Sunday, March 30, 2014

Holy 75th, Batman!

...Already regretting that title.

Well, know what started 75 years ago today?



Yup. That's right. Batman. Or, Bat-Man...It's Batman.




75 years since Detective Comic number 27 hit the newsstands. 27 issues in they found a character that was going to stand the test of time, taste, and comic codes. And all thanks to the hard work of Bill Finger and Bob Kane.

From the start they established key ideas about the character. Being a foe of the criminals. A secret identity. A strange costume, meant to scare. Acting the role of a leisurely dilettante. Commissioner Gordon. A friendship with the commissioner.

Granted, at the start, he had it a bit easier. He'd sit around smoking with Commissioner Gordon, and wait for a crime to happen. And then Gordon would invite his millionaire friend along to poke around the crime scene.

He started much more a noir character, and fit in with many of the similar characters of the day, like The Shadow.

But Batman was one to grow and change with the times. And for the better. (So characters grew and change, and began showing the age on their concepts.)

Batman had the ability to change with the times as needed. Would you expect less of the character and his world?


1939
Doctor Death


Mad Monk



1940
Dick Grayson appears and becomes Robin the Boy Wonder.


Joker


Catwoman (called The Cat)


Clayface (the original)


Hugo Strange



1941
Penguin



1942
Two-Face


Scarecrow



1943
While he had cars at his call. It was now that a real Batmobile emerged.

Art by Dick Sprang
































And the Batcave finally appears in the comics.




As well, Alfred Pennyworth comes to Wayne Manor.


Crime Doctor



1948
Riddler


Mad Hatter



1950
Deadshot



1951
Killer Moth



1952
Firefly




1956
A new ally emerges in the form of Kathy Kane, Batwoman.




1959
Mr. Freeze (At first he's called Mr. Zero.)




1961
Barbara Gordon becomes Batgirl.




1963
Catman




1966
Poison Ivy



1970
Man Bat



1971
Ra's al Ghul


Talia al Ghul



1976
We're introduced to Dr. Leslie Thompson.



1977
Helena Wayne takes on the name Huntress and begins fighting crime.




1983
After Dick Grayson left the role of Robin, Batman found himself missing a chum, and soon Jason Todd was welcomed into the role.


And Batman forms a team of young superheroes, The Outsiders.



Killer Croc



1985
Black Mask




1988
Ventriloquist and Scarface


KGBeast (The 80's!)



1989
At a low point in Batman's life, Tim Drake emerged and soon became the next Robin.

Art by Tom Brummett
Anarky




1992
Stephanie Brown begins her crime fighting career as Spoiler.


Azrael makes his presence known.



1993
Bane



Batman is overwhelmed by Bane, and has seemingly irreparable damage done to his spine.


And a new Batman arises in Bruce Wayne's place.



1999
Cassandra Cain appears and takes on the mantle of Batgirl.


Gotham is severely disrupted and declared a No Man's Land by the United States government.



2003
Hush



2006
Much to Bruce Wayne's surprise, he learned he was a father. And after some conflict, Damian Wayne became the latest Robin.

Art by Frank Quietly


2009
Following the seeming "death" of Bruce Wayne, and a battle over how his cause would be carried on, Dick Grayson dons the mantle of Batman.




2010
Bruce Wayne announces that he had been funding Batman's war on crime. And now they are advancing the fight to a global scale. Batman Incorporated.



And, yadda yadda yadda, stuff has happen since then...

Okay, the battle against the Court of the Owls had intense and fun moments.



And I look forward to more great moments for Batman and Gotham as we head to the century mark.



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