Detective Comics # 359 Facsimile Edition Cover C Carmine Infantino Foil Variant 2026 BN

Detective Comics #359 is a milestone Silver Age comic book published by DC Comics with a cover date of January 1967. It is universally renowned as a historic key issue because it features the very first appearance and origin story of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl.

The Main Story: "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!"

• The Origin: Written by Gardner Fox with legendary pencils by Carmine Infantino, the plot centers on Barbara Gordon, the brilliant librarian daughter of Police Commissioner James Gordon.
• The Accidental Hero: Barbara creates a female version of the Batman suit strictly to wear to a policeman's charity masquerade ball. On her way to the party, she intercepts the villainous Killer Moth attempting to kidnap Bruce Wayne.
• The Clash: Intervening to stop the kidnapping, she inadvertently allows Bruce the chance to slip away and change into his Batman gear. After teaming up with Batman and Robin to thwart Killer Moth's extortion plot, Barbara decides to pursue a permanent, official costumed life as Batgirl.

The Backup Story: "The Riddle of the Sleepytime Taxi"

• The Mystery: The issue splits its pages with a secondary feature starring The Elongated Man (Ralph Dibny) and his wife, Sue.
• The Plot: While traveling across town, the couple is knocked out by sleeping gas inside a taxi. Ralph uses his tracking skills and unique stretching powers to uncover a criminal ring using the "Sleepytime Cab Company" to rob wealthy customers.