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It was 75 years ago today – 30th March 1939 – that Batman made his first appearance in 'The Case of the Chemical Syndicate' (Detective Comics #27).


There was no Gotham City in that first story. Nor was there a Wayne Manor, Batcave, Batmobile, Robin, Alfred, or any of the classic rogues. There was just Bruce Wayne/Batman and Commissioner Gordon. But that humble six-page story is where it all began.

Here's to another 75 years!

Happy Birthday Batman!!!

I think all of us here are young enough to make it to the 100th. Imagine how THAT will feel?

I have always liked the first issue cover for Batman. Very striking with the yellow background. The first issue of Spider-Man is also a great cover, which seems to take inspiration from Batman. Both swinging away with a criminal under their arm. Better than, I don't know, smashing a car against some rocks.

Quote from: DocLathropBrown on Sun, 30 Mar  2014, 17:55
I think all of us here are young enough to make it to the 100th. Imagine how THAT will feel?

LOl I'll be 55, perhaps still reading comics.

I'll be 53... if I'm still alive.

Bumping this one up for random Batman material just like over in the Superman 80th Anniversary thread.

Dick Sprang's Batman

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FxjgxDTX0AE9Fqs?format=jpg&name=large)

Ugh. I'll be 69.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F0X88PHXsAA-5fa?format=jpg&name=large)

Being that I consider this thread for various material relating to Batman that doesn't necessarily require different threads, I'm just going to post this here.

FLASHBACK 1998! Wizard Magazine on where Tim Drake's Robin stood at the time.

Better days for sure.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F1gCC7-acAA6RiS?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F1gCC73aEAA5EMO?format=jpg&name=large)

Dixon's understanding of Tim was second to none, including the people who actually created him. Dixon was always able to get the right balance of Tim as an eager beaver Batman fan and Tim as a mixed up kid who doesn't know where his life is going.

Those were the days.

More with Dixon's "Robin" run from the late '90's.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5h1TyObAAIzMmT?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5h1Vd_bAAA_I8U?format=jpg&name=large)

Top 10 Batman stories according to Wizard Magazine in 1998.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5YD_uNbwAAfFQe?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5YD_uPa0AAeLz2?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5YD_uMb0AAoHNJ?format=jpg&name=large)

Wizard Magazine covering the-then 60 year history of the Dark Knight.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5cZ-iUacAAZl39?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5cZ-iRacAExclv?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5cZ-iTacAEYXWd?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5cZ-iSacAEvgnH?format=jpg&name=large)

Thanks for the scans. Those are great.

No problem.

One good turn deserves another.

Denny O'Neil Wizard interview on the Batman line of comics in 1998.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5s1-7ubcAA7yYX?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5s1_pibEAAt8cD?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5s2AROaIAAZCV2?format=jpg&name=large)

"No Man's Land" artwork by Phil Jimenez

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F7UXumIXQAAZeIl?format=jpg&name=large)

Wizard Magazine article on the-then upcoming "No Man's Land" arc.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F9dVlKwasAA6Ohu?format=jpg&name=large)

FLASHBACK 1997

Wizard Magazine's "character profile" for Catwoman.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fyw6G3BagAAYGKf?format=jpg&name=large)

I have such a soft spot for that Nineties solo Catwoman title. After Miller, you know, revamped her history, it was like most writers had no idea what to do with the character anymore. But eventually, the solo book positioned her as kind of a pseudo-Indiana Jones adventurer figure with a bit more emphasis on fortune and glory.

I also enjoyed those Wizard Character Profile features. Oddly enough tho, I can't recall any non-DC characters who ever got a profile.

As a followup on Wizard's character profile on Catwoman post, Wizard had Jim Balent do a Catwoman/Witchblade mash-up, along with commentary.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F-AltJUWEAEG47n?format=jpg&name=large)

Vintage advertisement for Batman #500.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F0OhX5pacAAewb7?format=jpg&name=large)

Kelly Jones' Batman

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F0OoSuMaMAElvAz?format=jpg&name=large)

Vintage 1991 advert for DC Comics subscriptions.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F_ifWUuWEAAUO_N?format=jpg&name=large)

Since Kyle Baker's Joker is highlighted, I decided to place this here.

From my memories, Baker's Joker art sure seemed to be used quite a bit there for various merch featuring the Joker during the late '80's/early '90's (TPB covers, shirts, cut scenes for the NES version of "Batman: Return of the Joker, ect).

Also one edition or another of The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told.

That was a good one!

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5a/ae/4b/5aae4b105fbe90ff0d1f6d2716fb9b23.jpg)

Just another outstanding Brian Bolland pinup!

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GD_COGvbgAAWk64?format=jpg&name=large)

Jerry Ordway 2015 Commission

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GEFhUPvX0AAsx5R?format=jpg&name=large)

Jerry Ordway's Golden Age Batman

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GFGyNfLW0AENHN2?format=jpg&name=large)

Dick Sprang Batman

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EN4zf9DUUAExwu9?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EN4z6ZjUUAEzwZP?format=jpg&name=medium)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EN4z6R9U4AA5gCI?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EN4zvs6VAAAkwZN?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GFRsdNLWYAAVmmd?format=jpg&name=medium)

Photoshopped of course, but a mid-late 1980's one-shot Batman/Spider-Man crossover would have been interesting to see.

I believe this was the first Batman cover Brian Bolland did. Which was for a UK Annual in 1982.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GHDPA6nWsAAddwO?format=jpg&name=medium)

And speaking of Bolland, here's a few covers from the "Joker Last Laugh" event.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GHEPf3NWcAASqRU?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GHEPf3IWgAAXPmH?format=jpg&name=large)