Back in the early ages of comic books, Detective Comics was where some of our favorites got their start! How much do you know about the infancy of color comic books and these awesome artists? Let’s find out!
1. In issue #235 (in 1956) of Detective Comics, we learn about Batman’s illusive origins (at this point) where it turns out Thomas Wayne, Bruce’s father, was the original Batman. During the trial of Joe Chill who ultimately slayed Bruce’s parents, he wears the Thomas Wayne version of the Batman outfit to scare a confession from Chill’s Crimelord boss.
2. In 1987, in issue #572, Batman actually works side-by-side with Sherlock Holmes in an effort to thwart an attempt on the Queen of England’s life. Trust me, you’ll want to check this issue out.
3. 1939’s issue #27 is the very first time we find out the ultimate reveal all of us love — when we see Batman is actually Bruce Wayne. It’s still just as cool a read then as it feels now all these years later.
(DC Comics)
4. Currently, of the Detective Comics openers, Batman holds reign with (estimated) around 6500 appearances since his inception in 1939.
5. The first villain in costume that Batman ever went toe-to-toe with wasn’t anyone the likes of us fans would be incredibly familiar with. As it turns out, the first costumed foe that Batman faced was one by the name of The Monk. Seems weird, right? Of all the types of folks you’d think he’d be fighting first — it dang sure didn’t cross my mind it’d be a Monk!
6. If you’re into some ‘Inside Baseball’ kind of whodunits when it comes to comic books, look no further than the mystery of who wrote the short Batman origin story in the beginning of Detective Comics issue #33. Of all the writers in the issue, as well as artists, not a single person is credited or has any idea who wrote it.
(DC Comics)
7. Whenever a Batman issue didn’t have time to come out, it was often filled (in the early years) by Detective Comics featuring The Boy Commandos, Roy Raymond and The Martian Manhunter. Now, eventually Martian Manhunter would get his own series on another flagship, but it helped keep the Batman Detective Comics from getting too rushed in the very beginning of Bats’ popularity.
8. Detective Comics wouldn’t see a re-launch until September of 2011 when it was added to The New 52 line-up. Before the decided re-launch, the series had only seen a three month hiatus in Detective Comics back in 2009 before starting to flesh out the new scheduling in 2011 as part of The New 52.
9. There would be 26 whole issues of Detective Comics featuring other characters before Batman would ever make his first appearance. How bad do you think those previous folks felt for being overtaken by the Bat in popularity?
(DC Comics)
10. Robin was eventually introduced to the Batman issues of Detective Comics in spring of 1940 in hopes it would kinda soften The Dark Knight’s image and make the comics more appealing to a younger audience.
