Cover: Neal Adams

Detective Comics #407

Jan 1971 · DC · 0.15 USD

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“Marriage: Impossible”

About this Issue

Detective Comics #407 closes out what collectors and historians recognize as the original three-part Man-Bat story arc—a tightly self-contained tragedy of science gone wrong that began in #400 and escalated in #402. Its most durable contribution to DC mythology is the first appearance of She-Bat: Francine Lee voluntarily drinks the bat-gland extract to prove her devotion to Kirk Langstrom, transforming herself into a female Man-Bat and becoming the second character in comics history to carry that mutation. The issue also demonstrates the Early Bronze Age editorial philosophy under Julius Schwartz of grounding Batman villains in genuine pathos rather than camp, and the combination of Frank Robbins's script with Neal Adams's Gothic-realist pencils gave the character a horror-movie weight—Adams's ability to render the creature as genuinely frightening rather than absurd is a touchstone collectors and critics still cite when discussing how Bronze Age Batman recovered its dark identity.

In "Marriage: Impossible," Batman interrupts a wedding at a cathedral after learning that Kirk Langstrom is about to marry Francine Lee, setting off a tense confrontation that puts his detective instincts to the test. Written by Frank Robbins and brought to life with striking clarity by Neal Adams—both interior art and cover—this 1971 issue captures a rare moment of personal drama in the Dark Knight’s world, with Dick Giordano’s inks and John Costanza’s lettering adding depth to the mood.

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writer Frank Robbins · artist Neal Adams · inker Dick Giordano · letterer John Costanza · cover Neal Adams

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FN+ $41.25 FN $45 VG $48 FN $49.96 FN $50 FN/VF $50.96 FN $52.93 CGC 3.5 $59.95

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History

The lead story, 'Marriage: Impossible,' was scripted by Frank Robbins and penciled by Neal Adams with inks by Dick Giordano, under the editorship of Julius Schwartz—the same creative quartet responsible for Man-Bat's debut in Detective Comics #400. The cover date is January 1971, with an on-sale date of November 25, 1970. The Batgirl backup, 'One of Our Landmarks Is Missing!,' was written by Robbins with pencils by Gil Kane and inks by Vince Colletta; Batgirl had held the backup slot to herself starting with #404, following an earlier rotation with Robin that began in #384. The letters column in this issue features a notably early submission from future Batman writer Alan Brennert alongside comic-book historian Arlen Schumer, a small piece of editorial serendipity noted by multiple fan historians.

Trivia · 7 facts

First appearance of She-Bat: Francine Lee (later Francine Langstrom) takes the bat-gland extract herself and transforms, debuting the female Man-Bat identity that would recur throughout the Bronze Age and beyond.
Third overall appearance of Man-Bat (Kirk Langstrom), following his debut in Detective Comics #400 (June 1970) and second appearance in Detective Comics #402 (August 1970).
Lead story 'Marriage: Impossible' — writer: Frank Robbins; pencils: Neal Adams; inks: Dick Giordano; letters: John Costanza; editor: Julius Schwartz.
Backup story 'One of Our Landmarks Is Missing!' (Batgirl / Barbara Gordon) — writer: Frank Robbins; pencils: Gil Kane; inks: Vince Colletta; letters: John Costanza; editor: Julius Schwartz.
Cover art by Neal Adams; cover lettering by Gaspar Saladino.
The Batgirl backup 'One of Our Landmarks Is Missing!' was later reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1.
The letters column ('Batman's Hot Line') contains an early letter of comment from Alan Brennert, who would later write Batman stories for DC, alongside comic-book historian Arlen Schumer.