Batman (comic book)

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Batman #1 Spring 1940 Art by Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson.
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Batman #1 Spring 1940 Art by Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson.

The DC Comics superhero Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. The character proved so popular that he was launched into his own self-titled comic book, Batman, released on April 25, 1940. Batman was advertised three weeks earlier, in Detective Comics #38, one month after the first appearance of Robin, the Boy Wonder. Batman first began being published quarterly, later bi-monthly until the late 1950s, and from then on to the present monthly. The series currently (as of December 2006) has reached issue #659.

Contents

[edit] Numbering & Annuals

[edit] Issue Number Issues

  • In 1994 #0 was released as part of the post-Zero Hour Zero Month (falling between #511 & 512).
  • The issue with a cover date of November 1998 was "#1,000,000" (falling between #559 & 560) part of the DC One Million crossover.

[edit] Annuals

Over the years 25 Annuals have been released in association with the Batman title.

[edit] Significant Issues

[edit] Important Arcs

[edit] Crossovers

  • Legends: #401 (November 1986): "Chapter 1: A Bird in the Hand..."
  • Zero Hour: #511.

[edit] First Historical Appearances

Character Issue Number Month/Year
The Joker #1 Spring, 1940
Catwoman as "The Cat" #1 Spring, 1940
Alfred Pennyworth #16 April-May, 1943
Mad Hatter #49 October-November, 1948
Deadshot #59 June/July, 1950
Mr. Freeze as "Mr. Zero" #121 February, 1959
Poison Ivy #181 June, 1966
Ra's al Ghul #232 June, 1971
Lucius Fox #307 January, 1979
Sarah Essen Gordon #404 February, 1987
Holly Robinson #404 February, 1987
Tim Drake (later Robin) #436 August, 1989
Shondra Kinsolving #486 February, 1992
Cassandra Cain (later Batgirl III): #567 July, 1999
David Cain #567 July, 1999
Hush #609 September, 2003

[edit] Collections

[edit] BATMAN only

  • Batman: The Dark Knight Archives (Five volumes) Collects issues from #1 (1940) - #20 (1943). [Volume 1 contains some Detective Comics.]
  • Batman: Year One: collects #404 - 407.
  • Batman: A Death in the Family: collects #426 - 429.
  • Batman: Hush (Two Volumes): collects #608 - 619.
  • Batman: Broken City: collects #620 - 625.
  • Batman: As the Crow Flies: collects #626 - 630.
  • Batman: Under the Hood(Two volumes): collects #635 - 641, 645 - 650 and the Annual #1(2006).

[edit] BATMAN (collected with DETECTIVE COMICS)

[edit] BATMAN-wide crossovers

[These are crossovers that include most - if not all - of the Batman related titles published at the times.]

  • Batman: Knightfall (Three volumes): includes #491 - 500, 509 - 510.
  • Batman: Prodigal: includes #512 - 514.
  • Batman: Contagion & Batman: Legacy: includes #539, 534 - 535.
  • Batman: Cataclysm & Batman: No Man's Land: includes #553 - 534, 563 - 569, 572 - 570.
  • Batman: Officer Down: includes #587.
  • Batman: Bruce Wayne, Murderer? & Batman: Bruce Wayne, Fugitive: include #599 - 600, 603, 605.
  • Batman: War Games & Batman: War Crimes: includes #631 - 633, 643 - 644.

[edit] With non-BATMAN titles

  • A Lonely Place of Dying: collects #440 - 442 with The New Titans #60 - 61.

[edit] External link

The Trade Paperback list

Batman
Creators: Bob Kane and Bill Finger • Other writers and artists
Supporting Characters: Robin (Tim Drake) • Nightwing (Dick Grayson) • Batgirl • Batwoman • Alfred Pennyworth • Lucius Fox • Barbara Gordon • Commissioner Gordon • Harvey Bullock
Villains: Bane • Catwoman • Clayface • Harley Quinn • Joker • Killer Croc • Mr. Freeze • Penguin • Poison Ivy • Ra's al Ghul • Red Hood (Jason Todd) • Riddler • Scarecrow • Two-Face • Other villains
Locations: Arkham Asylum • Batcave • Gotham City • Wayne Enterprises • Wayne Manor
Miscellanea: Batarang • Batmobile • Batsuit • Popular media • Publications • Storylines • Alternate versions of Batman
In other languages