1960[1]
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–REFERENCE: In DC Super-Stars #17 and Justice League of America #55. The Brave and The Bold #28 was released in March 1960, which debuts the Justice League of America on a world that is unambiguously distinctive from Earth-2. While not specifically referenced as “Earth-1” since the terms “Earth-1” and “Earth-2” won’t come until later, the Earth the JLAers inhabit is definitely not Earth-2. This means that the Batman in the JLA is a different Batman. All issues of Batman, Detective Comics, and World’s Finest Comics from this point forward will take place on the Silver Age/Earth-1 timeline. As for our Golden Age/Earth-2 Dark Knight, DC Super-Stars #17 and Justice League of America #55 tell us that he will continue his semi-retirement, but it will now become something more akin to a legitimate retirement. Bruce will rarely take action as Batman, instead focusing on political activism, spending time with Selina, and raising their daughter Helena. The Dark Knight will go the entire following decade only suiting up in-costume for a few unspecified “special cases,” which won’t be listed on our timeline below. Robin now becomes Gotham’s primary protector. Much of Robin’s adventuring won’t go documented, but he will finally start to appear looking more like a fully-grown adult when we see him, even donning a more adult (non-speedo) costume. Furthermore, Dick will finally branch out on his own and move out of Wayne Manor as well. Don’t forget that a large group of Golden Age heroes here zapped with an age-slowing energy blast courtesy of Ian Karkull in 1941, so Robin’s seemingly never-ending youthful look hasn’t actually been a total continuity snafu. And bear in mind that despite the fact that the JLA debut on Earth-1 is published in March 1960, due to the use of sliding-time (aka floating timeline retcons) in 1980, the actual in-story JLA debut isn’t until ten years later, around 1969-1970. Therefore, thanks to the Earth-1 time-slide, we will have period of relative inactivity on the Golden Age timeline from now until 1970. Bruce won’t appear as Batman again (aside from the aforementioned unlisted “special case” appearances) until 1973!
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<<<PREVIOUS: YEAR TWENTY-ONE <<< | | | >>> NEXT: RETIREMENT YEARS >>>
- [1]COLLIN COLSHER: Batman will enter a more serious phase of retirement in March of this Bat Year. Therefore, Batman doesn’t go on any cases this year. Happy retirement, Dark Knight!↩
- [2]COLLIN COLSHER: Detective Comics #275 originally took place here, but is non-canon on Earth-2 because it refers to Bruce as a socialite. This issue is canon on Earth-1.↩
- [3]COLLIN COLSHER: The Batman-less Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane #14 originally took place here, but it is non-canon on Earth-2 because it features both Batwoman and Supergirl. This issue is canon on Earth-1.↩
- [4]COLLIN COLSHER: Detective Comics #276 originally took place here, but is non-canon on Earth-2 because it features Batwoman. Detective Comics #276 is canon on Earth-1.↩
- [5]COLLIN COLSHER: World’s Finest Comics #107 originally took place here, but is non-canon on Earth-2 because it violates Earth-2 Bruce’s anti-socialite stance, which he takes in semi-retirement. WFC #107 is canon on Earth-1.↩
- [6]COLLIN COLSHER: Batman #129 Part 1 originally took place here, but is non-canon on Earth-2 because it features Batwoman. Batman #129 Part 1 is canon on Earth-1. HOWEVER, The Brave and The Bold #182 tells us that Earth-2 Batman definitively fought The Spinner (whose sole appearance is in Batman #129 Part 1). Since Batman #129 Part 1 is non-canon, this means that The Brave and The Bold #182 reference is retroactively to some random alternate altercation with the Spinner, which I have placed prior to Batman’s semi-retirement.↩
- [7]COLLIN COLSHER: This one is pretty debatable. Ultimately, however, I decided that Batman #129 Part 2, which originally took place here, is non-canon on Earth-2. It’s debatable because the opening panel makes it very unclear whether or not Batman and Robin are on routine patrol. It could go other way, but it kinda seems like they are, hence my stamp of non-canon. This part of Batman #129 is canon on Earth-1.↩
- [8]COLLIN COLSHER: Batman #129 Part 3 originally took place here, but is non-canon on Earth-2 because in it Batman and Robin going on routine patrol. This part of the issue is canon on Earth-1.↩
