Detective Comics 36

"The F.B.I. is not going to get this book till I clear the Batman's name of suspicion of the murder of the G. man and solve the myster of the 'fog'! I think I'll sit tight, see what happens -- and then I'll act!"

- Bruce Wayne

"Batman", or, "Professor Hugo Strange" is the subtitle attributed to the first story featured in issue #40 of the Detective Comics comic book magazine, published by National Periodical Publications. The story was written by Bill Finger with artwork by Bob Kane, who also designed the cover art illustration for this issue. Jerry Robinson provided background pencils and lettering. This issue also features stories spotlighting Buck Marshall, Speed Saunders, Cosmo the Phantom of Disguise, Bruce Nelson and Slam Bradley. This issue shipped with a February, 1940 cover date and carries a cover price of .40 cents per copy.

"Professor Hugo Strange"
The Batman arrives too late to stop a drive-by shooting. Before the man perishes, he mutters the words "fog" and "strange". Batman later learns that the victim was a former G-man and that he was referencing the notorious scientific criminal, Professor Hugo Strange.

Meanwhile, Strange has kidnapped electrical engineer Henry Jenkins, and forces him to design a device that will generate a perpetual fog wherever he requires it. With the fog in place, Strange's men can commit crimes with added stealth and evade police capture.

Batman eventually tracks Hugo Strange down and battles his men. He rescues Henry Jenkins and destroys the fog generator. Hugo Strange is captured and taken to jail, but makes a vow to get revenge on Batman.

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Notes & Trivia

 * This is the first appearance of Professor Hugo Strange.