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.