Detective Comics #47
December 4, 1940
(Money Can't Buy Happiness)
Interestingly enough, Detective Comics came out twice for the final month of 1940. The second issue came out just in time for New Year's Eve. But for this issue, you'd almost think it was going to be a Christmas story as there is a bit of a moral lesson with a story that wasn't the typical Batman story.
It opens as usual with Batman stopping a heist of a truckload of furs. It ends with Batman swinging high over the city streets as he escapes from the approaching police. It's a beautiful shot, reminding me of Spider-Man.
Batman returns home and for the first time, we get a hint of what will eventually be the Batcave as he enters an abandoned barn, goes through a trapdoor and journeys down a tunnel to emerge in his own home where Dick is waiting for him.
The next day, Bruce visits his financial advisor, Harvey Midas. (Side note - The writers seemed to have an obsession with the name Harvey as it has been the name of various characters in the last several books. And we know...). Midas is a strict businessman, not wanting to waste any time with niceties. He brushes off his adult son, Roger, who wants to go see a football game with his father. His motto - "Business before pleasure."
Now, I don't know about you, but while it is a messed up father-son relationship, I wouldn't call it a "case". And yet, Batman decides it is and proceeds to spy on the family that night. He learns of Diane, Roger's sister, who is interested in a clerk in her father's office, which the mother scoffs at because he is beneath the station of the family.
Bruce follows Roger to various night spots where he sees Roger losing large amounts of money at the wheel while also demonstrating a skill with the clarinet. Roger reveals he wants to head a band, but his father will not let him as it is beneath his station.
The newspapers then declare the debut of Diane to society, quickly followed by her engagement to a defunct European count who is only in it for the money. Bruce feels helpless as he sees this all unfolding.
One night, Batman sees a drunken Roger get behind the wheel of his car with several unsavory types. He spooks and drives off in a hurry, not paying attention to the road in front of him. He runs over a newspaper boy, crippling him, and continues driving away.
The men in the car blackmail Roger saying they will turn him in if he doesn't pay them $5,000. Batman tries to convince Midas from paying it, but the socially aware business consultant is more concerned with appearances and figures it's worth it.
Meanwhile, Robin is watching over Diane who is giving the news to her husband she is leaving him for her lover. She departs and the count determines he must do to her what he did to his first wife. It sounds ominous, but we quickly learn that the count plans to simply rob the Midas'.
The robbery is to go down at 8pm the next night while the extortion money is to be delivered at 10pm. The Dynamic Duo have their work cut out for them if they are going to stop both events from happening.
That night, the two stop the robbery with ease. We even get Robin using his sling to take out one of the robbers. The ruckus comes to the attention of the Midas parents. And while they are grateful to Batman and Robin for foiling the robbery, Harvey is determined to pay the blackmail money. Batman has no choice, but to stop it from happening.
They follow the Midas men to where they are delivering the money. The Dynamic Duo quickly take out the men, but not before two of them make an escape attempt and Roger is shot by one of them. Batman and Robin split up and both capture their target in a spectacular fashion. Batman takes the bleeding Roger to the Midas family doctor.
