Detective Comics #1000 Offers First Clues to the Identity of the Arkham Knight

Batman\u0027s Debut\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #27 (1939)\r\n

\r\nNo issue of Detective Comics is more important or influential than the one that introduced the world to the Caped Crusader for the very first time. Detective Comics #27 features the very first Batman story – a crime tale called \u0022The Case of the Chemical Syndicate.\u0022\u00a0 While many key elements of the franchise had yet to be added – the rogues gallery, the sidekicks, etc. – the basics of Batman\u0027s appearance and his war on crime were intact from the beginning.”,”height”:855,”width”:600,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/027-1552519337856.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/027-1552519337856_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:”02″,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

Batman\u0027s First Supervillain\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #31 (1939) \r\n

\r\nThe first several Batman stories in Detective Comics featured the Dark Knight beating up (and occasionally killing) ordinary gangsters and thugs. It wasn\u0027t until issue #31 that Batman battled his very first costumed supervillain, a character called the Monk. This issue also happens to feature the first appearance of the Batarang, an essential tool in Batman\u0027s increasingly outlandish arsenal. Both additions were important steps in Batman\u0027s evolution from vigilante to true superhero.”,”height”:1024,”width”:738,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/031-1552519337859.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/031-1552519337859_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:”03″,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

The Debut of Robin\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #38 (1940)\r\n

\r\nThe earliest Batman stories tended to be pretty dark, but it wasn\u0027t long before National Periodicals began shifting the character in a more lighthearted and kid-friendly direction. This issue cemented that trend as it introduced Batman\u0027s erstwhile sidekick, Robin. Ever since, Batman has rarely been without a Robin by his side. Robin\u0027s debut proved to be such a boon for the series that soon nearly every superhero comic was adding a boy sidekick of its own.”,”height”:952,”width”:640,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/038-1552519337860.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/038-1552519337860_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:”04″,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

The First Clayface Story\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #40 (1940)\r\n

\r\nThe Monk may have been Batman\u0027s first costumed villain, but 1940 was the year where Batman\u0027s more iconic foes began making their debuts. This issue introduced the world to Clayface, a shape-shifting monster who was once respected actor Basil Karlo. The Batman franchise has been through many incarnations of Clayface over the years, showing that this is one formula that never loses its appeal.”,”height”:1650,”width”:1171,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/040-1552519337861.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/040-1552519337861_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:”05″,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

The First Penguin Story\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #58 (1941)\r\n

\r\nDetective Comics also featured the first appearance of the Penguin in a tale called\u00a0\u0022One of the Most Perfect Frame-Ups.\u0022 This story showcases the villain\u0027s craftiness, as he rises from his lowly status as an art thief and murders his way into taking over a gang. This story also introduces Penguin\u0027s penchant for trick umbrellas.”,”height”:1968,”width”:1280,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/058-1552519337862.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/058-1552519337862_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:”06″,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

The First Two-Face Story\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #66 (1942)\r\n

\r\nDetective Comics #66 introduced one of the greatest Batman villains of all time in the story \u0022The Crimes of Two-Face.\u0022 While the character was then known as \u0022Harvey Kent,\u0022 this issue serves as the basis for every Two-Face origin story that followed. Readers see Harvey\u0027s downfall and his growing obsession with duality. Two-Face\u0027s debut served as an important shift for the franchise, offering readers a glimpse of a villain with a close personal tie to Batman himself.”,”height”:1968,”width”:1280,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/066-1552519672257.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/066-1552519672257_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:”07″,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

The First Riddler Story\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #140 (1948)\r\n

\r\nRiddler became the last of the major Golden Age Batman villains to be introduced in Detective Comics. Here readers encountered a villain clever enough to give Batman and Robin a run for their money. Riddler arguably didn\u0027t achieve his full potential as a villain until the 1966 TV series gave him a popularity boost, but this is still a landmark Batman issue by any standard.”,”height”:0,”width”:0,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/140-1552519337864.png”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/140-1552519337864_{size}.png”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:”08″,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

Joker\u0027s First Origin Story\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #168 (1951)\r\n

\r\nJoker\u0027s background remains one of the most elusive mysteries in all of comics, with even Batman himself struggling to pierce through all the lies and half-truths put forth by the Clown Prince of Crime. This Detective Comics issue was the first to attempt to explain how Joker came about, revealing him to be a small-time crook masquerading as a villain called the Red Hood, at least until he was bathed in chemicals and transformed into the Joker. This brief origin story became the basis for the seminal graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke.”,”height”:590,”width”:400,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/168-1552519337865.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/168-1552519337865_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:”09″,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

The Debut of the Martian Manhunter\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #225 (1955)\r\n

\r\nBatman isn\u0027t the only iconic DC hero who made his debut in Detective Comics. This issue introduced the world to the Martian Manhunter. It made sense for J\u0027onn J\u0027onzz to appear in Detective Comics first, as in the beginning he masqueraded as a human detective named John Jones. It wouldn\u0027t be long before J\u0027onn took on new life as a founding member of the Justice League of America.”,”height”:0,”width”:0,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/225-1552519337866.png”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/225-1552519337866_{size}.png”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:10,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

Batman Meets Batwoman\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #233 (1956)\r\n

\r\nGiven all the homophobia and paranoia inspired by Fredric Wertham\u0027s book The Seduction of the Innocent, and seeking to mirror the rapidly expanding cast in the Superman comics, DC introduced Batwoman in Detective Comics #233. Kathy Kane was portrayed as Batman\u0027s crime-fighting partner and love interest. Original Bat-Girl Betty Kane was added to the lineup a few years later. Both Batwoman and Bat-Girl were important early examples of female superhero characters, but both were eventually eliminated from the franchise by editor Julius Schwartz in the mid-\u002760s. “,”height”:0,”width”:0,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/233-1552519337867.png”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/233-1552519337867_{size}.png”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:11,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

Barbara Gordon Becomes Batgirl\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #359 (1967)\r\n

\r\nWhile the original Bat-Girl fell out of favor after a few years, her successor proved much more enduringly popular.\u00a0Detective Comics #359 introduced the world to Barbara Gordon\u0027s Batgirl, just ahead of her live-action debut on the third season of the TV series. Whether as Batgirl or Oracle, Babs has been a core member of the Bat-family ever since.”,”height”:983,”width”:640,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/359-1552519337867.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/359-1552519337867_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:12,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

The O\u0027Neil\/Adams Era\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #395 (1970)\r\n

\r\nDC spent the late \u002760s and early \u002770s trying to move the Batman comics away from the campy tone of the TV series and bring the franchise back to its dark, gritty roots. This issue wasn\u0027t the first to present a darker Batman, but it did feature the first team-up between writer (and future Batman editor) Denny O\u0027Neil and artist Neal Adams. Together, these two would come to define the look and tone of the Batman franchise in the Bronze Age, as well as add critical new components to his mythology and supporting cast.”,”height”:1650,”width”:1073,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/395-1552519337868.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/395-1552519337868_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:13,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

The First Man-Bat Story\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #400 (1970)\r\n

\r\nAs a Batman artist, Neal Adams will probably always be best remembered for introducing the world to Ra\u0027s al Ghul in the pages of Batman #232. However, he also debuted another iconic Batman villain in Detective Comics #400. This milestone issue marked the debut of Kirk Langstrom, aka Man-Bat. This character proved to be one of the most tragic and sympathetic Batman villains to date, compelling DC to try out a solo Man-Bat comic (which sadly lasted a mere two issues before being canceled).”,”height”:1650,”width”:1073,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/400-1552519337869.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/400-1552519337869_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:14,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

Revisiting Batman\u0027s Origin\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #457 (1976)\r\n

\r\nEveryone knows Batman\u0027s origin story these days, but DC never really delved headlong into this sad story until Detective Comics #457. Featuring a pairing between writer Denny O\u0027Neil and legendary artist Dick Giordano, this issue offered a much closer look at the tragic events that transformed Bruce Wayne into Batman. It also introduced another key supporting character in the form of Dr. Leslie Thompkins and the foreboding \u0022Crime Alley\u0022 setting.”,”height”:1968,”width”:1280,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/457-1552519337870.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/457-1552519337870_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:15,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

Strange Apparitions\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #469-476 (1977)\r\n

\r\nDetective Comics played home to a brief but fruitful collaboration between writer Steve Englehart and artist Marshall Rogers in 1977. retroactively dubbed \u0022Strange Apparitions,\u0022 This eight-issue saga marked one of the first real attempts at telling a more long-form Batman story. This short run includes several all-time classics like \u0022The Laughing Fish\u0022 and \u0022The Sign of the Joker,\u0022 and it proved to be a major influence on projects like the 1989 movie and Batman: The Animated Series.”,”height”:0,”width”:0,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/475-1552519337871.png”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/475-1552519337871_{size}.png”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:16,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

Batman\u0027s Second Year\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #575-578 (1987)\r\n

\r\nWith Batman: Year One delivering a radical new take on the Dark Knight\u0027s origin story in 1986, writer Mike Barr elected to continue that story in the pages of Detective Comics. This storyline is notable for pitting a rookie Batman against an unstoppable foe called the reaper, as well as forcing Batman to join forces with Joe Chill, the man who murdered his parents. Year Two also boasts a who\u0027s who lineup of \u002780s Batman artists, including Alan Davis and a young Todd McFarlane. The Reaper himself didn\u0027t become a lasting addition to Batman\u0027s rogues gallery, but he did inspire the titular villain in the 1993 animated movie Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.”,”height”:1519,”width”:987,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/575-1552519337873.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/575-1552519337873_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:17,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

The First Ventriloquist Story\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #583 (1988)\r\n

\r\nThe more time passes, the harder it becomes to add new Batman villains who can stand alongside the classics. This issue proved it could still be done even 50 years after Batman\u0027s debut, as the original Ventriloquist entered the stage. Arnold Wesker brought an entirely new form of madness to Gotham, channeling all of his murderous rage and aggression into a dummy named Scarface.”,”height”:980,”width”:640,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/583-1552519337874.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/583-1552519337874_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:18,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

Batwoman Takes Over\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #854 (2009)\r\n

\r\nFor most of its shelf life, Detective Comics has been Batman\u0027s book first and foremost. That finally changed in 2009, during a time when Bruce Wayne was believed to have died during the events of Final Crisis. In his place emerged Kate Kane, the new Batwoman. Writer Greg Rucka and artist J.H. Williams used their short run on the series to cement the new Batwoman\u0027s place in the Batman family and establish hr as a very different heroine from the original Batwoman.”,”height”:922,”width”:600,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/854-1552519337875.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/854-1552519337875_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:19,”albumTotalCount”:21},{“caption”:”

Scott Snyder\u0027s Batman Debut\r\n\r\nAs seen in: Detective Comics #871 (2010)\r\n

\r\nFew writers in the 21st Century have left as big a mark on the Batman franchise as Scott Snyder. And before taking the reins of DC\u0027s flagship Batman book, Snyder got his start with the character in Detective Comics. This issue kicked off a lengthy storyline called \u0022The Black Mirror,\u0022 one which featured Dick Grayson wearing the cape and cowl and which cast Commissioner Gordon\u0027s long-lost son James Jr. as a terrifying new threat to Gotham City. This story may have paved the way for future epics like \u0022The Court of Owls\u0022 and \u0022Dark Nights: metal,\u0022 but it also remains Snyder\u0027s finest Batman work.”,”height”:983,”width”:640,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/871-1552519337876.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2019\/03\/13\/871-1552519337876_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”20 Times Detective Comics Reshaped Batman”,”relativePosition”:20,”albumTotalCount”:21}]’
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