Batman
Creation & Design
Batman was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, inspired by various literary and film characters, including Zorro and The Shadow.Early Years
After witnessing the murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne dedicates his life to fighting crime in Gotham City, adopting the persona of Batman to instill fear in criminals.Character Development
Over the decades, Batman has evolved from a vigilante with a simple motivation to a complex character dealing with moral dilemmas, psychological trauma, and the consequences of his actions.Cultural Reception
Batman has received critical acclaim and is considered one of the most popular and enduring superheroes in comic book history.Character Details
Real Name:
Bruce Wayne
Aliases:
The Dark Knight, The Caped Crusader, The World's Greatest Detective
Species:
Human
Gender:
Male
Affiliations:
Justice League, Batman Inc., The Outsiders
Abilities:
Peak human conditioning, Expert martial artist, Master detective, Genius-level intellect
Equipment:
Utility belt, Batmobile, Batarangs, Grappling hook
Weight:
210lbs
Height:
6' 3"
Eye Color:
blue
Hair Color:
black
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Detective Comics #26
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Teaser ad for the introduction of Batman in Detective Comics #27
Detective Comics #27
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Batman
1st appearance of Commissioner Gordon
💰 Detective Comics #27 has sold for over one million dollars 6x with a record high sale in 6.5 for $1.8 million (April 2024)
1st appearance of Batman
1st appearance of Commissioner Gordon
💰 Detective Comics #27 has sold for over one million dollars 6x with a record high sale in 6.5 for $1.8 million (April 2024)
Action Comics #12
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Advertisement for Detective Comics #27, Batman's first appearance
1st cover appearance of Zatara
Advertisement for Detective Comics #27, Batman's first appearance
1st cover appearance of Zatara
Detective Comics #28
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
2nd appearance of Batman
Detective Comics #29
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
3rd appearance of Batman
2nd cover appearance of Batman
1st appearance of Doctor Death, the first Batman villain
Debut of Batman's utility belt
3rd appearance of Batman
2nd cover appearance of Batman
1st appearance of Doctor Death, the first Batman villain
Debut of Batman's utility belt
Detective Comics #30
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
4th appearance of Batman
2nd appearance of Dr. Death
Detective Comics #31
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of The Monk, Batman's first costumed enemy
1st appearance of Julie Madison, Bruce Wayne's girlfriend
5th appearance of Batman
Debut of the Batgyro, an airborn vehicle later replaced by the Batplane
Debut of the Batarang
Stories take place in New York City
1st appearance of The Monk, Batman's first costumed enemy
1st appearance of Julie Madison, Bruce Wayne's girlfriend
5th appearance of Batman
Debut of the Batgyro, an airborn vehicle later replaced by the Batplane
Debut of the Batarang
Stories take place in New York City
Detective Comics #32
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
6th appearance of Batman
Batman uses a gun to shoot and kill a vampire named Monk
6th appearance of Batman
Batman uses a gun to shoot and kill a vampire named Monk
Detective Comics #33
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Origin and 7th appearance of Batman
1st appearance of Joe Chill
1st appearance and death of Thomas and Martha Wayne
Cover art depicts Batman with a gun
Origin and 7th appearance of Batman
1st appearance of Joe Chill
1st appearance and death of Thomas and Martha Wayne
Cover art depicts Batman with a gun
Batman #1
DC
•
1940
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of the Joker
1st appearance of the Cat, Selina Kyle, later becomes Catwoman
Debut of the first Batplane which has multiple designs from one issue to the next including Batman #3 and Batman #4
💰 Batman #1 sold for over one million dollars 4x with a record-high in 9.4 for $6,000,000
1st appearance of the Joker
1st appearance of the Cat, Selina Kyle, later becomes Catwoman
Debut of the first Batplane which has multiple designs from one issue to the next including Batman #3 and Batman #4
💰 Batman #1 sold for over one million dollars 4x with a record-high in 9.4 for $6,000,000
New York World's Fair Comics #2
DC
•
1940
•
Vol. 1
1st cover appearance of Superman with Batman and Robin
Batman #4
DC
•
1940
•
Vol. 1
Batman's code of ethics to not kill is established
First mention of Gotham City
1st appearance of Jack of Diamonds aka Dr. Deegan
1st appearance of Jimmy McCoy, a gangster
[August 2025 - Jimmy McCoy is seen on a newspaper prop used in the Clayface movie]
Batman's code of ethics to not kill is established
First mention of Gotham City
1st appearance of Jack of Diamonds aka Dr. Deegan
1st appearance of Jimmy McCoy, a gangster
[August 2025 - Jimmy McCoy is seen on a newspaper prop used in the Clayface movie]
Detective Comics #48
DC
•
1941
•
Vol. 1
First mention of Batman’s vehicle referred to as the Batmobile
First mention of Gotham City in the Detective Comics title
First mention of Batman’s vehicle referred to as the Batmobile
First mention of Gotham City in the Detective Comics title
All-Star Comics #7
DC
•
1941
•
Vol. 1
First Batman and Superman crossover - Batman and Superman join the JSA as honorary members
First Batman and Superman crossover - Batman and Superman join the JSA as honorary members
Detective Comics #58
DC
•
1941
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of the Penguin
[March 2022 - Colin Farrell will reprise the Penguin in an HBO Max spin-off]
1st appearance of the Penguin
[March 2022 - Colin Farrell will reprise the Penguin in an HBO Max spin-off]
Detective Comics #60
DC
•
1942
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance and origin of Air Wave, Larry Jordan
Debut of the Bat-Signal
1st appearance and origin of Air Wave, Larry Jordan
Debut of the Bat-Signal
Detective Comics #61
DC
•
1942
•
Vol. 1
1st cover appearance of the Batplane
Detective Comics #66
DC
•
1942
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance and origin of Two-Face, Harvey Dent, a district attorney disfigured by acid
[January 2026 - there is speculation on social media that Sebastian Stan will be cast as Two-Face for the Matt Reeves Batman sequel]
1st appearance of Gilda Dent, the wife of Harvey Dent
1st appearance of Salvatore Maroni, the mob boss who disfigured Harvey Dent
1st appearance and origin of Two-Face, Harvey Dent, a district attorney disfigured by acid
[January 2026 - there is speculation on social media that Sebastian Stan will be cast as Two-Face for the Matt Reeves Batman sequel]
1st appearance of Gilda Dent, the wife of Harvey Dent
1st appearance of Salvatore Maroni, the mob boss who disfigured Harvey Dent
Batman #12
DC
•
1942
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of the Batcave, unnamed, referred to as an underground hangar
1st appearance of the Batcave, unnamed, referred to as an underground hangar
Batman #16
DC
•
1943
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance and origin of Alfred Pennyworth
Batman #20
DC
•
1943
•
Vol. 1
1st cover appearance of the Batmobile
Detective Comics #83
DC
•
1944
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Alfred with a thin build as commonly depicted
Alfred departs for vacation after lamenting his excess weight and upon his return at the end of the story, he is more recognizable as the character that has endured through the decades
Batman's underground hangar is first referened to as the Bat Cave
1st appearance of Alfred with a thin build as commonly depicted
Alfred departs for vacation after lamenting his excess weight and upon his return at the end of the story, he is more recognizable as the character that has endured through the decades
Batman's underground hangar is first referened to as the Bat Cave
Batman #35
DC
•
1946
•
Vol. 1
Debut of the first official Catwoman costume that would become iconic to her character
Selina Kyle's hair is blonde in this issue
Batman and Robin fight the mechanical T-Rex that would later decorate the Batcave for decades
Debut of the first official Catwoman costume that would become iconic to her character
Selina Kyle's hair is blonde in this issue
Batman and Robin fight the mechanical T-Rex that would later decorate the Batcave for decades
Real Fact Comics #5
DC
•
1946
•
Vol. 1
Interior story featuring Bob Kane's fictional account of how Batman was created
Interior story featuring Bob Kane's fictional account of how Batman was created
All-Star Comics #36
DC
•
1947
•
Vol. 1
First time Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman appeared in the same story together and on the same cover
First time Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman appeared in the same story together and on the same cover
Batman #47
DC
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
Origin of Batman, specifically the murder of the Waynes and the hunt for their killer
Origin of Batman, specifically the murder of the Waynes and the hunt for their killer
Detective Comics #140
DC
•
1948
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance and origin of the Riddler
Superman #76
DC
•
1952
•
Vol. 1
First crossover of Batman in the Superman title
Superman and Batman learn one another's identities
First crossover of Batman in the Superman title
Superman and Batman learn one another's identities
Detective Comics #190
DC
•
1952
•
Vol. 1
Origin of Batman retold
Detective Comics #205
DC
•
1954
•
Vol. 1
Origin of the Batcave
Batman #86
DC
•
1954
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Chief Man-of-Bats, member of 'Batmen of All Nations'
1st appearance of Little Raven, later becomes Raven Red in Batman #667
1st appearance of the Bat-Marine, Batman's submarine
1st appearance of Chief Man-of-Bats, member of 'Batmen of All Nations'
1st appearance of Little Raven, later becomes Raven Red in Batman #667
1st appearance of the Bat-Marine, Batman's submarine
Detective Comics #226
DC
•
1955
•
Vol. 1
2nd appearance and origin of Martian Manhunter
Batman reveals that he operated under the Robin moniker when he was a boy
1st appearance of Harvey Harris, an early mentor of Bruce Wayne
2nd appearance and origin of Martian Manhunter
Batman reveals that he operated under the Robin moniker when he was a boy
1st appearance of Harvey Harris, an early mentor of Bruce Wayne
Detective Comics #235
DC
•
1956
•
Vol. 1
Origin of Batman's costume, Thomas Wayne was the original Batman
World's Finest Comics #94
DC
•
1958
•
Vol. 1
Origin of Superman and Batman team-up retold
Batman #121
DC
•
1959
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance and origin of Mr. Freeze, initially named Mr. Zero, later renamed Mr. Freeze in Detective Comics #373
1st appearance and origin of Mr. Freeze, initially named Mr. Zero, later renamed Mr. Freeze in Detective Comics #373
Detective Comics #265
DC
•
1959
•
Vol. 1
Origin of Batman retold
Batman #122
DC
•
1959
•
Vol. 1
Marriage of Batman and Batwoman
Brave and the Bold, The #28
DC
•
1960
•
Vol. 1
1st team appearance of the Justice League of America: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman
1st appearance of Starro the Conqueror
1st team appearance of the Justice League of America: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman
1st appearance of Starro the Conqueror
Adventure Comics #275
DC
•
1960
•
Vol. 1
Origin of the first Superman/Batman team-up
Batman Annual #1
DC
•
1961
•
Vol. 1
Origin of the Batcave
Detective Comics #327
DC
•
1964
•
Vol. 1
Debut of Batman costume with yellow chest emblem - implemented to create a stronger, more unique trademark for legal purposes
Debut of Batman costume with yellow chest emblem - implemented to create a stronger, more unique trademark for legal purposes
World's Finest Comics #141
DC
•
1964
•
Vol. 1
Debut of new Batman suit with yellow chest emblem, depicted in interior of issue but not the cover
This issue went on sale two weeks prior to Detective Comics #327 which claims to have introduced Batman's "new look"
Debut of new Batman suit with yellow chest emblem, depicted in interior of issue but not the cover
This issue went on sale two weeks prior to Detective Comics #327 which claims to have introduced Batman's "new look"
Brave and the Bold, The #59
DC
•
1965
•
Vol. 1
First team-up of Batman and Green Lantern without the Justice League
1st appearance of the Time Commander
First team-up of Batman and Green Lantern without the Justice League
1st appearance of the Time Commander
World's Finest Comics #153
DC
•
1965
•
Vol. 1
Includes the panel of Batman slapping Robin that is recognizable from many internet memes
Includes the panel of Batman slapping Robin that is recognizable from many internet memes
Detective Comics #370
DC
•
1967
•
Vol. 1
First published artwork on Batman by Neal Adams, interior inks over Carmine Infantino's pencils
First published artwork on Batman by Neal Adams, interior inks over Carmine Infantino's pencils
Brave and the Bold, The #75
DC
•
1967
•
Vol. 1
First cover art by Neal Adams providing pencils on Batman - previously inked over Carmine Infantino's pencils work on Detective Comics #370
First cover art by Neal Adams providing pencils on Batman - previously inked over Carmine Infantino's pencils work on Detective Comics #370
Batman #200
DC
•
1968
•
Vol. 1
Debut artwork on the 'Batman' title by Neal Adams
Detective Comics #387
DC
•
1969
•
Vol. 1
30th Anniversary of Batman's introduction
Includes a reprint of Batman's first appearance in Detective Comics #27 - a censored version, redrawn to omit the image of a murder victim with a knife in his back
30th Anniversary of Batman's introduction
Includes a reprint of Batman's first appearance in Detective Comics #27 - a censored version, redrawn to omit the image of a murder victim with a knife in his back
Batman #213
DC
•
1969
•
Vol. 1
30th anniversary of Batman
Origin of Robin retold
Justice League of America #82
DC
•
1970
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of the Earth 2 Batman in Earth One reality
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