Published; May 1977
Cover by Jim Aparo

Title: “…By Death’s Eerie Light!”
Synopsis: An investigation into what’s making the people of Gotham City sick brings Batman into battle with Doctor Phosphorus.

Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciler: Walter Simonson
Inker: Al Milgrom

Review: When recalling Steve Englehart’s critically acclaimed run on Detective Comics, it is usually Marshall Rogers’ iconic Batman that comes to mind. The writer’s tenure actually started two issues earlier with pencils from Walter Simonson. Unfortunately, Al Milgrom is the wrong inker for Simonson, degrading the art from stylish to serviceable.

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Title: “The Origin of Dr. Phosphorus”
Synopsis: Backdoor deals and Gotham City politics lead to an accident at a nuclear plant – and the creation of Doctor Phosphorus!

Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciler: Walter Simonson
Inker: Al Milgrom

Review: This short back story offers a glimpse at the Gotham politics that would become a signature of Steve Englehart’s run.

Grade: B

Second opinion: Included on Alan Brightmore’s “Individual Comics That You Should Not Be Without” list, from “A Consumer’s Guide to D.C. Comics, Part 2,” Comics Unlimited #51 (October-November 1979).

Cool factor: Walter Simonson could have been an iconic Batman artist…
Not-so-cool factor: …but not with Al Milgrom inking.

Notable: First appearance of Doctor Phosphorus and Rupert Thorne. According to the annual statement of ownership on the “Batman’s Hot-Line” letters page, Detective Comics had an average total paid circulation of 148,000 for the 12 months preceding October 1, 1976.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue.

Character quotable: “I’ve poisoned their bodies with mine – by soaking in their water!” – Doctor Phosphorus (umm, ewww!)

Copyright ©2026 Off the Wahl Productions, all rights reserved. Each week, T. Andrew Wahl offers up a Bronze Age Minute for Scoop. For more reviews like this one, check out Wahl’s website, offthewahl.com.