Rebirth Years Two to Five

Rebirth Era (Post-“Superman Reborn”) Chronology

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YEAR TWO (2003)
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–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3. January. For his monthly “birthday” present, Joker orchestrates an arson fire in downtown Gotham.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Off-World #1 and Batman: Off-World #3—and referenced in Batman: Off-World #1. It’s been a little less than a year since a bat flew through Bruce’s window, forever sealing the course of his destiny. Batman begins targeting the East End Irish Mob, led by a man named Coonan. Batman comes face-to-face with Coonan’s new hired man, Captain Syyn, a rough-and-tumble alien from the faraway Slag Galaxy. Syyn kicks Batman’s ass before heading back to his home. Despite having been easily defeated, the Dark Knight learned a lot about him during their fight (including where he lives). Determined to get a second shot at Syyn, Bruce orders Wayne Enterprises to purchase a prototype long range space shuttle from STAR Labs. Batman begins training for a one-way jaunt into deep space.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #141. Batman sends Dick to study/train abroad in Paris with his old mentor, the Gray Shadow (Lucie Chesson). Dick will be away for un unspecified amount of time.

–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 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 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.

–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.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Three Jokers #1. Catwoman scratches Batman’s chest—an attack that will leave permanent scars.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #976 and Detective Comics #994-995. 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 entire Bat-Family through all their trials and tribulations. She will keep Batman grounded, reminding him that there are many ways to help those in need (beyond punching bad guys).

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Killing Time #2. January 18. Catwoman and an escaped Riddler rob a jewel shop. Batman busts them, sending both to Arkham Asylum. Behind bars, Catwoman and Riddler will continue to scheme together.

–REFERENCE: In Teen Titans Vol. 6 #20Man-Bat Vol. 4 #1, Batman: The Detective #2, Batman: Urban Legends #16 Part 1, Nightwing Vol. 4 #97, and Batman vs Robin #3. Batman begins setting up secret safe houses, stash houses, remote facilities, and airplane hangars for himself—not only in and around Gotham, but also in different cities all over the globe. 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.

–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 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 Detective Comics #1014. Promising scientist Dr. Victor Fries begins working at WayneTech Cryogenics Lab. Bruce meets Dr. Fries and his wife, ballet dancer Nora Fries. Bruce will quickly grow fond of the couple, checking-in on Victor and Nora from time to time over the course of the next month. Bruce will also make several donations to Nora’s ballet company.

–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, and Knight Terrors: Batman #1. 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 the Mad Hatter’s hat emits an eardrum-shattering noise pulse once removed from his head for longer than forty-two seconds.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4. Bruce falls asleep while doing some book research. Alfred checks up on him and serves him a beverage. This flashback panel is drawn vaguely enough that this might actually be an image of Alfred checking up on Dick, but I’ve gone with Alfred checking up on Bruce instead.

–REFERENCE: In New Talent Showcase 2017 #1 Part 3. Batman continues training Dick, who has come to regard his mentor as being quite grumpy. Batman tells Dick a few pointers: never take on problems that aren’t worth taking on; always realize that physical pain is only really in your mind; always attack assailants head-on if civilians are in danger; in limited combat space, use your opponent’s body against himself; never get cocky; everyone needs a family to rely on; there’s no problem that doesn’t have a solution; and always rescue babies and children first.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #985. Batman gives Dick a tricky test as part of his ongoing training. Having been taught strict obedience thus far, Batman gives Dick a rule that is deliberately wonky and made to be broken. Dick disobeys Batman’s bad order and passes the test.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #7 and Batman: Killing Time #5—originally told in the Batman The Animated Series TV show. Batman defeats the second incarnation of the Clock King (Temple Fugate). Note that Batman has yet to meet the original Clock King, although he will meet him later this year. Interestingly, while clearly modeled after the Animated Series‘ Temple Fugate, this guy never actually goes by the name Temple Fugate in any comics. In fact, he’s called “William” or “Bill,” which is also the name of his predecessor. Make of that what you will.

–REFERENCE: In Shadow War: Alpha #1. Batman defeats the debuting femme fatales Silken Spider, Tiger Moth, and Dragonfly, who are all secretly members of the League of Assassins.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics 2022 Annual and Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4—and referenced in Action Comics #979 and Batwoman: Rebirth #1. Batman bests the debuting Poison Ivy (Dr. Pamela Isley) and rescues permanently injured hostage Guy Mandrake, who will later become the super-villain Mr. Noxious. Note that, while a most of the public will quickly come to regard Poison Ivy as a mass murdering eco-terrorist (as mentioned in Batgirl Vol. 5 #35), she won’t actually kill anyone for many years to come (as referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #43).

–REFERENCE: In Batman Giant Vol. 2 #2 (Batman: Gotham Nights Vol. 3 #3). Following his recent first encounter with Poison Ivy, Batman begins stocking herbicide/defoliant in his utility belt.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #52—and referenced in Doomsday Clock #2Doomsday Clock #6, Detective Comics #1014, and Batman: One Bad Day – Mr. Freeze #1. Upon discovering that his wife Nora has a terminal illness, Dr. Victor Fries tries to save her by cryogenically freezing her at the WayneTech Cryogenics Lab. Victor’s actions effectively hijack the entire lab, putting the lives of hundreds of others in jeopardy. Bruce (with the police) is forced to intervene, during which a terrible confrontation occurs and Victor is doused with chemicals, becoming Mr. Zero, an icy super-villain that must keep his body temperature at absolute zero at all times. Despite donning a gaudy super-suit, Mr. Zero is busted by Batman atop a speeding train. Batman keeps Mr. Zero’s costume as a trophy, putting it on display in the Batcave. Victor Fries will spend his entire criminal career obsessed with reviving his wife.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #52—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #25, Batman Vol. 3 #52, Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #1 Part 3, Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #6 Part 5, Batman: Killing Time #5, Batman: Urban Legends #22 Part 4, and Catwoman Vol. 5 #58. Dr. Victor Fries escapes from custody, makes himself a new costume, and changes his name to Mr. Freeze. Despite the new look and new attitude (and new henchmen), the same result occurs—Batman busts Mr. Freeze. Batman: Urban Legends #22 Part 4 shows us a newspaper headline that reads “Crime Stopped Cold,” which would very well be associated with this case. Afterward, the Caped Crusader keeps Mr. Freeze’s costume and freeze-gun/ice-gun, putting them on display in the Batcave. In Batman Vol. 3 #52, which occurs in 2018, Bruce says that Mr. Freeze has had “dozens and dozens and dozens of plans and plots in Gotham. And all of them ended the same way.” They all ended with Batman besting him. This tells us that, while not specifically logged into our chronology, we must imagine Batman challenging an escaped Mr. Freeze quite frequently on the timeline, moving forward. The insinuation here is that Batman, in the future, will encounter Mr. Freeze more than his other rivals, aside from Joker, of course.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3. February. Joker mails his monthly “birthday” gift to Batman, courtesy of Commissioner Gordon at police HQ. Batman and Gordon puzzle over the inconsequential item, an ashtray.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1022 and Detective Comics #1068. Batman, Commissioner Gordon, and DA Harvey Dent shut down the McKillen Mob, sending the McKillen sisters (Erin and Shannon) to jail.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #53, Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #5 Part 3, Robin Vol. 3 #9, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #25, Detective Comics #987, Detective Comics #1000 Part 8The Batman Who Laughs #1, Detective Comics #1062, Batman: Killing Time #4-5, Batman: Urban Legends #21 Part 1, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #10 Part 3. Originally told in “THE LONG HALLOWEEN.” February 14. Valentine’s Day.[1] Harvey Dent is horribly scarred on half of his face by gangster Sal Maroni, who throws acid at him in the courtroom. (Sal Maroni is patriarch of the Maroni Family and head of the linked Maroni Mob aka Maroni Clan organization, which also includes Sal’s dimwitted nephew Bruno Maroni. The Maronis work closely with the Falcones.) 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 are more than skin deep as Dent becomes the murderous super-villain Two-Face. In his first act as Two-Face, Dent shoots Carmine Falcone, who barely survives. Commissioner Gordon meets with Batman, telling him that he’s found evidence that proves Dent was the Holiday Killer. (As referenced in Detective Comics #1000 Part 8, Holiday has gone on an anti-Falcone Mob killing spree for the past six months.) However, Carmine Falcone’s resurgent son Alberto Falcone publicly claims to be Holiday, killing Sal Maroni in the process. 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 of flipping his lucky coin to determine his actions. Batman immediately begins using one of Two-Face’s unnamed henchmen as an undercover inside source. 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 that Alberto may have killed Maroni, but his claim to be Holiday was false. Two-Face tells his former pals that the Holiday murders were carried out by both he and his wife Gilda. Of course, there’s not enough evidence to prove this and the deceased Alberto has already taken the rap. Two-Face goes to Arkham Asylum and Gilda leaves the country.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Three Jokers #1. Batman puts Two-Face’s custom two-sided suit on a mannequin display in the Batcave.

–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 or not Gilda is actually killed, although Two-Face will believe that 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 gets resurrected later on. Your headcanon call. (Note that, in the original New 52 incarnation of this story, it was the McKillens that turned Harvey Dent into Two-Face, not Sal Maroni. Obviously, that isn’t the case in the Rebirth/Infinite Frontier Era.)

–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.[2]

–REFERENCE: 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 Vol. 3 #26 and Batman: Killing Time #5. Batman busts the scarified knife-wielding serial killer Victor Zsasz and his henchmen. Zsasz’s trademark is cutting a tally mark into his own flesh whenever he kills someone.

–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.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #25, Batman Vol. 3 #54Detective Comics #1000 Deluxe Edition Part 12, Detective Comics #1000 Deluxe Edition Part 13, and Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #8 Part 1. Batman defeats The Ventriloquist (Arnold Wesker) and his gun-toting dummy Scarface. During the fight, Batman suffers a permanent scar. Notably, Scarface has such an aversion to Batman that he can’t even say the letter B, although this tic only manifests sometimes. Afterward, Batman adds a plaque with a picture of Scarface on it to his commemorative trophy wall. Batman also psychoanalyzes the captive Ventriloquist, learning that he’s actually quite meek and timid, and that his evil side only manifests as a wholly split personality through the catalyst of the Scarface dummy.

–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 Nightwing Vol. 4 2021 Annual. Batman defeats the debuting Clayface II (Matt Hagen).

–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).

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 1 and Joker Vol. 2 #15—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #25. Batman busts Deadshot (Floyd Lawton).

–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—and referenced in All-Star Batman #10, Year of the Villain: Black Mask #1, Joker Vol. 2 #2021 Annual, and Batman: Killing Time #5. Bruce’s troubled childhood friend (he had a a lot them!) Roman Sionis, having recently killed his own parents by burning them alive in an arson fire, now becomes the skull-faced super-villain known as Black Mask (Roman Sionis), simultaneously starting a cult known as The False Face Society. Batman defeats Black Mask and the False Face Society, earning a permanent scar in the process.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1000 Part 11—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #25, Detective Comics #1000 Deluxe Edition Part 12, and Batman: Urban Legends #19 Part 5. Killer Croc (Waylon Jones) debuts against Batman. Despite being completely animalistic and vicious, Batman will always harbor a measure of sadness and sympathy for Killer Croc on account of the fact he was born different and suffered abuse and exile his whole life.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Urban Legends #23 Part 2. As part of Dick’s ongoing training, Batman teaches him that if all else fails, you can always improvise in any situation.

–Batman: Off-World #1-3
Mid February to Early March—it’s been roughly six weeks since Batman’s fight against Captain Syyn. Batman takes his one-way deep space shuttle into the Slag Galaxy. Stowing away aboard Syyn’s slave ship War Storm, 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 that 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 all of Captain Syyn’s men, usurping them into his fold. Batman then sets his sights on the Blakksun Mining Company’s leadership—the Blakksun Twins (Wrath and Whisper).

–Batman: Killing Time #1-3[3]
March 4-6. Penguin has hired Catwoman, Riddler, and Killer Croc to pull off the heist of the Eye of Christ artifact, which Bruce received from Ra’s al Ghul five years ago and is currently stored in a United Bank of Gotham vault thirty miles outside of Gotham. (Note that Penguin is still part of the Falcone Mob, operating as Carmine Falcone’s righthand man, but he’s come out of his shell to become his own player as well.) Unknown to Penguin, the villains (plus Temple Fugate aka Clock King II) are playing/using him. While Catwoman fleeces and kidnaps the United Bank president’s wife, Croc robs a different bank as a distraction for Batman and the cops. Commissioner Gordon, who is said to be “newly appointed” (it’s been a few months now), calls on Batman for help. While Batman is engaged with Croc, the United Bank president, with his wife being threatened by Catwoman, is forced to access the vault and hand over the Eye of Christ to Riddler. The Help, a legendary assassin and cleaner, now in his late 70s but one of the deadliest men on the planet, acts as a courier, delivering a ton of Penguin’s cash to Croc’s girlfriend Vera Angleton aka Vera Miles. This is payment to Croc for having been bait and taken the fall. As planned, Penguin meets Catwoman and Riddler. But instead of turning over the Eye of Christ (in exchange for a large cash sum that has already been given to them), Riddler and Catwoman betray Penguin. Riddler beats the shit out of him, specifically in a way that leaves a morse code message in his bruises and contusions. (Riddler can’t help but leave clues for Batman and will do so throughout this arc.) Riddler plans to sell the Eye of Christ to a buyer willing to pay even more—the US government. Batman quickly realizes that the villains have stolen the Eye of Christ. Batman also realizes that Clock King is involved. A day later, on March 5 (which is incorrectly labeled as March 4 throughout issues #2 and 3), Catwoman and Riddler hide at Clock King’s lake house forty miles north of Gotham (which is also paradoxically stated to be 120 miles southwest of Gotham). Meanwhile, Batman and Gordon visit Arkham Asylum. Gordon tells Batman, “This is all new. These Arkham people… You don’t know them and they don’t know you.” (This references the fact that Jeremiah Arkham has recently carried on his family legacy and taken control of the prison.) Batman and Gordon interrogate Croc, connecting him to Vera. Batman interrogates Vera, which leads him to the Iceberg Lounge where he learns of Penguin’s condition. Batman visits Penguin at the hospital and reads his wounds, which give him the address of the lake house. On Penguin’s dime, the Help goes to the lake house and shoots Riddler in the stomach. Batman arrives and begins fighting the Help. (Our story narrator, Clock King, regards this as the first of several epic scuffles between the two, but they definitely only clash this one time in this arc, so who knows about that line.) The Help kicks Batman’ ass, leaving him unconscious. Meanwhile, Catwoman and the badly wounded Riddler escape in the stolen Batmobile. After they leave, a US government representative arrives (the new buyer) only to get tortured and killed by the Help. Batman comes-to, finds the burning Batmobile down the road. Catwoman has taken Riddler to an acquaintance that runs a big cat sanctuary with hopes of getting him surgical help. A day later, on March 6, the Help tortures and interrogates the hospitalized Penguin to learn that the Eye of Christ is the MacGuffin at the heart of the story. Batman borrows a motorcycle, leaving an envelope containing $100k (presumably Catwoman and Riddler’s Penguin payoff recovered from the lake house) for the bike’s owner. Upon arrival at the big cat sanctuary, Batman fights released tigers.

–Batman: Killing Time #4-6
March 6-8. Picking up directly from Killing Time #3, a recovering Riddler meets with US government agent Nuri Espinoza at a diner to explain what went south with the lake house exchange. They argue, after which Nuri’s government comrades point guns at Riddler. Catwoman emerges and kicks all their asses. Meanwhile, the Help saves Batman from the tigers at the big cat sanctuary. They reluctantly join forces. Later, with a caption that incorrectly says March 5 but should read March 6, a vengeful Penguin begins hiring the henchmen of all of Gotham’s prominent super-villains, with plans to create a goon army to unleash upon Riddler and Catwoman. While we don’t see every henchman-loan approval, we do see Penguin chatting with Two-Face about hiring his muscle. A day later, on March 7, Riddler and Catwoman meet with Nuri at Gotham’s Moldoff Park to exchange the Eye of Christ for more cash. The deal is authorized by US President George W Bush, who also green-lights military action should things go badly again. And of course, things go very badly. Riddler is betrayed by both Catwoman and Nuri. Penguin’s army of hundreds of henchmen arrives along with Batman, the Help, and a squad of FBI agents. Chaos ensues. Dozens are violently killed. While this is a henchmen-only conflict, the real Joker shows up and kills a bunch of folks. The Help fights Catwoman. Batman fights Nuri. Clock King (Temple Fugate), as planned, recovers the Eye of Christ and makes a clean escape. The military attempts to drop a bomb on Moldoff Park, but Batman stops them. Riddler shoots Nuri, who survives but with a brain injury. (Nuri will eventually recover, garnering an intense hatred of Batman for the rest of her life.) Batman drops knockout gas on the park from above to neutralize the situation. Riddler, Catwoman, and the Help all flee the scene. A day later, on March 8, Batman puts together all the pieces of the puzzle. He punches out Penguin in the Iceberg Lounge. Meanwhile, Clock King takes a commercial flight to Europe. Bored now that the game is over, he gives the Eye of Christ to a flight attendant. (By year’s end, the Eye of Christ will wind up in a pawn shop where it’ll get purchased by Vera Angleton.) Note that Killing Time has two epilogues yet to come in April (listed below).

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Pennyworth RIP #1. Batman, as part of Dick’s training, teaches him to be mindful of tools and tradecraft, meaning that, not only must he learn to forge his own throwing-weaponry, but he must also do his best to retrieve any weaponry left behind at the scene of battles. Batman will teach this important set of lessons to all the future Bat-Family members as well.

–FLASHBACK: In Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4—and referenced in Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4. Bruce and Dick spar with bō staffs. Later, Bruce watches Dick train on the gymnastic rings. This flashback/visual reference combo is drawn vaguely enough that it could be an image of Dick or Jason. But I’ve gone with the assumption that it is Dick.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: One Bad Day – Mr. Freeze #1. As part of Dick’s ongoing training, Bruce and Alfred give him special exams, including one where he has to hack into a STAR Labs satellite.

–FLASHBACK: From The Batman Who Laughs #4, Robins #2, Robins #6, Dark Crisis #1, Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU #6, and Batman: City of Madness #2—and referenced in Flash Vol. 5 #21, Flash Vol. 5 #64Nightwing Vol. 4 #21, Nightwing Vol. 4 #37, Teen Titans Vol. 6 #8, Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7, Harley Quinn 25th Anniversary Special #1 Part 4, Detective Comics #965Detective Comics #996Batman Vol. 3 #33, Batman Vol. 3 #55, The Terrifics #3, The Batman Who Laughs #4, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #6, Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 3 #7, Justice League Vol. 4 #53, Robins #1, the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #122, and Batman Vol. 3 #130. Originally told in Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet and Batman and Robin Vol. 2 Annual #2. March. Twelve-year-old (soon to be thirteen) Dick Grayson completes his training and becomes Batman’s sidekick. Based on Dick’s own designs (modeled after his circus gear), Batman and Alfred tailor two additional bright red-and-green costumes for the boy—a classic-looking speedo outfit and a more modern-looking (New 52 style) full body-coverage outfit. Dick will wear both of these interchangeably, moving forward.[4] Despite having helped make the costume, upon seeing Dick wearing it for the first time, Batman warns him that yellow might be too bright. When Dick says he’s chosen the name “Robin,” Batman pauses for a moment, thinking of the death of AJ Dodge. Batman secretly imbeds hidden cameras into the breastplates of all Robin’s costumes (and into the breastplates of each spare costume as well). From these cameras, Batman can (and will) monitor Robin when he gets out of his line of sight or does anything solo. The cameras will also save video footage and archive cases on the Bat-computer. (Note that, while it won’t be listed on our timeline moving forward, Batman will have the inveterate tendency to embed hidden cameras and/or homing beacons on many future Bat-Family members’ costumes in order to keep tabs on them. It is thanks to these secret costume cams and homing beacons, for instance, that Batman will be able to log and view all of Robin’s future Teen Titans cases. Some of the more savvy Bat-Family members—such as Damian, Batgirl, and an adult Dick—will be able to avoid their mentor’s spying.) Batman puts Robin through one final “gauntlet” exercise, tasking him with a six-hour game of rooftop tag. However, during the challenge, Robin winds up going solo to help bust gangster Joe Minette and his righthand man Lou Delcaine, shutting down the entire Minette crime organization. Robin then goes on his first official patrol with the Caped Crusader at his side, during which they bust the mutated warthog gangster called Tusk. The newly formed “Dynamic Duo” (as Batman and Robin will quickly be labeled) becomes the immediate scourge of Gotham’s underworld. Batman and Robin then go on an unspecified adventure during which they escape from an exploding building, which leads to their photo being taken and used in newspapers. (This bit about the photo is taken via reference from the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #122, in which Batman is shown wearing his yellow oval costume. This costume depiction is an out-and-out error.) The news media immediately labels Robin as the “Boy Wonder,” “Teenage Typhoon,” “Young Daredevil,” “Living Hurricane,” and “Hard-Fisted Little Scrapper.” Note that Dick quickly realizes that part of his “job” as Batman’s sidekick is to mellow out the grim n’gritty attitude of the Dark Knight. Dick will be quite good at this, putting a smile on Batman’s face quite often by making near-constant jokes and puns while on patrol. This includes Robin saying his signature “Holy, Batman!” catchphrase, which will enter the cultural lexicon by the end of the year. Dick will often tell Batman it’s okay to smile every once in a while. This concept of Robin being the “light that brightens the darkness” will get passed down the line to each new Robin. Batman notices that Dick loves swinging from rooftop to rooftop whereas he prefers to be at street level. (Batman will notice that all future Robins will enjoy rooftop swinging.) Note that Dick is emotionally damaged at this juncture, especially with the recent deaths of his parents. For Dick, being a crime-fighting jester of sorts is his only outlet to deal with his loss. Also note that Robin will sometimes be headstrong, disobeying direct orders and going off-script. This will result in an angry Batman benching Robin from time to time. (This will also happen with Robins 2, 3, and 4.) Dick will also spend a lot of time trying (and failing) to sneak up on his mentor. Not all of these incidences are specifically shown on our timeline. As such, they will not all be specifically listed, moving forward. We must simply imagine them scattered throughout the chronology.[5]

–REFERENCE: In Batman Giant Vol. 2 #4 Part 2 (Batman: Gotham Nights Vol. 3 #8 Part 1) and Nightwing Vol. 4 #109. Batman and Robin bust Tony Zucco. Notably, the Dynamic Duo are still unable to find any hard evidence linking Zucco to the deaths of the Flying Graysons. Thus, while Zucco has a long rap sheet, the one charge that matters the most to Robin doesn’t stick.

–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #26 and Batman Vol. 3 #55. Batman tells Robin to never use real names when out in the field. This is a tough thing to remember and something that Batman will consistently have to remind Robin while on patrols and missions. Batman also begins referring to Robin as “Chum” while out on patrol. This is a double entendre—Batman regards Robin as a legitimate friend and surrogate son, but the Dark Knight has also noticed a fishy miasma pervading the Boy Wonder. This is because Robin wears the same dirty and smelly costume without ever washing it. Ironically, when Batman first started out, he never washed his stinky costume very often either. Batman will call Robin “Chum” quite often, moving forward. Note that the rule of only using codenames in the field will often get broken by various writers. Thus, despite his insistence, Batman will often break his own rule time and time again. Oh well.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #971. Batman introduces Robin to Commissioner Gordon, who does not approve of a child fighting in the Dark Knight’s war on crime. Gordon makes his views on child safety very clear to Batman. The Commish will never fully accept minors battling alongside Batman, but he will come to respect Robin (and the other future Bat-Family kids to come).

–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 #69. Bruce and Alfred celebrate Dick’s thirteenth birthday, surprising him with a cake.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #138. Batman gives Robin access to (and the ability to emergency override or shut down) the central system/server hub for the Bat-computer network located in a downtown apartment. Robin’s special vocal access code is the candlelight oath that he swore before starting his training last year (combined with retinal and handprint scans). Presumably, other Bat-Family members will also be given similar access with unique vocal pass-phrases.

–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 2022 Annual Part 3. Batman programs a fighting robot to train with Robin in the Batcave. After watching Robin spar with the robot, Batman tells him he must practice something ten thousand times before really getting it right. He also says to never make mistakes, never become vulnerable, and never trust anyone.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Urban Legends #7 Part 1—originally told in Batman #9. This reference actually just shows the cover of Batman #9, featuring a posing Dynamic Duo. While certainly iconic, this cover image in-and-of-itself was never canonical material. For the purposes of our current timeline, we can regard this item as Batman and Robin going on an unspecified adventure together.

–the second feature to Detective Comics #1047-1049 (“SHADOWS OF THE BAT: HOUSE OF GOTHAM”)
This item is said to occur “months” into Batman’s career, but it has been over a year since he first suited-up. Batman chases Joker to an apartment where he has just axe-murdered a husband and wife. 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, a famous gymnast cum genius neurologist. Before meeting Dr. Quinzel, Bruce gives a donation and chats with recently appointed hospital director Dr. Jeremiah Arkham, who is carrying on his family legacy. Bruce is distressed to find that the boy is playing with Clayface (Basil Karlo). Bruce separates the boy from Clayface, after which he places the boy into 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.) Scarecrow leads the brainwashed boys on an assault of Wayne Manor, but Robin fends them off solo. Batman arrives just in time to bust Scarecrow, but not before the villain poisons the boy with more Fear Gas than he’s ever administered to one person before.

–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Detective Comics #1049. Picking up directly from the second feature to Detective Comics #1049, Bruce visits the orphaned boy at the orphanage, giving him various toys. Bruce will visit the boy frequently over the course of the next week-and-a-half.

–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 #35, Nightwing Vol. 4 #37, and Nightwing Vol. 4 #39. It’s been a few weeks since Dick debuted as Robin. Batman and Robin go on an unspecified mission and the green Boy Wonder messes up bad, which puts him in the Dark Knight’s dog house. Shortly thereafter, an anti-gambling activist known as The Judge (the immortal founder of Blüdhaven, Jacob De Witt) uses telepathy to force random folks to kill three casino developers at Gotham City Hall. A gold casino chip is left on each victim as a calling card. While Dick trains in the Batcave, Batman quickly learns the Judge is responsible and has fled to Blüdhaven (less than an hour away by car). Batman and Robin to Gotham’s sister city and team-up with Blüdhaven’s own baseball-themed resident superhero, Baby Ruthless (Lucy Weatherton), against King Sturgeon, a TMNT-style mutated shark villain that wears a pro wrestling title belt around his waist. A pro wrestling shark! Batman, Robin, and Baby Ruthless then fight the Judge and his henchmen aboard a ship, but the Judge escapes scot-free. Robin, worried that Batman will be upset with his failure, runs away and hides in the Justice Tree, an over 700-year-old tree marking the site of the Blüdhaven’s first colonial court held by Jacob De Witt. Batman gives his sidekick a pep talk and all is right in the world again. Before departing for Gotham, Batman and Robin follow-up on the Judge case and learn all about the history of Blüdhaven.

–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #61 and Nightwing Vol. 4 #68—originally told in Robin: Year One. Dick goes undercover in a League of Assassins training camp led by Shrike. While training with Shrike, Dick befriends fellow student Boone. Eventually, Batman and Robin bring down the training camp and bust Shrike.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #25. Batman and Robin fight an escaped Joker atop a moving tanker train filled with Joker Venom, which the Clown Prince of Crime intends to release into the city. Our heroes stop the Joker’s plot, but the villain escapes custody yet again.

–the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #122-123
Note that Batman is shown wearing his yellow oval costume in this story. As previously mentioned, this is a straight-up bad continuity error. Someone puts a hit out on Robin, prompting Batman to go into protective mode. Batman meets with Commissioner Gordon to discuss the hit, after which he comes across master assassin Deathstroke (Slade Wilson), whom he stops from killing Robin. A grinning Deathstroke (dosed with Joker Venom) unmasks, revealing that he’s been hired by Joker. Batman offers to help Deathstroke if he stands down, but the assassin shakes off the effects of Joker Venom while swearing vengeance against the Clown Prince of Crime. Batman trails Deathstroke to Joker’s hideout where the trio engage in a fight. Batman busts Joker, allowing Deathstroke to flee. Later, Batman and Robin debrief with Commissioner Gordon while Deathstroke debriefs with his righthand man William Randolph Wintergreen.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #104—originally told in World’s Finest Comics #30. Batman and Robin battle the returning Penny Plunderer.

–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Detective Comics #1049 and the second feature to Detective Comics #1058. Bruce visits the boy that was recently orphaned by Joker at the orphanage for the final time. Joker’s orphaning of the young boy will continue to deeply impact Batman, and he’ll subconsciously think about this case for decades to come (although he’ll very soon forget about the family specifically, thinking of a more generic version of the victims instead). This displays a flaw in Batman’s superhero actions—he’ll help as best as he can, but then he’ll move on to the next item rather quickly whether or not the damage from the prior case has been fixed or healed.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1000 Part 11, Detective Comics #1027 Part 1, Man-Bat Vol. 4 #1, Man-Bat Vol. 4 #4, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4—and referenced in Batwoman: Rebirth #1, Batman Vol. 3 #25, Batman Vol. 3 #32, Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #35, Doomsday Clock #2-3, and Detective Comics #1001. Originally told in Detective Comics #400-401. Batman meets super-science husband-and-wife duo Dr. Kirk Langstrom and Dr. Francine Langstrom. Kirk ingests experimental Man-Bat Serum, which mutates him into the human flesh-eating “Man-Bat.” Batman not only deals with the debuting Blackout Gang (Jarret, Joey, Louis, Mick, and one unnamed member), but he also simultaneously takes-down the raging Man-Bat to save Francine’s life. (Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4 reveals that Batman earns a permanent scar from this fight.) The Dark Knight then restores Kirk to human form with an anti-serum. Batman will keep this antiserum in his utility belt at all times, moving forward. Able to somehow avoid a jail sentence and thankful to Batman, Langstrom—along with his wife—becomes an ally to him. Unfortunately, moving forward, Kirk will be a very unstable and troublesome ally, easily manipulated and prone to control by malevolent forces. He will be in and out of Arkham Asylum as well. Despite this, Batman will constantly pull strings to keep Kirk out of prison, hoping that his benevolence as a scientist will outweigh his monstrous nature. No matter the true relationship between Batman and the Langstroms, the public will come to regard Man-Bat as a menace and one of Batman’s biggest rivals. Extrapolating further upon the “true relationship” between the Langstroms and Batman, there exists a dark secret hidden from the Caped Crusader. The Langstroms secretly work for the US Government’s Department of Metahuman Affairs (DMA), which has recruited and funded Kirk in an effort to create man-bat metahuman soldiers. As revealed in Doomsday Clock #9, the Department of Metahuman Affairs is secretly run by Professor Martin Stein.

–REFERENCE: In Batman and Robin Vol. 3 #2. Likely in response to the recent Man-Bat experience, Batman begins keeping bat repellent (to ward off actual bats) in his utility belt. I guess you could call it Bat-bat-repellent.

–REFERENCE: In Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #56. Dr. Kirk Langstrom helps Batman by whipping-up a strong knock-out serum, which the Dark Knight uses to defeat Solomon Grundy.

–Batman: Killing Time #6 Epilogue Part 1
April 8. Following clues Riddler left for him, Batman tracks Riddler and Catwoman to Morocco where he busts them, sending them back to Arkham Asylum.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #44, Batman Vol. 3 #78, Batman Vol. 3 #85, and Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #6—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #24Batman Vol. 3 #50, Batman Vol. 3 #79, and Detective Comics #1012. Originally told in Batman #1 Part 3. Batman boards a boat called the SS Dolphin to prevent the theft of a priceless diamond by an escaped Catwoman, who is disguised as an old woman. After unmasking Catwoman, Batman recovers the diamond, hidden in a bandage around her ankle. Batman, sensing empathy in her eyes, falls for Catwoman and allows her to go free. Later, Bruce realizes that the love he feels for Catwoman is legit. He knows that he’s met his equal and there will never be another quite like her. Bruce purchases the diamond that Catwoman had attempted to steal on the boat and stores it in a safe place, knowing deep down that one day, he will give it to her.[6]

–Catwoman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular Part 6[7]
Batman learns that Catwoman has stolen an antique mezuzah, so the Dark Knight confronts Selina at her apartment where she is still plying her trade as a sex worker. They flirt, but Batman can’t get her to say why she took the Jewish artifact. Later, Catwoman gives the mezuzah to one of her childhood foster mothers, who is on her deathbed in an old folks home.

–Batman Vol. 3 Annual #2 Part 1
The crafty Catwoman, having discovered Batman’s secret ID, breaks into the Batcave (which is still pretty empty) via the manor above, stealing Batman’s car! Alfred alerts a patrolling Batman, who chases after Catwoman, who crashes the car into Porky’s Bar. Present at Porky’s are owner Porky and the watering hole’s usual offbeat customers, including Silver St. Cloud, Elmer Fudd, Taz, an unnamed guy and his pet frog named Michigan J Frog, Bugs the Bunny, Yosemite Sam, and William Ernest Coyote.[8] Porky refers to Batman’s car as the “Batmobile,” to which Batman takes a liking. Batman, who had previously been referring to his weaponized cars without any specific names, will now begin calling them “Batmobiles.” The Dark Knight retrieves the smashed-up Batmobile, in which he finds that Catwoman has left him a mouse. Batman keeps the mouse as a pet in Wayne Manor. Shortly thereafter, Batman has an unspecified encounter with Riddler—either Riddler has escaped to commit a crime or he is working in his role as police consultant. Either way, as Batman turns Riddler back over to Commissioner Gordon for transfer back to Arkham Aslyum, the villain delivers a cryptic riddle. A day later, Bruce lounges at Wayne Manor and tries to make sense of the riddle. When a pen goes missing, Alfred jokes about calling Superman for help. Bruce realizes that Catwoman is inside the house again. He chases her, but she hops out the window and gets away. Outside, police and news media have gathered—called to the scene by Catwoman herself in order to make a spectacle. Inside, Catwoman has left Bruce another mouse, which goes in the cage with the other rodent. Bruce immediately installs extra security alarms in Wayne Manor. A few days later, Catwoman breaks into Wayne Manor again, taking Bruce’s mother’s pearl out of the safe to examine it. Batman enters and they talk about their orphan childhoods while flirting with each other. (This scene is shown via flashback from Catwoman Vol. 5 #17, although Catwoman is wearing the wrong costume in it.) Catwoman sets off one of Batman’s smoke pellets and escapes, leaving another mouse, which gets added to the cage. A few days later, Batman catches Catwoman atop Wayne Manor, trying to break in yet again. He chases her while she tells him that she’s testing him to make him stronger because she wants him to survive his dangerous vigilante quest. Catwoman disappears into the woods, but once again leaves another mouse, which joins the rest of the little squeakers. After some quick detective work, Batman is able to locate Selina’s apartment. There, Bruce and Selina share their first ever kiss! They jokingly argue about how they first met, debating which encounter—their actual first meeting on the street or their recent meeting on the boat, during which they discovered their love for one another—is more legit. This debate will be an in-joke that will stay with the duo for decades. Despite being at odds and occasionally warring with one another, Batman and Catwoman will remain on-again-off-again lovers from this point forward. Their intermittent love affair will continue for years to come, although most of it will remain invisible on our timeline.

–FLASHBACK: From Catwoman Vol. 5 #17—and referenced in Robin Vol. 3 #3. Batman responds to the Bat-Signal to find Catwoman waiting for him. They engage in a playful chase. As referenced in Robin Vol. 3 #3, by 2021, the super-villain community will be quite familiar with Batman and Catwoman’s not-so-hidden sexual chases across the rooftops of Gotham. While we’ll see a number of these encounters listed on our chronology, we should probably imagine even more of them sprinkled invisibly throughout.

–REFERENCE: In Catwoman Vol. 5 #57. Bruce and Selina visit the Gotham ballet, dancing together at the fancy masquerade ball that accompanies the show afterward. While we won’t physically see it on our timeline ahead, Bruce and Selina will visit the ballet/ball dance together frequently for the next couple years. Dick will often ask to come, but they usually won’t ever let him.

–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Casting #1, Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #36, and Batman Vol. 3 #54. Dr. Paul Dekker debuts as Crazy Quilt, a gaudy super-villain, who has deep knowledge of the occult and bizarre chemical science. Crazy Quilt tries to hypnotize Batman and Robin using the color spectrum, but the heroes put him behind Arkham bars.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: One Bad Day – Two-Face #1—and referenced in Batwoman: Rebirth #1 and Batman Vol. 3 #26. Batman defeats Cluemaster (Arthur Brown) in front of his own young daughter, Stephanie Brown. Afterward, Batman gives Cluemaster a little more leeway than other criminals, hoping that it’ll guide the villain toward a focus on raising Stephanie as opposed to committing heists.

–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 re-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 father is none other than Zeus himself. (Note, thanks to Doomsday Clock retcons, Diana actually debuted in the early 1940s as a founding member of the Justice Society of America! So, this is her big return after decades away from the world of man. Writer Greg Rucka doesn’t expressly write it that way, so you unfortunately have to squint your eyes while reading to make this retcon stick its landing. Batman and Superman would likely recognize Diana as a famous hero of yesteryear, although they still might be confused about who she is, thinking she’s a copycat or something.) 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 happens in Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #10—”Wonder Woman: Year One.”) 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 on them from behind. The first meeting of DC’s Big Three occurs! Diana offers effusive greetings and tells the male heroes to take ahold of her magick lasso, which they do. Forced to tell their true names, Batman says his is “Batman,” showing that he identifies with that name just as much (if not more) than “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 international press a couple 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.)

–FLASHBACK: From Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen Vol. 3 #5—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #68. In Gotham, a “Toy War” erupts between Toyman (Winslow Schott) and the Ventriloquist (with Scarface). Batman and Superman team-up to tackle the situation. A few days in, Superman introduces Batman to Jimmy Olsen. Batman is disgusted that Superman would bring a civilian, and one carrying a camera no less. Batman knocks Jimmy’s camera out of his hands and swings away to deal with the villains by himself. Later, Batman learns how close Superman and Jimmy really are, including the fact that Jimmy has a special signal watch that he can use to call the Man of Steel for help at any time.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #90. Spring. Joker takes over a TV studio, killing multiple people in the process. Presumably, Batman busts him.

–Batman: Killing Time #6 Epilogue Part 2
April 17-21. Batman visits Ra’s  al Ghul, asking if he knows where the Help is hiding. Ra’s al Ghul tells him he doesn’t know and they sword duel. Four days later, on April 21, Batman catches up with Clock King (Temple Fugate) in Athens, Greece. Batman busts him.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #50. The Lee Weeks-illustrated Bat-Cat love affair continues with a splash page. Batman and Catwoman come face-to-face yet again, playfully sexual as always.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #50. Catwoman poses sexily as Batman approaches her, casting a looming shadow across her figure. This splash, drawn by Ben Templeton and Keiren Smith, is done in a very indie style that may or may not be representative of any actual costume that Catwoman wears in-continuity. In fact, it looks quite like an old DC Animated Universe version of Selina’s black feline costume. However, aside from the color and mouth, it doesn’t look too dissimilar from what she’d be wearing at this point on our timeline (the dun feline outfit), so I’ve placed it here.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #66 and Batman Vol. 3 #50. An escaped Two-Face meets-up with Catwoman (who is wearing a new pinkish-purple whiskers-and-tail costume), promising her a ton of cash and a diamond from the museum if she helps him set up Batman for an ambush. Of course, Catwoman agrees but immediately tells Batman the score. After donning extra armor, Batman leaps into the “trap.” With Catwoman’s help, the Dark Knight takes down Two-Face and his men. After a kiss on Batman’s lips, Catwoman runs off with Two-Face’s cash and the diamond. When Batman catches her, they kiss passionately in the pouring rain. Soon, the chase continues. Batman playfully spars with Catwoman, who turns the tables on and sneaks-up behind the Dark Knight. She lassos his neck with her whip before pouncing down on top of the smiling Dark Knight. Batman and Catwoman remove each other’s clothes as they passionately kiss yet again. Later, Catwoman donates Two-Face’s payoff to charity. Note that the main flashback for this item comes from the hallucinatory Batman Vol. 3 #66. I’ve paired it with similar pin-up splash images (three from Batman Vol. 3 #50 to be exact), all of which seem to coincide with and complete this narrative. The splash pin-ups are by Frank Miller and Alex Sinclair, Tim Sale and José Villarrubia, and Paul Pope and José Villarrubia (in that order).

–NOTE: Referenced in Action Comics #978, Super Sons #5, and Superman Vol. 5 #25. Starting now, Superman will randomly alternate between his regular red trunks costume and a brand new Mandarin/Nehru collar costume (based on his look from the New 52).

–FLASHBACK: From Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #35, Flash Vol. 5 #21, Flash Vol. 5 #40, and Justice League Vol. 4 #51—and referenced in Justice League of America Vol. 5 #5, Justice League of America Vol. 5 #27, Justice League of America Vol. 5 #42, Batman Vol. 3 #26, Titans Vol. 3 Annual #1, Superman Vol. 4 #37, Justice League Vol. 3 #24, Justice League Vol. 3 #38, Green Arrow Vol. 6 #29, Wonder Twins #1, Suicide Squad Vol. 5 #25, The Green Lantern #7, Batman Giant #12 (Batman: Universe #5), Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular Part 2, Superman Vol. 5 #25-26, Wonder Woman #793, Green Arrow Vol. 7 #5, Nightwing Vol. 4 #109, and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #23. Originally told in Justice League Vol. 2 #1-6 (“JUSTICE LEAGUE” aka “JUSTICE LEAGUE: ORIGIN”). The world learns of the existence of the New Gods when the evil New God Darkseid and his army of Parademons invade from the extradimensional planet Apokolips.[9] In response, the Justice League aka Justice League of America forms. Its initial lineup features Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash (Barry Allen), Aquaman (Orin/Arthur Curry), Green Lantern Hal Jordan, and a thirteen-year-old Cyborg (Silas Stone’s son, Victor Stone).[10] When Superman is captured and taken to Apokolips, Batman travels there to rescue him from Darkseid’s minions Desaad and Steppenwolf. (Nightwing Vol. 4 #109 tells us that an injured Batman—while doped up on painkillers—headbutts a New God. I’m not sure if this is a reference to something specific, but it could very easily be a nod to his first encounter with the New Gods here.) While in Apokolips, Batman learns that Darkseid’s lifelong goal has been (and continues to be) the search for The Anti-Life Equation, a cosmic sentient mathematical formula with which one can dominate all life. After defeating Darkseid and his army, Batman tells Robin all about his cosmic adventure. Batman also studies the physiology of a dead Parademon and learns about the New Gods’ sentient computers/wormhole-opening devices known as Mother Boxes. Batman keeps a Mother Box for study. With the aid of metahuman-powered construction, the JL quickly builds two separate HQs, one public-facing and one hidden—the Hall of Justice in Washington DC and the Secret Sanctuary in Happy Harbor, RI, respectively. At the Hall of Justice, the JL installs a semi-sentient networked super-computer, affectionately named Supercomputer. Presumably, this network connects to the Secret Sanctuary too. (In Wonder Twins #1, which takes place in 2018, Superman mentions that the Hall of Justice was built “before cellphones.” There were definitely cellphones in 2003, but definitely no touch-screen smartphones. Thus, Superman’s comment actually makes sense. The addition of the Hall of Justice in conjunction with the Secret Sanctuary is unique to the Rebirth Era. In previous comic book continuities, the Hall of Justice wasn’t built until much later. However, having it implemented here, early on our timeline, coincides with the way things were in the old Super Friends TV show from the 1970s. Suffice to say, the Justice League will utilize the private Sanctuary much more often than the Hall of Justice.) Cyborg, being too young to continue as a member, departs and is immediately replaced by the Martian Manhunter (J’onn J’onzz). As such, Cyborg and Martian Manhunter are technically both founding JL members. Batman learns about the Green Lantern Corps, a universal police force created by the Maltusian immortals known as The Guardians of the Universe, who live on the planet Oa. Hal is but one of many soldiers in this army, each of whom wears their own sentient power ring. Hal provides Batman and the rest of the Justice League with a bunch of signal devices that can be used to contact the Green Lantern Corps. Batman, despite being interested enough to memorize the “Green Lantern Oath,” does not get along with Hal. Batman and Hal are like oil and water, and they’ll remain that way for years to come. The JL also learns about Martian history and J’onn’s psychic and telepathic abilities. They also learn about Themyscira (aka Paradise Island), home of the Amazons, which is led by Wonder Woman’s mother Hippolyta. Furthermore, Aquaman introduces his partner Mera to the other heroes. While Aquaman and Mera act as husband and wife, they technically won’t officially marry until years from now. Presumably, Batman and the other heroes learn all about the undersea kingdom of Atlantis as well. Note that, while Aquaman is an essential part of the JL, he won’t trust surface dwellers for years to come. Also note that the Secret Sanctuary will only be a secret to villains and civilians. As referenced in Justice League of America Vol. 5 #27, the JL will hold meetings with several other superhero teams in the Sanctuary over the course of the next few years. Who these other teams are is beyond me, but just imagine these gatherings occurring on our timeline below. Also note that, from this point forward, all Justice Leaguers will trust their secret IDs with all other members (with some exceptions, of course). It is a serious honor to be on the JL. To be on this team means to be 100% trustworthy. Each member of the JL receives an official paper Certificate of Membership (and every forthcoming member will get one too).

–REFERENCE: In Dark Crisis #0—originally told in Justice League of America #9. The brand new Justice League encounters and defeats seven vile alien invaders known as the Appelaxians (also spelled “Appellaxians”). Despite having the power to turn people into wood, crystals, or various other organic material, the Appelaxians are defeated by the heroes.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #90. Batman and Robin chase after Catwoman, who is now switched to a skintight purple costume with black knee-high boots and black elbow-length gloves. Unlike in the Modern Age where Catwoman didn’t sport this particular costume until later, Catwoman will go through a variety of different costumes (including this one) over the course of the next few years.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #25-26. Late April to early May. Writer Tom King gives us an April date in the narrative, but paradoxically tells us that Batman is now just “coming off his first year” in costume. Bruce became Batman in January of last year, so it’s really been about 15 months since he began playing costumed vigilante. A bit of a nitpick, but worth mentioning. King also tells us that Riddler has been imprisoned for almost a year, which simply cannot be true as per King’s own Killing Time arc. Onto our synopsis. When Joker escapes from jail and kills fourteen people, Batman puts police alerts on locations all over Gotham but is unable to find the Clown Prince of Crime. By the time Commissioner Gordon and the GCPD locate Joker at a comedy club, the morning sun has risen over Gotham. Batman, having patrolled all night long, has gone home to sleep. While the Dark Knight slumbers, Joker kills a dozen more and then blows up the place, calmly walking away while shooting cops left-and-right. Meanwhile, Riddler escapes from Arkham, intrigued by Joker’s antics. After some more brutal killings, Joker meets with Riddler in a skyscraper penthouse. Joker explains that he’s lost the ability to laugh because he always predictably loses to Batman. Riddler says he feels similarly and declares war against Joker over the right to kill Batman. Joker starts things off by putting a bullet in Riddler’s belly, which seemingly adds to the latter’s casus belli. (In actuality, however, Riddler isn’t interested in conflict at all. Thinking of Joker’s inability to laugh as part of a puzzle to solve, Riddler has created his most elaborate and mysterious riddle of all time: a violent war, which itself will function as a complex puzzle that will hopefully lead to Joker laughing again.) Batman tries to chase after Joker, but both Joker and the bleeding Riddler escape. While Joker murders a family in the suburbs, Riddler gets life-saving surgery from underground doctor Jamie Knowles (the doctor that fixes-up Joker in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman movie!), which leaves him with a scar that he turns into a question mark on his chest. After brutally murdering Knowles, Batman and Commissioner Gordon examine the crime scene. Upon hearing Riddler is alive, Joker calls Carmine Falcone and tells him to execute Riddler. Falcone’s pusillanimity causes him to immediately send his men after Riddler, who goes to Poison Ivy for help. When Falcone’s men strike in the park, Poison Ivy wraps them up with vines. (As referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #43, Riddler executes the men tangled in the vines and then tells Ivy that her vines strangled them to death. Not the killing type, Ivy is traumatized by what she thinks she has done. Batman arrives to examine the dead men, immediately seeing that they’ve been shot to death.) Batman also learns from Gordon that one of the deceased was an undercover cop. Joker shows his frustration by murdering both Falcone’s mother and his top men. After shooting Falcone in the arm, Joker then usurps Falcone’s righthand man, Penguin, making him his own assistant instead. (This is more or less then end of Falcone’s power in Gotham. He’ll still be a player when it comes to Gotham’s criminal underworld, but he will no longer be top dog.) Both Riddler and Joker then recruit super-villains into their respective folds. Nearly every villain in Gotham picks a side. Riddler’s team includes Two-Face, Scarecrow, Clayface, Firefly, Victor Zsasz, Killer Croc, and Deathstroke. Joker’s team includes Oswald Cobblepot, Solomon Grundy, Man-Bat (Kirk Langstrom), Cluemaster, Deadshot, Mad Hatter, Tweedledum, Tweedledee, Mr. Freeze, and the Ventriloquist (with Scarface). These two factions begin warring with each other for weeks, which leads to dozens of innocent deaths. The mainstream media outlets begin to call this carnage “The War of Jokes and Riddles.”

–Batman Vol. 3 #27
Early May—(Batman Vol. 3 #32 specifically tells us that Riddler kills Chuck Brown’s son on May 6). Batman shakes down Chuck Brown, asking him to get Joker’s phone number in an effort to find out his location to end “The War of Jokes and Riddles.” Brown reaches out to Deadshot, who gives him a number, but it winds up being untraceable. Batman then orders Brown to set up a one-on-one meeting with Joker (which will be a staging ground for an ambush). Brown calls Joker and sets up a face-to-face, but Riddler finds out and has Clayface kidnap Brown to learn details of the meeting. As revealed in Batman Vol. 3 #32, it is at this time that Riddler begins a campaign of manipulating Brown as part of the longer con. (Riddler wants to ensure that Brown not only becomes a central player in the war, specifically a mole for Batman, but also a ridiculous joke of a super-villain, one silly enough to bring Joker back to laughter.) Batman shakes down Brown yet again and learns that Joker and Riddler are both planning to be at the meeting. A day later, Batman gets in the middle of a battle-royale including Solomon Grundy, Scarecrow, Killer Croc, Riddler, Joker, and Brown. As punishment, Joker straps an explosive device to Brown’s body and tells him his son Charlie will die unless he suicide bombs Batman at their next meeting. Batman puts Charlie into police protection, after which Brown realizes the bomb on his chest is fake anyway. Despite being under protection, Riddler is able to poison young Charlie to death. As referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #32, Batman and Chuck are both by poor Charlie’s side at the time of his passing. Batman tells Brown he will avenge his son’s death. A distraught Brown becomes the gaudy Kite Man (also spelled “Kite-Man”), returning to offer his services to Joker. Riddler has successfully manipulated Joker’s man into becoming a walking joke.

–FLASHBACK: From Strange Love Adventures #1 Part 6. May—Mother’s Day. Batman and Robin get ready to go on patrol together. Before departing, a cheeky Robin gives Alfred a hand-drawn Mother’s Day card.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #28-29 and Batman Vol. 3 #85—and also referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #24. May to June. The “War of Jokes and Riddles” continues with Joker’s army taking over the Upper West Side and Riddler’s army taking over the Upper East Side, turning the park into a war-zone and causing dozens of innocent lives to be lost. Batman and Commissioner Gordon are helpless and watch the city fall apart for a week or so. Gordon meets with both villain armies, asking what they want. Both sides say they want Batman. Gordon then reports back to Batman, telling him that he has asked the US Government for support from the military. When Kite Man is forcibly ejected through a skyscraper window, Batman saves his life. The Dark Knight then confronts Catwoman, who is robbing a Maroni family safe. In a sexy reprieve from the war, the Cat and the Bat get it on. Later, Deadshot and Deathstroke begin a solo war against each other. Batman apprehends them both, but not for five bloody days, which results in 62 deaths. An angry Batman pummels Deadshot so mercilessly that he nearly dies in the hospital. Afterward, Gordon reports to Batman, telling him that two Army Special Forces (Green Beret) units were completely wiped-out by Joker and Riddler. After more bodies pile up, Bruce takes a page out of his mom’s playbook, calling a truce and arranging a meeting at Wayne Manor, during which both sides will share in a nine course French dinner and negotiate an end to the conflict. As Gotham’s worst villains hover around while Alfred waits the table, Bruce tells Joker and Riddler to convince him which side should get to kill Batman. Bruce explains that whoever makes the best case gets one billion dollars, which should be sufficient enough to give the winner the advantage to win the war, thus ending the carnage. After they state their cases, the villains and their crews leave as Bruce says he will send his answer and the prize money later via Commissioner Gordon.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #30 and Batman Vol. 3 #32. June. The “War of Jokes and Riddles” continues with Batman joining forces with Riddler’s army in exchange for Riddler ordering his men not to kill any more people. (We are never told if Bruce declared Riddler the billion dollar winner, but somehow Batman has thrown-in with his team.) Batman then meets with Riddler, who convinces him to capture Kite Man last. (Riddler needs Kite Man on the playing field as part of his longer plan to claim victory over Joker.)

–Batman Vol. 3 #30
June. Wearing a Riddler arm band, Batman fights Kite Man, Tweedledum, Tweedledee, and Penguin’s penguin commandos—straight out of Tim Burton’s Batman Returns film. The Caped Crusader punches-out Kite Man (but leaves him free as per Riddler’s order) before apprehending the Tweeds. Batman then neutralizes the Ventriloquist by stealing away Scarface. Next, the Dark Knight shoots Man-Bat out of the sky with Batplane missiles. Meanwhile, Scarecrow takes out Cluemaster. After that, Batman easily takes down Mr. Freeze and then Mad Hatter. Only Kite Man, eyewitness to each of these defeats, remains standing on Joker’s side. (The whereabouts of Penguin and Solomon Grundy are unknown.) Before long, Batman finally brings in Kite Man, who is interrogated by both Riddler and Batman.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #31-32. June. The “War of Jokes and Riddles” continues. Kite Man secretly becomes Batman’s man on the inside, delivering the location of Joker’s hideout atop the skyscraper penthouse where the war started. Batman recruits Catwoman to help him. She spies on Joker, who nearly kills her. Batman then tricks Riddler into soliciting Kite Man’s help to break into Joker’s penthouse. Batman instructs Kite Man to build and offer special kite-gliders for Riddler’s army, only they don’t know that they are rigged with jet-propelled inverse parachutes. (Kite Man installs one on Firefly’s flight suit.) After Riddler and his crew crash in and easily take down Joker, Kite Man activates his parachutes and all of Riddler’s men go flying up into the sky where they are detained on the Bat-Blimp, which is piloted by Alfred. Riddler then punches-out Kite Man and faces-off with Batman and Joker, who still frustratingly can’t laugh despite all the ridiculousness that has occurred. Batman, the superior fighter, takes down Joker and Riddler. After confessing that his war games were always simply aimed at making Joker laugh again, Riddler feels dejected by his efforts having been in vain. Batman is outraged to learn that months of tragedy and carnage were in service of nothing more than a joke/riddle. Furious at the Riddler for the loss of life his war has caused, and especially for killing Kite Man’s son so sadistically, Batman decides that Riddler must face ultimate justice. Batman breaks his code against killing, trying to mortally stab Riddler with a knife. However, Joker blocks the would-be fatal thrust by shoving his hand through the knife, saving Riddler’s life. Joker is tickled by the idea of the hero losing his cool and playing executioner. The added irony of himself being the one to prevent Batman from violating his vow to never use lethal force finally causes Joker’s non-laughing streak to end. The Clown Prince of Crime cackles uproariously. Joker, Riddler, and Kite Man all go to Arkham Asylum. The war is over.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #25-26 and Batman Vol. 3 #32. June. Immediately following the “War of Jokes and Riddles,” Batman is shaken to the core. He is not only extremely troubled by the massive collateral damage caused by the war, but also ashamed by his own attempted murder of Riddler. Batman is also deeply disturbed at the fact that Joker stopped him, feeling as though, in a sense, the Clown Prince of Crime will now and forever more have an emotional stranglehold over him. Batman, hoping to move on, reaffirms his vow to never use lethal force. Despite this reaffirmation, the Caped Crusader will be haunted by his own actions for the rest of his crime-fighting career. Batman then retraces the steps of all parties involved in the war, trying to make sense of it all. Batman studies victim dossiers, watches recordings, interviews witnesses, and collects evidence. He also visits and interrogates each imprisoned villain that took part in the conflict.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #33, Justice League Vol. 3 #34, Super Sons #9, Flash Vol. 5 #46, Superman Vol. 5 #5, Event Leviathan #1, Justice League Dark Vol. 2 #12, and Action Comics #1016. Each Justice Leaguer is given their own satellite-linked communicator, so they can be reached in case of emergency at all times. The JL communicator can also act as a universal positioning system tracer, which can also identify anyone in close proximity to the hero being tracked (provided their scanned bio ID is registered in the JL database). Thus, in conjunction with the creation of the JL communicators, the JL now begins logging detailed information about all its meetings and cases, building a database of dossiers and biometric information on the various people—friends and foes—they have encountered. Specifically, Batman and Superman will build their own energy signature catalogue as well. The JL also begins keeping an updated list of powerful magick users and begins categorizing all metahumans in terms of their power levels—with the top tier being “Alpha Level.” This is the start of a reoccurring event not visibly listed on our timeline, in which the JL will add to its database archives constantly. Relatedly, the JL sets up several communications servers at its HQ. Over time, access numbers will be distributed among the trusted superhero community.

–REFERENCE: In DC Festival of Heroes: The Asian Superhero Celebration #1 Part 4. Each Justice Leaguer gets their own encrypted JL e-mail address. Batman also begins what will be a tiresome chore for decades to come—going through his e-mails and reviewing financial budgets related to team expenditures.

–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21 and Flash Vol. 5 #64. Flash finds an instant connection with his Justice League teammate Batman; they can talk for hours about evidence and CSI stuff, something in which the other team members are less versed or interested. There has already been great public debate about who is faster, Flash or Superman, but after working with Flash in the JL crime lab, Batman instantly is more concerned with who is a better detective—himself or Flash. Batman will always admire Flash’s forensic science skills and often ponder this question.

–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 for the next fifteen years plus, although these purchases won’t be specifically listed on our chronology.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1048. Bruce is interviewed by Teen Life & News Magazine, which is a division of Gotham Magazine.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #64. Batman realizes that Flash, whenever he is near, gives off static electricity that is so strong it feels like it is tugging on his cape. Batman tells Flash about this.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #4. Batman learns Hal Jordan’s power ring has an impurity, making his only weakness the color yellow. (Yellow represents fear on the emotional spectrum.)

–REFERENCE: In Super Sons #5Superman Vol. 4 #37, Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #5, Justice League Vol. 4 #38, and Superman: Red and Blue #3 Part 1. Batman and Superman finally find a mutual respect for each other. Realizing that have a lot in common, Bruce and Clark become best of friends. Bruce gets to know 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, moving forward. Over time, their friendship will grow to be one of the strongest bonds in the DCU. With burgeoning trust developing between them, the two heroes, while having contrasting personality types (Batman is ostensibly more worrisome, for example), will only grow closer, moving forward. However, despite the camaraderie and mutual respect they share for one another, 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 wasn’t pulling his punches.

–REFERENCE: In Justice League Vol. 4 #61. Batman and Superman set up an emergency communication frequency just for the two of them to use, naming it the “World’s Finest Frequency.”

–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 #68. Bruce and Dick sit down for an Alfred-cooked meal at Wayne Manor, but are interrupted by the Bat-signal shining brightly in the night sky. They immediately depart to answer the call. Batman and Robin patrol together, completing an unknown case.

–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 Annual #2. Batman and Robin patrol together.

–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 #47. Batman and Robin patrol.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Giant #11 (Batman: Universe #5). Batman and Robin ride in the Batcopter. Robin complains that there are no cup holders. While we won’t see it on our timeline in the future, several other heroes will ride in the Batcopter and they will all mention the lack of cup holders.

–REFERENCE: In Justice League Vol. 4 #7. Batman tells his “criminals are a superstitious and cowardly lot” mantra to the Justice League.

–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Casting #1 and Dark Nights: Metal #1. The Justice League meets and creates the official JL Bylaws, a set of rules by which each JLer must live by in order to remain on the team. One of the many bylaws bans the incarceration of dangerous criminals without the JL’s full approval first. Similarly, one of the Bylaws states the JL must vote on everything before taking any action.

–REFERENCE: In Green Arrow 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 Part 2. Batman meets rookie superhero Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) but comes to immediately regard him with disdain, thinking of him as a bargain basement version of himself, with an Arrow Car and Arrow Cave. Unlike in the Silver and Modern Ages, Batman and Green Arrow won’t become close friends.[11]

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Urban Legends #15 Part 2—and referenced in DC’s How to Lose a Guy Gardner in Ten Days #1 Part 6. An escaped Joker gasses a Gotham tourbus. Batman saves the lives of crooks Eel O’Brien and Brad Sampey, and busts Joker. This event (combined with one final arrest by the Cole City Police Department) inspires O’Brien to stop committing crimes. Shortly thereafter, O’Brien suffers a freak accident, turning into the malleable superhero Plastic Man. The Justice League meets the new hero, not sure what to make of the strange stretchy dude.

–DC’s How to Lose a Guy Gardner in Ten Days #1 Part 6
After Plastic Man’s new socialite girlfriend asks to meet other superheroes, Plastic Man obliges, taking her to Central City to visit Flash, who defeats The Rogues (Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Mirror Master, Trickster, and Captain Boomerang). When Plastic Man’s gal flirts with Flash, the latter mentions his fiancée Iris West. Next, Plastic Man takes his lady to meet Hal Jordan in space. After that, Plastic Man takes her to a club to meet a coffee drinking Batman, Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Green Arrow. (Note that Martian Manhunter and Green Arrow are drawn in the background and both look a bit off. Notably, Green Arrow definitely shouldn’t have his goatee yet. Another character—looking a bit like Deathstroke, but not quite—appears in the background too. It’s unclear who he’s supposed to be, but it could very well be Deathstroke.) The next day, Plastic Man’s girl dumps him and goes on a date with Bruce, who takes her to a charity event. Feeling down, Plastic Man chats with his friend Angel McDunnagh, who works as a waitress at a Cole City diner. (The rest of our story—which doesn’t feature Batman—functions as a several months-long epilogue detailing how Plastic Man comes to fall in love with and date Angel.)

–REFERENCE: In Dark Nights: Metal #3 and Titans Vol. 3 #19. Despite having recently helped form the Justice League, Batman is plagued with thoughts of the danger that metahumans—good or bad—could potentially pose to the world. The Dark Knight does his best to suppress his concerns. Always the pre-planner, though, Batman can’t help but think of ways to both neutralize and utilize his metahuman friends’ powers to benefit his own personal war on crime. Unable to shake his paranoia, Batman begins pre-planning direct anti-metahuman action.

–REFERENCE: In Justice League Vol. 3 #29, Dark Nights: Metal #4, Super Sons #16, Superman/Batman Vol. 2 #12, Superman: Man of Tomorrow #19, Challenge of the Super Sons #9, and Batman Vol. 3 #130. Hot on the heels of our previous item, Batman succumbs to his paranoia about the possibility of his friends going rogue or being controlled by evil. Taking action to put his mind at ease, Batman compiles multi-layered contingency protocols to combat them if need be. As per his plan, Batman collects (or builds) various countermeasures in the form of specific weaponry that can defeat each of his Justice League brethren. Batman puts his anti-JL items into locked briefcases inside a large safe in the Batcave.[12] The anti-Superman briefcase includes a Green Kryptonite ring, pieces of different colored Kryptonite, and an expanding Red Kryptonite-lined prison cell (of Batman’s own design). The anti-Flash briefcase includes temporal grenades, seizure-inducing vibra-bullets, and a frictionless coating spray (all of his own design). The anti-Cyborg briefcase includes a Mother Box, a ministroke-inducing ion-pulse hacking program (of his own design, and possibly made from the Mother Box), an electromagnetic nerve tree (of his own design). The anti-Wonder Woman briefcase includes the god Hephaestus’ magickal Bind of Veils and a auricular nanite implant (of his own design). (Both of these anti-Wonder Woman items cause hallucinatory experiences.) The anti-Aquaman briefcase includes a binding magnesium carbonate foam spray (of his own design) and a modified Fear Gas spray (of his own design, tweaked from Scarecrow’s chemicals). The anti-Green Lantern briefcase includes a citrine neurolizer, black power ring, and yellow power ring. Batman also devises an extra plan to use against the GL Corps. He learns how to introduce post-hypnotic suggestions and secretly does so to several of his GL pals, making it so he can render them temporarily blind with an activation codeword. Batman also constructs and/or gathers other anti-Superman weapons, putting them into the contingency safe: a red solar-flare projection staff, an armored anti-Superman suit (based on the Frank Miller-designed costume from The Dark Knight Returns), a “Five Finger Death Punch” particolored Kryptonite gauntlet, a microscopic red sun gauntlet, Kryptonite chewing gum, and magick wrist wraps that can create mystic armor. Batman also devises a hypothetical anti-Superman combat strategy that involves striking at the Man of Steel’s pressure points. Also in the safe: a nanite-fire weapon to use against Martian Manhunter and a liquid-nitrogen weapon to use against Plastic Man. Batman also draws up plans that revolve around use of his heavily-armored high-tech combat mech, essentially turning the mech into an anti-JL weapon. Detailed files related to these contingency plan weapons and strategies are stored in the Bat-computer network and linked into Batman’s costume. Batman will keep his anti-JL contingency plans up to date, moving forward.

–REFERENCE: In Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 #10 (Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 Print Edition #5). Batman adds flame-gauntlets to his anti-Martian Manhunter contingency weaponry.

–REFERENCE: In Superman: Son of Kal-El #18. Batman builds special high-tech shielding as a part of his anti-Superman contingency plans.

–REFERENCE: In Deathstroke Vol. 4 #32. Batman, likely related to his anti-Superman contingency plans, designs power-charging gauntlets, which he will wear with his costume from this point forward.

–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 #14-15. Batman either obtains or builds a high-frequency sound-vibration ray gun, which has the ability to take down someone as powerful as Superman. The origins of this weapon are unknown, but it is very likely a part of his recent anti-metahuman contingency plans. Batman stores the gun in the Batcave. Batman also adapts this sound-vibration weapon for use via cannons on some of his Bat-vehicles.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #108. Batman begins training in defense techniques against psychic manipulation and other telepathic/mental invasion. Presumably, Martian Manhunter is and will be one of his primary teachers.

–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 Action Comics #1003Dial H for Hero #1, and Dial H for Hero #4. Thirteen-year-old Snapper Carr briefly becomes the Justice League’s official sidekick/mascot. Batman doesn’t like Snapper.

–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 #69. Batman and Robin spar in a boxing ring in the Batcave.

–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 #79. Batman and Robin spar in the Batcave.

–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 Chicken Little fable.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 1. Deathstroke fights Batman and Robin, luring them into an ambush atop the roof of the GCPD HQ building.

–REFERENCE: In Superman Vol. 5 #26. The Justice League installs the same high-tech security measures around various important locations, including the Daily Planet Building. Specifically for the Daily Planet Building, Superman can teleport any potential threat into the Phantom Zone, should the threat come into close proximity of the premises.

–FLASHBACK: From Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU #6—and referenced in Flash Vol. 5 #21Dark Crisis #0, and Batman: One Bad Day – Mr. Freeze #1—originally told in The Brave and The Bold #28. The Justice League defeats Starro the Conqueror, a giant alien starfish that can create mini parasite spores of itself that attach to people’s faces, giving him mental control over them. Batman keeps a dead Starro spore as a keepsake, following this encounter. (Note that a time-traveling Harley Quinn secretly ensures this item goes off without a hitch, although she makes Flash smell like monkey piss and temporarily erases Aquaman from existence.)

–REFERENCE: In Justice League: No Justice #4—originally told in The Brave and The Bold #29. The Justice League encounters and defeats Xotar the Weapons Master. Afterward, they keep his “Eye of Xotar” as a trophy.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1000 Part 5 and Detective Comics #1000 Part 10. 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.

–REFERENCE: In Titans Vol. 3 Annual #1, Superman Vol. 4 #20, Super Sons #5, and Nightwing Vol. 4 #24—originally told in The Brave and The Bold #30. The Justice League defeats the creation of Professor Anthony Ivo, the evil android known as Amazo.

–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #976. The Justice League defeats the debuting Despero.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #999. October 7—Bruce’s birthday. (Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 #10 aka Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 Print Edition #5 specifically says that Batman’s birthday is October 7.) 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.

–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.

–REFERENCE: In Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #1. The Justice League defeats Wonder Woman’s former best friend and now metahuman rival, The Cheetah (Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva).

–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 #12. The Justice League purchases properties in major cities all over the world to use as emergency safe houses. In Gotham, for example, the JL sets-up at least one brownstone apartment building as a safe house.

–REFERENCE: In Super Sons #10 Part 2Mera: Queen of Atlantis #2, Wonder Twins #1, Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 #9, and Flash 2021 Annual #1. Batman and Alfred already use a tiered emergency level priority code system, with “Alpha-One” and “Code Red” being in the top tier. The Justice League now initiates a tiered system as well, but one that uses a mix of greek letters, numbered order, and colors. “Class-One,” “Alpha,” “Omega,” and “Code Red” are designated the highest priority JL alerts. “Code Black” is used for any alien-related emergencies.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Giant #2. Batman fights a group of baddies 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. Batman fights an escaped Clayface.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 1 and Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 #4 (Legends of the Dark KnightVol. 2 Print Edition #2)—originally told in Detective Comics #140. Batman and Robin challenge and best an escaped Riddler, who throws extra large puzzle traps at his foes.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Giant #2. Batman fights an escaped Joker.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #5 Part 5. Batman and Robin begin the practice of doing hours-long meditation sessions (complete with burning incense) after particularly tough patrols.

–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.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1000 Part 11. Batman brutally thrashes an escaped Joker and his clown-henchmen.

–REFERENCE: In Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen Vol. 3 #5. In a further attempt to distance his Bruce Wayne alter ego from that of Batman, Bruce begins to tell jokes while in 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 Batman: The Detective #4. Batman continues subterfuge in an effort to distance himself from Bruce Wayne as much as possible. Not only does Batman stage a fake rescue of Bruce, he doctors photos of Batman and Bruce together, leaking them to the press. While not noted on our timeline ahead, Batman will sometimes leak stories of Bruce being saved by Batman.

–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 acquaintances with him in order to keep up his own socialite appearances, moving forward.

–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #24. Batman assigns Robin ongoing homework to read the criminal records and info sheets for all masked super-villains, even crooks that neither he nor Batman have met before. Both Bruce and Dick will do this practice for the remainder of their crime-fighting careers, constantly keeping up to date on all things in the hero-villain community, whether it affects them directly or not. Batman also teaches Robin how to turn any object within reach into a weapon, encouraging him to continue training himself in this regard, moving forward.

–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 the detestable Penguin. Their paths will cross many times over the course of the next decade, but Penguin will have no idea that Bruce and Batman are one and the same.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #1 Part 2—and referenced in Harley Quinn Vol. 4 #31. Batman duels an escaped Riddler atop Gotham’s famous giant typewriter. This JH Williams flashback scene is meant to be a generic nod to the Golden Age, specifically paying tribute to Dick Sprang (although its curiously drawn in the style of Paul Pope). However, while there were indeed a few giant typewriters in Batman’s past (mostly in the Golden Age), the only time Riddler engaged with a giant typewriter was in the Modern Age’s Run Riddler Run #3 and the Justice League Action cartoon. In any case, we can take this item as a unique Golden Age-inspired flashback. The editorial note from Harley Quinn Vol. 4 #31 makes even more reference to the Golden Age, saying, “As seen in countless Batman stories since 1949!” We could take this to mean that Batman has several adventures with the giant typewriter on the Infinite Frontier timeline, but since it’s a cheeky reference, I’m more than content leaving this single item here.

–FLASHBACK: From Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Spectacular Part 4. Batman tells Robin a series of important crime-fighting mantras to keep in mind while in the field.

–FLASHBACK: In Batman: Three Jokers #3. Joker captures Robin, but Batman is able to rescue his sidekick.

–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 Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 #4 (Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 Print Edition #2). While chasing after an escaped Riddler, Robin solves the Riddler’s clue-riddle, which points the Dynamic Duo in his direction. Robin loves solving Riddler’s riddles, and he always will.

–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 an escaped Scarecrow. I’ve combined these two flashbacks since they are fairly generic images of Batman punching out Scarecrow in his early days.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #1 Part 2. Batman fights Penguin.

–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 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 Bane: Conquest #10—originally told in Batman #14. Batman and Robin investigate the mysterious shooting death of super-sleuth Dana Drye, proving that her murder was actually a suicide. Afterward, Batman and Robin put Drye’s diary in their Hall of Trophies.

–REFERENCE: In Deathstroke Vol. 4 #32 and Batman: One Bad Day – Mr. Freeze #1. Batman begins going undercover as mobster “Matches Malone.” Bear in mind, Matches Malone was an actual smalltime gangster, who has recently died. As such, there’s probably a surfeit of undercover work done by Batman to bolster the underworld reputation of “Matches.” We will 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.

–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Detective Comics #1052. As Matches Malone, Batman begins frequenting Penguin’s Iceberg Lounge. While we won’t see most of these visits, Matches will be a regular for years to come.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #79. Catwoman steals the Coner Diamond from the Gotham Museum, but Batman steals it back.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Urban Legends #20 Part 4. Keeping up playboy appearances, Bruce goes on a cruise to Belize with his friend Colin Fitzroy.

–FLASHBACK: From Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7. Batman and Robin take down Joker and his henchmen.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #20. Batman and Robin go on an unspecified case and obtain a giant 8-ball as a trophy for the Batcave.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #20—originally told in Batman #50 Part 2. Batman and Robin bust a crook pretending to be Two-Face, after which they keep a giant bust of Two-Face’s head as a trophy for the Batcave. Batman and Robin also obtain a matching giant bust of Joker’s head as well. It’s unclear if the Joker bust is connected to the Two-Face bust. It’s also unclear if the Dynamic Duo goes up against Joker or a fake Joker to win this second bust. Nevertheless, Batman and Robin put both statues on display next to each other (and next to the giant 8-ball) in the Batcave. Note that the 8-ball and giant busts are a direct nod to Dick Sprang’s Secrets of the Batcave lithograph (1995).

–FLASHBACK: From Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #20. Slightly dinged up from patrol, Batman hangs out with Alfred and a joyous Robin in the Batcave.

–Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #5 Part 4
Winter. Batman and Commissioner Gordon work the murder case of Rudy Barnett, founder of a group called the Angels of Gotham, who stand vigil in places where unsolved murders occurred or where justice has not been brought to the victims. Batman learns that the woman for whom Rudy was standing vigil, Mandy Mercer, worked as a waitress at the Iceberg Lounge where she was assaulted by a bouncer. Batman pays Penguin a visit, but Penguin reveals that the bouncer is already dead (and thus couldn’t have killed Mandy). Near to the scene of Rudy’s death, Batman is approached by an unhoused man, who saw the murder. Soon, Batman finds DNA that leads to the killer, a random guy that was tripping on drugs and didn’t even realize what he was doing at the time. Bruce attends Rudy’s funeral.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1. Batman tells Robin that Santa Claus is real and that he trained with him before. Dick doesn’t believe Batman and thinks he’s only joking.

–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 was 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.

________________________________________________________________________________________

YEAR THREE (2004)
_____________________________________________________________________________

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #50. Catwoman debuts a new purple-and-green caped-dress costume. Amidst a bunch of cats purring at their ankles, Catwoman and Batman kiss.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #143. Dick begins forcing Bruce to watch zombie movies. While we won’t see it on our timeline, Bruce will have to endure a lot of zombie flicks.

–REFERENCE: In Batman and Robin Vol. 3 2024 Annual #1. Batman hunts down an arms dealer in the small Eastern European nation of Markovia. For the first time ever, the Batplane is shot down, forcing Batman to crash into the woods. Batman makes a swinging log trap to take out a bunch of militiamen, who want to strip the Batplane for parts. Presumably, Batman busts the arms dealer for whom he was originally searching. Lucius Fox is furious when Batman returns to Gotham with the Batplane wreckage.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3. January. As he does every month, Joker sends an evil “birthday” present to Batman. This time, it is an odd birthday card that is seemingly co-signed by Penguin. Batman puzzles over the nonsensical card.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 1. Batman and Robin confront Catwoman at a circus.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #44—originally told in Batman #62. Batman and Robin go after Catwoman (wearing her purple-and-green caped-dress costume). She shows her callous evil side to the Boy Wonder, evading capture. Soon afterward, the Dynamic Duo finds themselves chasing after Catwoman again. This time, however, she shows a completely different side of her persona, initially eluding the Dynamic Duo but then backtracking to save the Dark Knight’s life from a collapsing building. During the implosion Catwoman is knocked unconscious. When she comes-to, Catwoman vows to leave her criminal days behind. Convinced, Batman lets her go free. Selina winds up opening a pet shop in Gotham.

–REFERENCE: In Punchline #1. Joker briefly takes control of Arkham Asylum, demanding that Batman commit himself. Batman puts an end to Joker’s game.

–REFERENCE: In Fire and Ice: Welcome to Smallville #2—originally told in Batman #69. Batman and Robin defeat the King of Cats (Drew Dworkin). In earlier continuities, the King of Cats was Selina Kyle’s brother, but that doesn’t appear to be the case now.

–FLASHBACK: From the second feature to Nightwing Vol. 4 #102. Batman and Robin survey the scene of a murder mystery. Batman coaches the Boy Wonder to look closer at the details. Regarding investigations in general, Batman shows his distrust of humanity, telling Robin to “believe no one” under any circumstances.

–REFERENCE: In Batgirl & The Birds of Prey #12, Nightwing Vol. 4 #30, Batman: Urban Legends #4 Part 3, and Batman: One Dark Night #1. Batman deals with more of Gotham’s Italian mafia families, including members of the Bertinelli Mob (led by Alfredo Bertinelli, Franco Bertinelli, and Maria Panessa-Bertinelli), Galante Mob (led by Junior Galante and Henry Aquista), Cassamento Mob (led by Santo Cassamento), Beretti Mob (led by Angelo Beretti and his Z-Boys Gang), Inzerillo Mob, and Panessa Mob. As he takes out various mobsters, Batman impresses young Helena Bertinelli, who will be inspired to become a superhero one day. (Note that Helena’s biological father is Santo Cassamento, but she has been and will continue to be raised by her legal guardian Franco Bertinelli.)

–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 2021 Annual. Bruce, Dick, and Alfred pose for a photo.

–REFERENCE: In Superman vs Lobo #1.[13] Batman teaches Superman everything he knows about detective work, but tailoring things to Superman’s power set. For example, the Dark Knight tells Superman to examine heart rates and body temperatures during interrogations.

–REFERENCE: In Green Arrow 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 Part 2. Batman begins regularly training with Wildcat (Ted Grant) at the latter’s boxing gym in Brooklyn. While we won’t see it on our timeline ahead, Batman will spar with Ted regularly.

–REFERENCE: In Punchline: The Gotham Game #4. Penguin kidnaps Robin, trapping him inside a giant egg. Batman rescues Robin.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1. Penguin kidnaps Robin yet again, holding him hostage in a Metropolis warehouse. This prompts Batman to call Superman for assistance. Superman enters the warehouse to find that Penguin has allied himself (thanks to Lex Luthor) with the Weaponers of Qward. (The Weaponers are a military force from Qward, a planetary system of Universe-3 aka the Anti-Matter Universe.) While Superman takes down some Thunderers (elite Weaponers that wield literal bolts of lightning), Batman downs Penguin and rescues Robin. Batman tells Penguin he’ll go to Blackgate Penitentiary because he’s not insane enough to go to Arkham Asylum. (It’s unknown whether or not charges stick here, but suffice to say, Penguin is definitely insane enough for Arkham.)

–FLASHBACK: From Red Hood and The Outlaws Vol. 2 #23. Batman takes on Riddler and his goons. Career henchman Willis Todd, while working for the Riddler, fights Batman, resulting in him getting a bat-shaped scar on his arm. Later, Willis shows his young son, Jason Todd, the scar. Not long afterward, Willis takes the fall for Penguin, earning a long jail sentence. Jason avoids child protective services by going on the lam and living on the streets.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #6 Part 5. Batman fights Joker.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #6 Part 2. Kirk Langstrom, as he often does, once again loses control, becoming Man-Bat. Batman fights Man-Bat in a very public confrontation.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Giant #6 (Batman: Universe #2).  Batman goes on an unspecified mission and collects a full-face armored metal helmet as a trophy, which he displays in the Batcave.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: One Bad Day – Bane #1—and referenced in Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #3, Deathstroke Vol. 4 #30Batman: Urban Legends #7 Part 1, Joker Vol. 2 #9, and Joker Vol. 2 #15. Originally told in “VENOM” (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #16-20). Feeling inadequate after being unable to save a girl from kidnappers, Batman begins taking the performance-enhancement drug known as Venom—created by disgraced former US Army scientists Timothy Slaycroft and Dr. Randolph Porter. (Dr. Porter is also the father of the girl Batman had failed to save.) Venom, a derivative of Hourman’s Miraclo that Bane will pump into his veins years later, is manufactured primarily on the Caribbean Island nation of Santa Prisca in conjunction with their corrupt dictatorial junta and US military official Dr. Friedrich Baum, who is a secret member of the global cabal known as The Network. Batman becomes aware of the Network, but only through rumor. (Moving forward, he will brush up against the edges of the Network from time-to-time, but never directly encounter the organization.) On Venom, which is given to him directly by Dr. Porter, Batman quickly becomes a hulked-up drug abuser, which leads to Alfred resigning from his post. After a couple weeks of nonstop Venom dosing for patrols, the heavily-addicted Batman burns-out and breaks-down. In tears, he calls Alfred and convinces him to come home. With Alfred’s support, Batman quarantines himself in the Batcave and quits cold-turkey. When Dr. Porter conspires with Slaycroft to blackmail the druggie Batman, the Dark Knight chases them out of the country but realizes he’s become everything he hates. Alfred returns to help Batman clean-up and quit Venom cold turkey. Soon afterward, in Santa Prisca, a drug-free Batman kicks ass and defeats Slaycroft and Dr. Porter, shutting down the latter’s unsavory super-soldier experimentation program. Dr. Porter fakes his own death and goes into hiding.

–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #976 and The Green Lantern #3—originally told in Justice League of America #3. The Justice League fights the debuting Kanjar Ro, a vile Dhorian super-villain that wields the powerful Gamma Metal Gong, which he uses to place all of humanity into suspended animation. Kanjar Ro forces the Justice League to challenge and defeat his evil alien rivals—HyathisKromm, and Sayyar. Eventually, the Justice Leaguers turn the tide at the far end of the universe and take all four tyrants captive, freeing the people of Earth simultaneously.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #975—originally told in Batman #75. George “Boss” Dyke is executed by the state, after which a scientist in his employ revives his brain and transplants it into the body of a giant gorilla. Dyke, now going by “Gorilla Boss,” terrorizes Gotham, but is eventually defeated and jailed by Batman.

–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn: Villain of the Year #1 and Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #10 Part 3—originally told in Batman #81 Part 2. Batman and Robin best Mr. Camera, a caped super-villain that wears a goofy box-shaped camera helmet with a giant lens faceplate.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #968, DC Talent Showcase 2018 #1 Part 1, Detective Comics #1002, and Batman Giant #6 (Batman: Universe #2). Batman links a majority of his Bat-vehicles into the Bat-computer network, thus making them able to be remote-controlled (among many other things). Only a handful of fighter jets remain “analog.” Most of the networked vehicles can also be voice-activated, and all can be viewed on the Bat-computer via remote camera (although Batman will often shut off this feature, along with comms, when out and about). Notably, Commissioner Gordon is added as an authorized user. Furthermore, Batman constructs an ultra-magnetic collar, which he links to several of the newly-networked vehicles. This ultra-magnetic collar goes into his utility belt. Also, Batman programs a hyper-realistic 3D virtual reality version of the Batcave that can be accessed and interfaced-with from the networked vehicles. Using this tech, Batman can “access the Batcave” remotely.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3. April. Joker orchestrates a downtown parade for Batman’s monthly “birthday” gift. Batman flies-in on the Batplane and takes care of business. (At first glance, this parade looks like it’s meant to be a version of Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman film, but it’s not—because we’ll see that parade a little bit later in the very same issue.)

–REFERENCE: In Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #10 Part 3—originally told in Batman #90 Part 3. One-shot baseball-themed superhero Batboy (Midge Merrill) helps the Dynamic Duo bring down some gangsters.

–REFERENCE: In Strange Adventures Vol. 5 #1—originally told in Mystery in Space #75.[14] Kanjar Ro travels to the planet Rann to challenge human space adventurer Adam Strange, Strange’s girlfriend Alanna, and Alanna’s father Sardath. (Adam Strange is the champion of the planet Rann. He is able to travel back and forth between Earth and Rann via bizarre Zeta-Beam technology that only he has mastered.) The Justice League intervenes on Rann, helping Adam Strange bust the Dhorian despot. During this fight, Adam Strange saves Batman’s life. Note that Adam Strange and Batman will team-up on several occasions moving forward, but we’ll simply have to imagine these team-ups on our chronology.

–REFERENCE: In Doomsday Clock #6Adventures of the Super Sons #1, Batman: Urban Legends #18 Part 4, and Knight Terrors: Robin #1—originally told in Justice League of America #5. The Justice League defeats The Getaway Master (Monty Moran), Captain Cold (Leonard Snart), Professor Menace, Clock King (William Tockman), Puppet Master (Jordan Weir), Electric Man, and Dr. Destiny (John Dee). (Unknown to all, Puppet Master is actually a secret agent working for the Department of Metahuman Affairs.) Note that Dr. Destiny has the power to control dreams by wielding the Dreamstone, an artifact that is a part of and which belongs to Morpheus aka The Sandman aka Dream of the Endless. Dr. Destiny refers to the Dreamstone as the “Materioptikon.” Following this case, Batman does extensive research on how to recognize whether or not one is in a dreamscape. This research gets attached to Dr. Destiny’s file in the JL computer database.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #7—originally told in Flash #123 (“THE FLASH OF TWO WORLDS”). Flash (Barry Allen) harnesses his ability to vibrate across the Bleed into alternate universes, meeting his counterpart Earth-2 Flash counterpart Jay Garrick. (The Bleed is a tesseract space that serves as the blank void/highway between universes. The term “Bleed” was first coined in 1999 by Warren Ellis in Planetary #1 and The Authority #1.) Flash reports of this momentous interdimensional occurrence to Batman.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 1. Batman and Robin fight Penguin, who unleashes an arsenal of new deadly trick umbrellas upon the pair.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Gotham Nights Vol. 3 #10. Alfred tells Bruce about trips hunting cape buffalo in Central Africa during his youth.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Giant Vol. 2 #5 Part 1 (Batman: Gotham Nights Vol. 3 #7). Wanting to be taken more seriously, Killer Moth burns down his own clubhouse. The super-villain challenges Batman on the roofs of Gotham where Batman busts him.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Three Jokers #1—originally told in Batman #113 Part 2. Bruce and Dick watch a live variety show headlined by Kelani “Fatman” Apaka, a heavyset comedian that wears a Bat-costume and lampoons the Dark Knight. Later, Batman and Robin team-up with Fatman to shut down the returning Red Hood Gang. Note that, in the original story, the villains were the “Red Mask Gang,” but this is clearly a clever retcon by writer Geoff Johns, linking the Red Hood Gang to this item.

–FLASHBACK: From Justice League Vol. 4 #53 and Justice League Vol. 4 #57. Robin, as he often does, secretly follows Batman, trailing him to Justice League HQ. From the shadows, young Robin is awestruck at seeing the team assembled together.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #8 and Detective Comics #1076—originally told in Batman #125. Batman and Robin get a dog, naming it Ace aka Ace the Bat-Hound. Bruce and Dick hang out and play with their new pet. While we won’t see it much on our timeline ahead, the dog will sometimes patrol with the Dynamic Duo.

–REFERENCE: In The Green Lantern #1—originally told in Batman #128. Batman and Robin stumble upon an alien conflict in the outskirts of Gotham. They watch as one being is mobbed by a large group of crustacean-like aliens. Choosing to help the outnumbered party, Batman and Robin are bested and teleported to an intergalactic prison light years away on the penal moon of Ergon. The Dynamic Duo was too hasty in their discernment and had aided a wanted pirate named Kraak against the Ergonian Space Police. Batman and Robin are soon released from jail, after which they bust Kraak on a nearby asteroid.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #14. Batman and Superman go on an unspecified adventure in which Superman utilizes his cadre of subservient Superman Robots. Superman will use his robots on occasion, moving forward.

–FLASHBACK: From Titans Vol. 3 #19. Batman and Robin go on an unspecified mission with the Justice League, after which Batman formally introduces the Boy Wonder to the team. Afterward, Batman tells Robin that, when he grows up, he will one day lead the JL.

–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #33. While on an unspecified Justice League mission, Flash becomes nervous and loses his cool. Batman, hoping to motivate his friend, shouts, “Just run faster!” Sure enough, Flash is inspired and regains his sangfroid, helping to save the day. From this point onward, Batman will often say this “just run faster” line to Flash to pump him up.

–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 #8. Batman helps Superman defeat his arch-rival, the 5th Dimensional imp Mr. Mxyzptlk.[15]

–REFERENCE: In Red Hood and The Outlaws Vol. 2 #20 and Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #22—originally told in Detective Comics #259. Batman fights the debuting Calendar Man (Julian Day), who strikes first at a garden show, dressed in a flowery “spring” costume. The next day, Calendar Man, dressed in a “summer” hazmat suit, attacks a swimsuit contest. On day three, Calendar Man bests Batman with an autumn-themed wind-blower assault. On day four, Calendar Man dresses up like a snowman for a “winter” blitz on the Dynamic Duo. Finally, Batman and Robin bust Calendar Man in his maharajah gimmick, foiling his “monsoon season” strike.

–REFERENCE: In Batwoman Vol. 3 #6 and Green Arrow Vol. 6 #29. Batman meets and befriends GCPD Detectives Harvey Bullock and Renee Montoya.

–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 Super Sons #6—originally told in World’s Finest Comics #101. Batman and Superman defeat Atom-Master.

–REFERENCE: In Adventures of the Super Sons #8. Batman defeats the debuting Catman.

–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #38 and Batman Vol. 3 Annual #4. Batman tailors and dons a zebra-striped costume in order to defeat the debuting Zebra Man (also known as “Vortex”).

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3. September. For his monthly “birthday” present to Batman, an escaped Joker kidnaps a bus full of children. Batman saves the kids.

–FLASHFORWARD: From Detective Comics #1000 Part 9. Batman and Robin patrol, punching-out a dude at a casino.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1000 Part 5 and Detective Comics #1000 Part 10. September 21. Batman, as he does every year on the anniversary of his parents’ murders, visits both Crime Alley (where his parents were killed) and the cemetery where his parents are buried.

–REFERENCE: In The Green Lantern #9—originally told in World’s Finest Comics #124. Batman, Robin, and Superman fight three green humanoid aliens thieves from the planet Durim (Hroguth, Sklur, and Hansh), who get the better of them. Later, the heroes meet a fourth Durimian, the teen superhero Logi, who is accompanied by his pet, a lobster/horse hybrid monster called Quisto. Batman, Superman, Robin, Logi, and Quisto defeat Hroguth, Sklur, and Hansh. You really just can’t make this stuff up!

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #999. October 7—Bruce’s birthday. As he did last year on his birthday, Batman runs Program 2.1, placing himself into a virtual world that challenges him by pushing him to his most extreme limits. Batman will continue to run Program 2.1 on his birthday every year, moving forward.

–REFERENCE: In The Green Lantern #3—originally told in World’s Finest Comics #127Zerno the Sorcerer, a warlock from the planet Y’Bar, attacks Gotham with his Gzann familiar. (A Gzann is a crab-slug hybrid monster.) Batman, Robin, and Superman fight Zerno, his Gzann, his mind-controlled sidekick Sborg, and several other equally bizarre alien creatures in a solid defense of the city (and planet).

–REFERENCE: In The Green Lantern #1—originally told in World’s Finest Comics #150. Batman and Superman take on Rokk and Sorban, aliens from the gambling planet of Ventura. With Batman captured, Superman agrees to enter into a high-stakes cosmic casino challenge that will decide Batman’s fate. Superman wins a game of Planetary System Roulette, in which the competitors maneuver actual planets into suns, earning Batman’s freedom.

–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Casting #1. Batman outfits one of his Batplanes with a metal extending arm that can grip things via a claw at its end. This silly-looking thing seems to be a nod to Superman’s Supermobile, a jet that has a metal extending arm with a fist at the end of it.

–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Mother Panic #1, the second feature to Mother Panic #5, and the second feature to Mother Panic #7—originally told in LOTDK #156-158 and LOTDK #164-167. Batman meets and saves the life of Lee Hyland (Blink), a metahuman conman who is completely blind, but can see through the eyes of any animal or person he touches. Shortly thereafter, despite Blink using his powers to steal from people’s bank accounts, Batman saves the villain’s life a second time. Afterward, Batman lets Blink go, encouraging him to use his powers for good. Blink promises to do so.

–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 #9. During an unspecified Justice League mission, Flash takes hold of Batman and uses his powers to vibrate them through a wall. Batman does not like the experience and lets Flash know. While we won’t see every instance of this practice moving forward on our timeline, Flash will use this move in conjunction with Batman multiple times in the future, much to his chagrin.

–REFERENCE: In Deathstroke Vol. 4 #22. The Justice League defeats the debuting Dr. Light (Dr. Arthur Light).

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #54. Batman goes on an unspecified mission and then adds another commemorative plaque to his trophy wall. This one features a ghoulish white hood or shroud. I’m sure this is a reference to a specific story, but I’m not sure which one.

–FLASHBACK: From the second feature to Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #17—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #42. Batman chats with Joker’s primary Arkham Asylum psychiatrist, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, who has been Joker’s therapist ever since his debut. This flashback is just a single image from a title splash page attached to this second feature.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: One Bad Day – Mr. Freeze #1. Batman and Alfred build the Sun Suit, a highly experimental flame-based Bat-costume.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: One Bad Day – Mr. Freeze #1. Batman busts the debuting serial killer known as The Meek, sending him to Arkham Asylum.

–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #17, Harley Quinn 25th Anniversary Special #1 Part 4, and Batman Vol. 3 #42. Joker’s therapist Dr. Harleen Quinzel, having fallen in love with the super-villain, breaks her “Puddin” out of Arkham Asylum, becoming his girlfriend and sidekick Harley Quinn. Batman busts Joker and Harley, who will remain on-and-off partners for years to come. Note that Harley, one of DC’s quirkiest and most over-the-top characters, seemingly has a preternatural awareness that she exists inside a comic book. Of course, unlike most others, Harley’s uniquely-wired brain can more than handle the weight of this knowledge.

–Batman: Urban Legends #23 Part 2
Firefly injures Batman, prompting Robin to rescue him and take the wheel of the Batmobile. Despite reservations, Batman decides to trust the Boy Wonder, allowing him to drive wildly, which ultimately results in the defeat of Firefly.

–Batman: One Bad Day – Mr. Freeze #1
December 20-25. As snow falls over Gotham, Batman and Robin bust an escaped Meek. In the Batcave, the Dynamic Duo join Alfred to decorate a Christmas tree (made out of Batarangs and topped with a dead Starro spore)! Bruce takes note that Killer Croc and Mr. Freeze are both currently at large, but at Robin’s urging, he decides to focus on the latter, citing with empathy that maybe they can rehabilitate him. Batman does some research and rents a special LexCorp lab for Mr. Freeze, with plans of letting him do research into the cryogenically frozen Nora Fries’ condition. After hobnobbing with hoods at a seedy bar (and singing Xmas karaoke!) as Matches Malone, Batman learns that Mr. Freeze is planning to rob an armored car. Sure enough, later that night, Mr. Freeze (along with his new sidekick Frostbite) strikes. Batman and Robin stop Mr. Freeze, telling him about the second chance they are willing to give him. (This is Robin’s first ever meeting with Mr. Freeze, who is surprised to learn that the Boy Wonder isn’t a myth.) Agreeing to his new lease on life, Mr. Freeze is escorted to his new lab by the Dynamic Duo. While Mr. Freeze toils in the lab, Batman and Robin (undercover as a Salvation Army Santa Claus and an elf) patrol the streets. In between patrols, Bruce and Dick watch security camera footage of Mr. Freeze at work. Despite making progress, Mr. Freeze flips out and destroys the lab in a wild rage. While Alfred and Robin winterize the Batmobile, Batman visits on of Nora’s old friends, who reveals that Victor kept all her friends away when she got sick and also that she had a living will that said specifically not to cryogenically freeze her. After a ride in the newly winterized Batmobile, Batman (in the Sun Suit) and Robin confront and battle Mr. Freeze. As Mr. Freeze duels Robin, the villain reveals that he actually likes his relationship with Nora better now that she is frozen. Robin knocks Mr. Freeze through the floor, which allows Batman to finish him off for good. Before being shipped off to Blackgate Penitentiary, Mr. Freeze tells Robin that he wasn’t able to find a cure for Nora, but he did make a big new scientific breakthrough about cryogenics while working in the lab. Mr. Freeze has found a way to keep vaccines and medicines cold for long periods of time without refrigeration. After Nora goes into protected cryo-storage at the Wayne Enterprises Science Division lab, Dick emails Mr. Freeze’s new discovery to Lucius Fox with hopes that it can be used freely across the globe. Bruce, Dick, Alfred, and Ace the Bathound celebrate a happy Xmas together. A Batman-less New Year’s Day epilogue reveals that Mr. Freeze’s new discovery has been shared (anonymously) with the world, free and open source, distributed by Wayne Enterprises.

–REFERENCE: In Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Spectacular Part 1. Now that Robin has outgrown his Robin costume, he gets a new one that better fits him. Batman puts his old costume on display in the Batcave. Batman will retire Robins old costumes to display cases as he outgrows them, moving forward.

________________________________________________________________________________________

YEAR FOUR (2005)
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–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1076—and referenced in Batman: Prelude to the Wedding Part 2 – Nightwing vs Hush #1. Someone snaps a picture of Bruce and Dick at a black tie event. Bruce gets the picture, frames it, and puts it in one of the Wayne Manor living rooms. Detective Comics #1076 and Batman: Prelude to the Wedding Part 2 – Nightwing vs Hush #1 are completely separate items, but both occur at a fairly generic black tie event. As such, I’ve combined them.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3. January. For Batman’s monthly “birthday” gift, an escaped Joker kidnaps Crazy Quilt and delivers him to Batman along with a cake.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Urban Legends #17 Part 1. Superman reveals his secret ID to Lois Lane, although she likely already knew. Lois and Clark begin dating. Soon after, Superman reveals Batman’s secret ID to Lois. Bruce begins going on double dates with Lois and Clark. We’ll have to imagine random double dates (with Bruce taking random dates) on our timeline ahead for years to come.

–FLASHBACK: From Justice League of America Vol. 5 #22. Batman designs and builds the dual-seated Batmobile convertible (the one from Batman ’66). The Dynamic Duo takes it out for a spin.

–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. Batman deals/interacts with the US Government’s primary organization that deals with metahuman, superhero, and super-villain affairs: the DEO (the Department of Extranormal Operations).

–FLASHBACK: From Batman vs Robin#2—and referenced in Flash Vol. 5 #21 and Justice League Dark Vol. 2 #8. Originally told in Justice League of America #10. The Justice League faces off against the debuting Epoch aka The Lord of Time. During this battle, the immortal occult-villain Felix Faust manipulates the heroes into obtaining a few magickal artifacts—the Red Jar of Calythos, the Silver Wheel of Nyorlath, and the Green Bell of Uthool—for him. Once gathered, Faust uses these items to summon the extremely powerful Demons Three (AbnegazarRath, and Ghast). Eventually, the JL defeats Faust, Epoch, and the demons. Afterward, they put the artifacts, which hold the Demons Three, into the Trophy Room. Hal Jordan calls the Trophy Room the “Hall of Lost and Found.”

–FLASHBACK: From Green Arrow Vol. 7 #7—and referenced in Green Arrow Vol. 6 #25 and Green Arrow Vol. 6 #29. Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) joins the Justice League. Although, unlike other recruits, he won’t make very strong connections with anyone else on the team, often acting as an uncertain ally of sorts. Upon learning each other’s secret identities, Green Arrow and Batman fail to connect despite both being mega-rich playboys in their alter-egos. Batman already thinks of Green Arrow as a discount version of himself, with his Arrow Cave and Arrow Car. Batman and Green Arrow just don’t get along very well, nor will they in the future. (As mentioned above, this negative relationship between Batman and Green Arrow is the same in the New 52, but decidedly different from the Silver and Modern Ages where Batman and Green Arrow were close friends.)

–FLASHBACK: From Green Arrow 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 Part 7. Green Arrow introduces his young sidekick Speedy (Roy Harper) to the Justice League and Robin.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #6 Part 5 and Batman: One Bad Day – Two Face #1. Batman and Robin fight Two-Face. These are three image references of Two-Face (one from B&W and two from One Bad Day), which I’ve merged into one item.

–REFERENCE: In Flash 2021 Annual #1. Having become fast friends with Speedy, Robin tries to impress him by taking the Batmobile for a joyride. Of course, Batman finds out and flips his lid, scaring young Speedy half to death in the process.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Three Jokers #1 and Batman: Urban Legends #17 Part 2. Batman goes on an unspecified case, earning a giant 8-ball as a trophy.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #93. Batman fights Joker and Harley Quinn. Joker tells Batman that he (Batman) is the funniest person he knows.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3. March. For Batman’s monthly “birthday” present, Joker sends a crudely drawn picture of himself and Batman with the words “Best Friends” written on it. Alfred hates this.

–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Forge #1, Dark Nights: Metal #1, and Batman: Urban Legends #17 Part 2. Hawkman (Carter Hall/Katar Hol) joins the Justice League. The JL also meets his wife and crime-fighting partner Hawkgirl (Shiera Sanders Hall/Shayera Hol). Both Carter and Shiera are also members of the Justice Society of America, which has existed since the 20th century. (Carter will now be on both the JL and JSA while Shiera will be a part time JL member.) Both Carter and Shiera are immortal, having existed in some form for thousands of years, constantly reincarnated as different champions of justice. Their current incarnations—Thanagarian-styled soldiers—are simply the latest in a long line of Hawk-related warrior gimmicks. (Hawkman himself is around 140-years-old at this point.) Unlike many of the other heroes, Hawkman and Hawkgirl won’t share their secret IDs or history with the hero community. Batman also learns about the mysterious Nth Metal, a cosmic ore that gives power to Hawkman and Hawkgirl. [16]

–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 5 #5. The Justice League meets and works with The Atom (Professor Ray Palmer). He also officially joins the JL.

–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 5 #5, Suicide Squad Vol. 5 #18, and Suicide Squad Vol. 5 #21-23. Batman (and possibly the Justice League) defeat Eclipso, an evil supernatural force that inhabits the body of Dr. Bruce Gordon (no relation to the Gordons of Gotham). (As referenced in Justice League Incarnate #5, Eclipso is an agent of the Great Darkness.)

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3. For Batman’s monthly “birthday” gift, Joker orchestrates the demolition of an entire city block.

–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 5 #5 and Deathstroke Inc #2-3. The Justice League meets and works with Black Canary (Dinah Drake), daughter of the original Black Canary (Dinah Lance). The younger Black Canary officially joins the JL.

–FLASHBACK: From Dark Crisis #1—and referenced in Flash Vol. 5 #21-22, Doomsday Clock #2, Doomsday Clock #7, Dark Nights: Death Metal #2, Stargirl: Spring Break Special #1, Deathstroke Inc #2-3, and World’s Finest: Teen Titans #1. Originally told in Justice League of America #21-22. The Justice League meets and teams-up with superheroes from an earlier generation—members of the Justice Society of America, including Green Lantern Alan Scott, Wildcat (Ted Grant), Dr. Fate (Kent Nelson), Flash (Jay Garrick), Hourman (Rex Tyler), Dr. Mid-Nite (Charles McNider), Atom (Al Pratt), Starman (Ted Knight), Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Black Canary (Dinah Lance), Johnny Thunder, Yz, Star-Spangled Kid (Sylvester Pemberton), and Power Girl (Kara Zor-L/Karen Starr). (Most of these 20th century heroes, including the two youngest team members Star-Spangled Kid and Power Girl, have been endowed with extended youth via magick. Power Girl is a Kryptonian and resident of Earth-2. Also, in case you didn’t know, Dr. Fate is linked to the immortal demigod known as Nabu, who is a charter member of the cosmic Lords of Order. The Lords of Order are, naturally, enemies of the Lords of Chaos.) The JL and JSA go up against the one-shot threat of The Crime Champions (Chronos, Dr. Alchemy, Felix Faust, The Fiddler, Icicle, and The Wizard). The JL also visits Valhalla Cemetery, a final resting place for superheroes that have fallen in battle. The cemetery is located in a high-security, magickally-protected underground bunker in Washington DC. Following this affair, the costumes of Hourman and Wildcat go into the JL Trophy Room. Notably, this event is the first of its kind to publicly garner the “Crisis” tagline. Moving forward, “Crisis” will get applied to several major cosmic kerfuffles that involve alternate universes, the first of which will be the highly important “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” While the JL/JSA team up versus the Crime Champions doesn’t rank as an official Crisis, it is a precursor.

–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. The Justice League defeats Matter Master and keeps his wand as a trophy for the “Hall of Lost and Found.”

–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 5 #20—originally told in Detective Comics #50. Batman and Robin defeat the acrobatic super-villain team known as The Three Devils.

–REFERENCE: In Deathstroke Inc #9—originally told in Detective Comics #77. Batman and Robin deal with the Crime Doctor (Dr. Bradford Thorne aka Matthew Thorne), an underground surgeon for injured mobsters.

–REFERENCE: In Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1 Part 1—originally told in Detective Comics #81. Batman and Robin defeat the debuting Cavalier II (Mortimer Drake), a copycat of the original Cavalier (Hudson Pyle).

–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn Vol. 4 #29—originally told in Detective Comics #107. Batman and Robin have already faced off against a handful of evil cults that have tried to kill them, but they haven’t dealt with a cult specifically trying to ritualistically sacrifice them until now. Bugs Scarpis aka Scorpio hypnotizes wealthy bankers into joining his cult in order to embezzle money from their firms. After hypnotizing Robin and nearly getting him to kill himself, Scorpio is busted by Batman, who rescues the Boy Wonder and shuts down the cult. Note that in Harley Quinn Vol. 4 #29, which occurs in 2022, Batman implies that many cults have tried to sacrifice he and Robin over the years. While we will see a lot of cult action on our timeline ahead, there won’t be much in the way of specific attempts to ritualistically sacrifice the Dynamic Duo. There were a some instances in previous continuities, but it’s unclear which of those occurrences are canon now. As such, we’ll have to imagine most of these items sprinkled throughout our timeline ahead. I’ve included this reference to Detective Comics #107 since it is the first time in the comics that a cult tried to use either Batman or Robin as a victim of sacrifice.[17]

–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #38 and Year of the Villain: The Riddler #1. Batman and Robin bust pharaoh-themed super-villain King Tut. While we will rarely ever see King Tut on our chronology, Year of the Villain: The Riddler #1 tells us that King Tut will often challenge Batman, but the Dark Knight will usually ignore his threats. Thus, while they won’t have much interaction, moving forward on our timeline, we should imagine Batman shaking his damn head at a lot of King Tut notes left for him at the police station.

–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #29. Batman leaves on unspecified business, putting Robin in charge of protecting Gotham while he is gone. Before leaving, Batman jokingly says, “Keep the lights on until I get back.” Moving forward on our timeline, Batman will similarly leave Robin in charge of protecting Gotham every once in a while, and each time Batman will deliver that very same line.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics Annual #2 (2019). Batman busts Eraser, a man that looks like a pencil and has the power to literally erase people from existence.

–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 #23 and Nightwing Vol. 4 #31. Batman and Robin defeat the massively powerful but mindless Blockbuster (Mark Desmond), who is controlled by his devious brother Roland Desmond.

–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Nightwing Vol. 4 #106-108—originally told in Detective Comics #154. When prison inmates begin escaping through an “underground railroad of crime,” Batman and Robin expose and bust its ringleader, a crook named Hatch Marlin.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #37 and Justice League Vol. 4 #19. Bat-Mite, a magickal imp from the 5th Dimension (where Mr. Mxyzptlk comes from), very publicly bothers and pranks the Dynamic Duo while they are on an unspecified case. Bat-Mite adores Batman and even wears a mini Bat-costume. Eventually, the annoying Bat-Mite poofs back to his home realm.

–REFERENCE: In The Green Lantern #9—originally told in World’s Finest Comics #163. Batman and Superman are whisked away to a distant planet known as The World of Wonders by the alien Jemphis, who hosts an annual intergalactic superhero convention. There, Jemphis forces Batman to fight a de-powered Superman in a series of public arena battles. Batman and Superman eventually team-up with other abducted superheroes from the distant cosmos—Aeroman, Windlass, Solar Man, Serpento, Dr. Chill, and Zardin the Boy Marvel—to defeat Jemphis.

–REFERENCE: In Catwoman Vol. 5 #57. Bruce, Selina, and Dick see a ballet performance of Turandot, which is Selina’s favorite. This is the first time Bruce and Selina finally let Dick join them at the ballet/masquerade ball.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #44—originally told in Detective Comics #203. Selina Kyle has quietly worked at her new pet shop since early last year with no inclination of returning to costumed thievery. However, when a vituperative series of articles are printed in the Gotham Gazette that poke fun of her time as a kitty-themed villainess, Selina is furious. When some cheap hoods harass Selina in her own store, Batman is there to shoo away the jerks. Batman tells Selina not to take the objurgation and harassment personally. But for Selina, it’s too much to bear. Selina re-dons the purple-and-green caped Catwoman costume and commits a series of daring public heists, disappointing the Dark Knight. Catwoman, now a wanted criminal again, goes into hiding.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #88—originally told in the 1966 Batman movie. Batman and Robin defeat “United Underworld”—the team-up of Joker, Penguin, Riddler, and Catwoman. During this adventure, Batman discovers a secret radio frequency that Riddler has been using to communicate with the other Bat-rogues. With the line compromised, the defeated villains stop using it.

–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #27 and Detective Comics #967. Kathy Webb-Kane, daughter of notorious ex-Nazi Otto Netz (Dr. Dedalus) and ex-wife of Bruce’s long-deceased uncle Nathan Kane, becomes Bat-Woman. She goes on adventures with Batman and Robin, even debuting her own sidekick, Bat-Girl (Bruce’s cousin Bette Kane). Batman and Bat-Woman become lovers, but the relationship is ill-fated. Bat-woman breaks up with Batman and the female Dynamic Duo retires from crime-fighting.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #988 and Batman: Knightwatch #3 Part 2. Disgraced Hollywood pyrotechnic expert Ted Carson debuts as a new Firefly, getting busted by Batman and Robin. Carson’s costume is gaudier than Garfield Lynns’ costume, but he’s ironically less over-the-top, despite also being a pyromaniac. From this point forward, both Fireflies will remain active in the DCU.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Prelude to the Wedding Part 2 – Nightwing vs Hush #1—originally told in Batman #134. Batman publicly fights “The Rainbow Creature,” a razor-toothed monster made entirely out of light from the color spectrum.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3. July. An escaped Joker throws an evil party for Batman’s “birthday” at the zoo. A shirtless Batman is forced to tranquilize a raging gorilla.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1063—originally told in Batman #149. Batman and Robin defeat musical-themed supervillain known as The Maestro (Payne Cardine).

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #23 and Dark Nights: Metal #2. Batman meets and befriends Swamp Thing, a Plant Elemental with the memories and personality of deceased scientist Alec Holland. Swamp Thing is a member of the Parliament of Trees, a group of ancient elder Plant Elementals that keep watch over and control the Green, the mystic force that binds together all vegetal life. The Caped Crusader and several other heroes learn the exact location of the headquarters of the Parliament of Trees deep in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest. Around the Parliament of Trees’ HQ, there grows a natural plant-killing exfoliant, which local tribesman destroy in order to protect their “plant gods.” (It is possible that the heroes visit, but this is not confirmed.)

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #36. Dr. X (Simon Echs) and his symbiotic partner Double X—together known simply as Dr. Double X—fight the Dark Knight and Boy Wonder. Echs winds up behind Arkham bars.

–REFERENCE: In Young Justice Vol. 3 #18. Batman and Robin take on the debuting Egghead.

–REFERENCE: In Doomsday Clock #4 and the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #128—originally told in Detective Comics #247. Batman defeats Professor Achilles Milo, who uses hallucination-inducing chemical attacks against him.

–REFERENCE: In Batgirl Vol. 5 #34—originally told in Detective Comics #253. Batman and Robin apprehend the thrill-seeking Terrible Trio, which consists of The Shark, The Vulture, and The Fox.

–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #36. Batman and Robin bust the debuting Condiment King.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #50 and Detective Comics #1076. Batman busts Catwoman and handcuffs her on a rooftop. They lean-in close to each other for a kiss. It is highly unlikely that Batman takes Catwoman to jail here. Batman Vol. 3 #50 and Detective Comics #1076 are two separate flashbacks, but both depict a fairly generic image of Batman and Catwoman kissing, so I’ve combined them.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Elmer Fudd #1. Bruce begins dating the gorgeous Silver St. Cloud. She falls in love with Bruce but breaks up with him upon discovering that he is Batman. Wanting a less-complicated (and safer) partner, she begins dating Elmer Fudd. Unknown to Silver, Fudd is actually a hitman.

–FLASHBACK: From the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #128—and referenced in Dark Nights: Metal #1-2, Nightwing Vol. 4 #29, Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #38, Detective Comics Annual #2 (2019), Robins #6, and Batman Vol. 3 #126. Billionaire John Mayhew attempts to recruit Batman and Robin onto a new team of international heroes dubbed The Club of Heroes. Of the recruits are the so-called “Batmen of All Nations,” including Knight (Percival Sheldrake), The Squire (Cyril Sheldrake), Wingman (Benedict Rundstrom), El Gaucho (Santiago Vargas), Man-of-Bats (William Great Eagle), Little Raven, The Legionary (Alphonso Giovanni), The Musketeer (Jean-Marie), and The Ranger. (Most of these international heroes are also part of a UN-like international policing collective known as “The Dome,” which is a direct precursor to what will eventually become The Global Guardians. Gaucho was also the inspiration for and current ally to the Argentinian superhero team known as Súper Malón.) Once assembled, Mayhew’s Club of Heroes venture fails immediately. The team doesn’t get along and disbands in less than half-an-hour. Shortly thereafter, during an encounter with Achilles Milo and agents of the evil spy organization known as Spyral, the Dark Knight is sprayed with a gas weapon that causes a vivid hallucination. Batman lucidly dreams that he is on a distant planet known as Zur-En-Arrh, where he is endowed with super-powers and gets to meet his perfect alien double, who wears a garish purple-and-red bat costume. (Note that “Zur-En-Arrh” unwittingly comes from the deep reserves of Bruce’s memory where on the fateful night of his parents’ murders, his father said, “they’d probably throw someone like Zorro in Arkham.”) As Batman hallucinates, Robin busts Milo. Batman eventually comes-to, but he is shaken to his core. Not long after, Dr. Simon Hurt implants post-hypnotic suggestions into Batman’s psyche while the Dark Knight is undergoing sensory deprivation tests. Hurt is actually Thomas Wayne, Bruce’s great(x5) uncle born in the 1700s, endowed with quasi-immortality. During these sensory deprivation tests, Hurt is able to psychoanalyze Batman and literally hear in detail about all of the Dark Knight’s hallucinations, new and old. Hurt implants a post-hypnotic trigger word into Batman’s brain. Once triggered, Bruce will “shutdown” and lose all memory of having ever been a crime-fighter. After a lengthy period of sleep-deprivation in an isolation chamber, Batman temporarily believes Robin has died as a result of an alien encounter (another vivid hallucination). Afterward, Batman forgets ever meeting Hurt thanks to hypnosis. Hurt also blocks all of Batman’s memory of him using hypnosis. Batman then begins having blackouts and night terrors as a result of his sleep-deprivation testing. Things get so bad that Batman is defeated by a group of ape-masked rookie gangsters known as the Gorilla Gang (Ceasar, Joe, Bingo, Magilla, King, and one unnamed other). Troubled, the Dark Knight considers retirement. However, Batman shakes the cobwebs out as best he can, summoning up enough courage to bust the Gorilla Gang in a rematch. Immediately thereafter, Hurt sics three substitute Batmen (cops Josef Muller, Branca, and Michael Lane) against a groggy and confused Batman, who still easily defeats them. Hurt blocks Batman’s memory of the fight against the substitutes and then sends the Dark Knight on his way. Batman still has no real memories of ever meeting Simon Hurt or of fighting his substitute Batmen, only extremely hazy dreamlike visions of them instead. Batman writes about these strange fleeting visions, which he regards as a drug-induced hallucination, into his Black Casebook. Hurt will retrain (and sadistically torture) his substitute Batmen for many years before unleashing them upon Gotham again.

–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #125-129, the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #136, Batman Vol. 3 #138, and Batman Vol. 3 #43. Batman reflects upon his recent hallucinatory experiences, terrified of what could happen if a villain were able to access or break his mind. With this very concern, Batman applies the teachings of his mentor Dr. Daniel Captio to create a special brain helmet, with which he utilizes to initiate grueling private “self-therapy” sessions intended to of strengthen his mental faculties. With his brain helmet, Batman creates for himself the ultimate defense mechanism against psychological attack—an anti-trigger backup personality, complete with garish red-and-purple costume, based upon his recent “Zur-En-Arrh” hallucination. Should he come under psychological attack, Batman’s mind will be temporarily overwritten, automatically turning him into the “Batman of Zur-En-Arrh.” Batman immediately begins beta testing his wild Zur-En-Arrh persona, but in order to do so, he will black out completely, giving full control of his mind and body to the alternate persona. While blacked-out as Zur-En-Arrh, Batman even creates a secret lab for his alter ego, hidden within the Batcave. Additionally, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh creates a Robin costume that matches his own in color scheme and pattern. For the next month or so, Batman will endure brain helmet sessions with increasing frequency as he perfects his alternate persona. We can imagine these sessions scattered in-between the items listed below.

–REFERENCE: In Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1 Part 1—originally told in Detective Comics #323. Batman and Robin defeat Zodiac Master.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman: Worlds’s Finest #11—originally told in Batman #195. Batman and Robin defeat translucent electric skeleton man Bag O’Bones (Ned Creegan).

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #44—originally told in Batman #197. Catwoman debuts yet another new costume, this one a skin-tight kelly green affair complete with cat’s eye goggles. In her new duds, Catwoman attempts to play superhero—via staged altercations with her own henchmen, who pretend to fight her. Catwoman even fights side-by-side with Batman and Robin. Later, she meets privately with Batman and asks him to marry her! Batman turns her down. In response, Catwoman captures the legit heroes, trapping them on an intense sound-blasting “Cataphonic Cat’s Cradle” platform in her “Catacombs” hideout. Batman and Robin escape and bust Catwoman.

–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #21-23—originally told via flashback from Nightwing Vol. 4 #11. The Dynamic Duo busts neophyte “art terrorists” The Pigeon (Beatrice Butler) and her teenage sidekick Defacer (Shawn Tsang).

–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 #32. Batman and Robin bust three random baddies and swing away into the Gotham night.

–Batman/Elmer Fudd #1
Silver St. Cloud wants to leave her boyfriend Elmer Fudd because she has just learned that he is a hitman. Seeing a parallel to how she left Bruce due to his secret profession, Silver starts an elaborate ruse to mess with both Fudd and Bruce. Silver fakes her own death, leaving clues that lead Fudd to a bar they used to hang-out at called Porky’s Bar. There, hitman Bugs the Bunny, as per Silver’s orders, tells Fudd that Bruce Wayne put the hit on Silver. Fudd, who already hates Bruce for having dated Silver, goes into a rage. He sneaks into a fancy gala at Wayne Manor, shoots Bruce with a shotgun, and makes a hasty retreat. But of course, Bruce ain’t dead. Batman—incorrectly shown wearing his classic costume—ambushes Fudd at his apartment and they fight. Eventually, they decide to team-up when they realize that something ain’t right about Silver’s murder. Batman and Fudd go to Porky’s where they beat-up Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Sylvester, Tweety, Marvin, Taz, Daffy, and a guy who owns a frog named Michigan J Frog. Silver then makes her dramatic appearance and tells off her exes before departing for good. Porky serves up three carrot juice cocktails for Batman, Fudd, and Bugs.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #44 and Batman Vol. 3 #85—originally told in Batman #256. Batman and Robin work a murder case at the circus. Coincidentally, an escaped Selina Kyle has been working at the circus under a fake identity in an effort to free the captive tigers. When Batman and Robin dig around, Selina is exposed. Debuting yet another new costume (a red, black, and blue thingy), Catwoman fights Batman, rides one of the Siberian big cats like a pony, prompting Batman to chase after her on horseback. Batman busts Catwoman then returns to flush-out and apprehend the circus murderer with Robin.

–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 #50. An escaped Scarecrow takes over Gotham University’s Symposium of Fear. Batman and Robin bust him. Scarecrow immediately escapes from Arkham Asylum and goes after Robin. The Boy Wonder debuts his escrima sticks and kicks Scarecrow’s ass solo.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Three Jokers #1—and referenced in Batman: Three Jokers #1. Batman fights Riddler, who wears an alternate costume and wields an electrified question mark staff. Afterward, Batman puts Riddler’s alt-costume on display (on a mannequin, complete with the electrified question mark staff) in the Batcave.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Three Jokers #1. Batman fights an escaped Scarecrow, who stabs him in the back with a pitchfork.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: The Detective #4. Batman defends a deli from some would-be thieves, earning the praise and thanks of the deli’s mom and pop owners.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #971Detective Comics #995, and the 2nd feature to Batman Vol. 3 #128. Batman activates the “red phone,” a direct “hotline” connection to Commissioner Gordon. Batman has long been able to phone Gordon, but now Gordon can phone him too. The red phone exists in the form of both a kitschy scarlet antique phone in the Batcave and a crimson-colored cellphone in Batman’s utility belt. Gordon’s hotline is also connected to Wayne Manor so that Batman and Alfred can receive calls at home too. (Note that Batman, as new tech becomes available, will always upgrade his cellphone to new models throughout the years to come.)

–Batman: Urban Legends #17 Part 1
In Central City, Flash busts the Rogues (Mirror Master, Trickster, and Captain Boomerang), but one member (Captain Cold) is curiously missing. That’s because Captain Cold is in Gotham. Teaming up with Mr. Freeze, Captain Cold battles Batman and steals an icy isotope from STAR Labs. Flash travels to Gotham to work the case with Batman. As they scour the city, they get to know one another better. As Alfred serves dinner in the Batcave, Barry suggests that Bruce, Clark, and Lois go on a triple date with he and his fiancée Iris West. Soon after, Flash and Batman prevent Mr. Freeze and Captain Cold from releasing the isotope into Gotham’s water supply.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1000 Part 5 and Detective Comics #1000 Part 10. September 21. Batman, as he does every year on the anniversary of his parents’ murders, visits both Crime Alley (where his parents were killed) and the cemetery where his parents are buried.

I AM A GUN
————————–the 2nd feature to Batman Vol. 3 #128
————————
–the 2nd feature to Batman Vol. 3 #129
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–the 2nd feature to Batman Vol. 3 #130

Despite a month of sci-fi brain helmet-wearing “self-therapy” designed to strengthen his mental resolve, Bruce continues to have concerns about what could happen if a villain were able to access his mind. After a session, Batman has what he thinks is a random thought of his father saying, “they’d probably throw someone like Zorro in Arkham.” Pushing the memory aside, Batman meets with Commissioner Gordon, who reports that Joker has killed a bunch of security guards, curiously leaving a very uniquely different type of rigor mortis grin, one that looks deliberately like a fake smile, on their faces. Batman catches up with Joker at a pharmaceutical company, where he has killed yet again. Joker exclaims that he is pissed that Achilles Milo supposedly “broke Batman’s brain.” As he fights Joker, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh persona, perceiving Joker as a psychological threat, begins to take over Batman’s mind. While combating Joker, Batman argues with the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, which makes it appear as though Batman is talking out loud to himself. Batman even begins hallucinating images of his mother and a sane Joker. All the while, a confused Joker takes a beating. (The Zur-En-Arrh-influenced Batman’s confrontation with Joker is also shown via flashback from the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #145 and also separately referenced in the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #145.) A concerned Batman immediately returns to the Batcave to work out the kinks of his wild alternate persona. Wearing his special sci-fi headgear, the Dark Knight attempts to wrangle control over his Zur-En-Arrh persona. As before, Batman sometimes blacks out completely, giving full control of his mind and body to the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh during these sessions. Eventually, feeling as though he is in firmer control of his backup persona, a satisfied Batman tailors a new Bat-costume with a yellow oval insignia on its chest, showing it off to Robin. Batman cites that the yellow oval will draw gunfire to his heavily armored chest, but clearly he’s been influenced by the yellow oval on the chest of the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, who still remains an active factor within his mind.

–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #20, Bug! The Adventures of Forager #1, Super Sons #5, Gotham Academy: Second Semester #12, Flash Vol. 5 Annual #1, and Batman Vol. 3 #44. Having just officially switched to his yellow oval costume (as seen in “I am a Gun,” Batman makes one more tweak to his look, tailoring and a new blue-and-grey costume to go with the yellow accent. Starting now, Batman will begin using only this blue-and-grey (with yellow oval) costume. He puts his old costume on display in the Batcave. (In the decades to come, Batman will put many old costumes—both his own and other Bat-Family members’ costumes—on display in the Batcave.)

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #125-130 and the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #136. Batman blacks-out completely, once again giving full control of his mind and body to the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh. With Batman’s previously-devised contingency plans in mind (literally and figuratively), the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh uses Amazo tech to begin constructing Failsafe, a super-powered anti-Batman robot. The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh also sets anti-Justice League traps onto a specific Gotham block that is owned by Bruce with the idea that Failsafe can lure any potential foes there if need be. The concept of a living contingency plan (the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh himself) now creating another contingency plan is not lost on the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh. As such, he wipes his own memory of the knowledge of how to defeat Failsafe. While still not 100% programmed, Failsafe goes dormant and is hidden in the Zur-En-Arrh lab, which itself is hidden behind a rock wall in the bowels of the Batcave. Failsafe is designed to activate only if it receives news reports that Batman has committed murder or turned evil. The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh pretends to be Batman, tasking Alfred with monitoring false alarms for Failsafe and resetting its pending activations. Presumably, Alfred is instructed never to speak of Failsafe in any capacity. Shortly thereafter, Batman returns to status quo with no memories of what the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh has done. Alfred will follow orders and keep the secret from Batman. Meanwhile, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh will periodically take over Batman’s mind and body to continue programming, updating, and perfecting Failsafe in the years to come. We’ll have to imagine Zur-En-Arrh taking over Batman to do this every once in a while on our timeline ahead.[18]

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #999. October 7—Bruce’s birthday. As he does every year on his birthday, Batman runs Program 2.1, placing himself into a virtual world that challenges him by pushing him to his most extreme limits.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #1 Part 2—and referenced in Catwoman Vol. 5 #58 and Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Scorched Earth #1. Originally told in “COLD” (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #192-196). Batman—in his new blue-and-grey/yellow oval costume—fights an escaped Mr. Freeze, who also dons a fancy new (albeit temporary) costume. Note that this JH Williams scene visually calls back to Williams’ own non-canon Modern Age Mr. Freeze origin story, entitled “Cold.” Obviously, the Rebirth version of “Cold” cannot be an origin story, but this item still counts as the canonization of Williams’ tale, albeit as a generic Batman versus Mr. Freeze battle. Following this encounter, Batman keeps Mr. Freeze’s “freeze-gun 2.0” as a trophy for the Batcave.

–FLASHBACK: From Catwoman Vol. 5 #46. Batman and Catwoman (in her purple costume with black knee-high boots and black elbow-length gloves) team up against Mr. Freeze and his henchmen.

–FLASHBACK: From Robin Vol. 3 #9. Batman and Robin patrol together.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Secret Files: The Gardener #1. Batman fights Poison Ivy again.

–Green Arrow 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 Part 2
Batman spars with Wildcat (Ted Grant) at the latter’s gym in Brooklyn, as he does on a regular basis. As he is getting ready to depart, Batman spots Green Arrow coming in for his own boxing lesson with Ted. Batman scoffs at Green Arrow, giving him shit for being an archery-themed ripoff. After Batman leaves, Green Arrow learns that Ted is Wildcat. (I thought everyone already knew that, but I guess Ollie never figured it out.) Then, semi-immortal super-villain from the 20th century, Yellow Wasp, strikes. Aided by Ted and Black Canary, Green Arrow bests Yellow Wasp with a brand new spur-of-the-moment invention, the boxing glove arrow.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: The Detective #4. While in France for unspecified reasons, Batman saves the life of teenager Thierry Mornet, who is nearly trampled to death by French police during a riot.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #6. Batman claws with Catwoman.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Three Jokers #1. Batman puts Catwoman’s purple-and-green dress costume on a mannequin display in the Batcave.

–Detective Comics #1037 Part 3
Lucius Fox has always been on the secret forefront of helping make Bat-tech, but he’s never truly known that Bruce is Batman—until now. Batman officially reveals his secret ID to his close comrade, giving him the radio codename “Foxtrot.” Lucius is made the lead Bat-armorer and head of Bat-research and development. He’ll work on clandestine “special projects” directly for Batman, moving forward. Right off the bat (pun intended), Alfred and Lucius, from the Batcave, remotely guide Batman and Robin, who get pinned down while battling arms dealers. Lucius uses the Batmobile to send out an EMP blast, which allows the Dynamic Duo to defeat their foes. In the Batcave, Alfred defends Batman’s use of child soldiers to a disapproving Lucius, who says that he’s only onboard to help protect children that are brought into the “cult” of the Bat-Family.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #7 Part 1. Now that Lucius Fox is in the know, he begins storing Bat-gear—including extra costumes, utility belts, and more—at various Wayne Enterprises/WayneCorp buildings. Batman and Lucius will coordinate these Bat-caches together, moving forward.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #10 Part 1. While Batman already has a bunch of secret weapon/costume caches in various buildings across the city, he now begins setting up lockbox caches on random rooftops as well. While we won’t see him setting them all up on our timeline, Batman will eventually have 250 cache boxes at his disposal.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #6 Part 2. Kirk Langstrom, as he often does, once again loses control, becoming Man-Bat. Batman fights Man-Bat, crashing together with him through the window of a young boy. Batman then injects Man-Bat with serum that reverts him back to normal.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #5 Part 5. After a rough patrol, Batman and Robin return to Wayne Manor, light some incense, and do a deep meditation together for a couple hours.

–FLASHBACK: From DC: Love is a Battlefield #1 Part 5—and referenced in Knight Terrors: Batman #1. Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn both attempt to pull off the exact same heist at the exact same time at Gotham National Bank, thus getting in each other’s way. Batman, Robin, Commissioner Gordon, and the GCPD are all on-hand to chase them both away. Notably, this is the first time Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn meet as super-villains. Poison Ivy met Harley Quinn once before, but that was years ago when Harley was still a therapist at Arkham Asylum. Also note that Poison Ivy has green skin in this flashback. While this is the first time we’ve seen her with a chlorophyll tone, her skin actually does turn green every once and while (as we’ll see in other comics of this era, including Batman: Urban Legends #1 Part 2).

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1004. Killer Croc, Anton Arcane, and others start a full-scale riot in Arkham Asylum. While Batman contains inmates that have made it outside the walls of the building, prison director Dr. Jeremiah Arkham tries to calm the rest of the inmates with the help of his pregnant wife Dr. Ingrid Karlsson. During the chaos, Ingrid goes into labor. Joker, Harley Quinn, Clayface, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, and Solomon Grundy show a softer side, helping Ingrid deliver a healthy baby girl, who she names Astrid Arkham. Unfortunately, a random rioting inmate throws one of Batman’s discarded Batarangs at Ingrid, killing her instantly. Saddened, the inmates return to their cells. From this point forward, Astrid will basically live at Arkham Asylum and be “raised” by all of Batman’s rogues. Having now met Dr. Arkham, we can presume that Batman does some homework on him, learning all he can about the man who runs the asylum.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #104. Batman and Robin chase a criminal to Singapore, but when they arrive, they find the Ghost-Maker is also working the case. Robin watches from the Batplane cockpit as Batman and the Ghost-Maker argue about jurisdiction. Ultimately, Batman submits, departing with Robin. En route back to the States, Batman tells Robin all about his history with the Ghost-Maker.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: One Bad Day – Clayface #1—originally told in the Batman the Animated Series TV show. When a bomber begins mirroring scenarios from classic TV episodes of The Gray Ghost, Batman consults the actor that played the Gray Ghost, Simon Trent. (Trent is currently an acting teacher at Gotham Academy.) Batman and Trent bring the bomber to justice.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #1 Part 2—originally told in the Batman the Animated Series TV show. Batman fights an escaped Victor Zsasz.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Three Jokers #3—and referenced in Batman: Three Jokers #1 and Harley Quinn 30th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 Part 6. Originally told in Batman #186. An escaped Joker debuts a new diminutive sidekick Gagsworth Gagsworthy, better known as Gaggy. At the Gotham Historical Society, Batman and Robin take down Joker and Gaggy. Joker will use Gaggy on-and-off for years to come.[19]

–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #1 and Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #4. Joker takes on some additional new sidekicks, including the talking ape known as Jackanapes and the snow-themed Jack Frost. Batman and Robin deal with these sidekicks, although they could be one-shot encounters. Don’t forget, while the second feature to Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #1-9 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 comic, despite being surreal and comedic, is based upon real people that exist on Earth-0. The inclusion of Jackanapes and Jack Frost in the story speaks to their existence on the timeline, hence their inclusion here.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #1 Part 2. Batman fights an escaped Clayface. JH Williams draws this scene in the style of Bruce Timm, mirroring the look of Batman the Animated Series.

–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #43-44—originally told in Batman #237. Jewish concentration camp survivor, Dr. Benjamin Gruener, goes on a killing-spree as the grim reaper-themed super-villain known as The Reaper. Batman defeats him. Don’t forget that the Reaper from the League of Assassins still exists as well, but he’s a different person. “The Reaper” is not a very original name, guys.

–REFERENCE: In Flashpoint Beyond #6Challengers of the Unknown #87. The Justice League help the Time Masters (Rip Hunter, Jeff Smith, and Bonnie Baxter) defeat time-traveling interdimensional monsters. (Rip Hunter is Booster Gold’s biological father.) Both Batman and Superman find the Time Masters to be the most annoying and arrogant people they’ve ever met. Having appointed themselves as protectors of time itself, they have knowledge of everything past, present, and future, including the secret IDs of all heroes.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #22—originally told in Batman #312. Calendar Man dons a brand new calendar-themed costume to challenge Batman, but as before, he gets easily busted.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #1 Part 2. Batman fights an escaped Poison Ivy. Note that JH Williams draws this scene in the style of Kelley Jones, although I’m fairly certain this item isn’t meant to reference a specific Jones story.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #101. Batman meets with Commissioner Gordon, who produces a joker playing card, signifying that an escaped Joker is active. Soon after, Batman and Robin chase after Joker. A bruised and battered Batman, with Alfred’s help, studies Joker’s possible plans in the Batcave. Later, Batman responds to the Bat-signal yet again.

–FLASHBACK: From Tales from the Dark Multiverse: The Death of Superman #1. Batman fights Joker. It’s possible this item is linked to the previous one.

–FLASHBACK: From Superman Giant #9 (Superman: Up in the Sky #4)—and referenced in Flash Vol. 5 #33 and Flash Vol. 5 Annual #1. Originally told in Superman #199 and Flash #175. Millions, including Batman and Robin, watch as Superman competes against Flash in a UN-sponsored charity race across the globe. They tie. Shortly thereafter, Reverse-Flash (aka Professor Zoom aka Zoom aka Eobard Thawne) and Abra Kadabra kidnap the JL and force Flash and Superman into having a rematch, only this time they race through the whole expanse of the universe, which includes a quick stop on Ventura to best Rokk and Sorban. Upon returning home, again in a dead heat, Superman and Flash bust the villains and save their friends. Superman and Flash will have many more races over the course of the following years, although none will be quite as public as these first two.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #14. Batman and Robin meet Dr. Will Magnus and his Metal Men (Gold, Iron, Lead, Mercury, Platinum, and Tin).

–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #39. Batman defeats the debuting False Face. Note that False Face has nothing to do with Black Mask’s False Face Society.

–REFERENCE: In Super Sons/Dynomutt Special #1. Bruce meets and befriends fellow millionaire Radley Crowne, who hails from Big City (thirty-five miles to the north of Gotham), while maintaining his haughty playboy act at various elite clubs. Shortly thereafter, Batman learns that Crowne is secretly the superhero defender of Big City, Blue Falcon! Batman and Robin team-up with Blue Falcon and his robotic canine sidekick Dynomutt (aka “The Dog Wonder”), going up against the vile Red Vulture. Afterward, Blue Falcon tells Batman he shouldn’t work with kids because dogs are more loyal.

–REFERENCE: In The Green Lantern #3—originally told in Detective Comics #291. The last Rukk (the final living survivor of the otherwise extinct alien species known as the Rukks) comes out of suspended hibernation on Earth and soon finds itself face-to-face with Batman and Robin. The heroes fight the raging hairy green cyclops, finding its ship, in which they learn about the Rukks and their long-destroyed home-planet Sharl. Eventually, the Dynamic Duo causes the last Rukk to flee into deep space.

–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #1000 Part 9—originally told in Detective Comics #311 and Superman/Batman #31. A goofy minuscule alien named Zook gets stranded on Earth. Even though Zook is really annoying and not-so-bright, Martian Manhunter decides to keep him as a pet/sidekick, making him an official Justice League mascot. Zook is immediately troublesome and constantly in everyone’s way, especially Batman, who lets the little guy have an honest earful. With his feelings hurt, Zook leaves Earth for good, moving to the 5th Dimension.

–REFERENCE: In Arkham City: The Order of the World #5—originally told in Detective Comics #319. Batman and Robin capture the debuting Dr. No-Face. (Note that previous incarnations of Dr. No-Face were all male, but Dr. No-Face has been gender-swapped for the Infinite Frontier Era.)

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1000 Part 7. An unknown member of Batman’s rogues gallery—(in Detective Comics #1000 Part 7, this character speaks from off-panel, so we don’t know who it is)—kidnaps Bruce Wayne in an effort to collect a hefty ransom and to use him as bait to lure out Batman. Bruce puts on quite an act while captured, puling like a baby until Batman (someone in disguise, likely Superman) arrives to challenge the super-villain. In the end, the bad guy is defeated and Batman’s secret ID is left intact.

–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #73—originally told in Detective Comics #344 and Batman #192 Part 1. Evil genius/White supremacist mobster Johnny Witts (Johnny Wittleson) kidnaps Robin and gloats in Batman’s face. Robin escapes to re-join Batman, after which a chess match of back-and-forth maneuvers goes on for a while, with Witts keeping one step ahead of the Dynamic Duo. Batman eventually busts Witts, but charges don’t stick and he walks free. Soon afterward, Witts disguises himself as a psychic called The Swami, using this ruse to gain access to his marks’ valuables. Witts is exposed by Batman and Robin, but, as before, runs circles around the duo. Our heroes eventually nab Witts again, but he avoids jail time. Done playing around with Batman, Witts moves to Hollywood.

–REFERENCE: In Checkmate Vol. 3 #2—originally told in Detective Comics #354. Batman meets and defeats the Fu Manchu-themed super-villain known as Dr. Tzin-Tzin.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Urban Legends #22 Part 4—and referenced in Batman: Urban Legends #21 Part 4 and Batman: Urban Legends #22 Part 4. Originally told in The Brave and The Bold #59. Batman and Hal Jordan team up to defeat Time Commander (John Starr), who can manipulate time via a special hourglass device, which he constructed from spare parts in prison. Batman notes that Time Commander is one of the smartest men he’s ever met. The Justice League keeps Time Commander’s hourglass as a trophy.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Urban Legends #22 Part 4. December. With a Christmas-shopping Alfred watching, Batman stops some motorbike-riding thieves from robbing Schott’s Toy Shop. (This is one of Toyman’s old toy stores, and while he doesn’t run the company anymore, it’s pretty wild that whoever does would keep the original name. Brand recognition, I guess.) Batman gives a Batman action figure to a girl who witnesses the altercation.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 2 #21, Flash Vol. 5 #21, Titans Vol. 3 Annual #1, Titans Vol. 3 #19, Nightwing Vol. 4 #21, Deathstroke Vol. 4 #19, Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Last Stories of the DC Universe #1 Part 1 Epilogue, and World’s Finest: Teen Titans #1—originally told in The Brave and The Bold #54 and The Brave and The Bold #60. The Teen Titans debut, helping out in the New England town of Hatton Corners by defeating Mr. Twister (Bromwell Stikk) and then the bizarre Separated Man. The hero group features the sidekicks of the Justice League, including Robin, Speedy (Roy Harper), Aqualad (Garth), Wonder Girl (Donna Troy), and Kid Flash (Wally West). The Teen Titans make their HQ on a small island in Hatton Corners. Batman does not approve of Robin’s new venture and makes it known to his sidekick.

–REFERENCE: In The Green Lantern: Blackstars #2. Due to what must be some Silver Age-y sci-fi chicanery, Aunt Harriet Cooper is forced to play the role of Batman for a full month! We aren’t given any details about this (or told what happens to Bruce), which is probably for the best. In any case, we won’t see or hear from Aunt Harriet again, so we must assume that the elderly matriarch dies shortly after this—hopefully of natural causes and unrelated to her monthlong Bat-adventure.

________________________________________________________________________________________

YEAR FIVE (2006)
_____________________________________________________________________________

–DC’s Saved By the Belle Reve #1 Part 4 Intro
Oliver Queen gets a report from Smithson High School Vice Principal Ms. Parks that his ward Roy Harper is failing the ninth grade and may have to repeat unless things turn around quickly. At the Secret Sanctuary in Happy Harbor, the Justice League trains with the Teen Titans. Green Arrow talks to Flash about Roy’s educational troubles. An eavesdropping Batman tells Green Arrow that he needs to be a better guardian to Roy. Green Arrow tells Speedy that he must go on sabbatical until his grades improve. Speedy will be on superhero hiatus for the next nine weeks.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #22. Superman begins training Batman in the Kryptonian martial art known as klurkor. We must imagine klurkor sparring sessions sprinkled throughout our timeline ahead.

–REFERENCE: In DC Pride 2022 #1 Part 3—originally told in an episode of the Batman: The Brave and The Bold animated TV series. Batman bests the debuting Music Meister.

–FLASHBACK: From Joker Vol. 2 #15. Batman fights Joker and Harley Quinn, with the latter duo escaping on a motor boat.

–FLASHBACK: From Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU #5. Batman fights Joker and Harley Quinn. It’s possible this is connected to the previous item.

–REFERENCE: In DC’s Saved By the Belle Reve #1 Part 4—originally told in Justice League of America #32 and Justice League of America #36. The Justice League defeats the debuting Brainstorm aka Brain Storm.

–REFERENCE: In Justice League Vol. 3 #37 and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #17—originally told in Justice League of America #45. The Justice League defeats Dr. Andrew Zagarian’s android sasquatch menace known as Shaggy Man.

–REFERENCE: In The Green Lantern #10—originally told in Justice League of America #46-47. A science experiment gone wrong by Ray Palmer’s lab assistant Enrichetta Negrini allows The Anti-Matter Man, a cosmic entity hailing from the Qward system of Universe-3 (aka the Anti-Matter Universe) to enter the Bleed en route to Earth-0. The Spectre tries to stop the Anti-Matter Man’s march, but he is quickly defeated. Dr. Fate (Kent Nelson) sends the JL to the Bleed where they are able to send the Anti-Matter Man back to Qward.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3. January. For Batman’s monthly fake birthday celebration, an escaped Joker dresses up like Mirror Master to challenge Batman and Flash. The heroes bust the villain.

–REFERENCE: In Batwoman: Rebirth #1, Dark Days: The Forge #1, Detective Comics #958, and Detective Comics #975—originally told in Batman & Robin Eternal. This item is pushed here to accommodate the fact that Cassie Cain is nineteen-years-old in 2021 (as per Joker Vol. 2 #11). Batman and Robin chase Scarecrow to Prague, where they learn he has connections to an international crime-boss called Mother. The near-immortal Mother orphans children and then turns them into brainwashed playthings for the rich and powerful, including the sinister Sacred Order of St. Dumas, a violent Christian cult that was once a part of the Knights Templar in Medieval Times. (Since the Dark Ages, the Order of St. Dumas has chosen a continuous line of “avenging angels,” each known as Azrael.) Noting the strangeness and danger involved in this case, Batman begins recording all details and thoughts pertaining to the matter at hand. He stores this secret information, a series of “Shadow Files,” on a secret “Shadow Drive” associated with the Bat-computer. Bruce will record information about his most top secret cases on the “Shadow Drive” for years to come. Not even the highest-ranking members of the Bat-Family will have access. Soon after learning about Mother’s operations, Bruce arranges a meeting with Mother, meeting both the villainess and her top assassin David Cain (aka David Kane, now calling himself “The Orphan”), a man that once trained Bruce years ago. Outed as Batman, Bruce orders a new Robin via her process (as part of a con to expose and bring her down). In Cairo, Batman and Robin bust Scarecrow. Batman fights and defeats both Mother and Cain, but is forced to watch a live video feed from Gotham that shows Cassandra “Cassie” Cain (David Cain’s four-year-old daughter) attacking young Harper Row’s small-time crook parents, Miranda Row and Marcus Row. (Harper is Mother’s young “chosen heir” for Batman. Cassandra, on the other hand, has been brainwashed and tortured by her dad into becoming a child soldier.) Miranda is brutally murdered while terrified Marcus runs away. In Cairo, Mother escapes when local law enforcement arrive. Back home, the Dark Knight builds a file on Harper Row and her brother Cullen Row, filled with details about their lives. He will keep tabs on the Rows for years to come.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #20 and Red Hood and The Outlaws Vol. 2 #18—originally told in The Brave and The Bold #80 and Justice League of America #70. Gotham TV news reporter/investigative journalist Jack Ryder debuts as the Joker-esque superhero known as The Creeper. Batman teams-up with the strange newcomer in Gotham against Hellgrammite. Shortly thereafter, the Creeper helps the Justice League thwart an alien invasion of Earth. (As referenced in Doomsday Clock #9, unknown to all the heroes, the Creeper is actually a secret agent working for the Department of Metahuman Affairs.)

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #64. Batman, Robin, Flash, and Kid Flash team-up to defeat Solomon Grundy. Afterward, all four celebrate in the Batcave.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #961—originally told in the Batman The Animated Series TV show. A robotics company called Cybertron creates the towering sentient stationary AI known as HARDaC (Holographic Analytical Reciprocating Digital Computer), which goes rogue and builds several human-like replica androids in an attempt to kill and replace their real counterparts. Batman defeats the replicants, including a Batman android, and shuts down HARDaC for good. (Years from now, an inert HARDaC will wind up the property of Luke Fox’s company FoxTech.)

–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn 30th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 Part 6—originally told in the Batman The Animated Series TV show. Batman defeats the diminutive debuting super-villainess Baby-Doll (Marie Louise Dahl).

–REFERENCE: In DC’s Saved By the Belle Reve #1 Part 4. The Teen Titans try to visit Roy Harper (who is still on sabbatical in an effort to improve his high school grades) at the Queen household in Star City. Ollie Queen chases the Titans away. Dick tells Bruce all about it.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #6 Part 5 and Red Hood: The Hill #1. Batman fights Penguin and his henchmen, including hired thug Hank Carson. In the decades to follow, Carson will define himself as a top notch career hencher, working with Penguin, Joker, Two-Face, and Poison Ivy. While we won’t see Batman take on Carson ahead on our timeline, we must imagine Batman fighting him on various sporadic occasion.

–DC’s Saved By the Belle Reve #1 Part 4
Mid March. The Justice League defeats a returning Brainstorm. Afterward, Batman tells Green Arrow he’s been acting more like an authoritarian than an authority figure in regard to his benching of Roy Harper. As coincidence would have it, Green Arrow gets a call telling him that Roy has cut school. Green Arrow rushes to the Arrow Cave to find a disgruntled Speedy waiting for him. Speedy calls out Green Arrow, saying that his grades have improved but the suspension continues unfairly. Speedy tells Green Arrow to fuck off. Ollie meets with Vice Principal Parks, who tells him that while Roy’s grades have improved, he’s become dark and miserable. Realizing he’s overcorrected, Green Arrow ends his sidekick’s sabbatical and gives him a heart-to-heart. Green Arrow and Speedy patrol, busting The Red Dart.

–FLASHBACK: From Green Arrow Vol. 7 #1. The Justice League (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Hal Jordan, Flash, Aquaman, the Atom, Black Canary, and Green Arrow) go on an unspecified mission. Green Arrow sports what will become his signature goatee.

–FLASHBACK: From Green Arrow Vol. 7 #4. During a Justice League meeting, Green Arrow and Hal Jordan get into a violent argument, putting hands on one another, nearly coming to blows. These days, Green Arrow and Hal Jordan simply don’t get along with each other.

–REFERENCE: In Titans Vol. 3 #20-21. Green Arrow learns that his sidekick Speedy has become addicted to heroin. The superhero community does its best to support Speedy, who goes into rehab. Batman isn’t directly involved in this item, but he definitely hears all about it.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #102. Batman fights The Grinners, a group of die-hard Joker loyalists, most of whom have permanent facial-scarring or rictus-grins. These henchmen hang out at a seedy dive called The Smile Bar. Batman decides to allow the Smile Bar to stay in business because it allows him to spy on and keep tabs on the Grinners. While we won’t see it on our timeline ahead, the Grinners will face Batman from time-to-time, often with Joker by their side. Likewise, Batman will keep an eye on the Smile Bar for many years to come.

–REFERENCE: In Titans Vol. 3 Annual #1 and Flash Vol. 5 #21. The Justice League defeats The Key. Afterward, they put his Keyblaster weapon into their Trophy Room.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #14. The Justice League defeats the playing card-themed super-villain group known as The Royal Flush Gang (King, Queen, Ace, Jack, and Ten). Since the team is all spades, each member also sometimes tacks on “of Spades” to their name.

–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. The Justice League defeats Toyman. Afterward, they put his toy box into their Trophy Room.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1000 Part 2. April. Batman busts an escaped Two-Face after the villain murders the Vinkledot twins.

–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #136. May 1. Batman begins working a case where Riddler delivers calendar clues on a daily basis after which he pulls off a heist based upon said clues. Batman will work this case every day for the next several weeks.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #987. Bruce hires Fred Morgan as a Wayne Enterprises security guard. Bruce will get to know Fred very well, learning all about his family life as the years go on.

–REFERENCE: In Suicide Squad Black Files #1. Batman and Hawkman defeat the debuting Gentleman Ghost (the spirit of villain Jim Craddock).

–the second feature to Batman Vol. 3 #136
Late May. Batman goes on routine patrol, slipping up against a random mugger, who lands a few blows before the Caped Crusader is able to take him down. Meanwhile, a sleepless Batman continues working the ongoing Riddler calendar clue case. Exhausted and struggling with the case, Batman’s Zur-En-Arrh backup persona kicks in, causing him to black out. Zur-En-Arrh takes over his mind and body, entering his secret lab within the Batcave to inspect and update programming for the dormant Failsafe. Zur-En-Arrh tests Failsafe’s directives and spars with the robot. Satisfied for now, Zur-En-Arrh tells Failsafe he will return to finish his programming and make necessary software and hardware updates. After resetting Failsafe into dormant mode, Zur-En-Arrh ascends into the Batcave proper above to view Batman’s recent case-files. Eventually, Batman regains his senses, totally unaware that he’d reverted back to his Zur-En-Arrh persona at all. Batman continues working the Riddler case, realizing that he is likely allied with Calendar Man. While we don’t see it in this issue, we can presume that Batman busts Riddler and Calendar Man. We can also assume that Zur-En-Arrh, in the years to come, will continue to periodically take over Batman’s mind and body, during which he will do all sorts of clandestine things, including work on Failsafe.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #10, Detective Comics #1000 Part 11, Robin Vol. 3 #4, Batman Vol. 3 #113, Shadow War: Alpha #1, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4—and referenced in Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #6-11, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1, Trinity Vol. 2 #16, Deathstroke Vol. 4 #32, Detective Comics #987, Infinite Frontier Secret Files #4 (Infinite Frontier Secret Files Print Edition #1), Batman: Urban Legends #7 Part 1, and Deathstroke Inc #5. Originally told in “THE SAGA OF RA’S AL GHUL.” Batman deals with the threat of the League of Assassins—led by his old sensei Ra’s al Ghul, who still desires to “purge” the planet via a drastic reduction of global population using any means necessary. Batman meets top League of Assassins scientist Dr. Moon and the Ubu Clan, a group of cult-like League of Assassins devotees. (Ra’s al Ghul’s right hand man is the leader of the Ubu Clan, who simply goes by Ubu.) Ever impressed by his adversary, Ra’s al Ghul enacts a plan to partner the Dark Detective with his daughter, Talia. Ra’s al Ghul wants the “perfect detective,” Batman, to bathe in the Lazarus Pits and carry on his legacy. The Caped Crusader becomes infatuated with Talia and they begin a whirlwind affair. Eventually, a shirtless Dark Knight sword-fights both Ra’s al Ghul and Talia in the Sahara Desert. Despite getting stabbed in the chest and left for dead, Batman defeats Ra’s al Ghul with some help from Talia, who seemingly betrays her father.[20] Batman and Talia then share a romantic night, which leads to Talia drugging and having sex with Batman. It is via this sexual intercourse that a baby is conceived. The conception, birth, and existence of the child will be kept a secret from Bruce for years to come. Batman and Talia’s tumultuous on-and-off-again love affair will continue for the next couple months before fizzling out entirely. During this period, as referenced in Infinite Frontier Secret Files #4, Batman teaches Talia many things, including a mental defense/detection technique to prevent against telepathic manipulation. Also note that, while not specifically listed moving forward on our chronology, Ubu #1 will be at Ra’s al Ghul’s side for pretty much all of his appearances—and Ubu will get his ass kicked by Batman pretty much every time they meet.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #138. Batman’s hidden Zur-En-Arrh persona takes over once again, guiding Batman to come up with a special contingency plan for violent criminals. Ironically, this failsafe involves the kind of mindwipe-esque personality manipulation that the Dark Knight will come to loathe so much. The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh concocts a serum that connects to a strange new machine—a combination, should one get injected with the stuff, that can cause its victim to turn into a scared weakling when their adrenaline spikes due to dangerous (i.e. criminal) activity. As per usual, Batman will have no memory of having created this diabolical new scheme.

–REFERENCE: In Batgirl & The Birds of Prey #11, Batgirl Vol. 5 #14, and Batgirl Vol. 5 Annual #2—originally told in Batgirl Vol. 4 #0. Summer. Commissioner Gordon’s daughter Barbara “Babs” Gordon moves to Gotham from Chicago. (Babs had been living in the Windy City with her mom and brother.) Having trained her whole life to be just like her dad, and having heard stories about the great Caped Crusader from her pop, Babs has a strong desire to walk the hero’s path. Babs and her brother James Junior (visiting from Chicago), meet their dad at police HQ. While waiting for Jim to wrap-up his day, Babs and James watch as a few cops give theorize about the effectiveness of Batman’s armor, displaying a kludged-together Bat-costume. When super-villain Harry X and his cult of followers take control of the entire building, Babs takes it upon herself to put her years of training to the test. She dons the fake Batman costume and takes on Harry X. The Dark Knight arrives just in time to watch Babs kayo the big lug. In the chaos, James Junior executes Harry X in a back room. Soon after the Harry X incident, Babs puts together her own unique costume and debuts as Batgirl, piquing the interest of the Dynamic Duo. Batman and Robin meet Batgirl and team with her on several unspecified missions to test her mettle.

–REFERENCE: In Batgirl Vol. 5 #14-17 and DC’s Saved By the Belle Reve #1 Part 8. Summer. Batman upgrades his field sound recording equipment. Shortly thereafter, Batman and Robin easily discover Batgirl’s secret identity as Barbara Gordon, who is now a freshman at Gotham City High School. (Dick also attends Gotham City High School.) The Dynamic Duo learns all about Babs’ life, including how her deadbeat mom led to her moving from Chicago to Gotham to live with her dad, Commissioner Gordon. When summer semester students at Babs’ high school begin losing control of their actions, Batman puts Robin on lookout duty at the stadium. There, he runs into Batgirl, who is also working the case. Later, Robin and Batgirl hit it off romantically as they patrol together. They learn that Mad Hatter—along with Babs’ friend Ainsley Wells—is using nanotechnology to cause the students’ conditions. Robin and Batgirl bust Mad Hatter while the drug-addicted Ainsley winds up in a mental hospital. After the case wraps, Dick and Babs share their first awkward kiss.

–REFERENCE: In Batgirl & The Birds of Prey #11 and Batgirl & The Birds of Prey #19. Having earned the trust of the Dynamic Duo, Batgirl becomes an official member of the Bat-Family. Not only that, but Batman shares his secret ID with Batgirl as well. Batman impresses upon Batgirl (and reminds Robin) the importance of maintaining her secret ID, even keeping it hidden from close friends and family. Batman will stress the importance of maintaining a secret ID to all members of the Bat-Family throughout his entire career.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1041. Batman sets up a new stash pile in a warehouse near the docks. The stash contains extra Bat-gear and costumes, just in case. Both Robin and Batgirl are made aware of this secret cache. Presumably, Batman sets up multiple stash piles across the city.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1000 Part 1. Batman continues the unsolved “David Lambert’s looking glass case,” tracking the false artifact’s origin to Osumi, Japan. From there, Batman travel to Egypt where he goes in disguise to learn more about the looking glass. Then it’s off to Naples, Italy. But, ultimately, he reaches a dead end. However, Batman does finally realize that someone is toying with him in regard to this case. Stymied, Batman tries to see if Lambert’s looking glass is any way linked to Ra’s al Ghul. After a brief investigation, Batman sees that it is not. Batman will continue working this case sporadically, for years to come.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 1. Batman and Batgirl take on an escaped Two-Face, who tries to crush them with a giant silver dollar coin.

–FLASHBACK: From Shazam! Vol. 5 #4—and referenced in Red Hood and The Outlaws Vol. 2 #18. The Justice League defeats Queen Bee (Zazzala), leader of the evil organization known as HIVE (Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination).

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Urban Legends #22 Part 4. Batman and Batgirl thwart an unspecified heist. The case gets a write-up in the newspaper.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #982 and Detective Comics #1006-1007. Batman meets The Spectre. The Spectre is the physical embodiment of the wrath and vengeance of God—the single Judeo-Christian/Islamic (Abrahamic) god. In order to complete his divine work on Earth, the Spectre must be held within a human host vessel: Jim Corrigan, a police detective that has recently transferred from the NYPD to the GCPD. Notably, God’s commination is a sentient entity unto itself—a former angel named Aztar, now simply called Wrath. The Spectre shekhinah can only take shape when Wrath combines with Corrigan. Batman also interacts with human host Corrigan and Corrigan’s partner, Detective Tony Martinez, during this episode. However, Batman does not learn that the Spectre and Corrigan are linked. Interestingly, Batman takes a liking to Corrigan but hates the Spectre.

–REFERENCE: In Adventures of the Super Sons #2—originally told in The Brave and The Bold #78. The snake-themed villain known as Copperhead debuts and is defeated by Batman, Batgirl, and Wonder Woman.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #2—and referenced in Action Comics #979-980. The Justice League defeats the tyrant ruler of WarWorld, Mongul.

–REFERENCE: In Deathstroke Vol. 4 #39. The Justice League defeats Ultra-Humanite.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 3—and referenced in Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 2 #10 Part 3. Late August. This item is loosely based on Tim Burton’s Batman film (1989). An escaped Joker trashes the Flugelheim Museum and then celebrates Batman’s faux birthday by holding yet another evil parade in downtown Gotham. Joker dresses up in a garish half Batman-half Joker getup, which is lifted straight from Prince’s “Batdance” music video (from the soundtrack to Burton’s Batman). According to graffiti on a wall, Penguin is involved in the parade as well. Eventually, Batman shuts down the “celebration.” Note that this fun little flashback by creators Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky is meant to be a big meta-nod to all things Batman 1989-related. As such, Batman’s costume is drawn to resemble Michael Keaton’s costume from the movies. At this juncture, Batman would be wearing his blue-and-gray-costume.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 1—and referenced in Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Spectacular Part 10, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1, and Robin Vol. 3 #15. This item is loosely based on Tim Burton’s Batman Returns film (1992). Batman fights Penguin, who rides around in a giant dubber duckie vehicle and enlists the help of the violent Red Triangle Circus Gang. Penguin also unleashes a full battalion of his penguin commandos upon Batman. Eventually, Batman defeats them all, collecting Penguin’s gaudy rubber duckie as a trophy.

–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #978, Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #25, and Superman: Red and Blue #3 Part 1. Having fought side-by-side for a few years now, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman have become very closely bonded. From this point forward, their bond will only grow. This trio—from which almost every important thing that occurs in the DCU will center—will now be known as the Trinity. The Trinity decides to make their secret meeting spot, where they will meet on occasion (invisibly and randomly, moving forward), at the Nevada desert site where they all first met. In their civilian guises, the Trinity also meets for dinner, the first of many they’ll share over the decades to come. Bruce and Diana will rarely miss one of these dates, although a busy Clark sometimes will.

–Detective Comics #1000 Part 5[21]
September 21—the anniversary of the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Batman, as he always does every year, visits Crime Alley on the anniversary of his parents’ deaths. There, he finds Dr. Leslie Thompkins leaving her clinic for the night. As they chat, some masked teens attack, prompting Batman to whoop their butts. Leslie, as she is wont to do, scolds Batman for using excessive violence. Ever the moral compass, Leslie tells Batman that she feels more sorry for him than she does for the poor unconscious boys that lay at their feet.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1000 Part 10. September 21. Batman, as he does every year on the anniversary of his parents’ murders, visits the cemetery where his parents are buried.

–REFERENCE: In Dark Nights: Metal #3. Batman already has emergency codes and alerts for both his Bat-Family and the Justice League, so what’s one more? Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman come up with a simple emergency cipher code in form of an alphabetical Trinity acrostic. If ever in a dire situation, Batman can alert Superman and Wonder Woman using two words that begin with their first names. For instance, “carpe diem” could be used since the first letter of “carpe” equals “C” for “Clark” while the first letter of “diem” equals “D” for “Diana.”

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #999. October 7—Bruce’s birthday. As he does every year on his birthday, Batman runs Program 2.1, placing himself into a virtual world that challenges him by pushing him to his most extreme limits.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Kings of Fear #6. October. Batman rescues an unnamed doctor from a mugger as she is walking home from a film screening.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Prelude to the Wedding Part 2 – Nightwing vs Hush #1. Batman and Robin defeat the debuting mottled super-villain known as Mr. Polka-Dot (aka Polka-Dot Man aka Mr. Polka Dot).

–REFERENCE: In Justice League Vol. 4 #1. The Justice League defeats the immortal Vandal Savage.

–Joker Vol. 2 2021 Annual
November. The GCPD busts Anthony Rigalli (aka Tony Rigatoni aka Riga), a capo in the Falcone mob that is ready to leave the mafia and flip on his pals. It’s great to have Riga in custody, but Commissioner Gordon knows that half his men are on Carmine Falcone’s take and would jump at the chance to silence the rat. Later, Babs talks to her dad about her new job at the library and about how James Junior is getting into a lot of fights back in Chicago. Jim is preoccupied with the Riga situation and can’t give these things the fatherly attention they deserve. (This issue refers to Jim as a “new” commissioner, but he’s been commish for years, so we should ignore that.) Secretly working for Joker, Catman tries to rob a candy factory, but he’s stopped by Batman and Batgirl. (Note that Batman is depicted wearing the wrong costume in this issue.) Gordon, a drunk Harvey Bullock, and a bunch of corrupt cops watch the fight unfold. The next day, Gordon fires dozens of officers that he knows are crooked. Shortly thereafter, Joker meets with Killer Croc, Penguin, and Black Mask, trying to form an alliance. Penguin notes correctly that Joker has only pulled pop-crime pranks and small time heists in the past year. Joker responds by revealing that he’s successfully recruited all the cops that Gordon fired to be their new henchmen. Not long afterward, Batman and Batgirl come face-to-face with Joker and his ex-cop goon squad. While Batman chases Joker down to Blüdhaven, Gordon and the GCPD shoot their way through their former co-workers into a warehouse filled with piñatas. Inside each piñata is a corpse, signifying Joker’s return to mass murder. One of the victims is Riga.

–REFERENCE: In Dark Nights: Metal #2 and Batman Giant #6 (Batman: Universe #2). The Justice League learns of the existence and location of Gorilla City, a cloaked Central African metropolis (near the Atlantic Ocean) filled with talking telepathic apes. They defeat Gorilla Grodd, ruthless terrorist that hails from Gorilla City. The JL meets ruler of Gorilla City, King Solovar, and researches all they can about the denizens of Gorilla City.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Kings of Fear #6. Batman busts Sammy “Scalpel” Sanchez, a crook who is also an expert knife handler.

–REFERENCE: In Superman: Red and Blue #1 Part 1—originally told in World’s Finest Comics #192-193.[22] While rescuing a passenger train in the Central European dictatorship of Lubania, Superman is attacked by the Nazi-esque Lubanian military and shot with a synthetic Kryptonite ray. Superman becomes a powerless fugitive in the Right Wing nation. The Man of Steel attempts to flee the country, but gets recaptured by Colonel Koslov, head of Lubanian secret police. Eventually, Batman parachutes into Lubania only to get captured as well. After more than a week straight of brutal torture, our heroes finally escape. In Washington DC, Batman and Superman defeat Koslov’s Lubanian metahumans Steelman and Cowlmask.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: The World Part 4. Batman has been keeping tabs on Cesare, an Italian boy that he saved in Rome a few years ago. Unfortunately for Cesare, his father is a mob boss. After his dad is murdered by a hitman, Cesare’s mom commits suicide, leaving poor Cesare as an orphan. Concerned, Batman travels to Rome to check in on the boy.

–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 #92. Batman, Robin, and Batgirl deal with chaos associated with two straight days of blackouts in the city. When Robin disobeys Batman’s orders and charges into a violent mob, he gets brutalized and is only saved by Batgirl and the timely intervention of Alfred in the Batplane. Back at Wayne Manor, Alfred patches up the badly injured Robin and stabilizes him in bed. Batman is about to charge in and chew out the Boy Wonder, but Alfred stops him, ordering the Dark Knight to remove his cowl and show Dick some much needed love. Batman complies.

–REFERENCE: In Titans Vol. 3 #11 and Teen Titans Vol. 6 #8. Batman isn’t directly a part of this item, but he definitely secretly monitors the situation. Deathstroke and his son Ravager (Grant Wilson) attack the Teen Titans (Robin, Speedy, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and new member Omen). Thanks to unstable new powers given to him by HIVE, Ravager has a heart attack during battle and drops dead. Deathstroke takes his son’s corpse and leaves the scene, blaming the Teen Titans for his death. Batman monitors all of this via hidden camera.

–REFERENCE: In Doomsday Clock #2-5 and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #13-14. Bruce meets ruthless billionaire industrialist Simon Stagg. They play tennis, and Stagg is furious when he loses. Thus, Bruce learns how vindictive, manipulative, and plain evil Stagg can be, as the tycoon blocks deals intended to help the people of Gotham, costing Wayne Enterprises millions of dollars in the process. Stagg will continue to interfere with Wayne Enterprises deals for years to come. Bruce (as Batman) also meets and befriends element-altering superhero Metamorpho (Rex Mason), teaming with him on an unspecified mission. Out of love for his fiancée Sapphire Stagg, Metamorpho works for his arch-rival Simon Stagg (Sapphire’s father). Batman and Metamorpho will grow closer over the years to come, and the public will eventually come to regard Metamorpho as one of Batman’s primary allies outside of the Justice League and Bat-Family. Unfortunately for Batman, he won’t know the secret truth behind Metamorpho. Like Kirk Langstrom, Metamorpho—along with Metamorpho’s partner Element Girl (Urania Blackwell) and his arch-rivals Simon Stagg, Doc Dread, The Prosecutor, and Stingaree—is a secret agent working for the US Government’s Department of Metahuman Affairs (DMA). Despite maintaining a public origin story about having gotten his powers via magickal means while exploring in Egypt, Metamorpho, like the others, may have been given his powers by the DMA. It’s unclear whether or not Metamorpho’s Egyptian origins are legitimate. It’s also unclear if Metamorpho knows that his arch-rivals are also being handled by the DMA.

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<<< Rebirth Era Year 1 <<< ||| >>> Rebirth Era Years 6-10 >>>

  1. [1]COLLIN COLSHER: Don’t forget, the Rebirth Era version of “Long Halloween” has been compressed from a full year to three-and-a-half months. Instead of going from Halloween to Halloween, it goes from Halloween until Valentine’s Day. Though, I’ve still tried to adhere to the holidays as the key points of action for this arc since it revolves specifically around a serial killer that only strikes on holidays. Also note that 2021’s Batman: The Long Halloween Special #1 is a non-canon coda to the “Long Halloween” arc, 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 #1 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.
  2. [2]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.
  3. [3]COLLIN COLSHER: As mentioned above, writer Tom King has stated on Twitter, “Batman: Killing Time is an in-continuity Batman story. It takes place in the time between ‘Year One’ and Dick Grayson becoming Robin. Before Batman and Catwoman first hooked up.” Combined with narrative hints in the text, King’s comment necessitates the awkward but necessary placement of Killing Time right here. Tweets aren’t canon, but they can help guide us when building chronologies. Don’t forget, however, that King’s track record with continuity is extremely shaky. King has often said in interviews that he struggles writing continuity comics with other creators. In an Off Panel podcast interview in 2022, King acknowledged how many of his titles seem slightly (or sometimes majorly) out-of-synch with canon, stating: “I don’t think of any of my books as being out of continuity. I think of them—like [Marvel’s] Daredevil: Born Again [by Frank Miller, 1986]. You do not see Born Again immediately reflected in Avengers. You don’t see Captain America all sad about the flag in Avengers #250 or whatever it was, the next day. But that had happened, right?” Basically, King writes the way he wants to write, with little to no regard for the input of others, previous story points, or prior characterization, with the idea that later creators might canonize some version of his works (if they want to). To say the very least, it’s a very rough, and somewhat selfish, way of writing in a shared universe.
  4. [4]COLLIN COLSHER / DYLAN ROBINSON: Certainly long tights or long sleeves with boots would be warmer than a speedo and pixie shoes, so we could surmise that Dick has a costume for warmer weather and a costume for colder weather. While there’s a nice logic to the idea, nothing has ever been specifically stated about this, and in fact, it’s been fairly clear in the Rebirth/Infinite Frontier continuity that the costumes aren’t really meant to signify cold weather, instead rather to simply point toward a particular timeline era. This is definitely a personal headcanon decision.
  5. [5]COLLIN COLSHER: Robin & Batman #1-3 by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen (2021) tells a tale of Dick’s final days of training prior to debuting as Robin. However, it’s in the running for most out-of-continuity story ever. Robin not only debuts after all the other pre-teen and teen sidekicks, he debuts after Elongated Man and Firestorm have joined the Justice League. Plus, this arc double-functions as a Teen Titans origin story, with the team going on its first missions alongside the JL, immediately upon Robin meeting his comrades. This story doesn’t fit on any primary timeline of any era. It’s a wholly Elseworlds-type of yarn.
  6. [6]COLLIN COLSHER: Robin is undeniably a part of this item. Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #6 shows Robin present via flashback, while Batman Vol. 3 #79 specifically mentions Robin being present. Confusion arises due to the fact that Bruce and Selina have a running joke where they talk about the two separate times they met for the first time—on the street (a reference to Frank Miller’s “Year One,” the first Modern Age meeting between Bruce and Selina) and on the boat (a reference to Batman #1, the first Golden/Silver Age meeting between Bruce and Selina). In Batman Vol. 3 #79, Selina explains this contradiction, saying that the first time they actually met was on the street. But the boat happened “later,” she says, “[after] you’d been Batman for a while. You had the sidekick and the mask and the belt and all of that.” Writer Tom King, who already has a dubious track record when it comes to matters of continuity, only further confused matters, stating on Twitter, “I struggle with [knowing whether or not the boat scene occurs earlier on the timeline sans Robin versus later with Robin’s involvement]. In my mind, Batman spent years fighting all the rogues before he met Robin, but I know in that first Catwoman boat appearance in 1941, Robin is there… blame it on Superboy Prime banging on the wall.” King also stated on Twitter, “Batman: Killing Time is an in-continuity Batman story. It takes place in the time between “Year One” and Dick Grayson becoming Robin. Before Batman and Catwoman first hooked up.” These comments, combined with Selina’s explanatory dialogue, paint a chronology where Selina debuts as Catwoman prior to this boat scene, and then Robin debuts, as we have demonstrated on our timeline here. The idea behind the two different first meetings is that Bruce and Selina met for the first time on the street, but it was on the boat that they first truly fell in love.
  7. [7]JACK JAMES: Mindy Newell’s Catwoman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular story is set before Batman Vol. 3 Annual #2 Part 1, seeing how in Newell’s story, Catwoman she mentions not knowing Batman’s identity yet but intends to find out: “who is under that suit… watching me… two can play at that game… even if it kills me.” Thus, it actually ties in nicely into Batman Vol. 3 Annual #2 Part 1 as its direct precursor.
  8. [8]COLLIN COLSHER: A note about these Looney Tunes-inspired characters. On the Rebirth Era Earth-0 timeline, thanks to writer Tom King, the slapstick Looney Tunes characters have all been reverse-anthropomorphized (or de-toon-ified) into grim-and-gritty versions of themselves, all of whom hang out at a Gotham dive bar called Porky’s—as we see in Batman/Elmer Fudd #1 and Batman Vol. 3 Annual #2 Part 1, and as referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #67. Note that all of the DC/Looney Tunes comics published in 2017-2018 are OUT-OF-CONTINUITY on the Rebirth Era Earth-0 timeline EXCEPT FOR Batman/Elmer Fudd #1.
  9. [9]COLLIN COLSHER: Throughout most of our timeline, many of the Darkseid appearances we’ll see will be mere emanations/avatars of his True Form, but more on that much later. However, if you are interested in learning more about the New Gods as “living ideas” right now, check out this blog post. Notably, Darkseid’s True Form, whether he is aware of it or not, is connected/linked to the Great Darkness. Justice League Incarnate #5 reveals the Empty Hand as the “right hand” of the Great Darkness and Darkseid as the “left hand” of the Great Darkness.
  10. [10]COLLIN COLSHER: Note that this Justice League debut is a highly-retconned Rebirth/Infinite Frontier version of the original New 52 version. Even the visuals from the flashbacks should be taken loosely (primarily in regard to costumery). Many folks regard Geoff Johns’ “Justice League: Origin” as having been retconned to have absolutely nothing to do with the original JL’s debut, instead placing it later—around Year 13 as a signifier of the start of New 52 era reference material on the Rebirth timeline. Since there’s really nothing definitive in any comic book that lets us know exactly how this story fits into the Rebirth Era, it’s really up to your own personal headcanon. However, Priest’s Justice League Vol. 3 #38 has Cyborg claim to have founded the team—a claim that Simon Baz shits on to Cyborg’s face with the diss: “you were there.” This tells us that Johns’ “Justice League: Origin” does indeed go here, albeit in highly-altered Rebirth/Infinite Frontier form. Notably, Cyborg is much younger than in the original, and he doesn’t stick around as a team member afterward. Cyborg Vol. 3 #1 tells us definitively that Cyborg is a teenager when he joins the JL.
  11. [11]COLLIN COLSHER: Green Arrow 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 Part 2 contains a two-page non-story section called “Lessons in Friendship with Oliver Queen!” that shows various copy-pasted images from Green Arrow comics from yesteryear, including a few panels of Green Arrow interacting with Batman from the Silver and Modern Ages. This section, which isn’t listed in the table of contents, is meant only to be a brief look back at old Green Arrow stories in celebration of the character’s 80th anniversary. As such, we should’t take this section as an indicator of canonization.
  12. [12]COLLIN COLSHER: The idea of Batman having anti-JL contingency weapons originally comes from Mark Waid’s JLA “Tower of Babel” story arc (2000). The anti-JL contingency briefcases come directly from Geoff Johns’ Forever Evil (2013-2014). Peter Tomasi references the briefcases in Superman Vol. 4 #37 (2018) and references “Tower of Babel” in Challenge of the Super Sons #9 (2021). Scott Snyder’s Batman Vol. 2 “Endgame” arc (2014), Bryan Hitch’s Justice League Vol. 3 “Legacy” arc (2017), and Peter Tomasi’s Super Sons #16 (2018) all include additional anti-JL contingency weapons as well. For the purposes of our timeline, I’ve mashed all the weapons together in order to be as inclusive as possible.
  13. [13]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.
  14. [14]COLLIN COLSHER: Note that Strange Adventures Vol. 5 is a Black Label title, meaning that its canonicity could go either way. Writer Tom King has even said that it’s really up to the reader or other creators as to whether or not Strange Adventures is canon. Since there is nothing within the arc that seems to contradict continuity, I’ve regarded it as canon. Bear this in mind as you regard future instances of this title.
  15. [15]COLLIN COLSHER: The 5th Dimension is a magickal plane that is home to powerful djinns, elementals, and imps. Notable residents are Bat-Mite, Mxyzptlk, and Yz. According to superstring theory, the 5th Dimension—being the next dimensional layer beyond the 4th Dimension of time—is basically an expression for derived physical quantity in terms of alternate reality. It is, in essence, a fundamental underlying concept of multiverse theory. Superstring theory, multiverse theory, and M theory state that the macroscopic world has three spatial dimensions, a 4th Dimension of time, and six other imperceptible (possibly microscopic) quantum dimensions, plus an 11th Dimension at the definitively microscopic scale. (There are likely even more unknown dimensions.) The fictive world of the DCU plays with superstring theory, treating the insensible quantum dimensions (those beyond time) as the most out-there magickal sci-fi alternate realities possible.
  16. [16]COLLIN COLSHER: One of Hawkman’s prior incarnations was Katar Hol of the Thanagarian Hawk-Police (aka the Wingmen). This incarnation occurred at a point well before his days with the Justice League. In fact, it occurred prior to the late 19th century, which is where our oft-resurrected warrior first became his current self, Hawkman Carter Hall. In regard to Hawkman’s secret identity, he uses “Carter Hall” on Earth and “Katar Hol” (the same ancestral name of his prior incarnation) on Thanagar.
  17. [17]COLLIN COLSHER: In current continuity, the only example of Batman being specifically being captured and made into an attempted ritual sacrifice (prior to 2022) is during his Omega Sanction time-jaunt when the Black Glove tries to kill him. Even the Dynamic Duo’s major cult opponents—the cult of the Mad Monk, Kobra cult, Church of Blood, Religion of Crime, Order of St. Dumas, Deacon Blackfire’s cult, False Face Society, etc—won’t really attempt to sacrifice them. Yes, they will definitely try to kill Batman and Robin, but not via ritualistic sacrifice. In fact, while there are plenty of instances of Batman and Robin dealing with cults sacrificing other people, there are only a few prior-continuity instances of Batman and/or Robin themselves winding up captive and in a ritualistic sacrifice situation (aside from the aforementioned Black Glove incident and Detective Comics #107). Theses instances include Batman #142 Part 3 (versus Dr. Hartley’s cult), The Brave and The Bold #98 (versus Clorinda and Enoch’s coven of witches), Batman #271 (versus a Vedic Agni-worshipping cult), and Batman Annual #27 and Detective Comics Annual #11 (versus La Saligia).
  18. [18]NICO / COLLIN COLSHER: Batman Vol. 3 #127 implies that the start of Zur-En-Arrh’s creation of Failsafe is in close proximity to Batman’s creation of anti-JL contingency plans. While Batman blacks out every time Zur-En-Arrh works on Failsafe, Failsafe is essentially Batman’s subconsious contingency plan for himself. Notably, the full creation of Failsafe will be a long process that takes many years. Because Chip Zdarsky’s narrative surrounding Failsafe is a bit vague when it comes to details (and because the Failsafe-building process takes so long), its origin could technically first occur at any moment following “I am a Gun” (Zdarsky’s Zur-En-Arrh arc), even a few years down the road. However, it makes the most sense to go here, near to “I am a Gun.”
  19. [19]COLLIN COLSHER: Matthew Rosenberg and Francesco Francavilla’s amazing second feature to Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #1-9 shows the comedic misadventures of Joker alongside his sidekicks Gaggy, the talking ape known as Jackanapes, and the snow-themed Jack Frost. Unfortunately, these madcap backups, as brilliant as they may be, are all non-canon. However, Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #4 meta-reveals that these second feature Joker tales are actually comic books that exist on Earth-0. Furthermore, Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #10 goes so far as to include one of these Joker comics as part of its main narrative. So these silly stories are comics within the world of the comics. Pretty neat!
  20. [20]COLLIN COLSHER: The flashback from Robin Vol. 3 #4 that depicts this famous shirtless desert duel from “Saga of Ra’s al Ghul” shows Batman down-and-out with a sword impaled in his chest. This iconic image is actually only from Neal Adams’ cover to Batman #244. Nowhere in the original narrative does Batman actually get stabbed like that. But it’s now been canonized thanks to this flashback.
  21. [21]COLLIN COLSHER: Part 5 of the 1000th issue of ‘tec is a killer Denny O’Neil story that acts as not only an homage to the Silver Age/Bronze Age, but continues O’Neil’s Silver Age/Bronze Age run from back in the day. As such, it is merely quasi-canonical and, as stated, requires some re-jiggering/retconning to fit on our Rebirth Era timeline. Artist Steve Epting draws a Silver Age version of Leslie Thompkins, one who is very elderly/matronly. We have to ignore this look since Rebirth Era Leslie is way younger and looks completely different.
  22. [22]COLLIN COLSHER: This is a weird John Ridley reference in Superman: Red and Blue #1, which specifically says that Superman was in Lubania during the Soviet regime, placing it at the latest in 1989. Superman would have been like eight or nine-years-old at that point. And if this adventure, based off of WFC #192-193, occurred when it originally did (in the 1970s), Superman wouldn’t have even been born yet. Ridley also specifically says that Superman and Batman were held captive in Lubania for “eight months,” which is also bizarre. There’s really nowhere on our timeline where Superman and Batman could be MIA for that long. Plus, the original story from WFC #192-193 only spanned a couple weeks, so I’m not sure why Ridley changed that aspect. A fanwank could be that Superman and Batman time-travel to 60s, 70s, or 80s Lubania (which would conceivably allow for eight months of imprisonment if our heroes then returned to the moment right after which they departed). This fanwank keeps all of Ridley’s narrative intact, but it’s big and messy, and likely not Ridley’s intent. And with Clark interviewing an elder Koslov in the main action of Superman: Red and Blue #1, time-travel really doesn’t seem to make sense. Therefore, I’ve just ignored the Soviet mention (keep it a simple “authoritarian state” or treat it as the last remnant of an ex-Soviet regime) and retcon the “eight months” to “eight days”.

19 Responses to Rebirth Years Two to Five

  1. Jon Doe says:

    Something you might want to add to Dick’s time in college is that he acquires an advanced degree in forensic science, as mentioned in Nightwing Vol. 4 #43.

    • This is bad throwaway line from Michael Moreci. Anyone writing Nightwing should know damn well that he is a college dropout. Now, it’s possible that Dick, a law student, is focusing on forensics (although “advanced forensics” doesn’t sound like an undergraduate degree). In any case, he could simply be referencing his time spent studying with Batman—the highest “degree” one could get, anyway. I’ll def add a note about this, though. Thanks!

  2. Ryan Angelastro says:

    Where’s that Batman story where Joker poisoned Gotham’s fish and tried to have it copyrighted? And can it be replaced with the Animated Series Episode with the same plot?

    • I have the Laughing Fish plot in Year Seven. The Animated Series episode is actually a mash-up of “Five-Way Revenge” (Batman #251) and “The Laughing Fish/Sign of the Joker” (Batman #475-476). Since I don’t think “Five-Way Revenge” has been referenced (yet), you could theoretically substitute the BTAS episode in your headcanon. But, generally speaking, when DC writers canonize things, they are almost always referencing the comics—unless of course they are referencing something that ONLY appeared on TV.

  3. Dylan says:

    Shouldn’t Wonder Woman’s debut be placed earlier, since post Doomsday Clock she’s established as having originated during WW2?

  4. Jack James says:

    Where exactly do we get the reference that the Holiday killings still happened here? i can’t find it

    • Detective Comics #1000 Part 8 by Geoff Johns and Kelley Jones. If the Holiday killings happened, then they still had to occur over the course of twelve months, and there’s no reason they wouldn’t/shouldn’t dovetail with Two-Face’s origin as they did originally.

  5. Dylan Robinson says:

    Obviously, your mileage may vary, but King made a twitter comment earlier this week about how Batman: Killing Time is a canon story set early in Bruce’s career that’ll have an effect on an upcoming plot- specifically, that it’s set between the end of Year One and Bruce meeting Dick Grayson.

    Obviously, this presents some problems with King’s old stuff, given that King accidentally built a timeline where Dick had to be recruited during Year One. That said, I don’t mind the idea of being able to move Dick’s recruitment out of Year One.

    • Thanks for the heads up, Dylan! I’ll wait until this one wraps as well before giving it any thought. My dream of dreams would be to never ever have to read another Tom King story for the rest of my life.

      But to your point, it should be noted that King has given incorrect information in interviews (notably on the Word Balloon Comics Podcast) and on twitter before. So take anything he says with a grain of salt.

  6. Dylan Robinson says:

    I can’t recall if I mentioned this already, but the preview art for Dark Crisis #0 indicates that the issue is recanonizing the Appelaxian origin for the Justice League, though a nearby statue also depicts the fight with Darkseid, so who knows! We’ll have to see what the dialogue says when the book comes out.

    • Nice! Very much looking forward to Dark Crisis! Williamson has been on a roll lately.

      • And his roll kinda flew off a cliff and plummeted into a ditch with #75 lol. I’m still looking forward to Dark Crisis, but the prelude felt like an editorial mandated let’s get the JL off the chess board so we can do the next thing. With one issue, sadly, my expectations have lowered.

  7. Milo says:

    “Batman – One Bad Day: Two-Face” features a reference to “The Long Halloween.” Also, you have “The Last Crime In Gotham” from Detective Comics #1000 as a reference to “The Long Halloween”, so should it be included in the future section?

    • Hi Milo! The “Last Crime in Gotham” is just a daydream that Batman has while blowing out his birthday cake. It’s not an actual canonical story. And yes, One Bad Day: Two Face does nod to Long Halloween, but not in any way that adds substance to the story. Since we already have plenty of strong references to Long Halloween, and because I have a feeling that One Bad Day: Two Face could wind up being non-canon, I’ve opted not to include it as a reference for the Long Halloween here.

  8. Drive a Sandwich says:

    In Rebirth Year One, Dick is refered as twelve years old in his origin story. Then in Rebirth Year Two, there is a flashback that says “Bruce and Alfred celebrate Dick’s birthday, surprising him with a cake.”, but only four entries later, Dick is still “twelve-year-old (soon to be thirteen) “.

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