Slam Bradley - Publication History

Publication History

Detective was originally an anthology comic; Slam's adventures continued despite Batman's debut in #27, through World War II and beyond, finally ending in Detective Comics #152 (October, 1949). The feature was replaced by Roy Raymond, TV Detective. Bradley would not make another significant appearance for over 32 years and his sidekick Morgan disappeared completely.

Slam's first appearance after his run in Detective Comics ended in 1949 was in Detective Comics #500, cover-dated March 1981. Bradley (with graying sideburns) assisted in "The Too Many Cooks... Caper!", about a fellow retiring detective's murder; the story featured other DC detectives, such as Jason Bard, Pow-Wow Smith, Roy Raymond, TV detective; the Human Target; and Mysto, Magician detective.

Slam returned in Detective Comics #572 (the 50th anniversary issue), teaming up with Batman, Robin, Elongated Man, and Sherlock Holmes.

He later appeared in the Superman titles in the 1990s, working for the Metropolis Police Department. However, this incarnation of the character was short-lived. When an older Slam Bradley re-appeared in Detective Comics, it was explained that the Metropolis character was Slam Bradley Jr.

Slam's brother Biff appeared in Tim Truman's 1998 Guns of the Dragon miniseries, which was set in the 1920s. In that story, Bradley teamed up with older versions of Bat Lash and Enemy Ace for an adventure on Dinosaur Island. Originally, Slam was slated to appear, but another editor had plans for Slam. Hence, his heretofore unknown brother Biff was substituted. At the end of the series, Biff sacrifices his life to stop the villainous Vandal Savage, although Savage would return many times later.

In 2001, Bradley returned to Detective Comics when writer Ed Brubaker and artist Darwyn Cooke revived the character in the four-part serial "Trail of the Catwoman" which ran in Detective Comics #759-762. Bradley investigates the death of Selina Kyle and in the process runs afoul of the Batman. The current incarnation of the character is a former police officer in his late 50s who has always worked in Gotham City, (contradicting the previous Cleveland, New York and Metropolis settings).

After Detective Comics #762, Bradley became a supporting cast member in the Catwoman ongoing series. He reveals that he has a son, Sam Bradley Jr., on the Gotham City Police Department. Sam Jr. and Selina Kyle engaged in a romantic relationship that produced Helena Kyle, Selina's daughter, thus making "Slam" Bradley the grandfather of Catwoman's daughter.

The character appears in Darwyn Cooke's 2003/2004 DC: The New Frontier as a private investigator working alongside Detective John Jones.

Slam appears in Darwyn Cooke's Solo #5.

Slam made his most recent appearance in a flashback in the story arc "Heart of Hush", where he was the primary detective in the murder of Thomas Elliot's father.