[Comics]: Detective Comics #27, "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate"

Date of Publication: May 1939
Author: Bob Kane

To me this cover represents a good deal of the basic appeal of Batman--his strangeness. His portrayal here, unlike later, softer versions of the costume, is deilberately animalistic. The long ears and thin eyes remind me of Max Schreck in Nosferatu; the cape flows dramatically outwards like two large batwings. (Usually in the comics, his cape acts like a cape.) Batman doesn't look like a superhero. His costume is black, grey, and a faded yellow, unlike the colorful heroes of the day. (The blue highlights, which would later lead to his costume looking very blue, are artistic conventions simulating light on the costume and are essentially a way of making the linework visible as opposed to a single unbroken blob of black).

Nor is Batman acting like a conventional hero. He's not lifting a train, or fighting a monster, or even punching a criminal. He's abducting that criminal, holding him oddly by the head, and swinging away on a rope. It's like if Errol Flyn was a monster who preyed on men with guns. And the viewpoint characters in the image are not children (which these comics were probably originally intended for) or bystanders--they're two criminals, men in hats with hard faces. One of them holds a gun. Both of them have their back to us, looking up and to the right at the unknown figure who has just come from above and taken one of them away. "Who is this masked man?" they seem to think, silent. Batman is the only major comics hero to which this question sometimes follows: "Is he a man?"

In other words, the overall effect of this cover isn't exhilirating; it's unsettling. There are a lot of reasons why people like Batman, but I think this is the reason he stayed around even in this early version. Batman's weird. He and his stories are bizarre, somehow off-kilter. And it's here from the very start.

--

When you read this first Batman story, it's clear that modern comics are a long way away. This was essentially before comics determined how to streamline their storytelling. The art style is pretty representational; the people are people, not cartoons. The panel structure is unremarkable. The story is mostly told, rather than shown--this is clear in both the heavy narration, largely unnecessary ("The commissioner and Bruce Wayne speed toward the Lambert residence" is self-evident, given the preceeding and following panels), and it's clear in the exposition-rich dialogue (the commissioner on the phone: "What's that? Lambert, the chemical king - stabbed to death? I'll be right over!").

It's apparent that when they invented this vigilante character, they had no idea how he would find crimes to solve. The authors get much more creative with this later on, but for now, Bruce Wayne is simply friends with the police commissioner, who brings him along on calls. It's a relationship that would eventually prove quite fruitful dramatic territory. (The earliest example I know of being Miller's Year One, but perhaps we'll find something sooner.)

The plot of this first issue is fairly prosaic, with three interesting exceptions. The general thrust (delivered in full-on Explain-O-Text by Batman at the end) is that three businessmen are set to be killed by the fourth, who won't have to pay out based on a secret contract the group had agreed upon. Bruce Wayne and the Comissioner are called to the first crime, and learn that the second businessman has received a death threat. The Commissioner heads over there, but Wayne excuses himself and goes home. Later, the second businessman is killed; the killers again take the secret contract and escape--only to meet The Bat-Man on the roof. He beats them up, takes the contract, and heads to the four businessman's lab--as does the third businessman. The latter is nearly killed via slow death-trap, but he's saved in time by Batman. Batman then defeats the fourth businessman and wraps up everything with an explanation of motive.

The three things I find interesting here are...

-The way that, although Batman is a strong force in the plot of the second half, the reader is kept out of his head. The comic makes a point of telling us we don't know what clues Batman has found in the contract, nor where he's going. This mysteriousness is something they lose soon, so it's pretty cool in this first issue.

-Batman defeats the evil businessman by punching him in the face; the businessman falls backwards into a vat of acid and dies horribly. Batman's response? (See panel.)

This plants the seeds for many, many years of exploring both the tragic and violent nature of kind of person who would say that, and the need/desire for society to have that kind of person around. That's the heart of vigilantism: I know what's just, and those criminals don't deserve my consideration. By considering them an "Other" Batman justifies his violence. I'm not saying this is wrong; the argument that criminals have in some ways set themselves outside of society when they cause harm to others is a common one. But few take it as far as Batman.

-Finally, the closing revelation that Bruce Wayne is, in fact, Batman, although of course well-spoiled now for essentially everyone, is still a cool twist. The contrast between the bored, wealthy playboy Wayne and the serious, strange vigilante Batman is something that continues to get both comic and dramatic mileage to this day (see Nolan's two Batman films). It's also cool that Batman doesn't start with an origin story; he's just there, already doing his thing, when we first read about him. We are presented with a character, already formed, and have to decide for ourselves who he is and how we feel about him.

How do I feel about him? I feel like reading the next issue.

(Side-note: I suspect most of these entries will be shorter than this, but this being the first issue and all, I felt I should go into more detail. Also, I will rarely discuss covers, because they usually don't reveal much and have little connection to the content inside.)

[METAPOST] The Master List

Here is the list I will be working off of. I'll work in chronological order according to this list, ie., by year. So I might do all the Detective Comics for 1943, followed by the Batman comics, as opposed to jumping back and forth month by month. It's just easier that way. In general I'll proceed through the comics first, then film/TV, then video games.

Two notes first:

1. Why not novels/toys/whatever? Because I know nothing about them, and in a vague sense don't respect them. I can enjoy a bad comic or TV show but rarely a bad novel. Anything else (music, toys, etc.) is non-narrative and therefore outside the purview of this blog. You are welcome to try and suggest to me why I am wrong.

2. Items on this list might later be dropped due to lack of availability.

And now, the list (unless otherwise noted, titles refer to comics):

--

1939:

Detective Comics

--

1940:

Detective Comics

Batman

--

1941:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

All-Star Comics vol 1 (issue 7)

--

1942:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

--

1943:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Batman (serial, 15 episodes)

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, dailies)

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, Sundays)

--

1944 through 1946:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, Sundays)

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, dailies)

--

1947:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

1947: All-Star Comics vol 1 (issue 36)

--

1948:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

--

1949:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Batman and Robin (serial, 15 episodes)

--

1950 through 1952:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

--

1953:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, Sundays)

--

1954-1959:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

--

1960-1963:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Justice League vol 1

--

1964:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

80-Page Giant: Batman Silver Anniversary

Justice League vol 1

Brave and the Bold (vol 1) (issue 54)

--

1965:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1) (issue 60)

Showcase (issues 55-56)

80-Page Giant: Batman Strange Worlds

Justice League vol 1

--

1966:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

Showcase (issues 60-61, 64)

Green Lantern (vol 2, issue 45)

Justice League vol 1

The Teen Titans

3-D Batman

Batman (TV show, episodes 1-68)

Batman (movie based on TV show)

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, dailies and Sundays)

--

1967:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

The Atom (issue 29)

Green Lantern (vol 2, issue 52)

The Teen Titans

Justice League vol 1

The Spectre (vol 1, issue 1)

Batman (TV show, episodes 69-110)

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, dailies and Sundays)

--

1968:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

The Atom (issue 36)

Green Lantern (vol 2, issue 61)

The Spectre (vol 1, issues 2-7)

The Teen Titans

Justice League vol 1

Batman (TV show, episodes 111-120)

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, dailies and Sundays)

The Batman/Superman Hour (TV show, animated, episodes 1-16 and 18-33)

--

1969:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

The Spectre (vol 1, issues 8-10)

The Teen Titans

Justice League vol 1

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, dailies)

The Batman/Superman Hour (TV show, animated, episodes 17, 34)

--

1970 through 1971:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

The Teen Titans

Justice League vol 1

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, dailies)

--

1972:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

The Teen Titans

Justice League vol 1

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, dailies)

The New Scooby-Doo Movies (TV show, animated, episodes 2 and 15)

--

1973:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

The Teen Titans

Justice League vol 1

Swamp Thing vol 1 (issue 7)

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, dailies)

Super Friends (TV, animated, 16 episodes)

--

1974:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

Justice League vol 1

Batman and Robin (newspaper strip, dailies)

--

1975:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

Justice League vol 1

Joker

Batman Family

Man-Bat

--

1976:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

The Teen Titans

Batman Family

All-Star Comics vol. 1

Justice League vol 1

Man-Bat

--

1977:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

Batman Family

All-Star Comics vol. 1

Justice League vol 1

Wonder Woman (issues 231-232)

DC Special (issues 27 and 29)

The All-New Super Friends Hour (TV animated, 15 episodes)

The New Adventures of Batman (TV, animated, 16 episodes)

--

1978:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

All-Star Comics vol. 1

Batman Family

Justice League vol 1

DC Special Series: Batman Spectacular

Challenge of the Super Friends (TV animated, 16 episodes)

Super Friends (TV animated, 16 episodes)

--

1979:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

Adventure Comics (issues 461-466)

Justice League vol 1

Legends of the Superheroes (TV, 2 episodes)

World’s Greatest Super Friends (TV, animated, 8 episodes)

--

1980:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Justice League vol 1

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

New Teen Titans

The Untold Legend of Batman

Super Friends (TV, animated, 8 episodes)

--

1981:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

Justice League vol 1

New Teen Titans

All-Star Squadron

Batman vs. the Incredible Hulk

Super Friends (TV, animated, 6 episodes)

--

1982:

Detective Comics

Batman

All-Star Squadron

World’s Finest Comics

Justice League vol 1

New Teen Titans

Marvel and DC Present: The Uncanny x-Men and the New Teen Titans 1

New Teen Titans Drug Awareness Specials

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

--

1983:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

All-Star Squadron

Justice League vol 1

Brave and the Bold (vol. 1)

New Teen Titans

New Teen Titans Drug Awareness Specials

Batman and the Outsiders

Dreadnaught

Super Friends (TV, animated, 8 episodes)

--

1984:

Detective Comics

Batman

All-Star Squadron

World’s Finest Comics

Batman and the Outsiders

New Teen Titans

Tales of the Teen Titans

New Teen Titans 2nd series

Justice League vol 1

Super Powers vol 1

Super Friends: The Legendary SuperPowers Show (TV, animated, 8 episodes)

--

1985:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

All-Star Squadron

America vs. the Justice Society

Batman and the Outsiders

Tales of the Teen Titans

New Teen Titans 2nd series

Crisis on Infinite Earths

Justice League vol 1

Super Powers vol 2

The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (TV, animated, 8 episodes)

--

1986:

Detective Comics

Batman

World’s Finest Comics

Batman and the Outsiders

The Dark Knight Returns

The Killing Joke

All-Star Squadron

Tales of the Teen Titans

Crisis on Infinite Earths

New Teen Titans 2nd series

The Last Days of the Justice Society

Teen Titans Spotlight On

Justice League vol 1

Super Powers vol 3

Legends

Secret Origins (vol 3, issues 1 and 6)

Batman (video game, PC)

--

1987:

Detective Comics

Batman

Batman and the Outsiders

All-Star Squadron

Son of the Demon

Justice League vol 1

New Teen Titans 2nd series

Tales of the Teen Titans

Teen Titans Spotlight On

Justice League: A New Beginning (and annual)

Justice League International

Secret Origins (vol 3, issue 20)

--

1988:

Detective Comics

Batman

The Cult

Justice League International

Cosmic Odyssey

Tales of the Teen Titans

Teen Titans Spotlight On

New Teen Titans 2nd series

New Titans

Secret Origins (vol 3, issues 31-32)

Batman: The Caped Crusader (video game: PC)

--

1989:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth

Justice League International

Justice League America

Justice League Europe

Secret Origins (vol 3, issue 44)

Gotham by Gaslight

New Titans

Batman (video game: NES)

Batman (Tim Burton)

Batman (newspaper strip, Dailies and Sundays)

--

1990:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

World’s Finest

Digital Justice

Justice League Europe

Justice League Quarterly

Justice League America

Secret Origins (vol 3, issue 50)

New Titans

Batman (video game: Sega Mega Drive)

Batman (newspaper strip, Dailies and Sundays)

Bride of the Demon

--

1991:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Holy Terror

Justice League Europe

Justice League Quarterly

Justice League America

Justice League Spectacular

Batman and Dracula: Red Rain

Batman vs. Predator 1-3

New Titans

Robin miniseries: I, II (Joker’s Wild)

Master of the Future

Batman: Return of the Joker (video game: NES/Sega)

--

1992:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Run, Riddler, Run

Justice League Europe

Justice League America

Shadow of the Bat

Justice League Quarterly

Sword of Azrael

Birth of the Demon

Night Cries

The Batman Adventures

The Blue, the Grey, and the Bat

New Titans

Team Titans

Titans $ell-out! Special

Robin 3000

Robin miniseries III (Cry of the Huntress)

Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham

Batman Returns (Tim Burton)

Batman: The Animated Series (TV, animated, 45 episodes)

Batman (newspaper strip, Dailies and Sundays)

--

1993:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Shadow of the Bat

Sword of Azrael

Two-Face Strikes Twice

Catwoman

Justice League Europe

Justice League International vol 2

Justice League America

Justice League Quarterly

Robin

New Titans

Team Titans

Batman vs Grendel (1-2)

Batman/Judge Dredd: Vendetta in Gotham

Batman/Houdini: The Devil’s Workshop

The Golden Age

Justice League Task Force

Batman/Dark Joker: The Wild

Full Circle

The Batman Adventures

Batman Returns (video game: SNES and also Sega)

Batman: The Animated Series (video game: Game Boy)

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (animated movie)

Batman: The Animated Series (TV, animated, 20 episodes)

--

1994:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Shadow of the Bat

Catwoman

Robin

New Titans

Team Titans

Batman Adventures: Mad Love

Justice League International vol 2

Justice League America

Justice League Quarterly

Spawn/Batman

Spawn/Batman: War Devil

Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire

Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights

Zero Hour

Justice League Task Force

Batman vs. Predator II: Bloodmatch #1-4

Bloodstorm

Castle of the Bat

Mitefall

In Darkest Knight

The Batman Adventures

The Adventures of Batman and Robin (video game: SNES, Mega-CD, Mega-Drive)

The Adventures of Batman and Robin (TV, animated, 20 episodes)

--

1995:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Shadow of the Bat

Catwoman

Robin

Azrael

Nightwing

The Batman Chronicles

Justice League Task Force

Extreme Justice

Justice League America

Two Face: Crime & Punishment

Riddler: Riddle Factory

The Batman Adventures

Batman/Judge Dredd: The Ultimate Riddle

Spider-Man and Batman: Disordered Minds

Brotherhood of the Bat

Underworld Unleashed

Superman & Batman: Doom Link

New Titans

Manbat

The Batman and Robin Adventures

Batman Forever (videogame: SNES/Sega/Windows)

Batman Forever (Joel Schumacher)

--

1996:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Shadow of the Bat

Catwoman

Robin

Azrael

The Batman Chronicles

Extreme Justice

Justice League America

Black & White

Justice League Task Force

The Long Halloween

Amalgam (vol 1)

DC vs. Marvel / Marvel vs. DC #1-4

DC/Marvel: All Access #1-4

New Titans

Tempest

Batman/Grendel II #1-2

League of Justice

Teen Titans

Superboy – Robin – World’s Finest Three

Justice League – A Midsummer’s Nightmare

Batman and Captain America

Nightwing

Manhunt – Black Canary Oracle

Black Canary Oracle – Birds of Prey

Lois Lane – Black Canary Oracle

Joker: Devil’s Advocate

Dark Allegiances

Kingdom Come

Scar of the Bat

Batman/Deadman: Death and Glory

The Batman and Robin Adventures

Batman Forever: The Arcade Game (video game: PS1/Windows/Sega Saturn)

--

1997:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Shadow of the Bat

Catwoman

Robin

The Flash (v2, issues 123 and 129)

Azrael

The Batman Chronicles

Daredevil/Batman: An Eye for an Eye

Superman’s Metropolis

The Long Halloween

Amalgam (vol 2)

Nightwing

Justice Riders

Teen Titans

Tempest

Tangent Comics

Wildcat

Black Canary Oracle – Birds of Prey – Revolution

Black Canary Oracle – Birds of Prey – Wolves

Batman/Aliens #1-2

Elseworlds Finest

Titans: Scissor, Paper, Stone

Batman/Spider-Man

Batman vs. Predator III: Blood Ties #1-4

JLA/WildC.A.T.s

Azrael/Ash

Anarky

Dark Knight Dynasty

JLA

Masque

Thrillkiller

Poison Ivy

Phantom Stranger

The Batman and Robin Adventures

The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years

Batman and Robin (video game: PS1)

Batman and Robin (Joel Schumacher)

Superman: The Animated Series (TV, animated, episodes 29-31)

The New Batman Adventures (TV, animated, 6 episodes)

--

1998:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Shadow of the Bat

Catwoman

Robin

The Batman and Robin Adventures: Sub-Zero

Wonder Woman (vol 2, issues 130-133)

Unlimited Access #1-4

The Flash (v2, issue 137)

Azrael

JLA

The Batman Chronicles

JLA: The Nail

JLA: Paradise Lost

JLA Secret Files and Origins

JLA: The Titans

JLA: Year One

Teen Titans

Young Justice

JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative

Arsenal

Tangent Comics

Girlfrenzy: Donna Troy

Tomorrow Woman

World Without Grown-ups

Nightwing

Thrillkiller ‘62

I, Joker

Two Faces

Elseworld’s Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl

Arkham Asylum: Tales of Madness

Birds of Prey – Black Canary Batgirl

Birds of Prey – The Ravens

The Kingdom

Superman & Batman: Generations

Bane of the Demon

The Abduction

The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years

Batman: Gotham Adventures

Batman/Judge Dredd: Die Laughing #1-2

Batman & Mr. Freeze: Sub-Zero (DTV animated)

The New Batman Adventures (TV, animated, 18 episodes)

Superman: The Animated Series (TV, animated, episode 43)

--

1999:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Shadow of the Bat

Catwoman

Robin

Azrael

The Batman Chronicles

JLA

The Chalice

JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative

Nightwing

Birds of Prey

Batman/Hellboy/Starman #1-2

Crimson Mist

Harley Quinn (not series)

Batman and Superman World’s Finest

Anarky

JSA: The Liberty File

The Titans

Superman & Batman: Generations

The Kingdom

Foreign Bodies

Primeval

Superpower

Day of Judgment

Elseworlds 80-Page Giant

Reign of Terror

Dark Victory

Fortunate Son

DOA

War on Crime

The Book of Shadows

Batman: Gotham Adventures

The Darkness/Batman

The Book of the Dead

Young Justice

Dark Knight of the Round Table

Nosferatu

Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham

Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-Woman #1-4

Batman Beyond (miniseries)

Batman Beyond

Superman: The Animated Series (TV, animated, episode 52)

Batman Beyond (TV, animated, 24 episodes)

--

2000:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Shadow of the Bat

Catwoman

Robin

Azrael

The Batman Chronicles

Nightwing

Birds of Prey

JLA

Batman and Superman World’s Finest

Batman/Daredevil: King of New York

Dark Victory

JLA: Created Equal

JSA: The Liberty File

Young Justice

The Titans

Beast Boy

Titans/Legion of Superheroes: Universe Ablaze

JLA: Secret Files and Origins

A League of One

Heaven’s Ladder

Realworlds Justice League of America 1

Sins of Youth

JLA: Silver Age

Harley Quinn

Gotham Knights

JLA: Secret Society of Super-Heroes

Joker/The Mask #1-4

Ghost/Batgirl #1-4

JLA/Witchblade

JLA: Act of God

Batgirl

The Titans

Haunted Gotham

Batman/Lobo

Batman & Demon: A Tragedy

JLA: Earth-2

The Doom that Came to Gotham

Realworlds: Batman

Outlaws

EGO

Harvest Breed

Dreamland

The Batman of Arkham

Batman: Gotham Adventures

Batman Beyond

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (video game: PS1, N64)

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (DTV animated)

Static Shock (TV, animated, 9 episodes)

Batman Beyond (TV, animated, 24 episodes)

--

2001:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Robin

Catwoman vol 1

The Flash (v2, issues 170 and 173)

Azrael

The Batman Chronicles

Nightwing

Birds of Prey

Superman and Batman: World’s Funnest

Dark Victory

JLA

JLA: Our Worlds at War

Haven – Arrival

Gods and Monsters

Black Baptism

Gatekeeper

Incarnations

Justice Leagues

Harley Quinn

Gotham Knights

Batgirl

Young Justice

The Titans

Turning Points

JLA vs. Predator

Orpheus Rising

JLA: Riddle of the Beast

The Dark Knight Strikes Again

League of Batmen

Hollywood Knight

Superman & Batman: Generations II

Gotham Noir

Batman Scarface: A Psychodrama

Harley and Ivy: Love on the Lam

Batman: Gotham Adventures

Batman Beyond

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

Batman: Chaos in Gotham (video game: Game Boy Color)

Batman: Vengeance (video game: PS2, GBA, GC, Xbox, PC)

Static Shock (TV, animated, 4 episodes)

Batman Beyond (TV, animated, 4 episodes)

The Zeta Project (TV, animated, 12 episodes)

Justice League (TV, animated, 7 episodes)

--

2002:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Robin

Azrael

Nightwing

Birds of Prey

Harley Quinn

Gotham Knights

JLA

JLA: Haven – Anathema

JLA: Secret Origins

Batgirl

Orpheus Rising

The Titans

The Dark Knight Strikes Again

JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice

Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire #1-3

Planetary/JLA: Terra Occulta

Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia

JLA: Shogun of Steel

JLA: The Island of Dr. Moreau

JLA: Destiny

JLA: Age of Wonder

Catwoman (vol 2)        

Young Justice

Black & White (vol. 2)

Batman Family

Nine Lives

Batman/Nightwing: Bloodborne

The 10-Cent Adventure

Batman: Gotham Adventures

Justice League Unlimited

Birds of Prey (TV, episodes 1-9)

Static Shock (TV, animated, 11 episodes)

The Zeta Project (TV, animated, 14 episodes)

Justice League (TV, animated, 19 episodes)

--

2003:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Robin

Azrael

Nightwing

Birds of Prey

Harley Quinn

Batman/Aliens II #1-3

Gotham Knights

Batgirl

Catwoman (vol 2)        

Young Justice

JSA: The Unholy Three

The Titans

Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day

Batman Family

Gotham Central

Planetary/Batman: Night on Earth

JLA/Avengers #1-4

Trinity

JLA: Welcome to the Working Week

JLA: Liberty and Justice

JLA: Scary Monsters

JLA: Formerly Known as the Justice League

JLA: Spectre – Soul War

JLA: Guide to the World’s Greatest Superheroes

JSA: Secret Files and Origins

Arkham Asylum: Living Hell

JLA

Outsiders

Superman/Batman

Superman & Batman: Generations III

Teen Titans

Teen Titans Go!

Detective No. 27

The Golden Streets of Gotham

Nevermore

Wonder Woman: The Blue Amazon

Tenses

Death and the Maidens

City of Light

Batman Adventures: Free Comic Book Day

Child of Dreams

Absolution

Batman/Joker: Switch

Batman: Gotham Adventures

The Batman Adventures (vol. 2)

Justice League Unlimited

Batman: Justice Unbalanced (video game: PC)

Batman: Toxic Chill (video game: PC)

Batman: Dark Tomorrow (video game: Xbox/Gamecube)

Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu (video game: PS2/Gamecube/Xbox)

Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (DTV animated)

Birds of Prey (TV, episodes 10-13)

Static Shock (TV, animated, 15 episodes)

Justice League (TV, animated, 23 episodes)

Teen Titans (TV, animated, 13 episodes)

Batman: Dead End (fan film)

--

2004:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Robin

Nightwing

Birds of Prey

Harley Quinn

Gotham Knights

Batgirl

Catwoman (vol 2)

Gotham Central

Outsiders

Superman/Batman

Teen Titans

JLA: Another Nail

Teen Titans Go!

Titans/Legion Special

The Order of the Beasts

JLA

Identity Crisis

JLA: Secret Files and Origins

Death and the Maidens

City of Light

Hong Kong

Batman & Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows

Harley & Ivy

The Flash (v2, issue 215)

Room Full of Strangers

The 12-Cent Adventure

Justice League Elite

The Batman Adventures (vol. 2)

The Batman Strikes!

Justice League Unlimited

Static Shock (TV, animated, 13 episodes)

Justice League (TV, animated, 3 episodes)

Justice League Unlimited (TV, animated, 11 episodes)

Teen Titans (TV, animated, 23 episodes)

The Batman (TV, animated, 9 episodes)

World’s Finest (fan film)

--

2005:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Robin

Nightwing

Batman/Danger Girl

Birds of Prey

Gotham Knights

Batgirl

Catwoman (vol 2)

Gotham Central

JLA/Cyberforce

Outsiders

Superman/Batman

Teen Titans

JLA: Classified

Teen Titans Go!

Justice City Chronicles

All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder

Secrets

Justice

Year One: Batman/Ra's Al Ghul

JLA

Jekyll and Hyde

Year One: Batman/Scarecrow

Dark Detective

Journey into Knight

Gotham County Line

Justice League Elite

Batman and the Monster Men

The Man Who Laughs

The Batman Strikes!

Justice League Unlimited

Batman Begins (video game: PS2/Gamecube/Xbox)

Batman Begins (Christopher Nolan)

The Batman vs. Dracula (DTV animated)

Justice League Unlimited (TV, animated, 19 episodes)

Teen Titans (TV, animated, 26 episodes)

The Batman (TV, animated, 25 episodes)

--

2006:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Robin

Nightwing

Birds of Prey

Gotham Knights

Batgirl

Catwoman (vol 2)

Gotham Central

All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder

Outsiders

Superman/Batman

Teen Titans
Teen Titans Go!

DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy

JLA: Classified

Justice

Secrets

Batman and the Mad Monk

Journey into Knight

JLA

The Amazing Adventures of the JLA

Justice League of America

Justice League Heroes 1

The Tenth Circle

52

Batman and the Monster Men

Year 100

Justice League of America (vol. 3)

The Batman Strikes!

Justice League Unlimited

Justice League Unlimited (TV, animated, 9 episodes)

Teen Titans (TV, animated, 3 episodes)

Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (DTV animated, including the “Lost episode”)

The Batman (TV, animated, 11 episodes)

--

2007:

Detective Comics

Batman

Legends of the Dark Knight

Robin

Nightwing

Birds of Prey

Justice League of America

The Spirit

Catwoman (vol 2)

Outsiders

Superman/Batman

All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder

Teen Titans

Justice

Teen Titans Go!

JLA: Classified

Hitman – JLA

JLA: Wedding Special 1

52

Justice League of America (vol. 3)

Batman Confidential

Countdown to Final Crisis

Brave and the Bold (vol. 2)

Superman & Batman vs. Aliens & Predator

Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness

Superman Batman: Saga of the Super Sons

Batman and the Mad Monk

The Outsiders

The Batman Strikes!

Justice League Unlimited

The Batman (TV, animated, 15 episodes)

--

2008:

Detective Comics

Batman

Robin

Nightwing

Birds of Prey

Catwoman (vol 2)

Superman/Batman

Teen Titans

All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder

Justice League of America (vol. 3)

Batman Confidential

DC Special: Raven

JLA: Classified

52

Brave and the Bold (vol. 2)

The Outsiders

Teen Titans Go!

Justice Society of America Kingdom Come Special Superman

Teen Titans: The Lost Annual

Tiny Titans

Titans

Countdown to Final Crisis

Tangent Comics: Superman’s Reign

Final Crisis

Trinity

Two-Face: Year One

The Batman Strikes!

DC Universe Special – Justice League of America

Justice League Unlimited

Lego Batman (video game: PS3/360/PC)

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (video game: PS3/360)

The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan)

Batman: Gotham Knight (animated)

The Batman (TV, animated, 5 episodes)

Batman: The Brave and the Bold (TV, animated, 4 episodes)

--

2009 to present:

To be updated in the future.

[METAPOST] A few notes, before we begin.

-Posts following this one will be titled in this format:

[Medium]: [Issue/Episode #], ["Batman Story Title(s)"]

And each post will be headed with:

[Date of Publication] (all dates US)
[Studio/Publisher] (to avoid redundancy, unless otherwise noted comics are published by DC)
[Author(s)] (in the general sense--for comics this will include illustrators, films and television will include directors and screenwriters, and )
[Cast] (not for comics, obviously)

Followed by a brief summary of the work, followed by my analysis. Anything containing multiple storylines (like the Batman comic, which anthologizes several in each issue for many years) will be in one post but separated out.

-Any non-Batman posts will be have a [METAPOST] label in front of them. Feel free to skip them. (This is a practice I'm sure many people do, but I picked it up from Josh Fruhlinger over at the Comics Curmudgeon.)

-The update schedule of this blog... I'd like to say it will be daily, but more likely it'll go in fits and starts--I'll end up writing nothing for four days and then reading and posting about 5 comics in one afternoon. I will do my best to keep things consistent, but I promise nothing.

-The list on the right side of this blog will show which Batman items are coming up next in the queue.

-All Batman-related posts will probably involve screen-grabs of certain pages, panels, or shots; all of them belong to their respective copyright holders, and I borrow them (sparingly) to discuss and elucidate their work in a way which I hope will encourage others to purchase the quoted works.

-I am indebted in my analysis to Scott McCloud for forming the bedrock of my comics interpretation skills, to Roger Ebert and the University of Southern California for forming the basis of my visual arts education, and of course to the many many writers and artists who invented and reinvented Batman over the years, creating this vast fund of creativity and entertainment on which I am now about to draw. I could not possibly thank you enough.

[METAPOST] Welcome!

Today marks the start of an epic journey--a journey which will span over seven decades and thousands of pages of printed material, as well as hundreds of hours of filmed entertainment and video games.

What can I say? I was bored.

Why Batman? Superheroes in general interest me, probably because they're the injection of fantasy into reality. I'm never going to see a troll, or an elf, or a wizard; but someday I might walk down the street and see a caped figure, silhouetted against the sky, racing from rooftop to rooftop.

Batman in particular is the clearest example of this. He's a superhero for no other reason than that he chose to be. He was born rich, but arguably money is just like muscles; anyone can acquire sufficient amounts with dedication. The idea that standing between anyone's life and Batman's is the application of thought and effort is fascinating to me. And because of this, Batman is unlike all the other superheroes. He's human. He makes mistakes; he has contradictory desires; he's sometimes irrational; he has a sense of humor.

And of all the long-running comic heroes, Batman has had both the most success and the most extensive transformation from the beginning to the end. Today's Superman is essentially the same Superman he was back in the 30s. But Batman has gone from one range of camp (the earliest comics and the Adam West Batman) to another (Miller's ultraviolence and Nolan's ultraseriousness), and along the way virtually every permutation of action, crime, and vigilantism you could possibly think of has been presented and explored.

Like any other long-running series, Batman can be used as a lens to discover the ways that time and culture have shaped both the American people and the artistic mediums of comics, film, television, and video games. I come primarily from film, but I'll try and write about the context of Batman as well as the content.

My statement of purpose, then: to experience all of Batman in comics, film, television, and video games, in the order in which they were published, and to write about them as I go. I will look at them as both artistic and cultural works, with a focus on the way Batman has changed over the years in ways that follow (and in some cases, drive) artistic and historical movements.

I hope you enjoy the ride.