In 1939, dc comics was looking for a new superheroa character who could build on the wild success of their earlier comic book phenomenon, superman. In this vlog, sagu history professor david onyon discusses how comic books were used as propaganda to target american children during world war ii. Yes, there are marvel and dc, spiderman, iron man, superman and batman, the jla and the avengers, jack kirby, george perez, alan moore, and a whole bunch of other historical bits. Its parent company, dc entertainment, is a wholly owned subsidiary of time warner inc. When i first wanted to get into reading the batman books my first issue was where do i start. The addition of a young sidekick, robin, helped soften the edges but not right away. Batman has had his origin story retold differently several times over his many years of publication, with significant variations in continuity golden age.
Serving as a villain and often a nemesis for batman across stories set in gotham city, the dc comics legend has never been. History talk 0 this category is for everything related to all of the batman comic book series. From my vhs recordings, here is the documentary comic book superheroes unmasked, which aired on june 23rd, 2003 with commercials included. This lavish 400page book tells the complete history of batman from his 1939 debut in detective comics to the current day. The joker is one of the most iconic characters in comic book history. Weve been selling comics since 1961 our first sale. In 1939, dc comics was looking for a new superheroa character who could build on the wild success of their earlier comic book. The series was written primarily by jeff parker and tom peyer, with cover art by mike allred. Originally named the batman, the character is also referred to by such epithets as the caped crusader, the dark knight, and the worlds greatest detective.
In this era, elaborate ruses and misdirection were the twin engines of comic book storytelling, which meant many a comic began with batman performatively rejecting. The character was created by artist bob kane and writer bill finger, and first appeared in. This section also generally handles titles that have spun off of the core batman titles to feature related characters. These titles have been handled or coordinated through a single editorial section at dc comics. Relive the adventures of kryptons favorite son inside and outside the comic book world in superman. History batman was the first comic book series featuring batman as the protagonist. Batman is an ongoing american comic book series featuring the dc comics superhero batman as its main protagonist. This batman comics price guide will help you to value all the early issues of batman comics, the series which began in 1940. Editor vin sullivan turned to what then appeared to be an unlikely creative source, gag cartoonist bob kane, and asked him to design a new hero. Offers an extensive list of batman comics a complete timeline, including reading order from batman. By that time, national publications the comic book division that would become dc comics was the topselling and most influential publisher in the industry. The first issue of a longrunning comic book series is commonly the rarest and most desirable to collectors.
Batman has been featured in many ongoing series, limited series and graphic novels. Werthams thesis was that children imitated crimes committed in comic books, and that these works corrupted the morals of the youth. Batman proved to be so popular that a selftitled ongoing comic book series began publication with a cover date of spring 1940. The political influence of comics in america during wwii. Batman is one of the comic book characters with the largest history in comic books. In the name of his murdered parents, bruce wayne wages eternal war on the criminals of gotham city.
Four new series set in the world of the vertigo classic. Batman has been featured in many ongoing series, limited series and graphic novels published by dc comics. Batman is a fictional superhero appearing in american comic books published by dc comics. Geoff johns and gary frank bring the dc and watchmen universes together. An indepth documentary on the comic book history of the dark knight. As with most books of the era, it consisted of various stories featuring batman and his recently introduced sidekick, robin. Batman is an ongoing american comic book series featuring the dc comics superhero batman. Batman comics were among those criticized when the comic book industry came under scrutiny with the publication of psychologist fredric werthams book seduction of the innocent 1954.
This batman comics price guide will help you to value all the early issues of batman comics, the series which began in. Rather, the history of dc comics is the history of the comic book industry as a whole, layered with intrigue, greed, great stories, politics, financial hell holes, but ultimately an innate desire in all of us for a great story. The complete history of the joker, from his first appearance as batman s nemesis in comic books to his reinvention in the new movie joker. The complete history of the joker, from comic books to the. The history, methods and madness paperback june 5, 2009. Well, there isnt an official one but i have found a couple of unofficial ones people have collected in the comic book community. Batman publication history dc database fandom dc wiki. Comic book collectors are often lifelong enthusiasts of the comic book stories, and they usually focus on particular heroes and attempt to assemble the entire run of a title. Superman, batman, spiderman, the hulk, and countless other comic book.
Comic book superheroes unmasked history channel aired. Perhaps the only gripe about this visual history is the size of the font when reading the caption of the comic books listed about batman s history. Accessible guide on where to start and how to read batman comics. Dc comics, american media and entertainment company whose iconic comic based properties represented some of the most enduring and recognizable characters in 20th and 21stcentury popular culture. Batman had begun giving up his grime noir style by the time he received his own title. Spawn is a fictional superhero appearing in a monthly comic book of the same name published by american company image comics. Batman reading order and timeline modern age gotham. Learn secrets and see exclusive new content taken from some of batman s most iconic stories and moments, from the beloved adam west tv incarnation, legendary comics such as the killing joke. He was created in 1939, during the socalled golden age of comics and his books have remained in publication to the present date without interruption.
Batman comics values and price guide heritage auctions. Learn secrets and see exclusive new content taken from some of batman s most iconic stories and moments, from the beloved adam west tv incarnation, legendary comics such as. After a successful year of publishing batman stories in detective comics. Batman earned his own selftitled comic book in 1940, while continuing to be featured in detective comics. This category is for everything related to all of the batman comic book series. When not writing comics themselves, manning often writes books about the comic book medium and its rich history. Batman, american comic book superhero created for dc comics by writer bill finger and artist bob kane. Batman 66 is a comic book series published by dc comics featuring batman as a continuation of the 196668 television series starring adam west and burt ward as batman and robin. Maybe making the book a half inch taller would have benefited those of us may not wear glasses, but can struggle at times with fonts this size. Universe, reinstituting much of classic dc history that the new 52 ostensibly disposed of. Is there an official reading order to the batman books. Batman, american comic book superhero created for dc comics by writer bill. One of dcs most profitable and enduring characters, batman debuted in may 1939 in detective comics no. Comic book superheroes unmasked documentary the origin.