One Panel #157-160: Clothes Make the Man

From Batman: "The Case of the Ruby Idol" by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff, Dectetive Comics #35 (January 1940)

That's right, CLOTHES make the man. And maybe the odd accessory, like say, a BELT. But guns? No, guns don't make the man. And despite Zack Snyder having gone back in time to force Bob Kane to put a gun in Batman's hand in the splash panel just so he could make the movie he wanted, Batman uses no such gun in the story! WEIRD!

From The Flash: "The Terror of Goll" by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, Flash Comics #2 (February 1940)

Because Flash Comics features more than the Flash - Hawkman, Johnny Thunder and the Whip are all among its stars - I did the unthinkable and showed a panel from one of THOSE stories for Flash Comics #1. So I gotta give Jay Garrick his due this time. Where is he, anyway? In the ladies' dressing room? Uh... let's move on to some Quality titles.

From "Jane Arden" by Monte Barrett and Russell E. Ross, Feature Comics #29 (February 1940)

Some early paper dolls for comic strip characters. Amusingly, this issue's lead story had Doll Man strip down to some revealing underwear to pose as a small statue on a shelf. Maybe he could have worn Jane's paper clothes.

From Invisible Justice: "The Arson Robberies" by Art Pinajian, Smash Comics #7 (February 1940)

And over in Smash, the Invisible Justice shows us that a costume is important even if no one actually sees it. I mean, YOU know you're wearing it and it makes you feel GOOD!