Comic Title: Batman #59
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Jun/Jul 1950
Approx. On Sale Date: April 14, 1950 Copyright Date April 12, 1950
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1950
Until 1958 DC did not report actual on sale dates to the copyright office
The publication dates listed in LoC records are NOT release dates.

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 48
Editor: Jack Schiff

Title: "The Forbidden Cellar"
Pages: 10

Feature(s):
Batman (of Earth-2)

Artist: Jim Mooney

Reprinted In:
Batman:The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 7 HC (2019)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Batman #59; next appearance in Batman #59)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Batman #59; next appearance in Batman #59)
• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Batman #59; next appearance in Detective Comics #160)

Villain(s)

• Vincent and Perkins (a professor and his assistant; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• A college Board of Directors (William named; no further appearances)
• Phil East (a reporter; no further appearances)
• Lait (an honor student; no further appearances)
• Dean Hedge (head of a college; dies in this story; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
An eccentric millionaire leaves his estate to a local college. However, a legend surrounds the cellar which is said to contain evil. A reporter enters the cellar to disprove the legend only to be turned into a raving lunatic. The cellar quickly claims a second victim when a student goes inside.

Professor Vincent still believes the legend is nonsense. He enters the cellar and emerges a madman. While in a deranged state Vincent kills Dean Hedge. When the effect of the cellar wears off Vincent is not held accountable for his insane actions.

Batman enters the cellar next. He too comes out in a rage. However, Batman is faking. He is able to prove that Vincent staged the entire scenario to get away with murder. Hedge had discovered that Vincent was stealing from the college, so the professor killed him. The insanity was being caused by mushroom fumes planted by Vincent in the cellar. He and Batman both wore nose filters to protect themselves.