When you’ve been around almost seven decades you tend to rack up quite the history. Not to fear Bat-fans! Your pals here at RazorFine have got you set for Bat-101 with this simple comic timeline capturing everything from the Batmobile’s first appearance, the death of Jason Todd, the creation of the Justice League of America, Batman’s broken back, Barbara Gordon getting shot, Ace the Bat-Hound, and so much more! Enjoy all the Bat-timeline goodness inside!
For 69 years Batman has been keeping the streets of Gotham City safe. Here are the most important moments over the Dark Knight’s comic history and a few of his more memorable moments as well.
Detective Comics #27 – Bob Kane pens the first Batman story “The Case of Bat-Man & the Chemical Sydicate” which introduces the world to Batman and Commissioner Gordon.
Detective Comics #33 – Batman’s origin is told for the first time.
Detective Comics #36 – First appearance of Dr. Hugo Strange.
Detective Comics #38 – Dick Grayson‘s origin is told; first appearance of Robin the Boy Wonder.
Batman #1 – Batman earns a second, self-titled book; first appearance of both Selina Kyle and the Joker.
Detective Comics #40 – First appearance of the first Clayface (Basil Karlo)
Detective Comics #48 – Introduction of first Batmobile.
World’s Finest #1 – New comic featuring Batman, Robin, and Superman is introduced.
World’s Finest #3 – First appearance of the Scarecrow.
Detective Comics #58 – First appearance of the Penguin.
Detective Comics 66 – First appearance of Harvey Dent (as Harvey Kent).
Batman #16 – First appearance of Alfred.
Batman #47 – Retelling of Batman’s origin; Batman finds and confronts Joe Chill.
Batman #49 – First appearance of both the Mad Hatter and Vicki Vale.
Detective Comics #140 – First appearance of the Riddler.
Batman #59 – First appearance of Deadshot.
Batman #92 – First appearance of Ace the Bat-Hound.
Detective #259 – First appearance of Calendar Man.
Detective Comics #267 – First appearance of Bat-Mite.
Batman #121 – First appearance of Mr. Freeze (as Mr. Zero).
Detective Comics #298 – First appearance of Matt Hagen as Clayface.
Detective Comics #311 – First appearance of Cat-Man.
The Brave and the Bold #28 – Batman forms the Justice League of America with Green Lantern, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, and the Martian Manhunter to battle Starro.
Detective Comics #327 – Batman’s costume is changed to the trademark bat inside a yellow circle chest logo.
Batman #181 – First appearnce of Poison Ivy.
Detective #359 – First appearance of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl.
Batman #217 – Dick Grayson leaves for college.
Detective Comics #400 – First appearance of Man-Bat.
Detective Coimcs #411 – First appearance by Talia al Ghul.
Batman #232 – First appearance of Ra’s al Ghul.
Detective Comics #463 – First appearance of the Black Spider.
Batman #357 – First appearance of Jason Todd.
Batman #366 – Jason Todd becomes the new Robin.
Batman and the Outsiders #1 – Batman quits the Justice League and starts his own team – the Outsiders.
Tales of Teen Titans #44 – Dick Grayson becomes Nightwing.
Batman #386 – First appearance of Black Mask.
Detective Comics #554 – First appearance of the new Black Canary.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Frank Miller’s mini-series re-imagines the character 20 years into the future as Batman comes out of retirement to save Gotham again.
Batman #404 – Frank Miller’s four-issue retelling of Batman’s origin, Batman: Year One, begins.
Batman: Son of the Demon – Batman comes to a temporary peace with Ra’s al Ghul, marries Talia, takes on Ra’s rival and eco-terrorist known as Qayin. To protect her love Talia fakes a miscarriage and Batman returns to Gotham believing his son is dead.
Detective Comics #575 – Four issue Batman: Year Two begins.
Batman #417 – First appearance of the KGB assassin sent to Gotham in KGBeast from “Ten Nights of the Beast.”
Batman #583 – First appearance of Scarface and the Ventriloquist.
Batman: The Killing Joke – The Joker tortures Jim Gordon and cripples Barabara in this dark one-shot from Alan Moore.
Batman #428 – Jason Todd is killed by the Joker in Batman: A Death in the Family. The final panels of issue #581 left the fate of the character up to the fans who voted in favor of killing off the character.
Batman #436 – Tim Drake is introduced as part of Batman: Year 3.
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #1 – Batman is given a new title, originally focused on the early days of his career.
Batman #487 – First appearance of Tim Drake as the new Robin.
Shadow of the Bat #1 – New monthly series premieres.
Batman: Sword of Azrael #1 – Four-issue mini-series introduces the character of Jean-Paul Valley.
Batman #497 – As part of Batman: Knightfall, Bane breaks Batman’s back leaving him crippled. Jean-Paul Valley takes over as Batman and redesigns the costume extensively over the next few issues.
Batman #512 – Dick Grayson takes over as Batman in Part One of Prodigal.
Batman #515 – Bruce Wayne returns as Batman in a new all-black costume.
Catwoman #1 – Catwoman gets her own on-going series.
Robin #1 – Robin gets his own on-going series.
Nightwing #1 – Nightwing gets his own on-going series.
Batman: The Long Halloween – The 10-issue maxi-series takes place after Batman: Year One involving the Gotham mob, several Bat-villains, a new mysterious Holiday killer, as the transformation of Harvey Dent into Two-Face.
Gotham Knights #1 – The new comic featuring exploits of the Batman family and the various Bat-villains begins.
Birds of Prey #1 – The new on-going comic featuring Oracle and Black Canary debuts.
Batman #567 – Cassandra Cain is introduced as the new Batgirl.
Batman #587 – Commissioner Gordon is shot; eventually retires.
Gotham Central #1 – A new series centering around the Gotham City P.D. begins.
Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again – Frank Miller’s sequel hits the stands.
Detective Comics #766 – Bruce Wayne is accused of the murder of Vesper Fairchild in the beginning of the Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Bruce Wayne: Fugitive storyline.
Batman #608 – The beginning of Batman: Hush.
Identity Crisis #5 – Tim Drake’s father is murdered by Captain Boomerang.
Batman #638 – The identity of the new Red Hood is revealed to be Jason Todd.
Batman #656 – Talia informs Batman that their son Damian still lives and asks the Dark Knight to take him back to Gotham.
Batman #676 – Batman R.I.P begins. Grant Morrison’s current storyline involving Batman being attacked by the Black Glove and find himself confused and homeless after being dosed with multiple pyschotic drugs.