Rebirth Era (Post-“Superman Reborn”) Chronology
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YEAR TWO (2003)
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–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #29, Batman & The Signal #2, Batman Vol. 3 #53, Robin Vol. 3 #9, and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #39—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #25-26, Batman: The Merciless #1, Detective Comics #969 Part 2, Batman & The Signal #1-3, Batman Giant #5-6 (Batman: Universe #2), the second feature to Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #3, Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #4, The Penguin #8, New History of the DC Universe #2, and the second feature to New History of the DC Universe #2. Originally told in “ZERO YEAR: DARK CITY” and Detective Comics Annual #8. (This item is a mash-up of Riddler’s Modern Age and New 52 origins.)[1][2] Batman—in his costume with purple ribbed padding—matches wits with Riddler (Edward Nigma aka Edward Nygma aka Edward Nashton), who debuts by committing a series of big-time heists, leaving public riddle clues/challenges for both the Caped Crusader and law enforcement before each crime. Batman also deals with Riddler’s femme fatale henchwomen, Query and Echo, during these heists. After a very public confrontation with Batman, the Riddler claims victory and takes over the entire city, ruling with an iron fist for a week or so while Batman remains in a coma. The injured Batman is cared for and nursed back to health by the Thomas family (Elaine Thomas, Doug Thomas, and young Duke Thomas). Duke is particularly encouraging and inspires Batman to make a dramatic return—wearing a sleeveless costume and riding a steam-powered motorbike. Aided by information from his stool pigeon Oswald Cobblepot, Batman teams up with Lieutenant Gordon against Riddler. (While we won’t see it on our timeline ahead, Cobblepot will inform on Riddler to Batman time and time again for years to come.) Eventually, Batman fights the super-villain one-on-one, sustaining multiple serious injuries. In the end, Batman wins and punches Riddler’s lights out so mercilessly that he knocks his teeth out and puts him into a coma for two days. After Riddler’s hospital stay, Batman personally escorts a new-toothed Riddler to prison. Shackled behind Arkham Asylum bars, Riddler will quickly become a police consultant for complex and bizarre crimes, sort of like Hannibal Lecter. Meanwhile, for his heroics during the “Zero Year” plot, Gordon is promoted from lieutenant to captain.
WE ARE YESTERDAY
————————–Justice League Unlimited Vol. 2 #7 Part 2
————————–Justice League Unlimited Vol. 2 #8-9
2025 superhero Air Wave (member of the future Justice League Unlimited), facing a crisis in his era, recruits a still-sleeveless Batman (on his steam-powered motorbike) to help him. Batman, along with several other time-displaced warriors, travels to 2025 to battle the similarly time-displaced 2008 Legion of Doom (Joker, Scarecrow, Captain Cold, The Cheetah, Black Manta, Sinestro, Bizarro #1, and Pythoness). Our present day Batman is joined by Batman (Terry McGinnis) from 2054, Superman from Year Ten (2011), Flash (Wally West) from Year Ten (2011), Aquaman from Year Ten (2011), Wonder Woman from Year Eight (2009), Jonah Hex from 1872, Ultra the Multi-Alien from 2212, Abin Sur (of the Green Lantern Corps, along with his sentient power ring) from the late 1990s, Robin (Jason Todd) from Year Eight (2009), Robin (Dick Grayson) from Year Seven (2008), Flash (Barry Allen) from Year Two (2003), Boy Thunder and Wonder Girl (Donna Troy) from Year Six (2007), and The Terrifics (Mr. Terrific, Plastic Man, Metamorpho, and Phantom Girl) from Year Seventeen (2018). (Present day Batman fighting in this event is also shown via flashback from Justice League: The Omega Act Special #1.) Eventually, 2025 Air Wave and 2025 Red Tornado are able to summon their fellow 2025 JLU members—Wonder Woman, Donna Troy, Firestorm (a merger of Ronnie Raymond and Dr. Ramirez), Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire (Carol Ferris), Black Lightning, Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes), Captain Shazam, Beast Boy, The Atom (Ray Palmer), Flash (Wally West), Plastic Man, Mr. Terrific, and Supergirl—along with Batman and Superman from Year Seven (2008) and Harley Quinn from Year Fourteen (2015). The good guys defeat the 2008 LOD, but resultant unstable Omega energy makes it so that all the time-displaced heroes remain trapped in 2025. In light of this chronal chaos, the World Forger (Alpheus) and Time Trapper (an elderly Doomsday from the distant future) meet in the heart of Hypertime (amid visions of various Hypertimelines) to form the Quantum Quorum.[3][4][5][6] In 2025, the unstable Omega energy also breaks time, causing people from throughout time and space (including Harley Quinn from the No Man’s Land period and a Fusion Batman-Superman from Year Seven) to begin appearing and disappearing at random. Thankfully, our present day Batman is quickly teleported back to here-and-now, so we’ll leave the rest of “We are Yesterday” for later. Presumably, our present day Batman’s memories of this event are erased once he returns home, but that’s not made clear.
–REFERENCE: In Doomsday Clock #2, Batman Vol. 3 #54, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1, Batman and Robin: Year One #1, and Detective Comics #999. Batman does some housekeeping in the recent wake of Riddler’s “Zero Year” takeover and arrest, claiming the villain’s gaudy green question mark costume, a giant question mark statue, an oversized jack-in-the-box springboard catapult, and a question mark cane as trophies, all of which he puts on display in the Batcave. Batman also builds a trophy wall on which he will affix commemorative plaques (presumably of his own design). The first three plaques feature pictures of a question mark, the Red Hood’s helmet, and a rosette. The rosette, and this might be a stretch, could represent Carmine Falcone. Roses are kinda his thing. Continuing his housekeeping in the wake of Riddler’s “Zero Year,” Batman collects some of Riddler’s DNA from the villain’s costume. This begins Batman’s regular practice of capturing and storing DNA from nearly every villain he will face. We won’t see this DNA collection on our timeline, but we can imagine it occurring alongside all of Batman’s many future battles. Presumably, Batman also sets up a DNA-typing lab in the Batcave.
–FLASHBACK: From The Penguin #6—and referenced in The Penguin #7. January. Oswald Cobblepot tells Batman that Carmine Falcone is at his wit’s end about his crumbling criminal empire. Cobblepot says that Falcone will stop at nothing to kill Batman, to which Batman tells Cobblepot that it’s time to shut down the Falcone Mob for good. Batman promises that, once Falcone goes down, he will arrange for Cobblepot to take over as legitimate owner of the Iceberg Lounge, at which point he will expect Cobblepot to continue acting as his informant. With Cobblepot’s latest intel, Batman busts nearly every remaining active member of the Falcone Mob. At the Iceberg Lounge, Falcone accuses Cobblepot of being a stool pigeon. Batman arrives just in time to bust Falcone. Back home, Cobblepot celebrates his newfound fortune by murdering his foster mother, Fran Georgi. Using a complex series of security measures to mask his involvement, Bruce purchases the Iceberg Lounge and transfers ownership of it to Cobblepot. Moving forward, Cobblepot will continue to snitch to Batman. (We won’t physically see it listed on our timeline ahead, but Batman and Oswald will have a scheduled meet-up once a month, every month.) And Batman will continue surveilling Cobblepot as well.[7]
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #142. Batman takes down the Gray Ghost Gang, a copycat group that mimics the Red Hood Gang. Soon after, Batman takes down the Red Mask Gang, yet another copycat group that mimics the Red Hood Gang.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #142-144—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #145, and the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #145. January. It’s been six months since Red Hood fell into the vat of toxins at Ace Chemicals. Chip Zdarsky’s “The Joker: Year One” concludes here. Still unsure of himself and having debilitating schizophrenic episodes, Joker talks to himself in the mirror. (In line with his “multiple choice” origins, the dialogue here can be read as him being either the Criminal or the Comedian i.e. the boss or the patsy. Either way, he’s got the clashing personalities of both within his head.) At GCPD HQ, Detective Harvey Bullock tells Captain Jim Gordon that Interim Commissioner Matthew McLeod wants him to rewrite his report about Batman from six months ago at Ace Chemicals, citing that it’s too vigilante-friendly. In the hall, Gordon gets in a fight with corrupt cop Manny Garbis. (Secretly, McLeod and Garbis are at the top of what remains of the Red Hood Gang.) Meanwhile, at Flunky’s, a shaky Joker gets in a fight with several goons, who kick his ass. Former Red Hood Gang member Brian Biggling hears Joker’s voice, recognizing him as his old Red Hood boss. (This hints that Joker is the Criminal, but each Joker would have the same voice, so it’s not definitive.) Joker departs with Biggling. Batman’s old mentor, Dr. Daniel Captio, who has been spying on Joker, is also present. Garbis quickly learns that the old boss is back and has ordered his team to kill him. Soon after, Batman—in his ribbed costume with purple gloves—busts the Black Hood Gang (another Red Hood copycat group). Batman chats with Gordon, telling him the Red Hood leader might still be alive. Later that night, Joker sees Batman patrolling and returns to Ace Chemicals in a panic. There, Joker suffers a schizophrenic breakdown, seemingly tortured by his multiple personalities. Captio approaches Joker, saying he wants to train him to harness his mind. In the Batcave, Batman and Alfred test Ace Chemical toxins on a cadaver, finding that they bleach the skin white. At Flunky’s, Batman shakes everyone down, learning that a “white-skinned man” left with Biggling. At Biggling’s apartment, the Red Hood Gang attacks Joker. Batman arrives as well, taking on the Red Hoods, but Joker flees before being seen by the Dark Knight. Biggling helps Batman take down the Red Hoods, unmasking one of them as a cop named Blair. At GCPD HQ, Gordon interrogates Blair. Gabris sets up what appears to be a chance for Blair to escape, but instead Gabris uses the moment to execute (and silence) Blair. Angered by the obvious assassination of a witness, Gordon attacks Gabris, earning an immediate suspension without pay. Across town, Joker meets with Captio, citing that training will “make him whole.” Captio’s training will supposedly serve to eliminate Joker’s fears, cure him, and expand his mind. As the intense training continues, Captio reveals his subconscious alternate persona, Karh Em Zed, essentially a proto-Zur En Arrh. Captio teaches Joker how to control his nested personalities within—the Clown, the Demon (aka the Comedian), and Cold Death (aka the Criminal). Having mastered his personalities, Joker attacks Captio. (As referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #145 and the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #145, Joker badly injures Captio, after which he keeps him captive.) Joker then dons what will be his signature old-timey gambler/card player outfit. At the other end of the city, Gordon spends time with his wife Barbara and their son James Junior before being confronted by Batman. They discuss a plan of action, which involves setting up bait for the Red Hoods in the form of a low-security Wayne Manor gala. Soon afterward, Batman deduces that Interim Commissioner McLeod is the new leader of the Red Hoods, putting a note in his desk drawer accusing him as such. Later, Bruce hosts an opera fundraiser as bait for the Red Hoods. Bruce hobnobs with multimillionaire (likely billionaire) diamond magnate Henry Claridge and his wife. After Batman radio checks in with Gordon, the latter returns to GCPD HQ to surveil Garbis. Dressed in an auguste Joseph Grimaldi-style clown costume, Joker pretends to report a crime at the front desk. Garbis and his cop buddies play their hand. Instead of targeting Wayne Manor, they put on their Red Hood masks and rob GCPD HQ, causing a violent gunfight. Joker plays his hand as well, bombing the precinct, raiding the armory, and taking down all the Red Hoods. Gordon takes down McLeod. Batman arrives just in time to see Gordon victorious, although Joker has already fled the scene, having kidnapped Garbis. After testing the first-ever strain of Joker Venom (aka Joker Juice aka Joker Toxin aka Smylex aka Fun Juice) on Biggling, Joker then kills Garbis, vowing to use McLeod as part of a long grift in the future. Soon after, McLeod is sentenced to ten years in prison. Joker returns to Flunky’s to kill the dudes that beat him up earlier.
–REFERENCE: In The Joker Vol. 2 #5 and Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #1 Part 1. Jack Grogan is appointed the new official Commissioner of Police. Like McLeod before him, he continues to pour resources into testing, cleaning, and defending the waterworks (in response to Joker’s prior threat).
–Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #18-19 (“THE ORIGIN OF THE WORLD’S FINEST TEAM: PHANTOM RIDDLES”)[8]
Batman begins investigating strange public vanishings—what the media calls the “Ghosting of Gotham.” Soon after, following a big heist, an escaped Riddler leaves behind a riddle written in Kryptonese. Captain Gordon (mistakenly referred to as commissioner in this arc), Detective Harvey Bullock, and photographer Charlie examine the scene, with the latter snapping a few shots. In Metropolis, Clark Kent and Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen view Charlie’s photos. Superman immediately visits Gotham, meeting Gordon for the first time. In conversation, Gordon says he doesn’t have a way to signal Batman. An eavesdropping Batman interjects, meeting Superman for the first time as well! (Superman and Batman’s first meeting is also shown via flashback from Superman Unlimited #1.) As they discuss the case, Batman and Superman team up to bust a debuting Spellbinder and Magpie. They then shake down multiple informants, hoping to find Riddler, but they come up short. Unknown to our heroes, Riddler is being abused and manipulated by Kryptonian villain Jax-Ur, who has escaped from the Phantom Zone. The Phantom Zone (aka Ghost Zone) is an extradimensional tesseract hyperspace that is home to a litany of Krypton’s worst criminals, who were ironically spared their lives when Krypton exploded. Jax-Ur was sent to the Phantom Zone by Superman’s father, Jor-El, using a device known as a Phantom Zone Projector. The Phantom Zone is one of many realms within the Underworld (which also includes Hades, Erishkagal, Annwn, etc).[9] In the morning, Bruce chats with Alfred, who is still reluctant about fully supporting Bruce’s war on crime. In the middle of their conversation, Alfred vanishes. Having already monitored Superman for quite some time, Bruce quickly deduces his secret identity. Bruce phones Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White to arrange an interview with Clark. At Wayne Manor, Bruce confirms that Clark is Superman. Bruce shares his secret with Clark as well, but Clark already knew. Shortly thereafter, Batman and Superman study another Riddler clue, which leads them to his location at a shipyard. There, Jax-Ur ambushes Superman and exiles Batman into the Phantom Zone. Alfred greets Batman, explaining to him what he has learned about the Phantom Zone. He also tells Batman that strange portals between Universe-0 and the Phantom Zone have been opening, resulting in the “Ghostings” and Jax-Ur’s escape. Superman telepathically contacts Batman, telling him about his deceased biological parents (Jor-El and Lara), Jax-Ur’s various crimes, and the destruction of Krypton. After Batman returns to Earth via one of the mysterious portal openings, Superman realizes that Jax-Ur is now planning to destroy the Bottle City of Kandor. En route to Superman’s Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic, the Man of Steel tells Batman all about the Fortress, Phantom Zone Projectors, and Kandor. (Specifically, as referenced in Justice League: No Justice #1, Man of Steel #3, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #7, and the second feature to New History of the DC Universe #4, Batman learns that Superman’s arch rival Brainiac had shrunk down and bottled-up whole cities, including Kandor, a Kryptonian city filled with the last survivors of the planet. Unable to bring the Kandorians—including the Science Council led by Professor Kim-Da—back to full-size, Superman kept the Bottle City inside the Fortress of Solitude for safekeeping.) (This Brainiac, of course, is one of many Brainiac doubles that serve the real Brainiac aka Vril Dox, who won’t actually appear for another decade from now. Until the appearance of the true Brainiac, any Brainiac we see on our timeline could be a unique copy.) As Superman battles Jax-Ur inside the Fortress of Solitude, Alfred telepathically tells Batman that a strange being (Aethyr the Messiah aka Aethyr the Oversoul) is trying to weaken the boundaries between the Phantom Zone and Universe-0. As per Superman’s plan, Batman tricks Jax-Ur and uses a Phantom Zone Projector to send him back to the Phantom Zone. In victory, Batman tells Superman they should train together. The heroes then bring all the missing Gothamites home. In Gotham, Batman and Superman bust Riddler. For Superman and Batman, Alfred draws a picture of Aethyr, whom they realize was responsible for opening and closing the portals. Afterward, Batman and Superman part ways, having discovered newfound respect for one another. (It’s unclear whether or not Batman and Superman were serious about training together, but we can imagine that they actually do start training with one another in some fashion, moving onward from this point.) Meanwhile, in the Phantom Zone, Aethyr vows to one day free everyone.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #22, Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7, Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #6 Part 5, Batman: Urban Legends #7 Part 1, Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #1 Part 1, and Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #7 Part 1. Batman, in conjunction with Captain Gordon, creates the Bat-Signal, a spotlight bat-symbol that will shine in the night sky both to frighten criminals and to summon him if the police need him. (The Bat-Signal has orthographic variances of “Batsignal,” “Bat-signal,” or “Bat Signal”.) On the GCPD rooftop, “Shutterbat” Dan Mora photographs Batman responding to the Bat-Signal for the first time ever. Soon after, Bruce purchases the original photo at an auction.
–FLASHBACK: From Absolute Power: Origins #2—and referenced in Trinity Vol. 2 #8, Superman Vol. 4 #20, Wonder Woman Vol. 5 Annual #1 Part 1, and Super Sons #5. Batman meets Superman’s love interest, intrepid reporter Lois Lane. Despite having gotten to know one another better and respect each other, Superman and Batman remain at odds—so much so that Batman builds an armored anti-Superman suit (based on the Frank Miller-designed costume from The Dark Knight Returns) and challenges Superman to a fight. Batman and Superman scrap, but cooler heads eventually prevail. (This fight is loosely based on their combat from Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice film.) Suffice to say, Batman won’t come to fully trust Superman (and vice versa) just quite yet. In fact, Batman and the “Man of Steel” will often get into heated arguments when they cross paths. Most of these fights will happen invisibly, scattered throughout our timeline below. (Some sources hint that Superman and Batman don’t become very close until they form the Justice League. While the formation of the JL will bring them even closer together, they will become best friends within the first six months of meeting. Suffice to say, in the coming months, they will be very much at odds as they feel each other out. And even afterward, they’ll squabble. After all, sometimes best friends even get into arguments.)
–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 #13 and Justice League Vol. 3 #29. While still distrusting of Superman, Batman researches Clark’s origins, pontificating how lucky the world is that two benevolent, kind-hearted people raised Clark into what appears to be a decent human being. Batman notes that any number of alternatives could have been disastrous. Batman will think about this circumstance of fate quite often over the course of his crime-fighting career. The Dark Knight begins studying Superman very closely, noting that the Man of Steel typically holds back his full power in combat, aware of the destructive potential of his Kryptonian abilities. Batman also notes that Superman gets his power from the rays of Earth’s yellow dwarf sun (i.e. white sun), while discovering that red solar rays nullify his power.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics Annual #2 (2019) and Detective Comics #1030. Having now seen a metahuman hero (Superman) up close and gone on a bunch of fantastic adventures, Batman decides to begin keeping a log of any bizarre events involving metahumans, supernatural occurrences, aliens, or anything else seemingly beyond the realm of human comprehension. Batman and Alfred begin compiling this intensive log, which is known as “The Black Casebook.” Batman decides the Black Casebook should also contain details about personal failures and unsolved mysteries. Notably, Batman creates a section of the Black Casebook dedicated to the (unsolved) multiple assassination attempts upon him when he was a teen. Batman will also fill the Black Casebook with various newspaper clippings. Batman and Alfred also begin logging “The Red Casebook.” We can only wonder what is in that one. In any case, both of these casebooks will be filled out accordingly moving forward. Batman and Alfred also put the Dark Knight’s case files (so far) into chronological order! Yes, they have their very own Batman Chronology Project! They will bind all the Dark Knight’s case files into physical tomes—”Year One,” “Year Two,” “Year Three,” etc—and keep them in the Batcave library. Likewise, in the future, Batman and Alfred will bind very special cases into physical books for their library too.[10]
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #95—originally told in the intro to Batman: The Man Who Laughs. Late January. It’s been one month since Joker threatened to poison the Gotham Reservoir. Joker still hasn’t struck at the waterworks, nor will he yet, but he’s now finally ready to make a big public debut. Batman meets with Captain Gordon at a chemical warehouse full of rictus grinning murder victims. They don’t know it yet, but these are Joker’s test subjects for his Joker Venom. After killing a news cameraman to gain access to his broadcast signal transmitter, Joker appears on live TV, threatening to kill and rob Henry Claridge at exactly midnight.
THE WINNING CARD
————————–Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #1 Part 1
————————–Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 1
————————–Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #5 Part 1
————————–Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #9 Part 1
This arc picks up directly from our previous item. At the stroke of midnight, despite massive police protection (including from Captain Gordon himself), Henry Claridge keels over with a forced smile on his face—victim of time-release Joker Venom, with which he had been dosed earlier in the day by Joker. Earlier in the day, Joker had stolen a diamond from Claridge and left what will be his signature joker playing card in its place. Meanwhile, as his twelve o’clock plan unfolds perfectly sans his presence, Joker chats with a missing child in a park before escorting her home and stabbing her father to death. Concurrently, a fancy gala is held at Wayne Manor, but Bruce is nowhere to be found. Alfred makes excuses to inquiring guests, including notorious gangster Brute Nelson. In actuality, Batman is across town busting a man who has killed his wife. After his patrol, Bruce returns home to the party and speaks with Nelson, glaring at him while subtly hinting that his days as a free man are numbered. A few days later, Joker threatens to murder another high-profile Gothamite, Jay Wilde, again at the stroke of midnight. Having hid inside a suit of armor in Wilde’s mansion all day, Joker delivers on his promise. Wilde is murdered, along with eight cops. Having been left as a witness, Gordon debriefs Batman. Later that evening, Bruce phones Nelson, manipulating him to challenge Joker. Thus, with Nelson as bait, Batman plans to snare Joker, who predictably publicly threatens to kill Nelson at the stroke of midnight in his own home. A couple of days later, at midnight, Joker attacks Nelson. Batman intervenes to save Nelson’s life, meeting Joker face-to-face for the first time. (This first face-to-face encounter is also visually referenced in New History of the DC Universe #2.) Batman chases Joker out into the street. Despite being injured with bullet wounds from Nelson, Joker gains the upper hand and throws Batman off a bridge. Later, Joker disgustingly hides in the bottom of a portable toilet to get the jump on another murder victim. Meanwhile, Alfred patches up Batman, who has broken bones, torn muscles, and a bad fever. After Joker kills a mother and her child on the highway, Batman suits up and heads out to meet with Gordon. Unfortunately, Batman collapses and passes out during their conversation. Listening in, Alfred, via radio, instructs Gordon to place Batman in the Batmobile, which autopilots home. After yet again getting patched up by Alfred, Batman instructs his butler to pump up his adrenaline by repeatedly punching him in the face. Alfred reluctantly complies. Meanwhile, Joker’s killing spree continues. The next day, Joker publicly announces that he will assassinate Judge Drake (formerly known as Judge Lake in prior canon), citing the fact that he once sent him to prison. GCPD’s Chief Chalmers benches Gordon, saying that he and the SWAT team will personally handle Joker. Disguising himself as Chief Chalmers, Joker gains access to Judge Drake and kills him as promised. As referenced in Batwoman: Rebirth #1 (and originally told in Batman: The Man Who Laughs Part 1 and Batman #1 Part 1), Joker does a few things while Batman is on the mend. First, Joker continues his war on organized crime by attacking members of the Lew Moxon gang. Second, Joker gasses store owner Virgil Myers, who develops metahuman powers due to an allergic reaction. (Myers will return years later as the super-villain known as The Mute.) The next day, the injured Batman crawls out of bed, memorizes all the names of Joker’s murder victims, and chases after Joker. In the woods, Joker stabs Batman in the stomach, causing him to pass out. Upon awakening, Batman is surprised to find Joker sitting by his side, calmly looking at him. As they resume their fight, a laughing Batman tells a bad “Bat-tery” joke, which Joker doesn’t find funny at all. Batman defeats Joker, sending him to Arkham Asylum. The next day, while fishing, Bruce and Alfred discuss the Joker case. A day after that, at another Wayne Manor gala, Brute Nelson chats with Bruce. Later, Batman visits Joker at Arkham Asylum. The hero and villain both agree that this is just the beginning of their relationship.
—[11]
–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3, and Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #14 Part 5—and referenced in Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #1 Part 2, Dark Days: The Casting #1, Doomsday Clock #2, and The Joker Vol. 2 #3. Originally told in Batman #1 Part 1. According to Detective Comics #1027 Part 3, this is Batman and Joker’s second face-to-face encounter. Technically speaking (and more specifically), this is the start of the second Joker case (which will be a series of connected Joker encounters). This follows the first Joker case (“The Winning Card”), which also featured a series of connected Joker encounters. Notably, Detective Comics #1027 Part 3 places this item in November of Year One, but that must be ignored. On to a synopsis! Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum. Soon after, Joker taunts Batman, flashing a deck of cards and telling him to pick one. (This scene of Joker taunting Batman with the deck of cards is adapted straight from the splash title page of Batman #1 Part 1.) Shortly thereafter, Joker challenges Batman with a host of deadly tricks, including a pair of oversized dice, a flower that sprays acid, an electric hand buzzer, razor-sharp playing cards, false teeth, and a gun that shoots out a flag instead of bullets. Batman keeps all of these items as trophies in the Batcave. Shortly after that, Joker surprises the Dark Knight with a bound-and-gagged policeman, who wears a “happy birthday” sash and has a bomb strapped to his chest. The cop is blown to smithereens. Soon afterward, at a factory, Batman fights Joker, who wings him with a few bullets. (Thus begins Joker’s sadistic ritual of giving Batman a twisted “birthday present” every single month, moving forward. Joker will never miss sending Batman his dark “gift,” not even once. Even from jail, he’ll make sure something gets sent or done on his behalf. While we won’t see all of the Joker’s monthly “largesse” on our timeline, we will see a handful. The rest we’ll just have to imagine. Notably, Detective Comics #1027 Part 3 is a huge mess and has been retconned to shreds thanks to New History of the DC Universe #2. Therefore, we’ll address the many problems associated with Detective Comics #1027 Part 3 as we come across them. There’s more than enough to easily disregard Detective Comics #1027 Part 3 as non-canon, but that’s entirely up to you. I’ve decided to leave it, with caveats where necessary.) Immediately thereafter, as noted in The Joker Vol. 2 #3, Joker continues his murderous crime spree, prompting the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to work the case with Captain Gordon and the GCPD. From a remote location, Joker leads an entire FBI unit into a death trap at a balloon factory. Batman is able to save all but one agent.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #29, Batman Vol. 3 #53, Batman Vol. 3 #95, Punchline #1, Robin Vol. 3 #9, and The Joker Vol. 2 #15—and referenced in Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #1 Part 1 and the second feature to Detective Comics #1057. Originally told in Batman: The Man Who Laughs Part 2. Picking up immediately from our previous item, Batman’s continues his second series of encounters with Joker. First, Joker targets Bruce (being a famous Gothamite) remotely, but Bruce temporarily fakes his own death to trick the villain. Joker then finally comes through on his earlier threat against the Gotham Reservoir, prompting Batman and Jim Gordon to meet atop GCPD HQ.[12] At the waterworks, Batman battles clown henchmen before busting Joker, preventing him from poisoning the drinking supply. Joker goes to Arkham Asylum. Afterward, Batman installs a tripwire alarm at the Gotham Light and Power Offices in hopes of preventing anyone from ever messing with the reservoir or water supply ever again.
–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Casting #1. This item picks up immediately from our previous item. Batman returns home from busting Joker at the Gotham Reservoir to find one of the villain’s signature playing cards inside the Batcave. Worried that Joker knows his secret ID, Bruce visits Arkham Asylum under the pretext of a Wayne Foundation business visit. There, Bruce sneaks off, meets with Joker, and shows him the playing card. Joker looks at Bruce but makes no response or shows any recognition. Even though the connection between Bruce and Batman has to be quite evident, Bruce believes that Joker’s twisted mind works in mysterious ways. He thinks that Joker doesn’t care who he is beneath the mask, and never will—that Joker is incapable of even broaching the subject of Bruce Wayne, for it might ruin his fun. Is this true? Or does Joker have more cunning faculty in regard to this matter than Bruce is willing to admit? (Joker definitely knows, that’s for sure.) Later, Batman enlarges Joker’s playing card and hangs it on display in the Batcave as a trophy.
–REFERENCE: In Joker: The World Part 1 (also pre-released as Joker: The World – Batman Day Special Edition #1 Part 1), The Penguin #7, and the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #145. Yes, Joker: The World Part 1 is a sequel to the non-canon Batman: Three Jokers, but does that mean it is also non-canon? That’s up to you. It still technically fits, so here it is. It’s been about one week since the end of “The Winning Card” arc. Batman discovers the Joker’s secret identity. (As inferred by Flashpoint Beyond #5 and The Penguin #7, Joker’s real name is Jack Oswald White, although, as previously stated, there will always be some doubt as to the validity of this fact.) Meanwhile, Joker’s now-ex-wife Jeannie is pregnant with his child and has gone into some sort of witness protection program in order to escape her husband’s abusive behavior. She now lives in Comoedia, Alaska where she will soon give birth to a baby named Jeremy. It’s unknown whether or not Batman knows about the existence of Jeannie. Either way, Batman will keep Joker’s ID a secret from most of his closest compatriots. However, as implied in The Penguin #7, Batman does tell Jim Gordon. It’s likely that Batman and Gordon dig into Joker’s past but keep his secret ID information to themselves. Although, in The Penguin #7, Gordon has a plainly visible “Jack Oswald White” filing cabinet in his office, which doesn’t seem very confidential. Sigh. (Notably, as seen in Joker: The World Part 1, Joker will still eventually come face-to-face with Jeannie and Jeremy in Alaska, but it seems like pure chance that he stumbles upon them. Additionally, it’s hard to tell if he even recognizes Jeannie when he sees her. This is Joker, though, so who really knows?)
–REFERENCE: In DC’s Harley Quinn Romances #1 Part 2. February 14. Valentine’s Day. Batman patrols, in what turns out to be his busiest night of action this year so far. DC’s Harley Quinn Romances #1 Part 2 tells us that Valentine’s Day is the second busiest night of the year for crime in Gotham (second only to Christmas Eve). We’ll have to imagine that Batman steps up his game each 14th of February, moving forward.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #999. February—Bruce’s birthday. Batman builds an immersive computer simulation program (“Program 2.1”) and plugs himself into the system. The sim is designed to place him in a virtual world and then challenge him by pushing him to his most extreme limits. Batman decides he will run Program 2.1 on himself on every birthday, moving forward.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #995, Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #57, the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #128, Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #10, and DC KO: Red Hood vs Joker #1. Batman and Alfred study Joker Venom samples, creating a novel antitoxin by synthesizing various antibiotics, vaccines, and steroids. Note that, from this point on, the Jokers will use many different variations of Joker Venom. With every new strain, Batman will always create and carry the latest antitoxins in his utility belt. Batman also begins the practice of depositing leftover Joker Venom at Gotham Industrial Clean Waste, which is owned by Wayne Enterprises. Moving ahead, the Dark Knight will do this for most dangerous chemicals he encounters. Batman also tries and fails to synthesize a cure that could revert Joker back to his prior form. While we won’t see it on our timeline, Batman will continue to try to find a cure for Joker’s condition.
–REFERENCE: In Doomsday Clock #2, The Batman Who Laughs #1, The Batman Who Laughs #6, the second feature to Detective Comics #1058, and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #20. In the Batcave, Batman sets up a newspaper clipping corkboard dedicated to all things Joker-related. He will add to this board whenever Joker takes any action whatsoever. (Not all of Batman’s interactions with Joker will be listed on our timeline below. Since Joker will be Batman’s arch-enemy, there are a lot of cases that we must simply imagine sprinkled throughout the chronology.) At this juncture, Batman begins obsessively studying gelotology and Joker’s sadistic nature. Batman finds Joker so detestable that he briefly considers breaking his vow never to kill. Moving forward, Batman will often dream of killing Joker. And even when awake, Batman will question whether or not to kill Joker from time to time, which is something he will never even think about in regard to his other foes. Batman also puts Joker’s costume on a display mannequin in the Batcave.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #139. The GCPD begins using radio code “7-20” in reference to suspected Joker crimes.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #24 and Batman Vol. 3 #36. Batman first hears what will become Superman’s very public signature catchphrase: “Up, up, and away!” Possibly inspired by Superman’s pulpy argot, Batman coins his own catchphrase, “Vengeance is the night!” and begins growling it at criminals while on patrol. Thankfully, Batman won’t say this very often.
–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #1. Batman and Superman begin a heated hypothetical debate about superhero ethics and morality, asking each other what would happen if they used the same methods super-villains use, but instead to fight against crime. This complex conversation will happen on and off between the super-friends for decades to come.
–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #7. Batman meets Superman’s puppy Krypto (aka Krypto the Superdog).
–Batman: Off-World #1-3
Mid March to late April—Batman: Off World #1-3 is said to take about six weeks. It’s been a little over a year since a bat flew through Bruce’s window, forever sealing the course of his destiny. Batman now begins targeting the East End Irish Mob, led by an up-and-comer named Coonan. Batman goes head-to-head with Coonan’s new hired man, an unnamed Akkarian from the faraway Slag Galaxy. The rough-and-tumble alien kicks Batman’s ass. Despite having been easily defeated, the Dark Knight learned a lot about the Akkarian during their fight (including where he lives). Realizing that he’ll need to train in the Akkarian’s home galaxy in order to gain an edge on him, Bruce orders Wayne Enterprises to purchase a prototype long-range space shuttle from STAR Labs. He immediately departs for the Slag Galaxy, twenty-six million light-years away. Upon arrival in the Slag Galaxy, Batman stows away aboard the slave ship War Storm, helmed by an Akkarian called Captain Syyn. Aboard Syyn’s ship, Batman quickly finds himself embroiled with numerous aliens and robots. Syyn embarrasses Batman in front of his menagerie, knocking him out with only three punches. The badly injured Dark Knight awakes in the brig, alongside other enslaved laborers of the Blakksun Mining Company, including the Tamaranean femme fatale Ione, who is scheduled for execution. Upon learning he’s been embedded with a chip that allows him to understand all alien languages, Batman immediately begins learning all he can about his surroundings. Forced into manual labor aboard the War Storm, Batman becomes adept at the usually fatal task of cleaning out the ship’s engines. Meanwhile, Batman secretly spends every free second studying and sparring with both a training robot (Punch Bot) and Ione. After his fifth engine cleaning, Batman picks a fight against three dozen of his captors, holding his own for a while but eventually getting put down. After hearing Ione’s backstory, Batman joins her and Punch Bot in starting a prison riot. While Ione and a bunch of prisoners escape, Syyn tosses Batman through an airlock into outer space. The loyal Punch Bot sends an escape pod to save Batman. The pod takes Batman to the moon of Akkari, the home world of Syyn. The locals tell Batman they’ve been plagued by creatures called “barbed wolves,” to which Batman responds by confronting, defeating, and taming the alpha of the pack. Afterward, Batman rejoins Ione, who has come searching for him. Batman, Ione, and his new wolf board a rickety (and slow) spacecraft and head toward the War Storm. During this trip (which takes two weeks), Batman begins a sexual relationship with Ione and builds a new costume and weaponry. Upon arrival at the War Storm, Batman and his wolf take down Captain Syyn and his men. Synn’s men pledge allegiance to Batman, who sets his sights on the Blakksun Mining Company’s leaders—the Blakksun Twins (Wrath Blakksun and Whisper Blakksun).
–Batman: Off-World #4-6
Late April to late May—Batman: Off-World #4-6 spans a little over four weeks in duration. Picking up directly from Batman: Off-World #3, Batman leaves Captain Syyn stranded on a deserted planet and takes control of the War Storm. When Batman tells Ione of his plan to liberate all those enslaved by the Blakksun Mining Company, she scoffs and leaves him. Aided by Punch Bot, his pet wolf, Zeta-Beam technology, and a mini-space-jet, Batman spends the next couple of weeks taking down Blakksun operations across the Slag Galaxy. Fed up, the Blakksun Twins punish Syyn for his failure and then hire the notorious Thanagarian hitman known only as The Thanagarian to apprehend Batman. Batman is no match for the Thanagarian’s cosmic Nth Metal armor and weaponry, getting badly knocked around. Back on Earth, a sad Captain Gordon (as he has done in vain for the past eight weeks) tries to summon Batman. In the Batcave, Alfred (as he has done in vain for the past eight weeks) scans for deep space transmissions from Batman. On the outskirts of the Slag Galaxy, Ione hears that the Thanagarian has been hired to take out Batman. Meanwhile, Batman hulks up and takes the fight to the Thanagarian. Batman has Punch Bot (now calling himself “War Bot,” although the name doesn’t really stick) activate the War Storm‘s shields, which zaps both Batman and his foe but allows the former to kayo the latter. Batman, Punch Bot, and the wolf abandon the War Storm for a sleeker, more nondescript shuttle, locking the Thanagarian inside their old craft along with dozens of other angry Punch Bots. After scouring the galaxy for information on the Blakksuns, Batman visits the Hudu-Goom system to find the Blakksun Twins have slaughtered thirteen billion enslaved miners. Meanwhile, Ione visits the War Storm and kills the Thanagarian. Together, Batman and Ione concoct a plan to infiltrate the Blakksun Twins’ HQ. Acting as a bounty hunter, Ione delivers Batman as a “captive” to the Blakksun Twins. All according to plan, Batman is legitimately detained and tortured, but he overcomes his torturers with sheer will. After taking down Whisper, Batman joins Ione, Punch Bot, and the wolf to take down Wrath and a bunch of henchmen. The Blakksun Mining Company is dissolved, and countless worlds are set free across the Slag Galaxy. Batman and Ione celebrate in the bedroom. Batman then zips back to Earth in an alien craft (much faster than the one-way shuttle in which he arrived about nine weeks ago). Back in Gotham, Batman immediately kicks the ass of the Akkarian working for Coonan, effectively shutting down the Irish Mob entirely. Meanwhile, across the cosmos, Ione becomes the Slag Galaxy’s Bat-themed vigilante protector (complete with a planet-sized Bat-signal, sidekick Punch Bot, and pet wolf).
–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3. June. For Batman’s monthly “birthday present,” from jail, Joker manages to remotely orchestrate an arson fire in downtown Gotham City. Note that this item was originally meant to go in January Year Two, but thanks to retcons from the second feature to New History of the DC Universe #2 that push Joker’s public debut into Year Two, the arson fire gift must be in June of Year Two at the earliest. Of course, Detective Comics #1027 Part 3 shows the specific February Year Two gift of Joker mailing an ashtray to Captain Gordon and Batman at police HQ. As such, we must combine these two “gifts.” (This actually kind of makes more sense and is in line with Joker’s sick humor—connecting an arson fire with an ashtray.)
–REFERENCE: In Super Sons #5, Superman Vol. 4 #37, Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #5, Justice League Vol. 4 #38, and Superman: Red and Blue #3 Part 1. Batman and Superman haven’t truly clicked and found mutual respect—until now. Realizing that they actually have a lot more in common than they thought, Bruce and Clark become best friends. Bruce learns all about Clark’s life as a respected journalist (and he’ll follow Clark’s career very closely for decades to come). Bruce also comes to place Clark’s Midwestern values on a pedestal. Batman begins sharing most of his case files and crime reports with Superman. Likewise, Superman agrees to do the same. Both the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel will continue to share information at regular intervals. Over time, their friendship will become one of the strongest bonds in the DCU. With trust between them burgeoning, the two heroes, despite having contrasting personality types (Batman, for example, is more worrisome), will only grow closer. Despite the camaraderie and mutual respect they share, Batman and Superman will still butt heads and fight each other quite often. Most of these fights will happen invisibly, scattered throughout our timeline below. Whenever they fight, Batman will wonder what it would feel like if Superman weren’t pulling his punches.
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #1003 and Justice League Vol. 4 #61. International news media begin referring to the team-up of Batman and Superman as “The World’s Finest.” This moniker will be used to refer to the duo from time to time, moving forward. Batman and Superman set up an emergency communication frequency just for the two of them, naming it the “World’s Finest Frequency.”
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #982, Superman Vol. 4 #36-37, Dark Nights: Metal #4, Heroes in Crisis #2, Batman Vol. 3 #68, Superman Vol. 5 #16, Event Leviathan #6, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #7-8, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #25 Part 2, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #51, and Detective Comics #1103. Batman learns about Superman’s major weakness to Kryptonite (and his inability to see through lead with X-ray vision). Batman immediately adds a safe lead lining to all his cowls (and will do so for all future costumes). Batman also studies the different types of Kryptonite and their effects on Superman. There are many Kryptonite variations, including Green, Red, Gold, Periwinkle, White, Anti, Yellow, Blue, Black, and others. Batman then builds a data file detailing how to surmount Superman in the event that the Man of Steel turns evil or is mind-controlled by an evil force. Batman will begin cataloging information about Superman now. This information will be stored on the Bat-computer network. Notably, Superman actually gives Batman a Green Kryptonite ring, with the idea that he use it against him should he ever be mind-controlled or lose control. Batman also acquires various colored Kryptonite shards and stores them safely in the Batcave. Batman places a tiny sliver of Green Kryptonite (in a lead-lined case that blocks its radioactive emissions) into his utility belt. Batman also gives Superman a private communication device so Superman can reach him easily. And last but not least, in the Fortress of Solitude, Batman meets Superman’s robot assistant Kelex and tours Superman’s interplanetary zoo. While the Fortress is all about solitude (as the name clearly states), Batman and Robin will spend a lot of time there, especially as their relationship with Superman matures over the years. We should imagine Fortress hangouts sprinkled throughout the chronology. Furthermore, Superman allows the Dynamic Duo to link their Bat-Computer network with the advanced Kryptonian computer network inside the Fortress.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Giant Vol. 2 #5 Part 1 (Batman: Gotham Nights Vol. 3 #7)—and referenced in Detective Comics #958, Batman Vol. 3 #94, and Batman Vol. 3 #141. Wearing his ribbed padded-arm costume (with purple gloves), Batman battles the debuting Killer Moth (Drury Walker), who escapes via retractable hang-glider wings. Batman is inspired to add a hang glider to his collection of crime-fighting tools. Soon after, Batman fights Killer Moth again, and the villain escapes once again. While unable to apprehend Killer Moth, Batman keeps some of the villain’s tech, modifying it to create a flame-retardant expanding foam, which he will carry in capsules in his utility belt going forward. Note that Killer Moth will have three primary costumes that he will wear interchangeably for decades to come. The first is his main purple-and-green costume (seen here), which mirrors his classic outfit from the Silver and Modern Ages. The second is his New-52 style look, which is darker and features a mohawk. The third is his Rebirth Era costume, which is an armored suit.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #26. Batman—in his ribbed padding costume with purple gloves—briefly encounters master assassin Deathstroke aka Deathstroke the Terminator (Slade Wilson). Batman won’t learn Deathstroke’s name (or anything about him) yet.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7, Detective Comics #997, and Batman: Knightwatch – Batman Day Special Edition #1 (Batman: Knightwatch #1). Batman permanently retires his ribbed padding costume and purple gloves. He also puts one of his first costumes (with funny-shaped cowl ears) on display in the Batcave.
–REFERENCE: In Batgirl Vol. 5 #14 and Batgirl Vol. 5 Annual #2. Captain Jim Gordon is promoted and officially made Gotham’s newest police commissioner. Unfortunately, in another instance of a good professional life event being balanced by a bad personal life event, Jim gets divorced. Barbara moves back to Chicago along with her daughter, Babs, and her son, James Junior.
–Detective Comics Annual #1 (2018)
Second-generation superstar Hollywood actor Basil Karlo crashed his car three weeks ago, resulting in first-degree burns and severe facial injuries. Thanks to a discontinued experimental gel called Renu (belonging to his deceased dad), Basil was able to temporarily sculpt his face back to its former shape. Needing more of the product, Karlo travels to Gotham’s Daggett Chemical, run by crook Roland Daggett, to steal more. (Daggett, a canon immigrant from Batman the Animated Series, is also spelled Dagget, with one t.) With a tip from Commissioner Gordon, Batman gets the jump on Karlo and busts him. Batman investigates Daggett and learns that Renu destabilizes neural pathways in its users’ brains, and that Daggett has been experimenting with it on human guinea pigs for decades. Batman then tells Karlo that no one will press charges against him and that he should go to DA Harvey Dent to assist in giving testimony that will put Daggett away for a long time. The next day, however, Karlo wigs out and tries to steal the evidence stash of Renu from the courthouse. Some crooked cops open fire on Karlo, causing the entire batch of toxic gel to pour over him. Karlo instantly becomes the shape-changing super-villain Clayface. In a wild rage, Clayface attacks the set of a film in which he was supposed to star. He targets director Veronica St. Clair and leading man Harry Day Jr before dumping a barrel full of Renu onto his girlfriend, production assistant Glory Griffin, which turns her into a clay-based metahuman as well—only Glory doesn’t have the ability to change shape. (Glory will return years later as a super-villain named Mudface.) Batman then brings Clayface to justice. (Flashbacks from Batman Giant #2 and Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4 show Batman fighting Clayface, during which Batman suffers a permanent scar. I’ve attached both these flashbacks to this item. Also, a reference in Harley Quinn Vol. 4 #47 tells us that a knife-wielding Clayface dons a Phantom of the Opera-esque mask, fedora, and cloak—i.e. his original debut look from the Golden Age and Silver Age. We must assume he briefly—and publicly—appears wearing this ensemble at some point during this item.) Presumably, Daggett is brought to justice as well. (Basil Karlo’s debut as Clayface is also visually referenced in New History of the DC Universe #2.)
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #973. Bruce has Wayne Chemical (a sub-branch of WayneTech) clean up after Clayface’s nightmarish debut. He orders his scientists to collect leftover globs of living mud left behind by Clayface at the scene of the crime. Wayne Chemical will continue to store the living residuum from Clayface whenever he makes an appearance, moving forward.
–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1101—and referenced in Detective Comics #1105. Batman chases after Falcone Mob triggerman Mark Kingsford, busting him at his home in front of his terrified thirteen-year-old son Leo Kingsford. After Batman drops Mark off at the police station, Commissioner Gordon meets with Leo, who is traumatized to his core. Leo enters foster care and lives with his foster mom, Tracey Adams. Through the Wayne Foundation, Bruce and Alfred ensure that Leo receives ongoing treatment and financial support.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #53, Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #5 Part 3, Robin Vol. 3 #9, Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4, and Two-Face #6—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #25, Detective Comics #987, Detective Comics #1000 Part 8, The Batman Who Laughs #1, Detective Comics #1062, Batman: Killing Time #4-5, Batman: Urban Legends #21 Part 1, Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #10 Part 3, Batman: Hush 20th Anniversary Edition, Two-Face #1-4, Batman: Dark Patterns #9, New History of the DC Universe #2. Very loosely based on “THE LONG HALLOWEEN.”[13] A number of key players in the Falcone Mob are shot and killed by a mystery gunman, dubbed “The Holiday Killer” (aka “Holiday”) by the media. Batman, Commissioner Gordon, and Harvey Dent investigate. Soon after, Holiday seemingly strikes again, killing Carmine Falcone’s son, Alberto Falcone. Of course, his body isn’t recovered, which curiously doesn’t match up with the other Holiday murders. (Alberto has faked his own death.) Meanwhile, Harvey Dent is horribly scarred on half of his face by Sal Maroni, who throws acid at him in the courtroom. After Batman deals with Sal and Bruno, he is on hand at the hospital when a distraught Gilda sees her badly injured husband for the first time. But the injuries run deeper than skin-deep as Dent becomes the murderous super-villain Two-Face. In his first act as Two-Face, Dent badly injures Sofia Falcone Gigante (Carmine Falcone’s daughter) and shoots Carmine Falcone, who barely survives. Commissioner Gordon meets with Batman and tells him he’s found evidence proving Dent was Holiday. Two-Face tries to kill Maroni in his cell, but Batman and Gordon, having anticipated it, attempt to move Maroni elsewhere. However, en route, a returning Alberto kills Maroni and publicly claims to be Holiday.[14] Alberto goes to Arkham Asylum, but Two-Face kills him there. Batman then challenges his old friend, who hires a crew of henchmen, including top man Cicero. (While we won’t see it on our timeline ahead, Batman will encounter Cicero on occasion.) Two-Face also begins using a signature move: flipping his lucky silver dollar to determine his actions. (The coin is scarred on one side and belonged to Two-Face’s father.) Batman immediately begins using one of Two-Face’s unnamed henchmen as an undercover inside source/street informant. Upon confrontation, Two-Face slices up Batman, leaving permanent scars. Eventually, the Caped Crusader brings Two-Face to justice. Two-Face cryptically tells Batman and Gordon the Holiday murders were carried out by two people. Batman and Gordon assume this means that Two-Face and Alberto both played the role of Holiday. Unknown to them, Gilda had also committed some of the Holiday killings. Two-Face goes to Arkham while Gilda leaves the country.
–REFERENCE: In Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #18 Part 1. In the Batcave, Batman puts some Two-Face stuff on display, including an enlarged version of Two-Face’s scarred coin.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #53 and Detective Comics #1027 Part 1—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #25, Batman Vol. 3 #69, Batwoman Vol. 3 #7-8, Detective Comics #964, Detective Comics #967, Detective Comics #985, and Batman: Kings of Fear #5. Batman fights the debuting Scarecrow (Professor Jonathan Crane), who unleashes his tortured and brainwashed students, including Abigail O’Shay, upon the Caped Crusader. (Abigail will return years later as the super-villain Madame Crow.) Scarecrow also uses his patented Fear Gas on Batman, causing intense hallucinations. Eventually, Batman wins the day, although Scarecrow goes free and Batman doesn’t learn his secret identity. However, Batman is able to collect a sample of Scarecrow’s Fear Gas. From this point forward, Batman will collect samples of Scarecrow’s Fear Gas, of which there will be a variety of different strains, every time they face one another. Both Batman and Alfred will study Scarecrow’s poisons frequently, becoming more than familiar with their effects and chemical composition. For the next few years, Batman will expose himself to every variation of Fear Gas to memorize the effects and feel of each strain. Also, from this point forward, Batman will keep both Fear Gas and Fear Gas antidote syringes in his utility belt.
–the second feature to Detective Comics #1047-1048 (“SHADOWS OF THE BAT: HOUSE OF GOTHAM”)
This item is said to occur specifically “months” into Batman’s career but after Clayface’s debut, hence placement here (actually well over a year into Batman’s career). Batman chases an escaped Joker to an apartment where he has just axe-murdered a married couple. Their small unnamed child, who had been hiding, emerges and blames both Joker and Batman for the loss of his folks. Later, District Attorney Harvey Dent and Commissioner Gordon examine the scene and speak with the young orphan. Unfortunately, the boy winds up in the temporary care of trauma specialists at Arkham Asylum. Having been badly injured by Joker, Batman is rescued by Alfred, who drives him home and stitches him up. The next day, Bruce visits Arkham to check up on the boy, who is under the not-so-watchful care of Dr. Harleen Quinzel. Bruce makes a donation and chats with the recently appointed hospital director, Dr. Jeremiah Arkham, who is carrying on his family legacy. Bruce then meets Dr. Quinzel for the very first time. Bruce is distressed to find that the boy is playing with Clayface (Basil Karlo). Bruce separates the boy from Clayface and then places him in the Martha Wayne Orphanage. Unfortunately, Dr. Jonathan Crane is one of his primary psychiatrists. (Neither Batman nor the public are aware that Crane is Scarecrow yet.)
–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Detective Comics #1049. Picking up directly from the second feature to Detective Comics #1048, Bruce visits the orphanage to give toys to the young boy orphaned by Joker. While we won’t see it listed on our timeline ahead, Bruce will visit the boy (and give him toys) frequently over the next few years.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1022 and Detective Comics #1068. Shannon McKillen commits suicide in prison, prompting her sister Erin McKillen to escape from jail and go after Gilda Dent as part of a revenge plot against Two-Face. Gilda is seemingly murdered by Erin, who then returns to prison. In our current continuity, it is unclear whether Gilda is actually killed, although Two-Face will believe she is dead. Nevertheless, there are nods to Gilda’s future return many years down the road—as the leader of a secret society (vaguely referenced in Batman: Urban Legends #21 Part 3) and then as a murderous vigilante (shown clearly in Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #5 Part 3). So, our options here are: Gilda indeed dies (and these two items are bogus or non-canon), Gilda’s death is faked, or Gilda is resurrected later on. Your headcanon call. (Note that in the original New 52 incarnation of this story, it was the McKillens who turned Harvey Dent into Two-Face, not Sal Maroni.) Obviously, that isn’t the case in the Rebirth/Infinite Frontier Era.)
–FLASHBACK: From Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #14 Part 5, Batman Vol. 3 #150, and Two-Face #1—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #104 and Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Battle Lines #1. Originally told in Two-Face: Year One #2. Batman deals with Two-Face, Two-Face’s henchman Syd, and The Penny Plunderer (Joe Coyne), foiling a scheme that involves a giant penny. Afterward, Batman keeps the giant penny as a trophy, putting it on display in the Batcave. While the Penny Plunderer has always been a one-shot villain in prior continuities, the implication in Batman Vol. 3 #104 is that he will show up randomly in the future (including once more this year). We must imagine these encounters on our timeline.
–REFERENCE: In Batman: Killing Time #3 and Batman: Killing Time #5. Batman battles Catwoman, who begins employing cat-themed henchmen. During this encounter, Catwoman learns details about the Batmobile, including how it has various trackers and that it can be controlled via remote.
–REFERENCE: In All-Star Batman #10-12 and Super Sons #5. Worried about Bruce’s well-being, Alfred is still reluctant about his quest to fight crime. In spite of this solicitude, Alfred throws his full support and devotion to his surrogate kin, someone he raised as a boy and truly loves as a father loves a son. Alfred is already aware of Bruce’s intensity and commitment to the cause, a laser focus that occupies nearly every second of both their waking lives. Often, Alfred will be the only confidant in Batman’s world, guiding him through turbulent times and providing a voice of reason. Alfred’s scaffolding will give Batman both encouragement but also help him show necessary restraint when engaging in generally reckless endeavors. Despite this, Batman will often frustratingly ignore Alfred’s advice.
–REFERENCE: In All-Star Batman #13. Alfred is supportive but still extremely wary of Batman’s vigilante mission. (This feeling will never really change.) Hoping to subconsciously give Bruce a glimpse at a better life sans the Bat, Alfred interjects into Bruce’s real estate dealings with WayneTech, suggesting that he purchase properties in beautiful and relaxing vacation locales. Bruce does so and even travels to some of the unspecified sites with Alfred, but he doesn’t take the hint. Alfred will act as a consultant on various WayneTech real estate purchases over the next sixteen years, although these purchases won’t be specifically listed on our chronology.
–REFERENCE: In Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen Vol. 3 #5. In a further attempt to distance his Bruce Wayne alter ego from Batman, Bruce begins telling jokes at social gatherings and at work at Wayne Enterprises. While Bruce knows his playboy schtick is an act, he actually does think he’s got some comedic flair. But he really doesn’t. Alfred sees this right off the bat and knows it means a lot to Bruce, so he begins the practice of paying off people at Wayne Enterprises to laugh at all of Bruce’s jokes. Alfred will pay people off for many years to come.
–REFERENCE: In Superman: Man of Tomorrow #19. Batman and Superman discuss who would win in a fight if the latter were de-powered. Batman will often think about this, and it’s a subject the two will discuss every once in a while going forward.
–REFERENCE: In Superman Vol. 5 #9. Batman and Superman discuss Superman’s sleeping habits. The Man of Steel doesn’t ever need sleep, but he chooses to sleep like a human anyway.
–REFERENCE: In Batman: The Detective #4. Batman continues his subterfuge to distance himself from Bruce Wayne as much as possible. Not only does Batman stage a fake rescue of Bruce, but he also doctor photos of Batman and Bruce together and leaks them to the press. While not noted on our timeline ahead, Batman will sometimes leak stories of Bruce being saved by Batman.
–REFERENCE: In The Brave and The Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman #1. Bruce begins the habit of lifting free weights while ruminating (or when bored) in the Batcave. He will do this for the rest of his life. I can think of a lot worse habits to have.
–REFERENCE: In Deathstroke Vol. 4 #34-35 and Batman Vol. 3 #136. Bruce and Alfred upgrade Wayne Manor security yet again, adding a special lockdown mode, in which the entire house can be turned into a giant panic room in case of infiltration or extreme emergency. Likewise, the Batcave can be deactivated and sealed-off as well. Batman also adds a special monitoring device connected to Wayne Manor’s security system into his utility belt.
–REFERENCE: In Suicide Squad Vol. 6 #1—originally told in Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #32-34. Batman defeats the debuting Cavalier (Hudson Pyle).
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #25 and Detective Comics #969 Part 2. Batman defeats the hulking semi-zombie Solomon Grundy, who is immortal and mostly speaks in nursery rhymes. Over a hundred years ago, Grundy was once notorious Gotham criminal Cyrus Gold.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4. Batman gets roughed up while on an unspecified case, during which he suffers several permanent scars. This item is a compilation of random flashback panels—specifically two of Batman getting punched in the face, two of Batman painfully reacting to being injured, one of Batman falling, one of Batman getting his head stomped by a combat boot, one of Batman seeing spots (possibly hallucinating from drugs or injury), and one of Batman fighting a totally indecipherable character. Since we are given no additional information about these incredibly vague images, I’ve combined them all here.
–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #22, Batman Vol. 3 #26, Batman Vol. 3 #30-32, and Batman: Killing Time #5. Batman busts Tweedledum and Tweedledee (and their henchmen). Batman Vol. 3 #32 mentions that Tweedledee eats human flesh. This is likely an error and the editorial text was supposed to be linked to Man-Bat or Killer Croc. But, hey, it’s there with Tweedledee, so what are you gonna do? My personal headcanon will forever have Tweedledee as a cannibal now.[15]
–REFERENCE: In Catwoman Vol. 5 #50. Batman begins what will become a signature practice of telling strangers their entire biographic profile (which he knows from routinely scanning and memorizing the Bat-computer database) upon meeting them. Most responses to Batman doing this will be defensive, especially from criminals.
–REFERENCE: In Batman: Urban Legends #20 Part 4. Bruce talks to Alfred about recurring nightmares he used to have as a boy. Alfred tells him they were a manifestation of grief.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #130. Batman and Superman discuss their trunks. (They both wear underwear on the outside of their costumes as superheroes are wont to do.) Batman tells Superman that wearing trunks is a good idea that offers many benefits.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #37. Bruce tells Clark about his ginger-ale-swilling drunk act that fools people into thinking he is wasted at parties. Clark begins doing it too.
–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3. Late August. As he does every month, Joker sends Batman a “birthday” gift. This time, he mails a package to GCPD HQ, addressed to the Dark Knight. Batman dons his special Bomb-Handling Suit and gingerly deals with the package.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #958 and Gotham Academy: Second Semester #10. Due to existing in the same wealthy socialite circles, Bruce (as Bruce Wayne) officially meets Oswald Cobblepot. Their paths will cross many times over the course of the next decade, but Cobblepot will have no idea that Bruce and Batman are one and the same. (He’ll suspect, but he won’t ever know for sure.)
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #999. Batman and Alfred review municipal data that shows the number of murders in Gotham in the previous year. They will use this number as a key metric of their success, with the goal of brining this number down each year, moving forward. The number will indeed go down each year.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #25, Detective Comics #1000 Part 2, Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #6 Part 1, Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #4, Knight Terrors: Batman #1, and Batman and Robin: Year One #2. The Alice in Wonderland-obsessed Mad Hatter (Jervis Tetch) debuts along with some mind-controlled henchmen. One of his disturbing pedophilic goals is to kidnap his own perfect Alice. Batman and some EMTs learn the hard way that Mad Hatter’s hat emits an eardrum-shattering noise pulse once removed from his head for longer than forty-two seconds. After taking down Mad Hatter, Batman keeps his top hat as a trophy for the Batcave.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #976, Detective Comics #994-995, and Detective Comics #1095. Dr. Leslie Thompkins discovers Batman’s secret identity and is not pleased. Despite her initial reservations, she will support Batman and remain one of his closest allies. After all, she’s acted as Bruce’s surrogate mom ever since his real parents died when he was a boy. Batman gives Leslie a special comm-link to contact him with in case of emergency. While we might not see her often on our timeline, Leslie will be a constant presence in Batman’s life, acting as a moral compass for the Dark Knight and his comrades through all their trials and tribulations. She will keep the Caped Crusader grounded, reminding him that there are many ways to help those in need (beyond punching bad guys). She will also act as Bruce’s therapist, moving forward. Bruce will usually miss his appointments with her, but we can imagine them happening sporadically ahead on our timeline.
–REFERENCE: In Teen Titans Vol. 6 #20, Man-Bat Vol. 4 #1, Batman: The Detective #2, Batman: Urban Legends #16 Part 1, Nightwing Vol. 4 #97, and Batman vs Robin #3, Batman and Robin: Year One #2, Batman and Robin: Year One #10, Titans Vol. 4 #20, and Detective Comics #1103. Using Wayne-owned shell companies, Bruce purchases condemned and abandoned real estate across the globe. With this real estate, Batman begins setting up secret safe houses, stash houses, remote facilities, garages, and airplane hangars for himself—not only in and around Gotham, but also in different cities all over the planet. Notably, Batman sets up a garage in Metropolis and a bunker at Mercy Hall in Brooklyn, NY. In the chance that he ever is outside of Gotham, the Dark Knight will be ready for solo action. Batman will maintain these remote bases, keeping periodic tabs on all of them while traveling abroad, moving forward. He will also keep them stocked with vehicles. The implication in Batman: Urban Legends #16 Part 1 is that Batman quickly sets up hundreds of safe houses all over the world. In Gotham in particular, much of Batman’s urban real estate will be connected to the vast network of underground caverns and waterways that run beneath the city, not only providing a direct link to the Batcave under Wayne Manor, but also effectively creating a bunch of unofficial alternate Batcaves.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Urban Legends #11 Part 1. Bruce and Zatanna Zatara join together to perform an occult ritual, preventing the dark forces (which they accidentally unleashed as teens) from being released into the world. Bruce wears strange medieval garb and has a short beard, so this is definitely one bizarre magickal adventure (with unspecified details).
–REFERENCE: In Batman: Urban Legends #12 Part 1. Immediately following our previous item, Bruce purchases a dilapidated church near the occult ritual site. He offers to restore it for the benefit of the local community, but no one is interested. Therefore, Bruce turns it into a safe house.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1000 Part 5, Detective Comics #1000 Part 10, and Batman Vol. 3 #159. September 21. Batman continues the annual tradition of visiting both Crime Alley (where his parents were killed) and the cemetery where his parents are buried on the anniversary of their murders. On Crime Alley, Dr. Leslie Thompkins joins Batman, who leaves two roses on the ground. From this point forward, Batman and Leslie will leave two red roses on Crime Alley every year.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #27 and Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 # 1 Part 3. Joker hires four experts, including aerodynamics whiz Chuck Brown, to help him build the Jokermobile. Joker then kills three of the experts, leaving only Brown alive, before taking his new roadster for a spin. Batman’s Batmobile proves to be the superior vehicle, besting the short-lived Jokermobile, which sends Joker back behind bars. Batman keeps the Jokermobile as a trophy for the Batcave’s garage.
–REFERENCE: In Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #22 and Action Comics Special #1 Part 2. Bruce meets Superman’s arch-rival Lex Luthor. Luthor, having been bested by Superman on many occasions already. Bruce and Luthor will be business rivals for decades to come. Presumably, Bruce also meets Luthor in his Batman role.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #26, Doomsday Clock #2, Detective Comics #988, and Batman: Killing Time #5. Batman bests the debuting pyromaniac Firefly (Garfield Lynns) and his henchmen, after which he keeps Firefly’s flamethrower gear as a trophy for the Batcave.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #42. Having just fought Firefly for the first time, Batman builds a flame-retardant (and anti-radiation) goop sprayer backpack. This is an upgrade on the flame-retardant foam that he created after fighting Killer Moth for the first time.
–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #39. Batman defeats the debuting Signalman (also commonly written-out in two separate words as “Signal Man”).
–REFERENCE: In DC’s Crimes of Passion #1 Part 7. Batman helps Gotham’s best detective Slam Bradley take on Nightjar (Colleen Cavill), a burglar that has been challenging (and sleeping with) Bradley since the early 1980s. Nightjar escapes cleanly.
–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #38, Batman Vol. 3 Annual #4, and Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #14 Part 5. Batman tailors and dons a zebra-striped costume in order to defeat the debuting Zebra Man (also known as “Vortex”). Afterward, Batman keeps his zebra costume on display in the Batcave.
–REFERENCE: In The Penguin #7. Bruce comes across a very valuable Rabat silk handkerchief that, as he is likely told by Alfred, was once a Hanukkah gift from his father to his mother. Bruce actions off the handkerchief for charity. It is purchased by Franco Bertinelli Jr, the co-leader of the Bertinelli Mob, which has risen to some prominence in the wake of this year’s defeat of the Falcone Mob. The Bertinelli Mob is also run by Alfredo Bertinelli and Maria Panessa-Bertinelli.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1048. Bruce is interviewed by Teen Life & News Magazine, which is a division of Gotham Magazine.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1027 Part 10. Batman and Commissioner Gordon begin referring to really wild criminal cases, especially ones that cause the public to panic, as “Black Roosters.” The terminology stems from the fable of Chicken Little.
–Wonder Woman Vol. 5 Annual #1 Part 1
Batman goes on patrol, which ultimately ends in stitches from doctor Alfred. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman (Diana of Themyscira) makes her debut at a mall outside of San Diego. Diana is one of the race of semi-immortal warrior women known as Amazons, who are linked to the Greco-Roman pantheon of gods. Diana’s mother is the original Wonder Woman (Queen Hippolyta) that debuted in the 1940s.[16] With the help of her friends Steve Trevor, Etta Candy, and Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva, the powerful Amazonian foils a terror plot by The Sear Group (aka The Ares Group, human soldiers loyal to the Greco-Roman God of War, Ares). As referenced in Justice League Incarnate #5, Ares is also connected to the primordial evil known as The Great Darkness aka The Hand of the Great Darkness, who is one of the original super-celestial beings part of a race called Great Hands. We’ll hear more about them a bit later. (Note that Diana’s debut versus the Sear Group is also shown in Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #10 aka “Wonder Woman: Year One.”)[17] When video of Diana hits the mainstream media, Lois, Clark, and Jimmy Olsen hightail it to California. As Batman returns home from the next day’s patrol, once again requiring stitches, Alfred directs his attention to the big Diana news on TV. Superman learns that Diana is testing her powers on behalf of the US Army in a Nevada desert, so he goes there. Batman, having acquired the same intel, goes there as well. Wonder Woman gets the jump on the boys, sneaking up behind them. The first meeting of DC’s Big Three occurs! Diana offers effusive greetings and tells the male heroes to take hold of her magick lasso, which they do. Forced to reveal his true name, Batman says it is “Batman,” showing that he identifies with that name just as much (if not more) than with “Bruce Wayne.” Seeing into Diana’s soul via the lasso, the boys learn that she is pure of heart and has good intentions. Diana will be praised by the international press a couple of days later, after she defeats Ares in battle—as seen in the conclusion of “Wonder Woman: Year One” (Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #14). (Note that a visual reference in Batman: Urban Legends #7 Part 1 also nods to this first meeting of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.)
–REFERENCE: In Wonder Woman Vol. 6 #20 and Justice League Unlimited Vol. 2 #17. Batman stopped believing in (i.e. stopped worshipping) the God (the Abrahamic God) way back when his parents were killed, but meeting and befriending Wonder Woman has made him acutely aware of the presence of the gods and their influence upon humanity. In particular, Batman learns of Wonder Woman’s deep connection to the goddess Athena aka Minerva. With the vast pantheon of gods in mind, Batman thinks of his dead parents, looks to the skies, and—for the first time since he was a child—prays.
–FLASHBACK: From Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman #3. This item doesn’t feature our present-day Batman, only a time-traveling future Batman (Damian Wayne from the early 2040s) that has also been magically turned into a corgi. On Themyscira, a time-traveling Trinity (Lizzie Prince from the early 2040s) attempts to retrieve the Bat-puppy but winds up confronting Cerebus, which inadvertently causes the death of Damian, Steve Trevor, and Wonder Woman. Thus, Trinity uses her time-bubble to redo the rescue over and over (dozens of times) to get it right. Eventually, Trinity saves the Bat-puppy and returns to the future.
–REFERENCE: In Knight Terrors: Batman #1 and Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #14 Part 5—originally told in “Choices: A Tale of Halloween in Gotham City” (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special #1). October 31. Halloween. Batman defeats Scarecrow, who appears on horseback and dons his “noose necktie” costume for the first time. Despite being beaten, Scarecrow evades capture while again keeping his true identity a secret from the Dark Knight. Afterward, Batman creates a replica of Scarecrow’s mask and noose necktie, putting it on a bust display in the Batcave trophy room. (Notably, in the Modern Age, Scarecrow didn’t have the “noose necktie” look until years after Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special #1—but, here on our Rebirth/Infinite Frontier timeline, Scarecrow debuts it in attachment with this item.)
–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #995. Bruce, as a gift to Dr. Leslie Thompkins, purchases land and funds the construction of the Thompkins Court Apartments, an eco-friendly affordable housing complex in Gotham. At a public Wayne Enterprises function, Bruce and Leslie ceremonially break ground on-site and construction begins.
–REFERENCE: In Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #6 Part 5. Batman fights an unnamed super-villain that wears a strange hood. The fight is photographed by “Shutterbat” Dan Mora.
–REFERENCE: In Let Them Live! Unpublished Tales From the DC Vault #3. Bruce creates a special foundation to financially support one of his favorite Gotham institutions—the Willoughby Z Tchalgadjieff Antiquarian Library. The foundation will donate $250,000 per annum, moving forward. Already deeply familiar with the library from his many days and nights hanging out there as a child, Bruce will become further intimately acquainted with the place, visiting often, moving forward.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Giant #2. Batman fights a group of bad guys on a rooftop, getting beaten pretty badly by them. Later, Alfred patches-up Batman, who immediately works out in the gym.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Giant #2 and Detective Comics #1000 Part 11. Batman fights an escaped Joker, brutally thrashing him and his clown-henchmen. I’ve taken the liberty of combining these rather generic Joker flashbacks.
–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Detective Comics #1045. Someone hangs a sign above the Arkham Asylum reception desk that says “You don’t have to be crazy to work here, but it helps!” Batman will often think about this sign, moving forward.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Giant Vol. 2 #3 Part 1 (Batman: Gotham Nights Vol. 3 #4). Bruce meets and befriends the scummy billionaire businessman Hiram Bosch. While completely unsavory, Bruce will remain acquainted with him to maintain his own socialite appearances moving forward.
–Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #25 Part 1
Batman and Superman bust Joker, returning him to Arkham Asylum. After they depart, a disguised Lex Luthor frees Joker. (This is the first ever meeting between Luthor and Joker.) At LexCorp in Metropolis, Luthor explains that he wants Joker to help him decipher a hundred-year-old occult manuscript that has made all his scientists go insane. Luthor puts an explosive collar on Joker, just in case. Joker responds by shaving his head bald in an attempt to look more like Luthor. Disgusted, Luthor has his men give Joker a green toupee. Soon after, following the manuscript’s instructions, Luthor and Joker cross through a wall at an abandoned subway stop to find a magick train. One trippy ride later, Joker and Luthor find themselves inside the Rock of Eternity—the home of the wizard Shazam (and source of extremely powerful magick). As they navigate through the Rock, Joker and Luthor gaze through time portals, viewing Jonah Hex in the Wild West and Abra Kadabra in the 64th century. Finally, they come across the Heart of Eternium, which can grant wishes. Joker takes down its guardian monster (using one of Penguin’s umbrellas) only to steal the Heart from out of Luthor’s hands. Luthor sees a vision of Joker’s chaotic-evil wishes and tries to wrest the Heart away, only for it to shatter into bits. (The Joker vision reads a bit like the Modern Age’s “Emperor Joker,” a version of which will occur a few years from now. Thus, we can assume that plans for “Emperor Joker” exist within Joker’s mind.) Joker is zapped back to Arkham while Luthor is zapped back to Metropolis.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Giant Vol. 2 #5 Part 1 (Batman: Gotham Nights Vol. 3 #7). Batman discovers the location of Killer Moth’s secret lair and starts a fire to “lure the moth to the flame.” They battle in the woods, but Killer Moth unleashes three trained grizzly bears upon the Dark Knight, allowing room for his escape. Killer Moth sets up a swanky new hideout.
–REFERENCE: In Strange Love Adventures #1 Part 8. Batman collates all of Riddler’s riddles, clues, gimmicks, and tricks, logging them into the Bat-Computer to search for patterns. Moving forward, Batman will continue to add all new Riddler data into this program.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #1 Part 2 and Detective Comics 2022 Annual. Batman fights Scarecrow. I’ve combined these two flashbacks since they are fairly generic images of Batman engaging with Scarecrow in his early days. Since Batman still won’t discover Scarecrow’s secret ID yet, we must assume that Scarecrow evades capture.
–REFERENCE: In Deathstroke Vol. 4 #32, Batman: One Bad Day – Mr. Freeze #1, Batman and Robin: Year One #2, and Jenny Sparks #5. Batman begins going undercover as mobster “Matches Malone.” Bear in mind, Matches Malone was an actual smalltime gangster, who has recently died. The real Matches was only active on Gotham’s South Side. As such, Batman will only use the Matches disguise in South Gotham. There’s probably a surfeit of undercover work done by Batman to bolster the underworld reputation of “Matches,” so we’ll simply have to imagine this cachet-building randomly throughout the timeline. Notably, Alfred will help Batman develop some of the finer details of the “Matches” character. In conjunction with the development of the “Matches” persona, Batman will also begin building a network of informants.
–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Detective Comics #1052. As Matches Malone, Batman begins frequenting Oswald Cobblepot’s Iceberg Lounge. While we won’t see most of these visits, Matches will be a regular for years to come.
–REFERENCE: In Batman: Urban Legends #20 Part 4. Keeping up playboy appearances, Bruce goes on a cruise to Belize with his friend Colin Fitzroy.
–REFERENCE: In Adventures of the Super Sons #8. Batman defeats the debuting Catman (Thomas Blake).
–REFERENCE: In Superman vs Lobo #1.[18] Batman teaches Superman everything he knows about detective work, but tailors things to Superman’s power set. For example, the Dark Knight tells Superman to examine heart rates and body temperatures during interrogations.
–REFERENCE: In Batman: Off-World #6. Batman monitors STAR Labs’ deep-space listening probes targeting the Slag Galaxy. The probes contain alien chatter about the legend of the defeat of the Blakksun Mining Corporation by a Bat-themed warrior. The probes also contain some details of the ongoing adventures of the Slag Galaxy’s Bat-themed protector (Batman’s former lover Ione).
–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics Annual #2 (2019)—and referenced in Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #43-44. Originally told in “BATMAN: YEAR TWO.” Bruce recovers the gun that Joe Chill used to kill his parents from a police evidence locker. Shortly thereafter, Judson Caspian and his daughter Rachel return to Gotham after having been living in Europe for nearly two decades. Bruce reunites with and becomes enamored with Rachel. They begin a passionate affair. When Bruce learns that Judson was the murderous vigilante known as the Reaper, Judson becomes the Reaper once again and kicks Batman ass in battle. (Note that there is currently a new Reaper that works for the League of Assassins. Different guy.) A distraught and battered Bruce builds an armored costume and takes the gun that was used to murder his parents, contemplating breaking his vow to never use firearms. Instead, cooler heads prevail and Batman defeats the Reaper using non-lethal means. However, the Reaper kills himself rather than go to jail. A devastated Rachel ends things with Bruce and leaves town for good. Note that, as per reference in Detective Comics #1000 Part 2, Bruce either gets rid of or loses the gun that killed his parents—either during this episode or shortly thereafter.
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<<< Rebirth Era Year 1 <<< ||| >>> Rebirth Era Year 3 >>>
- [1]ISRAEL SILVA / COLLIN COLSHER: Mark Waid and Dave Weilgosz’s second feature to New History of the DC Universe #2 very specifically places Riddler’s “Zero Year” arc at the start of Year Two, which is why the Batman Chronology Project has it here. Generally speaking, “Zero Year” is quite definitively a first-year tale at its core. Yet here we are in Year Two. Could Waid and Weilgosz have meant to say that “Zero Year” occurs after Miller’s “Year One” instead of after Year One of the in-universe calendar, but it came out wrong? It’s possible, but that’s pure speculation. Either way, it doesn’t change too much whether or not you opt to keep Riddler’s “Zero Year” here (at the start of Year Two) or one slot prior (at the tail end of Year One). It’s also worth mentioning that Weilgosz’s synopsis for Riddler’s “Zero Year” (the same back-matter synopsis that specifically places it at the start of Year Two) lists Batman Vol. 2 #21-33 as source material. While this particular run of issues does indeed include Riddler’s “Zero Year,” it overlaps with and includes the first part of the original New 52 “Zero Year,” in which Batman fights the Red Hood Gang and Red Hood One falls into the vat of acid to become Joker. While Weilgosz lists the full run of New 52 issues, his synopsis is clear: it mentions only Riddler’s part of “Zero Year” because the Red Hood stuff already happened last year.↩
- [2]COLLIN COLSHER: In all previous versions of canon, including the New 52, Batman takes on Dr. Death (Dr. Karl Helfern aka Karl Hellfern) before tackling Riddler. However, there have been only two references to Dr. Death in contemporary continuity. The first reference is a bit complicated, so bear with me as I explain. While the second feature to Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #1-9 (by Matthew Rosenberg and Francesco Francavilla) is non-canon, it exists as a comic book on Earth-0 (as revealed in Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #4 and Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #10, in which the comic book itself factors into the main narrative of the issue). This in-story comic book, despite being surreal and comedic, is based upon real people from Earth-0. The mention of Dr. Death in the story speaks to his existence on the timeline. Notably, on Earth-0, versions of Rosenberg and Francavilla (authors of the in-story Joker comic) exist as well. But, back to Dr. Death, the second reference to him comes from Batman and Robin Vol. 3 #19, in which we learn that the villain was responsible for killings in 1939. This means either one of two things—that Dr. Death is from a completely earlier generation and has nothing to do with Batman or that Dr. Death is immortal and still fights Batman here and now. I’m going to assume the former and keep him off our timeline. As mentioned above, Dave Weilgosz, in his back-matter timeline in New History of the DC Universe #2, lists Batman Vol. 2 #21-33 (in which the New 52 Dr. Death first appeared) as source material for “Zero Year: Dark City,” but he doesn’t mention Dr. Death in his synopsis, thus giving further credence to the idea that Dr. Death shouldn’t be on our timeline here.↩
- [3]COLLIN COLSHER: A very important idiosyncrasy should be made between alternate universes and Hypertime. DC’s primary multiverse is made up of a finite number of universes. The “Local Multiverse” consists of 52 universes and is attached to an inverse “Dark Multiverse” consisting of thousands of alternate “negative universes.” Each of these singular universes has its own Hypertime stream (aka Hypertimeline) that connects to a web of infinite alternate pasts and futures. This is the first publishing era in which DC has attempted to officially combine the Hypertime concept with a stricter Many-Worlds Interpretation of finite universes. It’s usually been one or the other because, simply put, having both at the same time is a bit redundant. After all, since the number of Hypertime realities is infinite, 52 of the myriad Hypertimelines have to look exactly like the 52 Earths in the Local Multiverse. (The Hypertime-combined-with-Many-Worlds idea technically happened previously, although merely retroactively, when DC assigned specific Earth numbers to its prior Hypertime stories via the “Compendium” section of The Crisis on Infinite Earths: Absolute Edition in 2005.) Really, both Hypertime and a numbered-Earth system are categorization methods, ways of labeling, or, as I’ve said before, pure semantics/nomenclature. There are always going to be an infinite number of alternate realities, no matter what. You could have an infinite web of unnumbered Hypertimelines or you could have an infinite amount of specifically numbered and grouped multiverses. Either way, you have an infinite number of universes and possibilities!
Let’s extrapolate the concept of Hypertime a bit further by looking at its history in DC comics. Hypertime, to the laity, is both a scientific theory of time (aka “narrative physics”) and a literal web of infinite alternate timelines. The theory originally stated that an infinite number of alternate realities—mostly consisting of Elseworlds, alternate universe, or alternate future tales—canonically existed in conjunction with a primary timeline. Following the original Crisis in 1985-1986, DC was supposed to only have one single universe with one single Earth. Yet, the glaring contradiction was that a lot of Elseworlds tales, alternate universe stories, and alternate future stories were getting churned-out anyway. For some writers, such as Mark Waid and Grant Morrison, the Borgesian revelation of Hypertime allowed for them to explain the contradiction with a relative hand wave: these weren’t alternate universes, they were merely a part of a Hypertime web that was connected to the “one single primary” chronology. As you can see, in actuality, Hypertime was (and still is) really more about semantics than anything else. Eventually, the DC consistory realized this and fully did away with the concept of Hypertime by the late 1990s, delivering a final nail in its coffin in 2006 with Infinite Crisis, which returned DC to the multiversial “Many-Worlds Interpretation” concept, complete with a set of numbered universes. Of course, as stated above, it’s really more about semantics and compartmentalization. There will always be an infinite number of universes; how we classify them is the key. And this is no better exemplified than in the Rebirth Era, where we have an ordered finite number of universes coexisting quite harmoniously along with Hypertime. To further hammer in the idea of the combination of a finite local multiverse coexisting alongside Hypertime, we need look no further than Justice League Vol. 3 #33 where Cyborg says straight-up, “Hypertime is “a web of timestreams outside the multiverse.” Simple. Listen to Cyborg. He knows what he’s talking about.↩
- [4]COLLIN COLSHER: In late 2022, Grant Morrison set the Hypertime record straight in Bulletins from Bizzaroworld #3, a feature from their Substack journal Xanaduum. Morrison says: “Hypertime is geometry. I note that the Hypertime concept Mark Waid and I introduced to the DC Universe in the ‘90s has made a comeback as a means of addressing DC’s disastrous collapsing continuity issues. As the principal creator of the idea, I fear it’s open to misinterpretation, confusion and the kind of unnecessary complexification that tends to bog down DC cosmology. For this reason, there follows a brief overview of the concept to help guide fellow creatives in their voyages beyond the multiverse! Batman, in the guise of the Archivist, explains Hypertime quite clearly, with visual aids, in The Return of Bruce Wayne issue #2, so I’d advise anyone who’s interested to start there. It started when I was ruminating on the phrase ‘timeline’ which we just accept in comics and, indeed, had been discussing that fateful day in San Diego. Waid and I were talking about the timeline for the DCU, that starts with a giant cosmic hand at the Big Bang and ends at Vanishing Point’s Heat Death of the Universe. It struck me straight away that a timeline implied a timepoint (Tom Peyer ran with this idea brilliantly in Hourman #3). Given time point and timeline, it was obvious what came next, and here was where it got interesting – point, line, plane… There had to be a time plane, and I imagined what that would look like, as a flat sheet with all the various timelines – parallel worlds alternate histories, cancelled continuities – laid side by side across the time plane like multitudinous rail tracks, sometimes crossing over, branching off, reconnecting, terminating. The 2-D timeplane was what all of your comics looked like spread out on a massive floor. Where 1938 Superman could exist at the same time on the same floor as 2022 Superman. The time plane naturally implied a time cube of stacked realities, piled timeplanes extending perpendicularly into our own dimensionality (both the aliens in 52 and Bat-Mite in Batman call this cube Space B, implying that Space A is the Timeplane). From there you can do hypercube time and so on, in each case imagining a more panoramic and elaborate picture which not only includes we, the readers, but also potentially higher dimensional forms of life or intelligence existing ‘above’ our own. This was the schematic I drew on a hotel notepad and showed to Mark Waid the next day. It was Waid who suggested calling the idea ‘Hypertime’. If someone explains Hypertime to you and it sounds way more complicated than point, line, plane, cube, etc, just tell them Batman sent you and set them right…”↩
- [5]COLLIN COLSHER: In the World Forger/Time Trapper sequence (in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #8), through the walls of Hypertime, we see the following: Earth-12 Batman (DCAU Bruce Wayne), Earth-19’s Bat Man (aka Gotham by Gaslight Batman), Batman and Robin (Carrie Kelly) from Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, Batman (Bruce Wayne) from the Future State timeline, Earth-11’s Justice Guild (Batwoman, Superwoman, and Wondrous Man aka Wonder Man), Earth-22’s Justice Brigade (Superman, Jaime Reyes, Boruka, and Cadejos), Magog (David Sikela), Savior (Tim Drake) from the “Titans Tomorrow” timeline, the Fusion Batman-Superman from Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #4, Earth-30’s Soviet Superman, Robin (Damian Wayne), Superboy (Jonathan Kent), Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), Doomsday, Nightwing (Dick Grayson), Superwoman (Lois Lane), Boy Thunder (David Sikela), and Teen Titans (Bumblebee, Wonder Girl, and Wally West). During the battle scenes in in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #9, as time breaks down, through the walls of Hypertime, we see: Superman (Clark Kent) holding a dead Batman clone from Final Crisis, various incarnations of Supergirl, Superman (Jonathan Kent), Superboy (Jonathan Kent), Superwoman (Lois Lane), Robin (Dick Grayson), Nightwing (Dick Grayson), Batman (Jim Gordon), Wonder Woman (unspecified) riding a horse, Huntress (unspecified), the Justice Society of America (Jay Garrick and Alan Ladd-Scott), another image of Superman (Clark), and Batman (Bruce) busting Henry Clay.↩
- [6]COLLIN COLSHER: Time Trapper’s metapower is chronokinesis, the ability to not only travel through time, but to manipulate it as well. Furthermore, Time Trapper is a physical manifestation of a sentient alternate timeline. In any case, Time Trapper’s secret identity morphs, warps, and alters over time. Due to Time Trapper’s chronokinesis, he/she/they never really dies—instead, he/she/they simply gets auto-resurrected with a new history. Old Doomsday is the final Time Trapper, who we see here via time-travel/Hypertime shenanigans. The current Time Trapper is Cosmic Man (Rokk Krinn, formerly Cosmic Boy), but the following will become Time Trappers as well (in chronological order): an alt-Batgirl, Lori Morning, Superboy-Prime, and (lastly) Doomsday.↩
- [7]TODD CUNNINGHAM: Now that Oswald Cobblepot is a big shot and running the Iceberg Lounge, a lot will happen in his life this calendar year (as per The Penguin #0-12 and The Penguin Special #1). Cobblepot will meet, marry, and divorce Lisa St. Claire. He will meet, marry, and divorce someone named Madeline, with whom he will have twins named Addison and Aiden. And he will have another child, Ethan, with an Iceberg Lounge waitress. (Yes, in this year alone, Cobblepot will get married and divorced twice and he’ll have three kids!) Notably, in the coming few years, Penguin will have nine other children with various other women. Clearly, he won’t be using condoms. We also must mention that King’s Penguin origin (from The Penguin) takes a radical departure from all previous canon. This has serious effect upon other characters, including Ethan. Instead of Cobblepot having been a fixture of Gotham City’s criminal underworld for a long while prior to Batman’s debut, King has Cobblepot claw and scratch his way to get there only after Batman has already debuted. In the New 52, Ethan had been born well before Batman’s debut and was roughly the same age as Babs Gordon, but, thanks to King’s new Penguin timeline, Ethan must be much younger than Babs. This means that Hope Larsen’s “Son of Penguin” (2017)—a New 52 story that originally introduced Ethan and saw him as a romantic partner for Babs—has to be a drastically altered version for the Rebirth/Infinite Frontier Era. Ethan can only be a teenager when he eventually comes to Gotham, and an adult Babs definitely will have no romantic connection with him. King shaking up Penguin’s origin really didn’t account for the fact that certain pre-existing elements would be altered. (Although, we should mention that it was actually Chip Zdarsky that included Ethan into King’s The Penguin narrative in the first place—in the second features to Batman Vol 3 #125-127 aka The Penguin #0.)↩
- [8]COLLIN COLSHER / PROMETHEUS W: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #18-19 tells the story of the first meeting of Superman and Batman, well before Robin is in the picture. Not only is Robin not around, Batman explicitly mentions many times that he works alone and that teaming up with Superman is just an exception. Furthermore, in conversation with Alfred in issue #18, Bruce says “I’ve done a lot of good this past year; I’m not stopping now” to convince Alfred that Batman is here to stay. Mark Waid’s intention for the story was to set it in Year Two, before Robin’s introduction and with Batman having just spent over a year as a crimefighter. Waid also wrote this story as a direct precursor to the creation of the Bat-Signal. Plus, at the end of the story, Batman warns Superman that Riddler is normally far more dangerous (citing that his manipulation by Jax-Ur made him less of a threat), and it makes sense he would say this in closer proximity to Riddler’s dramatic “Zero Year” debut. Now, with that all being said, it’s pretty undeniable that Waid wrote Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #18-19 as a Year Two story. Yet, in Waid’s own New History of the DC Universe #2, Dave Weilgosz (in the issue’s back matter) specifically places Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #18-19 in Year Three, following Robin’s debut. This is either a major retcon or one of Weilgosz’s biggest continuity errors. If it is a retcon, then a lot of things must get shifted in quite a messy way. Therefore, the Batman Chronology Project has regarded this as an outright error (as we’ve been forced to do with a lot of Weilgosz’s other back-matter shenanigans). It’s possible that Wielgosz was hyper-fixating on the fact that Jim Gordon appears as commissioner in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #18-19, thus wanting to push it later. While Gordon does become commissioner this year, at this juncture he’d still be captain, so it’s worth noting this caveat for placement here.↩
- [9]COLLIN COLSHER: Here’s a quick rundown of the Map of the Multiverse. The outermost layer is the infinitely large sentient lacuna known as the Overvoid/Monitor-Mind, which is composed of the living Source. (The God of the Abrahamic faiths is pure Source.) Moving inward, we cross through the Source Wall to enter the Monitor Sphere (aka Nil). Moving inward still, there exist various pockets of Limbo, including The Place Between Pages (aka Comic Book Limbo) and Purgatory. The next layer is the Sphere of the Gods, which is home to the Underworld realms (the Phantom Zone, Hades, Erishkagal, Annwn, etc), Hell (yes, Christian Hell is its own thing, separate from the Underworld), Apokolips, Nightmare, and more. Notably, Purgatory is the Limbo space directly adjacent to Hell. Likewise, the Place Between Pages is a Limbo space beyond the fourth wall of fiction where unused characters are banished.↩
- [10]ISRAEL SILVA: One of the books shown on the Batcave library shelf in Detective Comics Annual #2 (2019) is entitled “Lost Year.” This could be a random book, but it could also be a reference to Kate Kane’s “lost year” when she went on a bender after being kicked out of the army. In the Modern Age, Nightwing had a “lost year” in the form of Marv Wolfman’s “Nightwing Year One,” but this is not canon in the Rebirth/Infinite Frontier Era, so it is unlikely that the “Lost Year” book is a reference to that. It’s also possible that “Lost Year” nods to the Modern Age’s so-called “Missing Year,” a full-year hiatus that Batman took during the 52 and “One Year Later” series. Referenced in many comics, the hiatus from 52 is definitively canon on the Rebirth/Infinite Frontier timeline. However, thanks to sliding-time and compression, there’s no room in contemporary canon for Batman to be away for a full year (even if a lone reference in Blue Beetle Vol. 10 #7 implies a specific yearlong duration). Therefore, while the “Lost Year” book could have been intended as an acknowledgment of 52, it simply cannot be. Also note that one of the books on the shelf is entitled “Year Zero.” This is not a reference to Batman’s first year in action. It is merely a log of Riddler’s “Zero Year” scheme, which briefly occurs during Batman’s first year.↩
- [11]COLLIN COLSHER: Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #9 Part 4 (2024) contains a non-canon story by Bruno Redondo. This tale features a Year One Batman who suffers a fall and subsequent injury while fighting Joker. As he recovers, Lucius Fox delivers him his very first grappling gun. As we know, Bruce trained abroad with grappling guns, and he even screwed up while using a grappling gun on his very first night of patrol—so grappling guns have been around from the very start. As such, the anachronistic debut of the grappling gun here simply doesn’t fly. Also, this story tells us that Condiment King is a Year One villain, which also doesn’t jibe.↩
- [12]COLLIN COLSHER: The Joker Vol. 2 #15 is narrated decades in the future by Jim Gordon, who has an admittedly shaky recollection of the event. He mentions not still taking Joker seriously at this point, but that’s not true. He’s been serious as a heart attack about Joker ever since his debut. Gordon’s fuzzy future narration also mentions that Batman had only gone toe-to-toe with the Joker once prior to now. Technically speaking, as we’ve already noted above, this statement could actually be regarded as true (from a certain point of view). Batman’s first Joker case, “The Winning Card,” is a series of connected encounters with Joker. Thus, Batman’s second Joker case can indeed be regarded as the current item, attached to our previous item, thereby making the case a series of connected Joker encounters.↩
- [13]COLLIN COLSHER: Don’t forget, the Rebirth Era version of “Long Halloween” has been compressed from a full year to about one week. It’s just a one-off occurrence, and it doesn’t even have anything to do with Halloween. It’s entirely possible that the Holiday murders are entirely non-canon on our current timeline, especially since the meager references are from secondary or tertiary titles. (Batman: Dark Patterns #9, for example, contains only a single Easter Egg nod to Tim Sale’s art from Long Halloween—sans anything whatsoever to do with the actual narrative.) It’s up to your personal headcanon whether to include a compressed version of Long Halloween. Also note that 2021’s Batman: The Long Halloween Special #1 (re-released in 2024 as Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #0) is the starting point for a non-canon coda to the “Long Halloween” saga, meant as a standalone continuation of the original Long Halloween and Dark Victory, set outside the bounds of any particular continuity. Essentially, Batman: The Long Halloween Special creates a Geoff Loeb/Tim Sale-verse in the same way that Dark Knight Returns and All-Star Batman and Robin spawned a separate Miller-verse back in the day. This alternate Loeb/Sale-verse (continued without Sale following his unfortunate death) includes Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #1-10 (2024-2025). This series is non-canon because it speaks to the year-long duration of the original Long Halloween (including Harvey becoming Two-Face on Halloween) and the year-long duration of Dark Victory. Not to mention, the series also references other elements of Modern Age-only canon, such as Jim Gordon being Babs’ uncle. The Last Halloween #0 begins exactly one year after Dark Victory ends, with The Last Halloween #1 then picking up exactly one year after that, following a period during which Two-Face and Gilda have remained in hiding. Suffice to say, there’s absolutely no place in contemporary canon to accommodate any of this.↩
- [14]COLLIN COLSHER: In the New 52, Sal Maroni is never killed. In contemporary canon, we’ll see Maroni alive and well years down the road. This means either Maroni isn’t killed or he is later resurrected.↩
- [15]COLLIN COLSHER: In the Modern Age, Tweedledum and Tweedledee were cousins Dumfree (also spelled Dumfrey) Tweed and Deever Tweed, respectively. When Dumfree died, Deever’s twin brother Dumson took over as the new Tweedledum. In the New 52, that was altered and reversed by writer Scott Snyder so that the original Tweedledum and Tweedledee were Dumson and Deever. Dumson was later replaced by Deever’s twin brother Dumfree as the new Tweedledum. It’s confusing, I know. Basically, based upon this history, we can’t be certain of which pair of Tweeds we are dealing with here in the Rebirth Era. It could be Dumfree and Deever or Dumson and Deever. All we know is that, by the time Deathstroke Vol. 4 #36 comes around in about fourteen years, the duo is definitely the twins—Dumfree and Deever. Although, Batman: Urban Legends #9 Part 2 confirms that they are Dumfree and Deever, but it makes them cousins! I guess we’ll never know their true familial relationship. Twin cousins? I guess that’s pretty apropos of Lewis Carroll. Sheesh.↩
- [16]COLLIN COLSHER: Geoff Johns’ Doomsday Clock (2020) retconned things so that Diana debuted as Wonder Woman in the early 1940s as a founding member of the JSA. However, Mark Waid’s New History of the DC Universe #1 (2025) undid that retcon, returning Queen Hippolyta to her role as the original Wonder Woman while making Diana’s debut as the new Wonder Woman here-and-now.↩
- [17]KIPFAN: Wonder Woman Vol. 5 Annual #1 Part 1 is part of Diana’s origin story i.e. the “Wonder Woman: Year One” from Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #1-14. It occurs shortly after the events of Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #10. Notably, in the second feature to New History of the DC Universe #2, Dave Wielgosz erroneously places “Wonder Woman: Year One” prior to a bunch of key events, including the first-ever meeting of Batman and Superman. This obviously is very incorrect—not only contradicting Mark Waid’s overall narrative, but also the narrative of Wonder Woman Vol. 5 Annual #1 Part 1 itself. This is an especially odd mistake since Wielgosz is a close writing partner to Waid. Not to mention, Wielgosz was even an editor on Wonder Woman Vol. 5 Annual #1 Part 1.↩
- [18]COLLIN COLSHER: Note that Superman vs Lobo is a Black Label title, meaning that its canonicity could go either way. Since there is nothing within the Superman vs Lobo arc that seems to contradict continuity, I’ve regarded it as canon. Bear this in mind as you regard future instances of this title.↩
I’m a little confused about when you’re supposed to read The Penguin #0-6. Do they all occur at the same time as #7 next January as an extended flashback story or are they broken up?
Penguin #6-7 is the Penguin origin story, an interlude. Penguin #1-12 spans one year in duration. It’s Tom King, so it’s incredibly and unnecessarily broken up in the most complicated way possible.
Penguin #0 takes place a few weeks after Penguin’s faked death. Penguin #1 occurs one month after Penguin #0 (and one year before Penguin #12), lasting roughly one week in duration. Penguin #2 starts a short but undetermined amount of time after #1, lasting a few days in duration. Penguin #3 starts post-Gotham War (or at least post-Penguin’s old goons having joined with Catwoman during Gotham War), lasting a few days in duration. Penguin #4 starts a short but undetermined amount of time after Penguin #3, lasting a few weeks in duration. Penguin #5 picks up at least one month after Penguin #4 (we learn Penguin has been recruiting more goons for a month in the city across the river from Gotham), lasting about four or five days in duration. Penguin #8 starts six months prior to Penguin #12 (so six months after Penguin #1), lasting two to two-and-a-half weeks in duration. Penguin #9 occurs “a few weeks” since Penguin’s return, actually meaning about two weeks after Penguin #8. It lasts several days in duration, maybe a week at most. Penguin #10-12 starts an undetermined amount of time after Penguin #9, but issue #10 ends well over five months from start of Penguin #8. Penguin #10-12 lasts several months in duration. By the time we get to Penguin #12, it’s been one full year since Penguin #1. Penguin #12 then continues for a few more weeks in duration before concluding the long arc.
Ah so the rest of the series is later? Guessing I just haven’t reached that yet.
The whole series is 13 issues (including #0 by Zdarsky and #1-12 by King). It starts in Y22 (a few months after Zdarsky’s Batman Vol. 3 #125) and ends in Y23 (shortly after Zdarsky’s Batman Vol. 3 #150). Issues #6-7 are an interlude detailing Penguin’s origin story from Y1-Y3.
Awesome. Thank you!
Another thing I thought was interesting about the New History of DC Universe: despite Two-Face being the main villain of B&R Year 1, New History solicitations lists Two-Face among the post-Robin rogues (Penguin, Clayface, Freeze and Ivy) and not the pre-Robin rogues (Riddler, Catwoman and Joker). That gives me pause, maybe Harvey was scarred just a month or two before Dick became Robin, but went into hiding afterwards and didn’t make his official debut as Two-Face till by the time Dick started going out on patrol?
Hey Rusty. All of New History gives me pause lol. The more distance I have from it, the more I’m able to see that it was mostly a disappointing failure (especially Wielgosz’s back-matter). In Y3, I have several footnotes about the Penguin, Clayface, Two-Face, Clayface II, Mr. Freeze, and Poison Ivy “debut” stories listed in the second feature to New History. In a nutshell, Wielgosz references the original (old canon) debut stories of these characters while wholly disregarding current canon (even including some of Waid’s own stories). We can fanwank that some of these villain “debuts,” while not really being actual debuts, feature Robin’s first encounter with with them, but this obviously cannot be the case with Two-Face. I’d say putting Two-Face among the post-Robin debuts is an out-and-out error.
I guess your idea of “public” vs “non-public” debut is a possibility, but imo it’s a bit of a stretch (Harvey becoming Two-Face is one of the more public villain debuts out there, after all). Adding, again, that the back-matter inclusions were seemingly botched, I don’t thing there’s a way out.
Yeah it’s a deeply confusing and frustrating book. I think alot of clashing ideals were at play, such as Waid’s favouritism towards the Silver Age vs DC’s blatant editorial mandates such as Cyborg being among the Justice League founders
It’s odd cause I actually do prefer Dick coming in before all of the villains listed in that section, if I had it my way the only major rogues Bruce would face before Robin’s debut would be Joker, Catwoman and MAYBE Penguin (also Hugo Strange I guess if he counts). I’m not even a purist or anything, there’s alot of retroactive retcons to Bat-Canon that I like, it’s just I feel like having such a large chunk of Batman’s rogues gallery debuting beforehand makes Dick’s tenure as Robin feel much smaller and more uneventful than it should
But yeah there’s not really a way to make it work in current canon. Honestly if this whole thing was more well-thought from Waid’s part, he could’ve done something really interesting and had Batman & Robin Year 1 be also a stealth origin story for Two-Face. That’s an angle that’s never been explored before, we’ve had multiple times where Dick and Harvey been portrayed as rivals since Post-Crisis, but what if Harvey was someone that Dick admired and got along with just before he turned bad?
Great thoughts on this, Rusty. Agreed on all points. I’ve been adding a lot of site contributor commentary about New History into the Rebirth Early Years footnotes, but yours are obviously very applicable to Batman’s Y1-3, so I’ll consider adding a little footnote referencing what you are saying in either place. Always great to hear from you. Talk to you soon!
As of this writing, Detective Comics Annual (2018) #1 is currently slated as coming after the Rebirth timeline’s version of Long Halloween. This is incorrect, since Batman repeatedly references Harvey Dent currently being Gotham’s D.A. in the Annual
Oh yes, good catch. Fixing now. Thank you!
I believe Jason Todd is the young Robin in the “We are Yesterday” event. The DC wiki says so, and I think it looks more like Jason too (note hair parting and freckles).
Ok, I’ll bite. It’s hard to tell with these throw-all-the-action-figures-into-the-sandbox tales. Updating now. Thanks!
Is Joker Vol. 3 #5 mostly not canon? I guessed that issue would be hist first night at Arkham after The Winning Card. Why is it here only as a reference, Collin?
Hi Yury, Joker Vol. 2 #5 is canon, although Gordon being captain has been retconned. I don’t have it listed on my site simply because Batman isn’t in it.
Hello! In Tom Taylor’s Nightwing run Salvatore Maroni appears alive. Is the Maroni in Nightwing the son of the one who died in this year or was he somehow ressurected? Thank you!
Nothing has been made clear about that, although it would seem that Sal Maroni is the original Sal Maroni. This means, current canon is going with New 52 history (where Sal never died) or Sal was resurrected during the Death Metal event. In Y20, I say that he was likely resurrected, but I’ll add detail to the note there (and here in Y2)
Ironically, the exact same thing happens to Tony Zucco, who died in Dark Victory, what makes me really consider the canonicity of TLH and DV, but it’s really hard to say that they’re non canon because there are some references to them. (Like Dark Patterns, for example).
Zucco’s death in Dark Victory was even undone in the Modern Age. In contemporary canon, there are certain elements that have been acknowledged from Long Halloween and Dark Victory, mostly about the hierarchy of the mafia, but most of each story can’t fit. So either we include pared-down versions (which I say are “very loosely based” upon the originals), or we throw them out entirely, just highlighting what’s been kept as unaffiliated references.