boxer)Dr. Roy AinsleeMary MillerPills Mattson (villain, introduction)Varney (villain)

When Old Doc Chalmers’ clinic is destroyed in a violent clash with crooks who used it as a hideout, the once-compassionate healer finds himself adrift—his life’s work reduced to rubble. Now, with nothing left but memories and a stubborn will to help, he must navigate a world that’s forgotten the man behind the apron.

Swastika over the White House!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Mr. McCoy (newsreel Editor)Matt Carson (cameraman)Tom Starr (cameraman)J. Peerless Morton (millionaire)Morton's butlerCount Felix [aka the Leader] (villain, introduction)Fritz Hoffner [Fred Hopper] (villain, amateur movie photographer)Heinrich (villain)Adolf Hitler (villain, image only)

In "Swastika over the White House!" from Batman: The Golden Age #4, a shadowy Nazi operative uses his position as a photographer to sneak into America’s most guarded defense plants, planting secrets that could turn the tide of war. With the fate of the nation hanging in the balance, Batman must uncover the spy before the sabotage begins—before the swastika truly rises over the White House.

Bargains in Banditry!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Waynealso as "Bad News" Brewster]Robin [Dick Grayson]un-named National Bank PresidentJerry (Policeman)The Penguin [Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot] (villain)Torchy Blaize (villain, death)Hairless Harry Hix (villain, death)Slippery Elmer (villain)Glitter Gleason (villain, jewel their)

In "Bargains in Banditry!", The Penguin reinvents crime with a cut-rate underworld marketplace—offering pre-planned heists at steep prices, all while keeping every penny and every life for himself. To stop him, Batman slips into the shadows as "Bad News" Brewster, undercutting the Penguin with even lower prices—turning the criminal economy against itself.

A Crime a Day!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Mrs. SmytheEditor of the Gotham GazetteThe Joker (villain)Joker's henchmen (villains)

In "A Crime a Day!" from Batman: The Golden Age #4, the Joker challenges Batman’s reputation by turning the detective’s own tactics against him—leaving a trail of clues that not only stump the Dark Knight and Robin but make them look like the real criminals. Written by a team known for their sharp storytelling, this 13-page tale flips the script on Gotham’s most infamous duo with a game of wits that keeps the stakes high and the tension tight.

Brothers in Law!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]John O'Brien (introduction, a G-Man, death)Tim O'Brien (introduction)Nick O'Brien (introduction)The Little Corporal [Little Nap Boyd] (villain, introduction)Slim (villain)

In "Brothers in Law!" from Batman: The Golden Age #4, the O'Brien brothers navigate a fractured bond as they pursue justice for their father’s death—each driven by grief but divided by their methods. Written by a noted hand and illustrated with period-accurate flair, the story unfolds in a world where law and vengeance blur, leaving the brothers at odds in their quest for the truth.

License for Larceny
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Commissioner James GordonJ. Spencer Larson [Larry the Judge] (villain, investment broker)Second Story Sam (villain)Iron Jaw (villain)Gas-Pipe Grogan (villain)Bigfoot (villain)Muggsy (villain)Lefty (villain)Shorty (villain)Tommy the Twitch (villain)

In "License for Larceny," Batman and Robin face a cunning foe who hides behind a veneer of respectability: the financier Larry the Judge, a mastermind orchestrating a twisted scheme to license only elite crimes. With the stakes rising, the duo must outwit a criminal who’s turned the law itself into a weapon—before a deadly license is issued to eliminate them both.

Your Face Is Your Fortune!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Linda PageMiss Lord (salon customer)Mrs. Gild (salon customer)The Catwoman [Selina Kylea.k.a. Elva Barr] [also as Mrs. Arnold] [also as Mrs. Leroy] (villain)Deadshot Mike [aka Jim Jones] (villain)

In "Your Face Is Your Fortune!", Selina Kyle, posing as a contestant in a glamorous beauty pageant, finds herself drawn to Bruce Wayne—her fellow judge—while secretly balancing her life as a salon worker and a budding thief. As her feelings for Wayne grow, she confides in Batman, revealing a rare moment of vulnerability: she'd abandon her criminal path if only she knew she had a real chance with him.

The Boy Who Wanted to Be Robin!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Commissioner James GordonBobby Deen (homeless bootblack)Knuckles Conger (villain, introduction)Spike (villain)
The Two Futures
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Professor Rainier (historian)Professor ProeProfessor ConBobby LoganThe Nazis (villains)The Japanese (villains)
The Loneliest Men in the World
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Commissioner James GordonSanta ClausBen Botts (doorman)Mr. RockmakerMr. Zang (owner of the Crane Club)Link Chesney (radio humorist)Tom Wick (lighthouse keeper)Dirk Dagner (villain, introduction)Spike (villain)
The Scarecrow Returns
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Linda PageCrusher Conger (villain, wrestler)Samson Saxe (villain, wrestler)The Scarecrow [Jonathan Crane] (villain)Muggsy (villain)

In "The Scarecrow Returns," former teacher Professor Jonathan Crane unleashes a chilling game of wordplay, using simple phrases to signal his crimes—leaving Batman and Robin to unravel the clues after school. With the city on edge and the scarecrow's shadow looming, the dynamic duo must outthink the mind behind the madness before the next word is spoken.

Tweedledum and Tweedledee!
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]MontmorencyTweedledum [Deever Tweed] (villain, introduction)Tweedledee [Dumfree Tweed] (villain, introduction)Slug (villain)Tony (villain)Sparks (villain)

In "Tweedledum and Tweedledee!" from Batman: The Golden Age #4, Batman and Robin confront a pair of plump, peculiar villains whose elaborate traps are set to catch unsuspecting victims—each one a twisted mirror of the other. With their matching silhouettes and synchronized schemes, the duo presents a challenge that tests the Dynamic Duo’s wit as much as their strength.

Crime of the Month
13 pp · Superhero
Batman [Bruce Wayne]Robin [Dick Grayson]Bramwell B. Bramwell (villain, introduction)Bright Guy Warner (villain, introduction)Slim Ryan (villain, introduction)Chopper Gant (villain, introduction)Muscles Hardy (villain, introduction)

In "Crime of the Month," Gotham’s four most notorious crime bosses are lured to Mystery Castle by the enigmatic Bramwell B. Bramwell, who proposes a twisted contest to settle once and for all who truly masters the art of crime—himself or the city’s elite criminals. With high stakes and no rules, the challenge begins, and the line between mastermind and menace blurs in this pulse-pounding tale from Batman: The Golden Age #4.

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Full credits

artist, inker Jack Burnley
letterer Betty Bentley
cover pencils, inks Evan "Doc" Shaner

Reprints

↩ Reprints Batman #12 (1942), Detective Comics #66 (1942), Detective Comics #67 (1942), Batman #13 (1942), Detective Comics #68 (1942), World's Finest Comics #7 (1942), World's Finest Comics #8 (1942), Detective Comics #69 (1942), Batman #14 (1942), Detective Comics #70 (1942), Detective Comics #71 (1943), Batman #15 (1943), Detective Comics #72 (1943), Detective Comics #73 (1943), Detective Comics #74 (1943), World's Finest Comics #9 (1943)

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