Batman Vol 1 1
From DC Database
Appearing in "The Legend of the Batman - Who He is, and How he Came to Be"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Martha Wayne (In flashback only)
- Thomas Wayne (In flashback only)
Villains:
- Joe Chill (In flashback only)
Other Characters:
- None
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "The Legend of the Batman - Who He is, and How he Came to Be"
Origin Of The Batman
Fifteen years ago, a mugger named Joe Chill accosts Thomas and Martha Wayne and their young son Bruce. He shoots Thomas and Martha and leaves Bruce to survive. Bruce vows to avenge his parents and spends the following years developing his mind and body. One evening, while sitting in his father's study, a huge bat flies into the window. Believing it to be an omen, Bruce decides to drape himself in the trappings of a bat, and thus the Batman is born.
Appearing in "The Joker"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- Unknown
Synopsis for "The Joker"
The Joker
Batman and Robin must fight against the Joker, who first begins his reign of terror.
Appearing in "The Giants of Hugo Strange"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- None
Villains:
Other Characters:
- None
Locations:
Items:
- Unknown
Vehicles:
- Unknown
Synopsis for "The Giants of Hugo Strange"
The Giants of Hugo Strange
Professor Hugo Strange returns with a growth formula that changes asylum inmates into 10-foot tall "man-monsters" that wreak havoc on Gotham City. Batman is captured and injected with the serum, but manages to escape and create an antidote. Batman then pilots the Batplane and kills many of Strange's henchman and some of the monsters with machine-gun fire. He also manages to hang one of the monsters with his Batrope. He finally kills the last monster by throwing tear gas pullets while it is atop a skyscraper, causing it to fall to its death.
Appearing in "The Cat"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- None
Villains:
Other Characters:
- Martha Travers
- Denny Travers
- Doctor Wallace
- Roger
Locations:
Items:
- Unknown
Vehicles:
- Luxury cruise ship
Synopsis for "The Cat"
The Cat
Batman and Robin encounter a female jewel thief named only the Cat. They stop her from stealing an emerald necklace, but the smitten Batman allows her escape.
Appearing in "The Joker Returns"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "The Joker Returns"
The Joker Returns"
Two days after the Joker is captured, he manages to escape and begins to cause more trouble. The reign ends after he accidentally stabs himself while fighting Batman. He is taken away in an ambulance and survives.
Notes
- The first five issues of this title were published quarterly on a seasonal basis.
- Batman chronologically appeared last in Batman #12. His actual last appearance was in Detective Comics #39. He appears next in Detective Comics #40.
- Hugo Strange appeared last in Detective Comics #36. He appears next in Detective Comics #46.
- James Gordon chronologically appeared last in Batman #32. He appears next in New York World's Fair Comics #2.
- This issue features the first appearance of the Joker. The Joker makes a chronologically earlier appearance as the Red Hood as revealed in flashback in Detective Comics #168. He appears next in Batman #2.
- This issue is the first appearance of Catwoman. She makes a chronologically earlier appearance in Batman #52 and Brave and the Bold #197. She appears next in Batman #2.
- Robin chronologically appeared last in Batman #12. His actual last appearance was in Detective Comics #39. He appears next in Detective Comics #40.
- "The Giants of Hugo Strange" is also known as "Professor Hugo Strange and the Monters".
- The asylum featured in "The Giants of Hugo Strange" is never identified, however it is safe to assume that it exists as the Earth-Two counterpart to the famous Arkham Asylum.
- The plot from "The Joker" is re-imagined in the 2005 graphic novel Batman: The Man Who Laughs.
Reprints
- "The Legend of the Batman - Who He is, and How he Came to Be" was originally printed in Detective Comics #33. The splash page introducing this story was reprinted from Detective Comics #34. This story is also reprinted in Famous First Edition F-5, Millennium Edition: Batman #1 and Batman: The Dark Knight Archives, Volume 1.
- "The Joker" is reprinted in Batman From the 30s to the 70s, Famous First Edition F-5, Millennium Edition: Batman #1 and Batman: The Dark Knight Archives, Volume 1.
- "The Giants of Hugo Strange" is reprinted in The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told, Famous First Edition F-5, Millennium Edition: Batman #1, Batman Chronicles, Volume 1 and Batman: The Dark Knight Archives, Volume 1.
- "The Cat" is reprinted in Famous First Edition F-5, Batman Chronicles, Volume 1, Millennium Edition: Batman #1 and Batman: The Dark Knight Archives, Volume 1.
- "The Joker Returns" is reprinted in Famous First Edition F-5, Batman Chronicles, Volume 1, Millennium Edition: Batman #1 and Batman: The Dark Knight Archives, Volume 1.
Trivia
- This issue includes a two-page filler strip by Paul Gustavson entitled "Major Bigsbee an' Bots". This story is also reprinted in Famous First Edition F-5 and Millennium Edition: Batman #1.
- This issue includes a feature-text biography on Bob Kane, as written by editor Whitney Ellsworth.
- This issue includes a two-page text story by George Shute and Raymond Perry entitled "Two Aces". This story is reprinted in Famous First Edition F-5 and Millennium Edition: Batman #1.
- This issue includes a two-page humor strip by Ted Raye entitled "Ginger Snap". Ted Raye is a pen named occasionally used by Bob Kane.
- This issue includes a one-page "Fast Facts" feature by George Papp.
- The Catwoman is referred to only as the Cat in this issue.
Related Articles
- Batman image gallery
- Batman appearances list
- Batman quotes page
- Catwoman image gallery
- Catwoman appearances list
- Hugo Strange appearances list
- James Gordon appearances list
- Joker image gallery
- Joker appearances list
- Joker quotes page
- Robin image gallery
- Robin appearances list
- Robin quotes page
See Also
Recommended Reading
Links and References
- Batman article at Wikipedia
- Batman article at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
- Batman article at Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics
- Batman article at Supermanica
- Catwoman article at Wikipedia
- Catwoman article at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
- Joker article at Wikipedia
- Joker article at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
- Joker article at Supermanica
- Joker appearances index at Mike's Amazing World of DC
- Robin article at Wikipedia
- Robin article at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
- Robin article at Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics
- Robin article at Supermanica
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Bruce Wayne (Earth-Two)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Catwoman/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Catwoman (Earth-Two)/Appearances > Selina Kyle (Earth-Two)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Hugo Strange/Appearances > Hugo Strange (New Earth)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > James Gordon/Appearances > James Gordon (Earth-Two)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Joker/Appearances > Joker (Earth-Two)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Joseph Chilton (Earth-Two)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Martha Wayne/Appearances > Martha Wayne (Earth-Two)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Richard Grayson (Earth-Two)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Thomas Wayne (Earth-Two)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Item Appearances > Joker Venom/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Location Appearances > Gotham City/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Location Appearances > Gotham City/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Location Appearances > Gotham City/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Location Appearances > Gotham City Police Headquarters/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Location Appearances > Gotham County/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Location Appearances > Gotham County/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Location Appearances > Gotham County/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Location Appearances > Gotham County/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Location Appearances > Park Row/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Location Appearances > Wayne Manor/Appearances
DC Database > Characters > Characters by Association > Batman > Batman Supporting Cast
DC Database > Comics
DC Database > Comics > Comic Categories > Batman Vol 1
DC Database > Comics > Comics by Era > Golden-Age
DC Database > Comics > Comics by Era > Golden-Age > 1940
DC Database > Comics > Comics by Era > Golden-Age > 1940 > 1940, Spring
DC Database > DC Staff > Cover Artists > Bob Kane/Cover Artist
DC Database > DC Staff > Editors > Whitney Ellsworth/Editor
DC Database > DC Staff > Executive Editor > Whitney Ellsworth/Executive Editor
DC Database > DC Staff > Inkers > Jerry Robinson/Inker
DC Database > DC Staff > Inkers > Sheldon Moldoff/Inker
DC Database > DC Staff > Letterers > Jerry Robinson/Letterer
DC Database > DC Staff > Letterers > Sheldon Moldoff/Letterer
DC Database > DC Staff > Pencilers > Bob Kane/Penciler
DC Database > DC Staff > Writers > Bill Finger/Writer
