No. 30
Date: August, 1939
Title: None?
Creative Team: Bob Kane
Story:
Doctor Death returns! A man dies from a strange disease and Bruce Wayne suspects Doctor Death is behind it. But isn't Death dead? Why, he must have somehow survived the fire from the last issue!
Disguised as a reporter, Wayne visits the widow who says her late husband received a death threat unless he paid up. However, the couple had lost most of their wealth in the Depression. The widow does admit that she still has a substantial collection of diamonds, though, and Wayne suspects the far-reaching hands of Doctor Death will return for them.
In an attempt to preempt such a possible theft, Batman returns to the widow's home that night to find the diamonds himself. Batman's suspicions were correct, as Death sends his Cossack henchman Mikhail to retrieve the diamonds. A fight between Batman and Mikhail ensues with Batman, of course, victorious. But he leaves the diamonds with the unconscious Mikhail so he can follow the thug back to his employer.
Batman follows Mikhail to Ivan Herd's pawn shop and then to the Cossack's own apartment. Searching the apartment, Batman finds nothing but trouble as another scuffle occurs between him and Mikhail. A kick to Mikhail's neck breaks it, presumably killing him, and ends the fight. Batman returns to the pawn shop to confront Ivan Herd. The pawn shop owner turns out to be Doctor Death with a mask and disguise concealing his severely burned face. Batman captures Doctor Death and leaves him and the diamonds for the police to find.
Notes:
Batman seems to kill yet again.
Batman does not appear on the cover of this issue.
His car is fancifully described as a “special built high-powered auto.”
Bruce Wayne's home is called Wayne Mansion.
Doctor Death is the first recurring enemy and described as Batman's “sworn enemy.” His unique methods and grotesque disfigurement could establish him as the first true super villain in Batman's rogues gallery.
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