1995
_______________________________
–REFERENCE: In Batman Confidential #49. Worried about Batman’s safety every night, Alfred begins stress-eating. Batman becomes aware of Alfred’s problem and presumably helps put him at ease.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 2 #210. With Batman away on unspecified business, Robin defeats The Clock (William Tockman). The Clock will later change his name to Clock King.
Legends of the DC Universe #12 by Christopher Priest, Ken Lashley, Ron Boyd, & John Kalisz (1999)
–FLASHBACK: From Legends of the DC Universe #12—and referenced in Legends of the DC Universe #13. Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) throws a JLA charity benefit, which is attended by Bruce. Bruce brings a random date named Ellie. During the party, Ollie asks Bruce Wayne to take over his duty of financing the Justice League of America. Ollie, disgusted with the world of mega-corporate business, has decided that he will get rid of his vast fortune in the near future (and, thus, will not be able to fund the JLA anymore). At the charity event, Bruce slips into his Batman togs and helps his fellow JLAers defeat the pesky super-villain known as Packrat. Batman stops Packrat from placing a shrink bomb aboard Green Arrow’s Arrowjet. Batman leaves the disabled shrink bomb under the pilot seat. After initially denying Ollie’s request, Bruce changes his mind and picks up the tab. Bruce will now bankroll the JLA. NOTE: This charity benefit is said to take place two years into the JLA’s existence. To be clear, while the JLA did form two calendar years ago (which is likely the distinction being made here), it’s only been about fifteen months since the JLA has been around.
–REFERENCE: In JLA 80-Page Giant #2 Part 1. Bruce begins “dating” a socialite named Kelli, but their dates won’t exactly go as planned. Due to Batman stuff, Bruce will stand-up Kelli five times in the coming couple weeks.
–FLASHBACK: From Superman/Batman #75 Part 8—and referenced in Superman/Batman #75 Part 8. Batman poses with Ace the Bat-Hound. We also see Superman with his pet, Krypto the Superdog! (While we won’t see it specifically on our timeline ahead, Batman and Superman will have their pups interact with one another, and Ace and Krypto will become best buds.) This flashback also contains text that says Ace is capable of singling-out Joker’s scent, even in the sewers beneath the Super Bowl. Not sure if this is mere hyperbole or if this means Batman and Ace actually combat Joker beneath the Super Bowl here and now. You decide!
–FLASHBACK: From JLA 80-Page Giant #2 Part 1. In Star City, Bruce ditches a party to patrol in a relatively unfamiliar snow-swept city. In the process of ditching the party, Bruce stands-up Kelli for the sixth and final time, resulting in her dumping him. Oh well. Oliver Queen ditches the same party and, as Green Arrow, gets involved in Batman’s bust of a bomber shortly thereafter. Both men are seriously injured in an explosion. That night, Ollie tells Roy Harper that he suspects Bruce is Batman. Ollie then tries to trap Bruce by inviting him to play racquetball in the morning. Despite being critically wounded, Bruce shows up and puts on a good enough show to throw Ollie off the correct trail. While driving back to meet Alfred, an exhausted Bruce crashes his car and deliriously laughs. He barely made it, but his mission is accomplished. Note that Alfred makes a strange line about Batman having been “briefly allied with Green Arrow” in the JLA. The past tense is what’s strange about it, since they are both currently allied in the JLA. Best to ignore (or reword) this one sentence.
—[1]
–FLASHBACK: From Bruce Wayne: The Road Home – Catwoman #1. Catwoman steals the valuable cat statue known as the Pink Mynx from the Gotham Museum. Batman retrieves the stolen item, but Selina playfully gets away.
Batman #600 Part 2 by Ed Brubaker & James Tucker (2002)
–“The Mystery of the Black Bat!” by Ed Brubaker/James Tucker (Batman #600 Part 2) April 2002
Bruce and Dick learn about a Civil War hero known as “The Black Bat,” whose adventures are vaguely referenced in a 19th century dime novel. Hoping to learn more about this mystery man, the Dynamic Duo visit their good friend Professor Carter Nichols to make use of his “maybe machine,” which now has the ability to send time-travelers anywhere in the world. Using Nichols’ invention (where one is able to send an avatar of himself into the past, similar to astral projection), the Dynamic Duo travels back to 1862 Virginia and saves an African-American soldier from Confederates. After getting caught by Confederate soldiers themselves, the Black Bat shows up and saves them. Afterward, the Black Bat unmasks, revealing himself to be the soldier that was saved by our heroes earlier. Bruce and Dick return to the present but wonder if, by some paradox, there was no Black Bat until they went back in time and inspired the rescued soldier themselves. For anyone doubting the canonicity of this tale, I know this is an anniversary issue homage story, but, since Carter Nichols is a canonical character, there is no reason why this story can’t be canon. Also, we should recall that Batman and Robin have been going on unspecified time-traveling adventures courtesy of Nichols for a couple years, although they are unlisted and we must imagine them on our chronology.
–REFERENCE: In Batman & Superman: World’s Finest #6. The JLA defeats Mr. Mxyzptlk, a magickal imp from the 5th Dimension. (Mxyzptlk resides in the same world as Bat-Mite and Yz.)
–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America #250. Superman and Batman travel to the distant Malakon Toris System after learning that the sun there is about to go supernova. On the planet Toris-III, with a JLA drone capturing video footage for team record keeping purposes, Superman and Batman help evacuate an entire sentient species. While Superman surveys the other planets in the system, a microscopic spore from Toris-II secretly attaches itself to the Man of Steel’s cape. Thus, the heroes inadvertently bring a dangerous creature home with them. It will lay dormant inside the Secret Sanctuary for years.
–NOTE: In a flashback from Flash Vol. 2 #210. A naughty Robin tries to drive the Batmobile and winds up backing into and demolishing the giant nickel trophy in the Batcave.
—[2]
Batman: Gotham After Midnight #11 by Steve Niles, Kelley Jones, Michelle Madsen, & Pat Brosseau (2009)
–Batman: Gotham After Midnight #10-12 by Steve Niles/Kelley Jones (April to June 2009)
February 14-19. Midnight has continued to collect human hearts for months now. Midnight has also been able to use experimental drugs to control Catwoman, Man-Bat, Scarecrow, and the Axeman for the past several months as well. (As stated before, Killer Croc’s involvement in this story is a continuity error that must be ignored.) Midnight sends these drug-controlled villains to attack Batman, but the Dark Knight is able to sever Midnight’s power over them. Joined by Catwoman, Batman slugs it out with Midnight, who is defeated and seemingly dies in a fire. But Batman isn’t satisfied. The investigation continues, and Batman finds out the horrible truth about Midnight’s secret identity. Midnight was his former girlfriend, April Clarkson, the whole time! She faked her death at Christmastime and she has faked her death yet again! (Batman exhumes the corpse under April’s grave, finding that it’s not actually her.) Batman and Alfred put Midnight’s top hat and cane on display in the Batcave’s trophy area. Midnight lives, and Batman worries that he’ll have to deal with her again one day. Mercifully, he won’t. We’ll never see Midnight again, so, unlike most bad guys, I guess she got the super-villainy out of her system? And with that, our rather lackluster epic finally ends and we can all move on.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #570 and the second feature to Batman: Gotham Knights #25. In order to gather intel about Gotham City’s underworld, Batman (as Matches Malone) begins frequenting a seedy dive bar called McSurley’s (run by the scummy M McSurley). Batman (as Matches) makes friends with bartender/waitress Sherri and a bunch of unnamed regulars. Batman even disguises himself as a janitor and gets a part time job at the bar. Batman (as Batman) also makes his presence known at the bar, meeting patron Rhonda, information broker Profile, and Profile’s bodyguard Moose. While we won’t see it listed ahead every single time, Batman (both in his various disguises and as Batman) will visit McSurley’s every now and again. In disguise, he’ll often play poker there as well.
–NOTE: In flashbacks from Detective Comics #875. Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock are unsuccessful in tracking down Roy Blount aka The Peter Pan Killer. These flashbacks contain several key errors which must be noted. First, Gordon is referred to as a lieutenant. Second, Gordon is partnered with Commissioner McKeever. Who the hell is Commissioner McKeever? We must assume he is an assistant commissioner or a commissioner from another police force helping out on the case. And third, Gordon is portrayed as being married to Sarah Essen! But if we must include her presence, we must ignore any references to their marriage and instead retcon the story so that Sarah and Jim have simply reconnected and are trying to date again. (Note that this is the last time Bullock will be referred to as either simply “Officer” or “Sergeant.” He will now be promoted. From this point forward, Bullock will have the rank of “Sergeant Detective.”)
–REFERENCE: In The Outsiders #21 and Metamorpho: Year One #6. The JLA defeats evil industrial tycoon Simon Stagg and his literal thawed-out Neanderthal henchman Java.
–REFERENCE: In Metamorpho: Year One #6. The JLA defeats Goldface.
–“Never Say Die” by Dwayne McDuffie/Denys Cowan (the second feature to Batman: Gotham Knights #27 / Batman: Black & White) May 2002
On Penguin’s orders, henchman Do-Boy orchestrates the kidnapping of a youngster and holds him hostage. Batman crashes-in through a window and saves the kid. Do-Boy tries to crash-out through a window to commit suicide, but Batman saves him to ensure that he sees justice.
–“Batman A-Go-Go” by Mike Allred/Lee Allred (Solo #7) December 2005
Riddler and his “Aquarian Liberation Army” try to burglarize a party. Batman and Robin easily stop the villains, but not before Batman gets conked on the noggin and has a bizarre Adam West/Burt Ward Batman ’66-style campy dream in which Dick commits murder and suicide.[3]
–“Work That’s Never Done” by James Patrick/Steve Scott (Batman Confidential #49) December 2010
Bruce goes on a few dates with a swimsuit model. Later that evening, Batman tackles a double homicide case that doesn’t appear to have a clear cut answer at first glance. In the vein of classic Sherlock Holmes meets police procedural like CSI or Law & Order, the Dark Detective begins working the case, quickly realizing the victims’ child is missing. As he scans for clues, dusts for prints, and analyzes the scene, Batman’s hyper-focused mind makes some other random realizations about his own personal life. First, the Caped Crusader realizes that the swimsuit model is cheating on him. Second, crumbs on the staircase at Wayne Manor mean that the home has mice or that Alfred is stress-eating. Eventually, Batman finds the killer and saves the girl. All in a day’s work.
The Judas Coin by Walt Simonson (2012)
–The Judas Coin by Walt Simonson (2012)
March—St. Joseph’s Day (March 19) is mentioned, albeit somewhat jokingly, as coming up in the near future. This graphic novel wasn’t released until 2012, but it was started by Walt Simonson well over a decade before that, placing it solidly in the Modern Age. Based upon what narratively occurs, this seems like a safe place to put it. On behalf of Wayne Enterprises, Bruce looks to acquire a small telecom company, but cutthroat criminal businesswoman Morgana “The Shiv” D’Orē, a relative newcomer to Gotham City, buys it up from right under his nose. Later that day, Bruce picks up a copy of the Gotham Gazette from his regular newsie Gene. They chat about the Shiv’s bad reputation and how she wants all of Wayne Enterprises’ business. Later that night, Bruce intervenes in a showdown between an escaped Two-Face and some of the Shiv’s henchmen. Both camps are trying to rob a museum of a very famous shekel: one of the silver coins that Judas was paid to betray Jesus Christ! During the scuffle, Batman and the Shiv’s crooks get trapped under a fallen skylight. Two-Face flips his coin and murders the Shiv’s remaining henchman. Sensing that the Judas Coin is bad luck, he mails it to the Shiv and turns himself in. Two days later, the cursed magick of the Judas Coin does its thing and the Shiv falls off a balcony to her death.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman #682. Bruce ponders about how all of Gotham’s super-crime has turned into “pop-crime.” Bruce mentions how he is tired of playing games with quizmasters, clowns, and circus people. He trained to be a soldier, goddamnit!
–FLASHBACK: From Batman #527. An escaped Two-Face dramatically tears his law degree in half while challenging Batman. The villain attempts to drown Batman in a well, but Batman escapes and busts his rival.
–REFERENCE: In JLA 80-Page Giant #1 Part 1. Batman becomes aware of the criminal activity of blackmailer and extortionist Andrew “Ferret” Fulton.
–FLASHBACK: From Unlimited Access #2. Access (the temporary “cosmic monitor” of both Universe-0 and Universe-616 aka the Marvel Multiverse’s primary universe) accidentally time-travels from Bat Year 15 to right now while attempting to correct an omniversial spacetime anomaly. Access and his companion Daredevil (!) briefly meet Batman before vanishing back into the timestream. The Dark Knight’s memory of this event quickly fades away.
–FLASHBACK: From Robin Annual #4. Late March. Robin learns that Haly’s Circus ringmaster Stan Rutledge also had a hand in the murder of his parents along with Tony Zucco, Edward Skeevers, et al. Robin confronts Rutledge at the circus. Panicked, Rutledge tries to run but gets mauled to death by tigers. Robin returns to the Batcave to report the news to Batman, expecting his wrath. However, Batman simply makes sure his Boy Wonder is okay.
Batman & Superman: World’s Finest #4 by Karl Kesel, Dave Taylor, Robert Campanella, & Alex Sinclair (1999)
–FLASHBACK: From Batman & Superman: World’s Finest #4.[4] Late March. Some caveats before a synopsis begins: First, this issue states incorrectly that it is “seven years” prior to B&S: WF #10 Part 1, which takes place in Year 15. The editorial note should say “eight years ago” instead. And second, Batman is drawn wearing his yellow oval costume, which is wrong. Also, the label “Year Four” in the title of this issue merely implies that this is the third anniversary of this meeting. Don’t forget, the first three issues of this series are non-canon since issue #1 clearly takes place in Bat Year One, and issues #2 and 3 are full of anachronisms no matter where you place them. Here’s the synopsis. Batman travels to Metropolis a few days before the anniversary of the death of Dr. Harrison Grey. The Caped Crusader moves the commemoration meeting a few days early because he’s become aware that a government agency has been spying on Superman. In Metropolis, Batman and Superman save some lives from a burning building and then meet the threat of Bruno Mannheim‘s Intergang criminal organization, which has been gifted with alien weaponry courtesy of Desaad, an evil New God from the interdimensional planet Apokolips. Batman and Superman defeat Intergang, but Mannheim and the Apokoliptian menace escape. Before booming away (i.e. teleporting away using Boom Tube technology), Desaad shows Superman a sickening image of Apokolips, which Superman mistakes for Hell. Despite this nice foreshadowing, Batman and Superman won’t come to know about the true horror of Apokolips for two more years. After defeating Intergang, Batman slinks-off and infiltrates the underground HQ of Project Cadmus, a privately owned (but government funded) science agency that has been spying on Superman. At Cadmus HQ, Batman discovers a litany of metahuman cloning labs, early prototypes of the DNAliens (created by Dabney Donovan), and a developing Guardian soldier (a clone of Jim Harper, who was the Golden Age superhero known as The Guardian). The Caped Crusader also learns about a new plan to create a nuclear warrior known as Captain Atom. Batman angrily confronts Cadmus leader Paul Westfield, threatening him (as only Batman can) to cease spying on Superman. Afterward, Bruce watches Dick perform in a school play.
–REFERENCE: From Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #37. Batman begins an investigation into the criminal empire of gangster Jimmy Gluck.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman 80-Page Giant 2011 #1 Part 6—and also referenced in Batman 80-Page Giant 2011 #1 Part 6. A very young Nick Pierce watches Batman and Robin get captured at the hands of the Riddler at the Gotham Museum. Batman and Robin eventually escape and apprehend Riddler across town later in the day. Inspired by the dashing confidence and style of the Riddler, Nick will become the super-villain known as The Falcon when he grows up.
–REFERENCE: From Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #37. Batman hears about an illegal underground fight club called Blood Pit. He doesn’t pay it much attention.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America #253 and JLA #1—originally told in Justice League of America #26. Despero returns and ages half the JLA into senior citizens. The other half of the team—which includes Batman—gets transformed into sand and then imprisoned in giant hourglasses, which are hurtled through the cosmos to various alternate Earths. A nonagenarian Wonder Woman kicks Despero’s ass, forcing him to revert everyone back to their correct ages and bring everyone home. Following this case, the JLA keeps one of Despero’s giant hourglasses as a trophy.
–REFERENCE: In The Batman Files and Batman #462-464. Bruce feeds Ace the Bat-Hound scraps of food under the table, to which Alfred gives Bruce the nastiest look of disapproval possible. Bruce can’t help but sneak treats to Ace. Sadly, we won’t see Ace again after this. There’s no story in the Modern Age that shows the final fate of Ace, but we must assume that the poor pup passes away.
JLA Incarnations #1 by John Ostrander, Val Semeiks, Prentis Rollins, & John Kalisz (2001)
–JLA Incarnations #1 by John Ostrander, Val Semeiks, Prentis Rollins, & John Kalisz (July 2001)[5]
When the JLA, sans the Trinity, is supposedly killed after a struggle against the magickal immortal Wotan, a funeral is held in Arlington Cemetery. In attendance—along with a large public audience—are the Trinity, JSA, Doom Patrol, Metal Men, reporter Tully Reed, and Hal Jordan’s best friend Tom Kalmaku. The crowd watches with astonishment as the JLA come out of their graves, alive and well, thanks to pre-planning by Hal Jordan and Kalmaku. (The team had actually not been killed, and had been saved by entering Jordan’s power ring.) Afterward, the JLA defeats The Key and his KeyMen (aka Key-Men) androids, followed by Dr. Destiny, and then Joker. They round out a busy few days with a final contest in the Rocky Mountains against the hairy synthetic monster known as The Shaggy Man, an out-of-control creation of scientist Andrew Zagarian. Afterward, the team discovers a hidden alien artifact of unknown origin. (The Shaggy Man fight is also shown via flashback from Justice League of America Vol. 2 #43 and referenced in JLA #23-24 and JLA: Liberty and Justice. Note that the Trinity are not pictured in the JLA Incarnations #1 version of the Shaggy Man fight, but they are shown in the Justice League of America Vol. 2 #43 flashback version. In the latter, Batman is shown wearing his yellow oval costume, which is a continuity goof.) Later, Wotan causes the JLA to war against the JSA, although the Trinity is not present for this contest. In the end, Wotan’s ruse is outed, and he is defeated thanks to help from Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Afterward, Hawkman joins the JLA. He will pull double-duty, remaining part-time with the JSA as well. Hawkgirl becomes a part-time/reserve member of the JLA as well.
–REFERENCE: In Power of the Atom #1. The JLA goes into unspecified action, during which the Atom snaps a picture of the team.
–“Crisis One Million” by Grant Morrison, Dusty Abell, Jim Royal, & Lee Loughridge (DC One Million 80-Page Giant #1,000,000 Part 7) August 1999[6]
A spacetime anomaly occurs where superheroes from throughout the multiverse are sucked from their home locations and times, randomly appearing in the Justice Legion-A‘s HQ on Jupiter sometime in the 85,270s (853rd century). (The Justice Legion-A—also known as the Justice Legion, Justice Legion A, JL-A, and JLA—is the premier superhero team of the 853rd century. The JL-A involved in this affair consists of the 853rd century versions of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Owlwoman, and The Atom. Notably, the JL-A’s Flash is John Fox, who is active in both the 27th and 853rd century, and the JL-A’s Superman is actually still Clark Kent, who has become immortal and lives on in the distant future.) Present day Batman, along with many others, gets thrust into a future battle royale featuring amazing multiversal characters from various times and alternate universes. Among those involved in the spacetime displacement are: the JLA from present day; the JLA from 2004; the JL-A from the 853rd century; the Gorilla Galaxy’s Primate Legion (Titano, Detective Chimp, Sea Ape, and The Atom Tarsier) from the 853rd century; a version of the Super Friends (Aquaman, Apache Chief, Black Vulcan, Samurai, and Gleek); Kingdom Come Earth-22’s Batman, Superman, and Green Lantern (Alan Scott); Earth-19 Batman (Gotham By Gaslight Batman); the Antimatter Earth’s Crime Syndicate of Amerika (a Volthoom-powered Power Ring and Johnny Quick); Tangent Earth-9’s Batman and Atom; Wonder Woman (based on Cathy Lee Crosby from the 1974 Wonder Woman film); Bat-Mite; Earth-12 Batman (“Batman Beyond” Terry McGinnis); Batman (from Batman: Shadow of the Bat Annual #4‘s “Legends of the Dead Earth”); Earth-30’s Soviet Superman; several luchador superheroes; and way more unknowns. Eventually, Fox runs on the Cosmic Treadmill to return everyone to their correct universes and times. The parties involved in this brief event, including our present day Batman, won’t even be able to comprehend what has just occurred. They’ll probably come to regard it as a fever dream or something like that.
–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 2 #75. While on patrol, Robin exclaims his perdurable love and devotion for crime-fighting and tells Batman that they will be a team “forever.”
–FLASHBACK: From the second feature to Countdown #27. Batman busts an escaped Two-Face after he commits a series of his usual double-themed crimes.
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #37 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Colin MacNeil, & Ken Holewczynski (1992)
–“Mercy” by Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning/Colin MacNeil (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #37) September 1992
Batman busts Jimmy Gluck and sees Mercy Stone fighting against the Cossack in a Blood Pit death match being broadcast on closed-circuit TV. (Batman hasn’t seen nor heard from Mercy in five years.) Batman rushes to the fight to witness the Cossack pummeling Mercy. Interjecting himself into the bout, Batman gets beaten as well. Mocking the Dark Knight, the Cossack murders Mercy. Angered, Batman hulks-up and defeats his opponent. Later, Batman receives a posthumous message from Mercy, saying that she had only continued fighting in the hopes of winning money to give to the family of the person she killed. Batman follows through with Mercy’s final wish and gives the winner’s purse to the bereaved family.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Absolution. The anti-corporate activist group known the Children of Maya blow up a Wayne Enterprises building, killing hundreds. The primary perpetrator of the bombing, Jennifer Blake, goes into hiding. The Dark Knight shakes down some of Blake’s accomplices, but Blake eludes Batman’s capture. The Caped Crusader vows to apprehend her some day.
–REFERENCE: In Batman: Shadow of the Bat #43-44—originally told in Detective Comics #325. Catman discovers that his costume, made out of magickal cloth taken from a feline-worshipping tribe in the Pacific, grants him special protection (essentially giving him nine lives). Despite this, Catman is defeated by Batman and Robin.
–“Mayhem of the Mysterious Marauders!” by Marv Wolfman, Dustin Nguyen, Richard Friend, & Jeromy Cox (DC Comics Presents: Justice League of America #1 Part 2) October 2004[7]
After saving Happy Harbor from an unspecified threat, the Justice League of America is invited to receive an award from the mayor of the town. On the day of the award ceremony, the heroes that have reluctantly agreed to attend—Batman, Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, and Flash—gather at the Secret Sanctuary alongside Snapper Carr. After the three men don tuxedos and Wonder Woman dons a gown, the dapper-dressed heroes (and Snapper) are knocked out by a time-traveling JLA from 2007—Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash (Wally West), and Green Arrow. Epoch aka the Lord of Time has time-traveled from the far future to strike at the JLA here and now, but the 2007 team has also time-traveled in an effort to replace the younger versions of themselves to take down their futuristic foe. The 2007 JLA chases Epoch to the Late Cretaceous period where he is defeated. Afterward, the 2007 JLA briefly returns to present day to accept the award from the mayor and to make sure their still-unconscious 1995 counterparts are safe-and-sound. When the present day JLA awakes hours later, they are none the wiser as to what has occurred.
Batman: Harvest Breed by George Pratt & Ken Lopez (2001)
–Batman: Harvest Breed by George Pratt (January 2001)
This item goes here because of Batman’s costume and because Commissioner Gordon is smoking a pipe. When mutilated bodies turn up in Gotham, Batman and Commissioner Gordon realize that the serial killer they dealt with six years ago may have returned. Simultaneously, Batman’s nightmares about himself crossing the line and killing criminals begin to worsen. Shaking off his bad dreams, Batman visits Luci Boudreaux, the person wrongfully accused of the previous murders. Using her psychic abilities, she is able to view Batman’s nightmares and learn his secret ID. Luci explains that the killer is conducting an occult murder ritual that could open a Hellmouth. After ascertaining the most likely possible location of the next murder attempt, Batman is able to just barely save a would-be victim from the killer, who flees unseen. A winged demon stabs Batman, who witnesses a vision of a giant demon and sees a translucent version of Luci, who is astral projecting herself. Batman then consults with (and roughs up) Luci’s friend, a Hatian voodoo magician named Mzizi. Starting to become more affected by his nightmares, a mixed-up Batman angrily argues with Commissioner Gordon, who reveals that the killer has murdered someone across town. Just as the enraged Batman tells Gordon to piss off, a horde of demons swarms over Gotham thanks to a Hellmouth that has been opened somewhere in the city. Back at Luci’s house, Batman reads the journal of Dr. Absalom Boudreaux (Luci’s adoptive father), learning that he gained the power to heal wounds from a witch during the Vietnam War. Batman also learns that, in 1964, Dr. Boudreaux was given baby Luci directly by the same witch, who was Luci’s real mother. This means that Luci is now actually around 31-years-old, and not a young girl at all. There are a few ways to interpret this. Either Batman referring to Luci as a “young girl” needs to be ignored and she was in her twenties six years ago (which is possible due to the vagueness of George Pratt’s art style and the fact that Luci certainly acts like an adult throughout the entire tale) or magick has kept Luci looking like a child even though she is an adult. (A third alternative is that this item is supposed to take place in 1970, which would place it on an alternate timeline, therefore rendering it non-canon. It’s your personal headcanon call!) Luci confirms the information from her dad’s journal, adding that his power has been slowly causing him to become mentally-compromised ever since. But Luci’s dad isn’t the killer. Batman enters Gotham Cathedral (the location of the Hellmouth), fights his way through several demons, and prevents the true killer, Cicily Boudreaux (Luci’s adoptive mother), from murdering her husband. Batman then fights a giant demon. With Luci’s astral projection present, Cicily realizes the error of her ways and sacrifices her own life, which closes the Hellmouth and exorcises the demons.
–REFERENCE: In Teen Titans: Year One #1 and The Batman Files. This is a very important note! Batman tailors and adopts his yellow oval costume—you know, the one with the yellow oval around the Bat-symbol on his chest. As originally stated in Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns (and canonically confirmed by The Batman Files), the yellow oval contrasts with the rest of his dark costume making it a perfect target for gunmen to aim at. Therefore, the yellow target lessens the chance that Batman will take gunfire to the face or arms, and that’s fine with the Caped Crusader since he’s wearing several inches worth of bulletproof Kevlar and armored-plating under the target.[8]
–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 2 #104 and The Batman Files. The Roscetti Brothers, former twin henchmen of Two-Face, open up a seedy Gotham strip club called “My Alibi.” Sure enough, after the “Morrison Street Massacre” (use your imagination), Batman and Robin trace the perps straight to My Alibi only to find that they have an alibi that is backed by everyone in the joint. For the next two years or so, Batman and Robin will be forced to visit this club from time to time (although none of these visits will be physically listed on our timeline below).
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Confidential #15. Batman and Robin go on patrol together—swinging across rooftops, flying in the Bat-copter, and speeding through the ocean in the Bat-boat.
–FLASHBACK: From History of the DC Universe #2. Batman poses atop a Gotham rooftop before swinging into unspecified action.
–FLASHBACK: From 52 #30. Batman and Robin fight some derby-wearing goons inside a warehouse with oversized paintbrush and paint can props.
–FLASHBACK: From History of the DC Universe #2. Batman poses with some of his fellow Justice Leaguers—Hal Jordan, Flash, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, and the Atom—before going into unspecified action. (There is an implication with this flashback image that these characters—along with Green Arrow and Hawkman—formed the original Justice League of America. While this may have been something that writers and editors were briefly toying with in 1987, this is certainly not the case.)
–FLASHBACK: From Batman #683. Batman quells a raging Man-Bat (Kirk Langstrom).
–FLASHBACK: From Hourman #16. Early June. The JLA throws their mascot Snapper Carr a party for passing his high school final exams. This flashback gives us a caption that says it takes place a few years before Snapper quits his position with the JLA. This can’t be true. Snapper will resign next year.
–FLASHBACK: From Superman/Batman #31—and referenced in Superman/Batman #31. The ultra-powerful but goofy alien named Zook appears on Earth (stranded from an alternate universe). He’s really annoying and everyone hates him except for J’onn, who decides to keep him as a pet/sidekick. The diminutive Zook becomes a JLA team mascot but is always in the way. Batman constantly berates the little guy. Shortly thereafter, when the JLA prepares for a fight with Weapons Master (Xotar), Batman holds an official team meeting to discuss strategy against the super-villain. Zook keeps interrupting and saying goofy things like, “Zook help too!” Batman angrily tells J’onn, “For God’s sake, keep that thing quiet!” Batman also surely says many other obscenities that aren’t fit for little Zook. Tired of Batman’s insults, Zook leaves the universe. (SPOILER: Zook will return for revenge in fourteen years!) Afterward, the JLA—sans Zook—defeats Weapons Master.
–REFERENCE: In The Outsiders #17—originally told in The Brave and The Bold #64. The one-shot international criminal organization known as CYCLOPS hires Queen Bee (Zazzala) and Eclipso to take on Batman. Eventually, Dr. Bruce Gordon (the usual unwilling host of Eclipso), Dr. Gordon’s fiancée Dr. Mona Bennett, Commissioner Gordon (no relation to Dr. Gordon), and Batman take down the villains.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 2 #17 and The Batman Files—originally told in The Brave and The Bold #54. Disobeying orders, a fourteen-year-old Robin joins his buddies Kid Flash (Wally West) and Aqualad (Garth)—other JLA sidekicks—to fight weather-controlling super-villain Mr. Twister (Bromwell Stikk) in the small town of Hatton Corners. Note that Mr. Twister has gained super powers from the cosmic entity known as The Antithesis. After defeating Mr. Twister, the teens decide it might be a good idea to form a team. It’s worth noting that, like Batman having his Bat-Family, Flash has also started a similar Flash-Family (along with Kid Flash and Jay Garrick).
–Teen Titans: Year One #1 by Amy Wolfram/Karl Kerschl (March 2008)
Batman and Robin chase after an unnamed “master cat burglar.” As they work the case, Batman becomes more-and-more violent and detached, eventually going so far as to bash the skulls of some innocent people and give Robin a nasty backhand to the face. When other Justice League members (specifically Flash, Aquaman, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman) begin acting similarly, the teenage sidekicks (Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Speedy) begin to worry. Kid Flash is unable to reason with Flash, nor is Aqualad able to reason with Aquaman, who rides his giant seahorse named Storm. As the teenage sidekicks will soon discover, the Antithesis has taken over the minds of the JLA adults. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman’s sidekick, Wonder Girl (Donna Troy), makes her debut, wandering through the world of man in search of her mentally-compromised partner. Notably, Teen Titans: Year One is a re-working of the Titans’ origin battle versus the Antithesis (as seen in Teen Titans #53 and via flashback from Secret Origins Vol. 2 Annual #3). Obviously, as we’ll see below, the new replaces the old.
Teen Titans: Year One #3 by Amy Wolfram, Karl Kerschl, Serge LaPointe, & Stephane Peru (2008)
–Teen Titans: Year One #3 by Amy Wolfram/Karl Kerschl (May 2008)
Picking up very shortly after Teen Titans: Year One #3, Wonder Girl (Donna Troy) joins Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Speedy to help fight the Antithesis-possessed Justice Leaguers. The teens manage to capture Flash, Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman, who enters battle with his trusty pet octopus Topo. Notably, Green Arrow is drawn as if he is just starting to grow out his goatee, but he won’t actually switch to that look until next year, so this must be ignored. Artist Karl Kerschl was likely trying to be cute and draw transition facial hair to mark the relative era of the story, but it’s a little too cute (and we’ll see Ollie clean shaven again soon). The teens then take the captive adults to the JLA Sanctuary HQ in Happy Harbor. (Teen Titans: Year One #3 makes reference to the Happy Harbor HQ as being no longer in use, but the Sanctuary cave won’t be abandoned until next year, so this line must be ignored.) Having tracked the teens, Batman arrives and begins fighting them. A canonical flashback from Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #2 also shows the youngsters fighting the mentally-compromised Batman, although he is depicted wearing the wrong costume. Eventually, the teens drive the Antithesis away, restoring the adults to status quo. After coming to his senses, Batman posits that the Antithesis must have hitched a ride to Earth during the JLA’s last interdimensional adventure. It’s unclear if this is actually true—and, even if it is true, there’s no way of knowing which adventure he’s referring to (or if he was even involved on said case). Despite Batman being dead set against the idea, the victorious teens form the Teen Titans (with Robin as their leader). As referenced in The Batman Files, that Speedy won’t officially join the Teen Titans for a few weeks. Batman’s disapproval of the Teen Titans venture is so severe that it causes Dick to move out of Wayne Manor (and into a crummy cave hideout with the other sidekicks).
–FLASHBACK: From Flash Vol. 2 #210. A nervous Wally West’s first legitimate meeting with Batman happens when Dick gets caught sneaking him into the Batcave. Note that Batman should be wearing his yellow oval costume in this flashback, but he isn’t. Also note that Kid Flash met Batman very recently, but the Dark Knight was possessed by the Antithesis at the time. And even after Batman came to his senses, he certainly didn’t stop to say hello.
The Brave and The Bold Vol. 3 #10 by Mark Waid, George Pérez, Bob Wiacek, & Tom Smith (2008)
–FLASHBACK: From The Brave and The Bold Vol. 3 #10. The Justice League of America and the Teen Titans gather in Atlantis to celebrate the wedding of Aquaman and Mera. The Teen Titans specifically say they’ve only had one prior official case (against the Antithesis), which helps us place this story here. (We can barely see Batman in this item, so it’d hard to tell which costume he’s wearing. However, he should be wearing his yellow oval costume by this juncture.) Before the matrimonial proceedings can occur, Megistus possesses the mind and body of underwater super-villain Oceanus. (Megistus is likely ancient Egyptian wizard Hermes Trismegistus, and if you don’t know who that is, read any nonfiction book about the occult. All hermetic gnosis descends from this guy, as opposed to Judeo-Christan gnosis, which descends from Moses—just to put things into context.) The Trismegistus-possessed Oceanus kidnaps Aqualad, prompting Aquaman and the other Teen Titans to come to his rescue. Defeated, Trismegistus leaves (and kills) Oceanus, but not before showing him a vision of the Crisis that will occur in a few years. The Teen Titans then discuss how cool it’s going to be now that they are a team.
–FLASHBACK: From Aquaman Vol. 2 #4—originally told in Aquaman #18. Picking up immediately following the flashback from The Brave and The Bold Vol. 3 #10, Aquaman marries Mera. The Justice League of America and Teen Titans attend the wedding ceremony in Atlantis. Note that both Aquaman Vol. 5 Annual #1 and The Brave and The Bold Vol. 3 #10 place Aquaman and Mera’s nuptials shortly after the formation of the Teen Titans.
–REFERENCE: In Secret Origins Vol. 2 #30 and Identity Crisis #1—originally told in Detective Comics #331. Batman and Robin meet Elongated Man (Ralph Dibny) and his wife Sue Dibny. There is no specific Modern Age reference for Batman’s first meeting with the Dibnys. In the Silver Age, Batman and Robin met Elongated Man (in ‘tec #331) way before the latter joined the JLA (in JLA #105)—nearly ten years prior. Of course, this can’t be the case in the more compressed Modern Age.
–REFERENCE: In 52 #41. Batman gets to know Elongated Man better. Batman also tells him about some of his rivals, including Achilles Milo.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League America #43 and Showcase ’94 #7 Part 2—originally told in Justice League of America #32 and Justice League of America #36. The JLA defeats Brain Storm (aka Brainstorm).
–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 2 80-Page Giant #1—originally told in The Brave and The Bold #59. Batman teams-up with Green Lantern Hal Jordan to defeat Time Commander (John Starr). Afterward, Green Lantern puts Time Commander’s time-controlling hourglass device into the Justice League of America’s trophy collection.
–FLASHBACK: From the second feature to 52 #23. Batman spars with Wildcat in the boxing ring in an effort to brush up on his combat skills.
–FLASHBACK: From Secret Origins Vol. 2 #13. Batman punches out some thugs while Robin saves a pretty lady.
–REFERENCE: In Teen Titans Spotlight #14. Batman and Robin pose for an action photograph (presumably snapped by Alfred). The photo is developed, framed, and put inside the Batcave.
–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #600. Batman takes down some random gun-toting gangsters in this single-panel image.
–FLASHBACK: From the B&W second feature to Batman: Gotham Knights #47. Batman and Robin fight Riddler at the Gotham Museum. Riddler employs an army of henchmen for this heist, all dressed up in Riddler costumes. This is the second fight between the Dynamic Duo and Riddler to take place at the Gotham Museum this year. And it’s the third adventure they’ve had at the Gotham Museum this year.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Shadow of the Bat #34. Batman and Robin foil a robbery attempt by a yet-again-escaped Joker and his henchmen.
Catwoman: Defiant by Peter Milligan, Tom Grindberg, Dick Giordano, & Steve Oliff (1992)
–Catwoman: Defiant by Peter Milligan/Tom Grindberg (1992)
This is a weird one. Batman reluctantly recruits Catwoman to help him take down the gang known as the Model Army, which is run by the elusive crime-boss known only as Mr. Handsome. Mr. Handsome’s modus operandi is to collect “beautiful things” and destroy them. Naturally, Batman wants to use the gorgeous Catwoman, with whom Mr. Handsome is madly in love—as bait. Mr. Handsome takes the bait and sends the Model Army to kidnap Catwoman. Even with Batman’s pre-planned protection, Catwoman is nabbed, chained, and thrown into an abandoned mineshaft, which contains a sci-fi cannibalistic ogre creature. A woman named Mary (who has botched plastic surgery scars all over her face and claims to be Mr. Handsome’s wife) shows up out of nowhere to save Catwoman, but Mary seemingly falls to her death at the bottom of the mineshaft in the process. Catwoman then angrily rushes into Mr. Handsome’s chamber to kick some ass, but—what a twist (!)—Mr. Handsome is Mary! Catwoman locks Mary and the ogre inside the mine. Batman arrives on the scene to help Catwoman, who nonchalantly ushers him into the mine (without informing him about the ogre). Our story ends with a smiling Batman in an arm-sling, shaking his head. Oh, Catwoman. Oh, you.
–“No Escape” by Paul Kupperberg/John Watkiss (the second feature to Batman: Gotham Knights #29/Batman: Black & White) July 2002
An escaped Riddler forces escape artist extraordinaire Max Dodge (who coincidentally trained Bruce in the art of escapology) to ensnare Batman into an “inescapable” death trap. Batman is able to escape, but Max dies after getting shot by one of Riddler’s henchmen.
–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 2 #62. Batman and Robin defeat an escaped Joker at a soup factory.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman #713. Batman and Robin foil the robbery plans of a yet-again-escaped Riddler yet again. The Dynamic Duo meets Henry McNulty, one of Riddler’s henchmen whose son will follow in his criminal footsteps years down the road.
–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 2 #33. Batman teaches Robin how to use guns, citing the need to respect and have expert knowledge of the weapon they hate the most.
–REFERENCE: In Teen Titans: Year One #4. The Teen Titans exonerate the chart-topping music group known as The Flips, who have been framed for a series of bank robberies. Shortly thereafter, the Teen Titans have their first ever live televised interview (alongside a live performance by the Flips). Unfortunately, a bummed-out Robin can’t attend because Batman orders him not to go. When The Ant (Edward Whit) debuts by attacking Robin’s Teen Titan teammates live on camera, Robin disobeys Batman’s order and saves his friends.
Teen Titans: Year One #6 by Amy Wolfram, Karl Kerschl, Serge LaPointe, John Rauch, & Nick J Napolitano (2008)
–Teen Titans: Year One #5-6 by Amy Wolfram/Karl Kerschl (July to August 2008)
A few days after Teen Titans: Year One #4, Batman discovers the Teen Titans’ rundown hideout and pays it a visit to hurl animadversions and insults to anyone within earshot. Later, Speedy and Wonder Girl not only start a budding romance, but get back the stolen Arrow Car from Ding Dong Daddy as well. A few days after that, the Antithesis rears its ugly head again and tries to control the Teen Titans, but they fight off his influence. Not long afterward, Batman contacts Robin and tells him to move back home, finally supporting his sidekick’s new team. Note, as mentioned above, that Green Arrow is shown sporting a partial goatee, which is a continuity error.
–REFERENCE: In Avengers/JLA #2—originally told in Teen Titans #1. While not directly involved, Batman follows along remotely as the Teen Titans go on a public mission to the South American nation of Xochatan. There, the Teen Titans best gangster Don Matanzas’ giant conquistador robot and some evil spirits.
–“TreasureQuest” by Dan Jurgens/Mike Norton (Metamorpho: Year One #6) February 2008
The Justice League of America becomes highly suspicious of rookie superhero Metamorpho when they learn that his lover is Sapphire Stagg, daughter of the evil Simon Stagg. Thus, the JLA tests Metamorpho’s abilities in an attempt to find out if he’s actually a good guy. For the test, each member of the JLA dresses up as Goldface and attacks Metamorpho, who handles himself with grace and effectively demonstrates his prowess as a superhero. Afterward, the satisfied JLA offers Metamorpho membership on the team, but Metamorpho declines! (Note that Batman is wearing the wrong costume in this issue.)
–REFERENCE: In Valor #6—originally told in Justice League of America #42 and Justice League of America #44. The JLA defeats the cosmic energy being known only as The Unimaginable.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League #4 and JLA #1—originally told in Justice League of America #43. The JLA takes-on and defeats a returning Amos Fortune, who masquerades as Ace of Clubs, leader of the garish playing card-themed Royal Flush Gang. His team consists of Queen of Clubs, King of Clubs, Jack of Clubs, and Ten of Clubs. After besting the Royal Flush Gang, the JLA keeps some of their deadly playing card weapons as trophies.
Batman Incorporated #2 by Grant Morrison, Yanick Paquette, Michel Lacombe, & Nathan Fairbairn (2011)
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Incorporated #2—and referenced in Superman/Batman #68. Originally told in Batman #180. Batman and Robin defeat the debuting Japanese super-villain known as Death-Man aka Death Man (sans hyphen). During his arraignment in court, Death-Man seemingly drops dead. He soon returns from the grave to battle the Dynamic Duo yet again. And as before, Death-Man seemingly drops dead after being captured. Death-Man is buried, but Batman and Robin soon find his grave empty, learning that the villain can use a strange yoga-like technique to fake death. Notably, the original Silver Age Death-Man story (Batman #180, 1966) had the villain resurrecting three times before being definitively killed. In the Modern Age, Death-Man only resurrects twice in this debut episode. We won’t see him again until Year Seventeen. Also of note, writer Grant Morrison gives Death-Man his Japanese ethnicity, nodding to the fact that the original Batman #180 Death-Man tale was adapted for a story in Jiro Kuwata’s Japanese Batman comic strip (1966-1967), entitled “Lord Death Man.” (Kuwata’s Batman has been collected in Jiro Kuwata’s Batman Dailies, but Western audiences are likely more familiar with the collection titled Bat-Manga!, which was released in 2008.)
–REFERENCE: In Saga of the Swamp Thing #44—originally told in Doom Patrol #104. (Note that Saga of the Swamp Thing is also known as Swamp Thing Vol. 2.) The Justice League of America are guests of honor at the Doom Patrol-hosted wedding of Elasti-Girl (Rita Farr) and Mento (Steve Dayton).
–REFERENCE: In Secret Origins Vol. 2 Annual #3—originally told in Detective Comics #352. Batman defeats the debuting Mr. ESPer.
–REFERENCE: In JSA Vol. 3 #25—originally told in Justice League of America #46-47. The JLA and JSA team-up to defeat the Anti-Matter Man.
–REFERENCE: In Superman/Batman #70—originally told in Detective Comics #355. Batman defeats Telman Davies aka The Hooded Hangman.
–FLASHBACK: From Gotham City Sirens #6—originally told in Batman #186. Joker begins using his first sidekick, the circus midget known as Gaggy. He will use Gaggy on-and-off until the end of next year.
–NOTE: In flashbacks from Detective Comics #875. October. Jim Gordon’s six-year-old son, James Junior, has been living with his ex-wife Barbara in Chicago for the past year. During this time, James Junior hasn’t had much contact with either Jim or Babs. James Junior takes a trip back to Gotham, joining Jim, Babs, Sarah Essen, and Babs’ friend Bess on a mini-vacation at a cabin in the woods just outside the city. Unfortunately, James Junior has various pathological issues. James Junior seemingly murders Bess, although her body is never found. From this point on James Junior will enter into various institutions, psych wards, and boarding schools before leaving town in his teenage years. I should mention the egregious continuity errors within the flashbacks before moving on. First, Babs looks a bit too young. Second, Gordon is married to Sarah Essen. They don’t get married for another six years! In fact Sarah shouldn’t even be in this story. But if we must include her presence, we must ignore any references to their marriage and instead retcon the story so that Sarah and Jim have reconnected and are trying to date again. If this is the case, this relationship must end quickly since we won’t see Sarah again until Bat Year 13.
–REFERENCE: In Secret Origins Vol. 2 #27 Part 3—originally told in Justice League of America #51. The JLA helps Zatanna defeat the Elemental sorceress Allura.
–FLASHBACK: From Secret Origins Vol. 2 #36. Batman and Robin detain a feisty Poison Ivy, who manages to make-out with the Dark Knight! Most of this great Neil Gaiman story is bullshit canon-wise since it is narrated entirely by an exaggerating Poison Ivy, who is spinning a wild yarn for a reporter. However, we can assume the single-panel kissing encounter is canon and went down relatively as such.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman #477-478. Batman battles The Gargoyle (Morris Eagleton), saving a little girl named Christina Creighton from him.
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #54 by Dan Raspler, Mike Mignola, Mark Chiarello, & Willie Schubert (1993)
–“Sanctum” by Dan Raspler/Mike Mignola (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #54) November 1993
Beautiful Mike Mignola art for this dark occult story. Batman chases after a serial killer named Lowther, who evades capture. Eventually, Batman trails Lowther into a spooky cemetery and they duke it out on top of a mausoleum. Lowther winds up stabbing Batman pretty badly in the chest. In the process, Batman kicks Lowther off the roof, causing him to get skewered on the spiked paling of the gate below. Batman passes out and meets the hundred-year-old ghost of a murderer, who attempts to feed on his soul. The ghost also accuses Batman of murdering Lowther. Eventually, Batman is able to fend off the ghoul and wakes up covered in blood. Lowther is dead on the paling. Was his supernatural experience all just a fever-dream? We may never know. The story ends with Bruce feeling guilty about Lowther’s death, but he reassures himself that it was accidental.
–“All the Deadly Days: Chapter One” by Dale Eaglesham (Batman 80-Page Giant #3 Part 1) July 2000
This is the opening chapter of the long Calendar Man epic from 80-Page Giant #3. Calendar Man is loose and has some new henchmen, but Batman and Robin take him and his cronies down with relative ease.
–“Last Call at McSurley’s” by Mike W Barr/Alan Davis (the second feature to Batman: Gotham Knights #25 / Batman: Black & White) March 2002
Batman—in various disguises (including Matches Malone, a janitor, and a ship captain)—visits McSurley’s three nights in a row, gathering valuable information that leads to arrests of bar patrons each night. When the establishment is threatened with foreclosure, Bruce anonymously donates ten thousand dollars to its owner to keep it afloat. While we won’t see it listed ahead, Batman (in his various disguises) will continue frequenting McSurley’s.
–REFERENCE: In Batman #700. Batman and Robin deal with the pop-crime antics of the super-villain team-up of Two-Face, Clayface II, Dr. No-Face, and Falseface.
–FLASHBACK: From Secret Origins Vol. 2 #44 Part 2. Clayface II (Matt Hagen) tries to rob the payroll from a warehouse full of pianos. Batman drops a piano on him to defeat him.
–FLASHBACK: From Teen Titans Spotlight #16. Batman takes down an escaped Joker (as shown in a random single-panel image).
–REFERENCE: In Batman #440. Bruce and Dick pose for solo photos that get developed, framed, and hung on Bruce’s bedroom wall.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman #656. Thanksgiving. Bruce and Dick celebrate Turkey Day with Bruce’s Aunt Agatha. This is Agatha’s only Modern Age appearance, so I’m assuming she dies shortly after this since she is quite old in age and we never see or hear from her again.
–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Detective Comics #782. Late November—the anniversary of Batman’s parents’ deaths. Batman, as he always does on this date, places two roses at the site of his folks’ murder.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #569. Catwoman enlists a team of kitty-costumed henchmen, which she dubs her Cat Burglars. Led by number one henchman Crandall, the Cat Burglars assist Catwoman on a series of heists until Batman puts a stop to their criminal activity.
Batman #700 by Grant Morrison, Tony Daniel, & Ian Hannin (2010)
–FLASHBACK: From Batman #700. The team of Joker, Riddler, Mad Hatter II (Hatman), Scarecrow, and Catwoman (in her new caped-costume look) discover Professor Carter Nichols’ “Maybe Machine.” The villains have plans to force Batman and Robin to go back in time to do their bidding in the past. First up is Catwoman, who makes Batman travel to ancient Egypt, where he battles winged warriors to retrieve the secret combination to a locked stolen museum piece of which Catwoman already has possession. Before anyone else gets a turn, Batman and Robin break out of their restraints and take out the bad guys. Commissioner Gordon and Officer O’Hara (related-to but not Chief O’Hara, who is already dead) make the proper arrests. A despondent Professor Nichols looks over his destroyed lab and tells Batman that he will clean up himself. Nichols takes apart his “Maybe Machine” and will become a reclusive hermit after this. As I’ve mentioned before, Nichols ran afoul of Simon Hurt in 1971, which was the reason Nichols has lived in relative obscurity for decades despite his genius. Now the gifted physicist will delve into even more obscurity and go completely off the radar.[9]
–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 2 #62. Joker captures Robin and holds a knife to his throat. Batman crashes through a window to rescue the Boy Wonder.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League Europe #8—originally told in The Brave and The Bold #75. Batman gets personally acquainted with the Spectre (Jim Corrigan), teaming up with him to defeat the ancient spirit of Shang-Zi.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League: Cry for Justice #5—originally told in Justice League of America #61. The JLA defeats a massive super-villain team-up consisting of Dr. Destiny, Penguin, Dr. Light, Tattooed Man (Abel Tarrant), Cutlass Charlie, Captain Boomerang, IQ (Ira Quimby), and Floronic Man (Dr. Jason Woodrue). Note that, in the Silver Age, Lex Luthor was originally a part of this item, wearing gray prison fatigues. In the Modern Age, Luthor won’t see any jail time until many years from now. As such, it’s not clear whether or not Luthor is even a part of this item. If he is (and that’s up to your personal headcanon), he’d be commanding things from afar (in a business suit, not a penitentiary jumpsuit). Either way, Modern Age Luthor will always be able to deftly avoid criminal charges, successfully distancing himself from his fellow super-villains time and time again. To the greater public, Luthor will continue to be regarded as a legitimate business tycoon.
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- [1]COLLIN COLSHER: 1999’s critically panned Batman: Fortunate Son by Gerard Jones/Gene Ha (which would have gone here if it were canon) is definitely out-of-continuity for several reasons. First of all, the story references at least three 60s record producers that have been committed to Arkham Asylum (Phil Spector not included). Also, in Fortunate Son, there is an inmate named Jack Napier that is housed in a cell directly across from the Joker. Jack Napier is the Joker’s real name in Tim Burton’s first Batman movie and in the original animated series. Talk about strange. Here’s another one for ya: Fortunate Son tells us that Batman hates punk rock. He loathes it. C’mon, my Batman is punk rock. But seriously, this story depicts a strangely out-of-character version of Robin (who is incredibly callow) and an oddball Batman, who acts like an alien that has never even heard of rock-and-roll. Many people have lobbied to make Batman: Fortunate Son canon. However, I feel as though I should stick with my guns on this one and keep it off the list for the reasons above. However, if you still aren’t convinced, check this out: Atop the Fourth Wall’s VIDEO REVIEW of Batman: Fortunate Son. That being said, there is a really funny panel in Fortunate Son where Robin is trying to convince Batman that rock-and-roll is good, and he mentions that Speedy is in a band, to which Batman replies sarcastically, “There’s a fine role model.” This is funny because Speedy, in his early Teen Titan days, becomes addicted to heroin for a while. Speedy will also later relapse as an adult and hang out with dead cats in alleys. Okay, I guess it’s not so funny.
- [2]COLLIN COLSHER: I made a conscious decision not to include the flip book-style Batman: Two-Face Strikes Twice! graphic novels. If canon, Book One of this narrative would have taken place here on our timeline. Two-Face Strikes Twice contains two episodes (i.e. “books”) that comprise the whole tale. Each “book” has two “parts” (giving us the cute flip-book style format). In Book One, featuring Batman and Robin (Dick), a seemingly well-adjusted Gilda Dent (as opposed to the not-very-well-adjusted version of the character from The Long Halloween) gets remarried to a prominent doctor named Paul Janus. Book Two, featuring Tim Drake as Robin, is a sequel to Book One that takes place roughly seven years later (around Year Fourteen), in which Gilda is shown to be still happily married to Janus. In Book Two, we learn that Gilda, a year-and-a-half prior, had undergone an artificial insemination procedure with Harvey’s sperm that ultimately resulted in the birth of a set of twins, which she falsely claimed were biologically Janus’ kids. Okay, so this does seem like the classic unstable behavior of Gilda, doesn’t it? STILL, the kids are never mentioned again in any other comic. Seems a bit odd. But the big thing that eliminates Two-Face Strikes Twice (both Book One and Book Two) from continuity is the fact that, no matter what, it contradicts Tony Daniel’s “Pieces” arc (‘tec #707, #710-712). “Pieces” tells us that Gilda was with Mario Falcone immediately after The Long Halloween, not this cheesy Paul Janus character. Not only that, “Pieces” tells us that Gilda stayed with Mario permanently after that. If this is indeed the case, it renders Two-Face Strikes Twice non-canon mainly because Gilda would have never given birth to the twins. It’s pretty obvious to me that Daniel ignored Two-Face Strikes Twice when scripting “Pieces.” The Gilda in “Pieces” is definitively tethered to the Gilda from The Long Halloween. Also, Daniel leaving the Dent children out of “Pieces” implies that the Dents don’t have children i.e. that both parts of Two-Face Strikes Twice are non-canon.
- [3]COLLIN COLSHER: A quick review on the very interesting dream sequence from the Allreds’ “Batman A-Go-Go”: The whole dream narrative has less to do with a cohesive plot and more to do with a spoof of the mystery/crime/thriller genre. But even more importantly, the dream sequence is meant to detail what Batman ’66 would be like if it happened in the real world. A clownish, aging, and out-of-touch Adam West as Bruce Wayne, engaged in Venture Bros-style LARP fights with the weirdest losers in costume that one can imagine—all while his protégé Burt Ward grows up into the typical late 60s counterculture rebel, angry at the older generation (which includes Adam) for its conservatism, racism, and sexism. The thing all boils to a point where Burt is essentially duped into becoming the darkest manifestation of the flower child movement—a Manson Family member. And in this case, his girlfriend Sunshine is Charlie himself. And at the end of the One Punch Man-esque nightmare, Robin kills his contemporary Sunshine, whose plot was to ransom a ton of cash from Adam/Bruce (in exchange for the safe return of a kidnapped Aunt Harriet and Burt/Dick). Of course, teenage Dick, brainwashed by Sunshine’s schtick (and sexuality), was in on the whole thing, having broken his code of superheroism, becoming evil to such an extent that he wound up slaughtering a bunch of people and then ultimately offing himself. But in the end, it was all a dream. So if this experiment wasn’t your thing, just leave it at that! But at the very least, enjoy the Allreds’ art! I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the prior tale in Solo #7, entitled “Doom Patrol vs Teen Titans,” which seems to take place in this same alt-Batman ’66 dream-verse.
- [4]COLLIN COLSHER: Every single issue of Batman & Superman: World’s Finest is a complete flashback issue, so none of them will appear later on the timeline outside of flashback notations. Only part 1 of issue #10 takes place “in the present” (Year 15) with Two-Face’s “villain war.” Thus, each flashback B&S: World’s Finest issue is a certain number of years prior to the “villain war.” Although, we should be aware that the amount of years prior given in each issue, thanks to retcons, is usually off by a year.
- [5]COLLIN COLSHER: JLA Incarnations #1 contains errors, which I will address as we come to them. Scholar Mike Kooiman notes that JLA Incarnations #1-2 is “a post-Crisis tale of Superman’s joining the League,” going so far as to say that it “probably did not happen in post-Infinite Crisis continuity.” Chris J Miller echoes this, saying that JLA Incarnations #1-2 was “originally written to clarify when and how Batman joined the League (and Superman didn’t) in post-Crisis canon. Those aspects are now moot [due to Infinite Crisis retcons], but the events may still have occurred in some fashion.” In terms of placement, both Chris J Miller and site contributor Frank Fernandez note that JLA Incarnations #1 appears to replace the second Silver Age JLA/JSA team-up from Justice League of America #29-30. Thus, JLA Incarnations #1 goes here, shortly after Despero’s scheme of turning the JLAers into geriatrics, which is an item based on Justice League of America #26.
- [6]COLLIN COLSHER: Just a stylistic note about numbers on my website. The ALA, APA, and Chicago style guides state that it is optional to use commas with numbers that contain four or less digits. And, personally, I hate when four digit numbers have a comma in them. Therefore, only numbers that have five digits or more will have commas in them on my site.
- [7]COLLIN COLSHER / JDMA12: Note that DC Comics Presents: Justice League of America #1 Part 1, which is a touching tribute to Julius Schwartz by Harlan Ellison and Peter David, is non-canon. If it were canon, it would have gone here.
- [8]COLLIN COLSHER: This is an important note that gives us a bit more info on the chronology of Batman’s different costumes and also details how I make my decisions regarding placement when the incorrect costume is illustrated. I usually advise the reader to ignore the incorrect costume if it is drawn in a flashback sequence because it most often means the error was simply made by the artist or writer (as opposed to a non-flashback story deliberately written in “present time” that gets it definitively wrong). It is a bit confusing, I know. Here is a specific example: Gotham Knights #43 occurs in Year 18—it absolutely has to for various reasons including publication date, in-story factors, numbering, etc… In this issue there is a flashback, which must be canon since it affects a canon issue and is shown in a canon issue. This flashback shows a retired Batgirl take a new Jason Todd Robin out on patrol at the behest of Batman to psychoanalyze him and test his physical capabilities. It also tells us that Joker breaks out of Arkham and foreshadows that he will soon do terrible things to both Babs and Jason. Therefore, this flashback has to take place in Year Eleven, relatively close to the events of The Killing Joke and “Death in the Family.” By this point, Batman has long worn his yellow oval costume—yet, in this flashback, he has his black Bat-insignia costume! Thus, this becomes a prime instance of a canonical flashback where we must ignore the incorrect costume.
As far as how the significance of Batman’s costume can make an otherwise “error-free” story into a non-canonical story, it all depends. Usually, there’s something more going on other than simply the costume to make it non-canon.
For the Modern Age, there is definitely a set-in-stone chronology/canonicity for the Dark Knight’s suit designs. The design is not simply “artistic choice” but is evidence as to something that helps us place our stories correctly. Batman’s costume definitively goes through many changes, in the following order: The black insignia costume with gray tights, the yellow oval with gray tights, the yellow oval with black tights, back to the black insignia with gray tights, then the raised yellow oval with gray tights. Of course, the switch from the original costume to the yellow oval has had many different time placements and been retconned a bunch, but it has always (more-or-less) signaled the transition from the Golden Age to the Silver Age. For the Modern Age, the yellow oval costume is kinda-sorta linked to the inception of the Teen Titans (and the marriage of Aquaman and Mera). For the intents and purposes of my chronology, everything before the Aqua-marriage and the Titans era is original costume. The rest of Year Seven onward is the yellow oval period. After “Knight’s End” and returning from the Bane affair, Batman will don an all black with yellow oval ensemble (at the end of the “Prodigal” story-arc in Year Fourteen). He will rock this look until the end of “No Man’s Land” (in Year Sixteen), at which point he’ll return to his original costume design. When Batman comes back from a jaunt through time and starts Batman Inc (in Year Twenty-Two), he will switch to a raised yellow oval symbol on gray set of togs.
I should also mention that Batman, in the Golden and Silver Ages, had a bunch of wild specialty costumes that all factored into specific cases and missions. Batman still has these costumes in the Modern Age (stored in the Batcave), but they are more for novelty’s sake than anything else—although, some have a practical purpose and will be used on occasion. It wasn’t until 2016 that Batman’s wearing of the rainbow costume was canonized, so don’t ever rule out the Dark Knight donning his most bizarre duds in the Modern Age.
In further regard to the Silver Age, that era’s version of “Year One” (Untold Legend of the Batman) wasn’t written until the 1980. In Untold Legend, the debuting Batman is shown wearing his yellow oval costume—despite the fact that he didn’t debut wearing that costume. What essentially happens as a result is the canonization of Batman randomly and interchangeably wearing both the black insignia costume and the yellow oval costume in his early days. This obviously sets a distinct precedent where we could assume that Batman randomly tries out both costumes in the “Early Period” of the Modern Age too.
However, a major reason that I haven’t taken that route, beyond the reasons already listed above, is because Matthew Manning’s The Batman Files (2011) definitively tells us that Batman goes from old-school look to yellow oval look with no instances of wearing the yellow oval look prior to its debut. Another major reason for not going the Silver Age route is because, unlike in the Silver Age, the costume changes in the Modern Age are supposed to mean something. They are markers of significant shifts in Batman’s personality or momentous events in his life. The black-and-grey costume is meant to represent not only his darker early years, but also reflect a Modernized version of the Golden Age Batman. Likewise, the yellow oval costume signifies Batman’s shift toward a more laid-back and relaxed Dark Knight, reflecting the Batman of the Silver Age. (It can also be taken as Batman wanting a fresh start after recent love affairs—Kathy Kane, April Clarkson, Kelli, etc—have ended.) As stories move chronologically past the original Crisis, Batman sees important costume alterations again and again (as detailed above), and they are each connected to important things that happen to him. Simultaneously, all these costume alterations are meant to act as valid markers of time within Modern Age chronology. Of course, as shown above, determining which costume to use when doing “Early Period” stories or flashbacks wasn’t exactly a perfect science for creators and editors. Combine this with an overall debatable order for most of the “Early Period” tales and you get a malleable border between the shift period from old-school costume to yellow oval costume. Because things get much more chronologically set-in-stone after the “Early Period,” we (thankfully) rarely run into this problem of costume-look malleability in stories occurring later on the timeline.
- [9]MIKE THOMPSON / COLLIN COLSHER: This scene from Batman #700 has a part where Joker flips through his “joke book” and reads some of his “schemes, routines, and grandest ploys” aloud. Joker says, as he’s quickly flipping the pages, “…Joker fish… heh… might look into that… Jokerworld death parks for all the family… wooh.” Despite being originally connected to Steve Englehart’s Bronze Age “Strange Apparitions” arc (a version of which occurs in Modern Age Year Nine), the “Laughing Fish” gag already happened last year on our timeline, and we know this for two main reasons. First, Batman and Robin, by this point, have been interacting with Carter Nichols for a couple years. Second, the “Laughing Fish” gag is linked to Steve Englehart’s Modern Age “Fishy Laugh / Reign of Joker” arc, which—in spite of its continuity errors—is canon and definitely takes place during a time where Aquaman has only recently joined a newly formed JLA (i.e last year). Thus, logic follows that the Nichols scene from Batman #700 occurs right here. Overall, the Joker’s “fish” line in Batman #700 is a bit delusory, but it can actually be interpreted in several ways. The line could make it seem like the “Laughing Fish” gag has yet to occur. However, it could also just as easily be interpreted as a list of things that have already happened. Or it could be regarded as a mixed list of ideas, some tried, some not. Since we know that Joker isn’t above reusing schemes out of fondness for a bit or as an attempt to make some sort of impact, one could also make the case that Joker has indeed already done the “Laughing Fish” gag, but he’s seeing it (one of his favorites) listed here and will redo it again during “Strange Apparitions” in Year Nine. The line can also be interpreted the following way: Joker reads “Joker fish” as one page, recalling one of his most famous gags. Then he reads something else that makes him go “heh.” Then he reads something else that makes him say “might look into that,” etc… That might be the most unique interpretation of the sequence, but there’s no way to prove that it’s incorrect, and it actually functions nicely for the purposes of the Modern Age timeline.
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