The golden age adventures of Batman and Robin continued in the pages of Detective Comics and Batman. Whether fighting minions in a fairytale land or conserving a mystical ring owned by Ghengis Khan, this team was as popular as ever. So much so, they joined National Comics other superstar, the Man of Steel, in an all new publication initially titled ‘World’s Best’. Early 1941 not only brought Batman and Superman together for the first time on a cover, but also introduced the term ‘Batmobile’ and the second major love interest in Bruce Wayne’s life, Linda Page. [Read more…] about History of the Batman #5: World’s Finest Begins – 1941, Pt. 1
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History of the Batman #4: Year 1940, Part 2
Fall/Winter of 1940 brought stories of Batman and Robin stopping crimes ranging from altering people’s appearances to literally fighting off controlled giants and dwarfs in a far off land. The tales may be a bit tall for today’s audience, but the year of 1940 ended with a bang, introducing more information about the fantastical Bat cave and the first time Batman’s home is called Gotham. [Read more…] about History of the Batman #4: Year 1940, Part 2
History of the Batman #3: Year 1940, Part One
The Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder had many adventures in their early years with DC Comics. But in the year 1940 they were only featured in the Batman and Detective Comics publications. Unlike today, when ‘Batman’ first began, it was a seasonal comic book. Instead of a dozen comics a year, only four published in our current timeline. In early 1940, we see the return of both the Joker and Catwoman and the debut of the forever changing Clayface. [Read more…] about History of the Batman #3: Year 1940, Part One
History of the Batman Pt. 2: The Invention of the Infamous Rogues Gallery
In last week’s chronology, we looked at the first 12 comics that featured Bat-Man, meeting his fiancé Julie Madison, our first look at the Batarang and the debut of Dick Grayson, also known as the first Robin, the Boy Wonder. After a year in National Comics, better known now as DC Comics, Batman became so popular that he was given his own self-titled publication, premiering 75 years ago in the Spring of 1940. [Read more…] about History of the Batman Pt. 2: The Invention of the Infamous Rogues Gallery
History of the Batman, pt. 1: Batman’s Literal Year One
Created in light of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s practically invincible character Superman, editor Vin Sullivan asked Bob Kane to come up with a character that would be as popular as the Man of Steel. Inspired by pulp fiction comics and Leonardo Da Vinci’s flying machine, Kane created the Bat-Man. Once ghostwriter Bill Finger put his influence into this new hero, Bat-Man changed into a dark masked vigilante, donning a grey and black cape and cowl with small swept ears. Different as night and day, the ordinary human with extraordinary mastery of science and martial arts debuted in Detective Comics #27 in May of 1939 (cover date). [Read more…] about History of the Batman, pt. 1: Batman’s Literal Year One