Detective Comics #38 · 1940
A sensational character finds the spotlight.
Robin bursts through a paper hoop as Batman introduces his new partner. Explore the direct homages, parodies and later branches of this enduring debut composition.
The origin pointDetective Comics #38 · Bob Kane (pencils); Jerry Robinson (inks)
The original cover
Detective Comics #38
Robin bursts through a paper hoop as Batman introduces his new partner. Explore the direct homages, parodies and later branches of this enduring debut composition.
This catalog follows the original cover’s composition across published comics and announced editions. Trade dress, virgin, foil and sketch treatments are described in edition notes. Connecting sets identify their participating issues and panels.
Verified records have source support for the exact cover and target. Partial records retain attribution or edition gaps. Reprints, interior-scene homages, different targets and unresolved references are listed separately below.
Original cover establishing this lineage. Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson introduce Robin, bursting through a paper hoop while Batman looks on. April 1940 cover date. Image presentation: a clean digital reproduction of the original cover art.
Detective Comics #38 collection
Browse the lineage
- Homage entries
- 42
- Verified
- 31
- Qualified
- 11
Search by title, artist, publisher, character or edition. Entries may represent an individual panel or a documented connecting set; the count is not a count of unique complete panoramas.
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Research & releases · Reviewed October 19, 2026
New editions and open questions
No independently verified new Detective Comics #38 homage announced for future 2026/2027 release was found in targeted publisher/distributor and exact-phrase searches as of 2026-10-19. This is a bounded search result, not a claim that none exist. Do not label already-published 2025 Rogue Sun #25 as upcoming.
Undisclosed print quantities, ambiguous credits and conflicting edition dates remain identified as unknown. This catalog can grow as publishers, artists and collectors provide new evidence.
Reprints, interior-scene homages and references (2)
- Secret Origins #7
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
Research source ↗ - The Black Canary: Bird of Prey TP Unnumbered collected edition
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
Research source ↗
Research changes and source notes
- CL-DC38-0001: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0002: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0003: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0004: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0005: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0006: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0007: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0008: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0009: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0010: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0011: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0012: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0013: Reference / related edition
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0014: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0015: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0016: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0017: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0018: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0019: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0020: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0021: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0022: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0023: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0024: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0025: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0026: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0027: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0028: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0029: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0030: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0031: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0032: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0033: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0034: Reference / related edition
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0035: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0036: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0037: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0038: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0039: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0040: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0041: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0042: Cover homage
Research reviewed 2026-10-19. Unestablished edition claims remain unresolved; incentive ratios are order ratios, not print runs.
- CL-DC38-0043: Cover homage
Missing from supplied workbook; edition and visible figures independently reviewed. Exact on-sale day remains unconfirmed.
- CL-DC38-0044: Cover homage
Missing from supplied workbook; edition and visible figures independently reviewed. Exact on-sale day remains unconfirmed.
- DC Comics Presents Annual #3 (1984): Not added
Fan homage list incorrectly dates 1983 and suggests resemblance; exact 1984 Gil Kane cover shows an aerial fight of Superman/Captain Marvel/Captain Sivana without the DC38 circle introduction. Insufficient basis for addition.
- Secret Origins #19 (1987): Not added
Uncle Sam/Guardian composition uses historical Uncle Sam recruitment-poster imagery; fan list resemblance is insufficient to assert a DC38 homage. Keep as unverified candidate.
- Bluntman & Chronic #2 (1993?): Not added
Fan-list entry appears fictional/in-universe prop; actual distributed issue/edition not verified. Do not create a published catalog entry.
- Sharky #3C (1998?): Not added
Fan-list text-only variant lead; exact edition and image not independently verified.
- Detective Comics #38 facsimiles, replica and Toys R Us editions: Not added
Reproduce original art; reference reprints rather than fresh homage compositions.
The Lineage Dispatch
New discoveries,
straight from the archive.
