Batman's career timeline

This is the timeline of Batman's career. It covers his debut in 1939 until the present.

1939
(comics)|Commissioner James Gordon]]. (DETECTIVE COMICS #27)
 * May: Batman makes his debut as well as his ally, [[James Gordon

recurring Batman villain. Meanwhile, Batman's utility belt is first spotlighted. (DETECTIVE COMICS #29)
 * July: Dr. Death debuts as the first

introduced as Batman battles The Monk. Meanwhile, the Bat-Gyro, a precursor to the Bat-Plane, and Batarang are introduced. (DETECTIVE COMICS #31)
 * September: Bruce Wayne's fiancée, actress Julie Madison, is

him along with his ally, Dala, by shooting them with silver bullets. (DETECTIVE COMICS #32)
 * October: In order to end The Monk's reign of terror, Batman destroys

Thomas and Martha Wayne (Bruce's parents) are recounted. (DETECTIVE COMICS #33)
 * November: In "The Batman and How He Came to Be", the murders of

1940
Strange]]. (DETECTIVE COMICS #36)
 * February: Batman battles the evil [[Hugo Strange|Professor Hugo

(DETECTIVE COMICS #37)
 * March: Batman dons night-vision goggles for the first time.

Tony Zucco, Dick Grayson joins Batman's war on crime as Robin the Boy Wonder. (DETECTIVE COMICS #38)
 * April: After his trapeze-artists parents are murdered by gangster

referred to as "The Cat") debut in the launch of Batman's own, self- titled series. Meanwhile, a Bat-plane that's armed with a machine gun is also unveiled. In another tale, Batman guns down the giants of Hugo Strange; hereafter, Batman vows to reject the usage of firearms (BATMAN #1)
 * Spring: The Joker and Catwoman (then,

Clayface. (DETECTIVE COMICS #40)
 * June: Thespian Basil Karlo takes on the role of serial murderer

(nevertheless) winds up helping him wrap up. (DETECTIVE COMICS #41)
 * July: Robin tackles his first solo adventure/case, which Batman

debut of World's Best Comics (later becoming World's Finest Comics) with the publication of its second issue. (WORLD'S BEST COMICS #1)
 * Fall: Catwoman first appears in costume (BATMAN
 * 1) 3). Meanwhile, Batman shares top-billing with Superman in the

1941

 * Winter: Batman's home base, Gotham City is first named. (BATMAN
 * 4)

through a secret tunnel beneth Wayne Manor to a barn concealing Batman's roadster, referred to as "The Batmobile". (DETECTIVE COMICS #48)
 * February: Hinting at the Batcave to come, Batman and Robin race

of his playboy lifestyle. Meanwhile, using the name Portia Storme, Julie dons a Robin costume as the Dynamic Duo battle Clayface. (DETECTIVE COMICS #48)
 * March: Julie Madison calls off her engagement to Bruce Wayne because

(DETECTIVE COMICS #50)
 * April: Robin acquires a pair of rocket-powered roller skates.

bat-headed battering ram. (BATMAN #5)
 * Spring: The Batmobile roars into action while sporting its own

(BATMAN #6)
 * Summer: Bruce Wayne's latest fling, Linda Page first appears.

is introduced. (WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #3)
 * Fall: The fear-mongering villain, Scarecrow

COMICS #58)
 * December: The Penguin is introduced. (DETECTIVE

1942
(DETECTIVE COMICS #60)
 * February: The Bat-Signal summons Batman for the first time.

his devilish alter-ego Two-Face make their debuts. (DETECTIVE COMICS #66)
 * August: District Attorney Harvey "Apollo" Kent (later "Dent") and

Batman's "secret underground hangars." (BATMAN #12)
 * August-September: A cavern beneath Wayne Manor is revealed as

1943
Tweedledum]] first appear. (DETECTIVE COMICS #74)
 * April: Rogues [[Tweedledum and Tweedledee (comics)|Tweedledee and

family valet. (BATMAN #16)
 * April-May: Alfred is introduced as the Wayne

(comics)|Cavalier]]. (DETECTIVE COMICS #81)
 * November: Batman and Robin encounter the swashbuckling [[Cavalier

1944
the first time. (DETECTIVE COMICS #83)
 * January: Batman's undergrounded lair is called "The Bat Cave" for

their first time-travel adventure. (BATMAN #24)
 * August-September: Batman and Robin journey to ancient Rome in

Joker and Penguin join forces to take on Batman. (BATMAN #25)
 * October-November: In the first major Batman villain team-up, the

1945
Alfred to enjoy some winter fun. (BATMAN #26)
 * December 1944-January: The Bat-Sled enables the Dynamic Duo and

1946
official Bat-Boat to speed their search for the evil Professor Moriarty. (DETECTIVE COMICS #10)
 * April: Scotland Yard provides Batman and Robin with the first

purple cat-eared costume. (BATMAN #35)
 * June-July: A blonde Catwoman appears in a prototype of her classic

1947
cover. (BATMAN #41)
 * June-July: Aliens appear for the first time on a Batman comic book

1948
tale, Batman tracks down Joe Chill, the man who murdered his parents. (BATMAN #47)
 * June-July: The first detailed origin of Batman is published. In this


 * October: The Riddler makes his debut. (DETECTIVE COMICS
 * 1) 140)

Batman's rogues gallery. Meanwhile, photographer Vicki Vale, Batman's most enduring love interest (1948-1962), is also introduced. (BATMAN #49)
 * October-November: The Mad Hatter joins

1949
Tiger Shark. (DETECTIVE COMICS #147)
 * May: Batman and Robin employ a "Sub-Batmarine" to capture the

1950
new model with a bat-headed grille. (DETECTIVE COMICS #156)
 * February: After the Batmobile is totaled, Batman and Robin design a


 * June-July: Deadshot first takes aim at Batman. (BATMAN #59)

Batplane II   is revealed. (BATMAN #61)
 * October-November: Coinciding with the dawn of the Jet Age,

1951
origin is chronicled. (BATMAN #62)
 * December 1950-January: Catwoman's

(comics)#Origin|origin]] is revealed. (DETECTIVE COMICS #168)
 * February: In "The Man Behind the Red Hood", the Joker's [[Joker


 * February-March: Killer Moth's debut ends in defeat. (BATMAN #63)

1952
(DETECTIVE COMICS #184)
 * June: Batman and Robin battle The Firefly.

(comic book)|SUPERMAN]] #76)
 * July-August: Batman and Superman finally meet. ([[Superman

air for the first time. (DETECTIVE COMICS #186)
 * August: The Flying Batcave takes to the

1953
Crusader grapples with "The Gorilla Boss of Gotham City". (BATMAN
 * February-March: In Batman's first ape-themed cover, the Caped
 * 75)

1954

 * March: The origin of the Batcave is revealed. (DETECTIVE COMICS #205)

in World's Finest Comics. (WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #71)
 * July-August: Batman and Superman begin a series of team-ups


 * September: The underwater Bat-Marine surfaces. (BATMAN #86)

1955

 * June: Ace the Bat-Hound makes his debut. (BATMAN #92)

1956

 * June: The 100th issue of Batman is published.

(DETECTIVE COMICS #233)
 * July: Former circus acrobat Kathy Kane debuts as Bat-Woman.

revealed in a tale featuring Thomas Wayne as the "first" Batman. (DETECTIVE COMICS #235)
 * September: The origin of the Batsuit is

1957
bats|terrified of bats]] and briefly forces him to adopt a new identity: "Starman". (DETECTIVE COMICS #247)
 * September: Professor Milo renders Batman [[Fear of


 * December: The Signal-Man makes his first appearance. (BATMAN
 * 1) 122)

1958
The Vulture) take on Batman and Robin. (DETECTIVE COMICS #253)
 * March: The Terrible Trio (The Fox, The Shark, and
 * Mogo the Bat-Ape joins the Batman family. (BATMAN #114)

(DETECTIVE COMICS #254)
 * April: The Bat-Copter is added to Batman's vehicle fleet.

Batman and Robin. (DETECTIVE COMICS #257)
 * July: Personal mini-copters called Whirly-Bats are deployed by

(DETECTIVE COMICS #259)
 * September: The Calendar Man challenges Batman.

(DETECTIVE COMICS #261)
 * November: Batman and Robin do battle with Dr. Double X.

1959
(BATMAN #121)
 * February: Mr. Freeze (then called "Mr. Zero") makes his debut.

(DETECTIVE COMICS #267)
 * May: Batman first meets the inter-dimensional imp Bat-Mite.

1960
with their son Robin. Meanwhile, Dick Grayson assumes the role of the Dark Knight. (BATMAN #131)
 * April: In an imaginary tale, a married Batman and Batwoman appear

1961
teams up with Wonder Woman, Superman, The Martian Manhunter to form The Justice League of America. (THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #28)
 * March: To defeat the alien starfish Starro the Conqueror, Batman
 * The Flash]], Green Lantern, and [[Martian

Bat-Girl. (BATMAN #129)
 * April: Kathy Kane's blonde niece Bette debuts as

Clayface. (DETECTIVE COMICS #298)
 * December: Matt Hagen becomes the second

1962
declared "The Story of the Year!" (BATMAN #147)
 * May: On its cover, Batman becomes a Bat-Baby in a tale

1963
(DETECTIVE COMICS #311)
 * January: The Cat-Man takes on Batman and Robin.

1964
debuts. (DETECTIVE COMICS #327)
 * May: Batman's "new look"


 * June: Alfred is temporarily "killed off". (DETECTIVE COMICS #328)

superhero "sidekicks" Kid Flash and Aqualad. (THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #54)
 * June-July: Robin forms The Teen Titans with fellow


 * December: The otherworldly menace [[Outsider (comic book villain)
 * The Outsider]] first appears. (DETECTIVE COMICS #334)

1965
(DETECTIVE COMICS #345)
 * November: Batman and Robin encounter [[Blockbuster (comics)
 * 1) Mark_Desmond|Mark Desmond]], otherwise known as Blockbuster.

1966
including Wonder Girl) gain their own comic book. (TEEN TITANS #1)
 * January-February: Robin and his Teen Titans associates (now


 * May: Cluemaster first confounds Batman. (DETECTIVE COMICS #351)

debut. (BATMAN #181)
 * June: The alluring Poison Ivy makes her

(DETECTIVE COMICS #354)
 * August: Batman meets the hypnotic Asian crimelord Dr. Tzin-Tzin.

he is revealed to be the evil Outsider. (DETECTIVE COMICS #356)
 * October: Alfred returns to Wayne Manor, restored to normalcy after


 * December: Batman first encounters [[Spellbinder (DC Comics)
 * 1) Delbert_Billings|Spellbinder I]]. (DETECTIVE COMICS #358)

1967
(DETECTIVE COMICS #359)
 * January: Barbara Gordon dons a cape and cowl to become Batgirl.

BRAVE AND THE BOLD #74)
 * October-November: Batman joins forces with the Metal Men. (THE

1968
the Batman TV series briefly becomes the official Batmobile of the comics. (DETECTIVE COMICS #371)
 * January: The Batmobile from

Batman does battle with the Scarecrow in "The Man Who Radiated Fear". (BATMAN #200)
 * March: To celebrate the 200th issue of his self-titled series, the

1969
(DETECTIVE COMICS #387)
 * May: Batman celebrates his 30th anniversary in Detective Comics.

(DETECTIVE COMICS #392)
 * October: Private investigator Jason Bard is introduced.

Dick Grayson leaves the Batcave for Hudson University. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne and Alfred decamp to the penthouse of the Wayne Foundation building. In the process, a new Batcave is established beneath the Wayne Foundation skyscraper. (BATMAN #394) sports car. (DETECTIVE COMICS #394)
 * December: In "One Bullet Too Many",
 * Batman abandons his previous Batmobile in favor of a turbo-charged

1970
Neal Adams, the campy hi-jinks of the past two decades' worth of Batman tales are retired. In its place, comes a more present-day tone and mood to the series. (DETECTIVE COMICS #395)
 * January: Under the guidance of writer Dennis O'Neil and artist

horror of his fiancée Francine Lee. Meanwhile, Robin and Batgirl team up for the very first time. (DETECTIVE COMICS #400)
 * June: Zoologist Kirk Langstrom transforms into Man-Bat, to the

in a Batman title. (DETECTIVE COMICS #405)
 * November: After debuting in the pages of Strange Adventures
 * 215, The League of Assassins first appears

1971
Francine Lee Langstrom becomes She-Bat. (DETECTIVE COMICS #407)
 * January: In "Marriage: Impossible", Kirk Langstrom's bride

Talia al Ghul makes her first appearance. (DETECTIVE COMICS #411)
 * May: Predating the debut of her diabolical father, Ra's al Ghul,


 * June: Ra's al Ghul makes his debut. (BATMAN #232)

gallery. (BATMAN #234)
 * August: After 17 years, Two-Face makes his return to Batman's rogues

1972
Comics'', Batman holds a gun to his temple, having written a suicide note to Robin, Batgirl, and Superman. (DETECTIVE COMICS #426)
 * August: On the cover of his 400th appearance in ''Detective

1973
COMICS #426)
 * April: The Spook makes his debut. (DETECTIVE

1974
sacrifies his life to destroy the evil cabal known as the Council. (DETECTIVE COMICS #443)
 * October-November: Batman joins forces with [[Manhunter (comics)
 * 1) Paul_Kirk|Manhunter Paul Kirk]] for the only time when Kirk

1975
Fighter]]'' features the title character and Ben Turner (a.k.a Bronze Tiger), martial artists who will cross paths with the Batman family.
 * April-May: The debut of ''[[Richard Dragon|Richard Dragon: Kung-Fu

which lasts only nine issues (THE JOKER #1)
 * May: The Joker appears in his own monthly series of misadventures,

cast of Batman characters, debuts (lasting for 20 issues before its cancellation in 1978). (THE BATMAN FAMILY #1)
 * September-October: The Batman Family, a series spotlighting the

1976
which lasts only two issues. (MAN-BAT #1)
 * December 1975-January: Man-Bat files solo in his own monthly series,

in later years, is introduced. (RICHARD DRAGON: KUNG-FU FIGHER #5)
 * January: Lady Shiva, both a friend and foe to the Batman family

be a frequent foe of Batman, appears in his own series. (KOBRA #1)
 * February-March: Cult leader Kobra, who soon will

young Bruce Wayne, deubts in "There Is No Hope In Crime Alley". (DETECTIVE COMICS #457)
 * March: Dr. Leslie Thompkins, a kindly adult who befriends a

COMICS #460)
 * June: Pirate rogue Captain Stingaree first appears. (DETECTIVE

for the first time. (DETECTIVE COMICS #463)
 * September: Batman battles Black Spider

1977
(DETECTIVE COMICS #469)
 * May: Dr. Phosphorus makes his debut.

as Bruce Wayne's latest short-lived love interest. (DETECTIVE COMICS
 * June: Platinum blonde bombshell Silver St. Cloud is introduced
 * 1) 470)

1978
Francine Langstrom, is born. (THE BATMAN FAMILY #17)
 * April-May: Rebecca "Becky" Langstrom, daughter of Kirk and

Payne]] becomes Clayface III. (DETECTIVE COMICS #478)
 * July-August: Acromegalic [[Clayface#Preston_Payne|Preston

1979
guides Wayne Enterprises' day-to-day business operations in Bruce Wayne's absence. (BATMAN #307)
 * January: Lucius Fox is introduced as the financial wizard who

gangster Maxie Zeus first appears. (DETECTIVE COMICS #483)
 * April-May: In the 40th anniversary issue of Detective Comics,

(DETECTIVE COMICS #485)
 * August-September: Kathy Kane is murdered by the Bronze Tiger.

his debut. (BATMAN #318)
 * October: The pyromanic Firebug makes

1980
series, premieres.
 * July: "Untold Legends of the Batman", the first Batman mini-


 * August: Arkham Asylum is introduced. (BATMAN #326)

death for Batman. (DETECTIVE COMICS #494)
 * September: The Crime Doctor prescribes

Wonder Girl and Kid Flash, as well as new members Changeling, Raven, The New Teen Titans. (DC COMICS PRESENTS #26)
 * October: In a preview tale, Robin is joined by former Teen Titans
 * Cyborg]], and Starfire to form [[Teen

1981
makes his debut. (BATMAN #331)
 * January: The Electrocutioner

entitled "To Kill a Legend"), Batman and Robin visit an alternate reality where they prevent the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne.
 * March: In the 500th issue of Detective Comics (in a tale

1982

 * February: The illusory villain [[Mirage (DC Comics)
 * 1) Batman_foe|Mirage]] debuts. (DETECTIVE COMICS #511)

of Detective Comics. (DETECTIVE COMICS #512)
 * March: Dr. Death makes his return in the 45th anniversary issue


 * October: Batman battles Colonel Blimp. (BATMAN #352)

1983
villain Killer Croc make their first appearances. (BATMAN #357)
 * March: Both young circus acrobat Jason Todd and reptilian

Meanwhile, the murders of Jason Todd's circus aerialist parents (mirroring Dick Grayon's own origins) by Killer Croc leads to Jason inheriting the role of Robin from Dick. (DETECTIVE COMICS #526)
 * May: Batman celebrates his 500th appearance in Detective Comics.

detective Harvey Bullock makes his debut. (BATMAN #361)
 * July: Solvenly Gotham police

assembles his own team of superheroes called The Outsiders (comics) [[Nocturna) make their debuts. (DETECTIVE COMICS #529)
 * August: After Batman quits the Justice League of America, he
 * The Outsiders]]. (BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #1)
 * Siblings Anton and Natalia Knight (alias Night-Slayer and


 * December: Jason Todd makes his official debut as Robin. (BATMAN #366)

1984

 * February: Dick Grayson quits the role of Robin. (THE NEW TEEN TITANS
 * 39)

Nightwing in order to rescue his fellow Titans from Deathstroke the Terminator and The HIVE. (TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #4)
 * July: Dick Grayson dones the guise of

1985
series begins. In the process, Batman's history is radically altered. As a result, Bat-Mite, Ace the Bat-Hound, and other Batman related characters are forgotten in the new mainstream continuity. Meanwhile, Jason Todd's origin story is revised.
 * April: DC Comics' 12-issue long "Crisis on Infinite Earths"

(comics)|Black Mask]] first appears. (BATMAN #386)
 * August: Crimelord Roman Sionis, otherwise known as [[Black Mask

1986
series entitled "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" is published.
 * March: Frank Miller's four-issue long mini-


 * October: The 400th issue of Batman is published.

1987
series "Batman: Year One", which redefines the early days of Bruce Wayne's crime-fighting career, is published.
 * February: Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's four-part

Comics'', Batman matches his sleuthing skills with Sherlock Holmes. (DETECTIVE COMICS #572) James Gordon, first appears as "Batman: Year One" continues. (BATMAN
 * March: On the cover of the 50th anniversary issue of ''Detective
 * Detecive Sarah Essen, future police commissioner and wife of
 * 1) 405)

troubled orphan of Crime Alley. (BATMAN #408) Reaper]], "Batman: Year Two" reaffirms Bruce Wayne's vow to never take up firearms in his war on crime. (DETECTIVE COMICS #575)
 * June: Jason Todd makes his first post-Crisis appearance as a
 * Besides introducing [[Reaper (DC Comics)#First_Reaper|The

OUSTSIDERS vol. 1 #21)
 * August: Kobra creates Lady Clayface. (THE

(BATMAN #412) Talia al Ghul's affair leads to the birth of a son. However, their relationship ends before Batman learns of his child.
 * October: Batman encounters the malevolent Mime.
 * In the graphic novel "Batman: Son of the Demon", Batman and

1988
and Scarface]] debut. (DETECTIVE COMICS #583)
 * February: [[Ventriloquist (comics)#Arnold_Wesker|The Ventriloquist

(BATMAN #417)
 * March: The KGBeast debuts.

crime. (DETECTIVE COMICS #585)
 * April: Ratcatcher first embarks on a life of


 * November: Madman Cornelius Stirk debuts. (DETECTIVE COMICS #592)

Family]]" storyline begins. (BATMAN #426) features a new take on the Joker's beginnings. It also features the Joker shooting and paralyzing Barbara Gordon. first ever solo book. (BATGIRL SPECIAL #1)
 * December: The "[[Batman: A Death in the Family|A Death in the
 * The graphic novel "The Killing Joke"
 * Barbara Gordon's final adventure as Batgirl is chronicled in her

1989
conclusion, readers are asked to vote to decide Jason Todd's fate. By a slim margin, readers decree that Jason should perish. So in the end, he dies at the hands of the Joker. (BATMAN #428)
 * February: As the "A Death in the Family" storyline draws to a
 * Catwoman gains her own four-issue long mini-series (CATWOMAN #1)

Bertinelli]]) debuts in her own monthly series. (THE HUNTRESS #1) the late Mark Desmond, mutates into an all-new Blockbuster. (STARMAN
 * April: The Huntress ([[Huntress (Helena Bertinelli)|Helena
 * Ronald Desmond, brother of
 * 9)

Sam Hamm written "Blind Justice" storyline (which introduced Bruce Wayne's mentor, Henri Ducard) concludes. (BATMAN #436)
 * May: In the 600th issue of Detective Comics, the three-part,

Tim Drake makes his first appearance.
 * August: As the four-part "Batman: Year Three" storyline begins,

The Mudpack. The Mudpark are part of Basil Karlo's scheme to unsurp their powers as The Ultimate Clayface. (DETECTIVE COMICS #604)
 * September: The surviving Clayfaces unite to form

1940", "Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight" is published. authority antagonizing alter ego Anarky. (DETECTIVE COMICS #608)
 * November: Billed as "The first new 'solo' Batman book since
 * Gotham sees a new masked vigilante in the form of Lonnie Machin's

Lonely Place of Dying]]" is highlighted by Tim Drake's first official appearance, leading to his debut as the new Robin. (BATMAN #440-442, THE NEW TITANS #60-61) many "Elseworlds" stories, featuring Batman reimagined across time and space.
 * December: The five-part epic "[[Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying|A
 * "Batman: Gotham by Gaslight" becomes the first of

1990
information broker Oracle. (SUICIDE SQUAD #38)
 * February: Barbara Gordon takes on the role of the all-seeing

one of the Penguin's henchmen. (BATMAN #447)
 * May: The mute engineer-savant Harold Allnut makes his debut as

introduced in a plot that leads to the death of Tim Drake's mother. (DETECTIVE COMICS #318)
 * July: The voodoo chieftian Obeah Man is

Robin's adventures, Tim Drake battles British crimelord Sir Edmund Dorrance, a.k.a. King Snake. ([[Robin (Tim Drake)
 * November: In the first of three mini-series chronicling the new
 * 1) Training_abroad|ROBIN vol. 1 #1]])

third Robin. (BATMAN #457)
 * December: Tim Drake officially joins Batman's war on crime as the

1991
resident mechanic. (BATMAN #458)
 * January: Harold Allnut starts making his home in the Batcave as the

appearance. (DETECTIVE COMICS #625)
 * February: The evil Abattoir makes his first

battle with the Joker. (ROBIN II: THE JOKER'S WILD! #1)
 * October: In Tim Drake's second mini-series, the new Robin does

1992
as the electrically-challenged Galvan. (DETECTIVE COMICS #644)
 * May: Gotham police officer Renee Montoya makes her debut as well

the Bat]]'', Arkham Asylum administrator Jeremiah Arkham and serial killer Mr. Zsasz make their first appearances.
 * June: In the first issue of the monthly title ''[[Batman: Shadow of

(comics)|The Spoiler]] in order to thwart her father, Cluemaster. (DETECTIVE COMICS #647) debut. (BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #3)
 * August: Stephanie Brown, becomes the vigilante called [[Spoiler
 * The hulking man-child Amygdala makes his

called Azrael, first appear. (BATMAN: SWORD OF AZRAEL #1)
 * October: Jean-Paul Valley and his alter-ego, the avenging angel

Huntress. (ROBIN III: CRY OF THE HUNTRESS #1)
 * December: In Tim Drake's third mini-series, he's teamed with the

1993
General]] makes his debut. (DETECTIVE COMICS #654)
 * January: Bane makes his debut. ([[Bane (comics)
 * 1) Publication_history|BATMAN: VENGEANCE OF BANE]] #1)
 * Ulysses Hadrian Armstrong, a.k.a. [[General (DC Comics)|The

storyline begins as Bane sets out to destroy Batman. (BATMAN #492)
 * February: The multi-part "Knightfall"

after breaking the Caped Crusader's back. As a result, Bruce Wayne is forced to relinquish his role as Batman to Jean-Paul Valley (albeit, for a brief and tumultuous time). (BATMAN #497)
 * July: As "Knightfall" continues, Bane manages to paralyze Batman


 * August: Catwoman gains her own series. ([[Catwoman (comic book)
 * CATWOMAN]] #1)

(BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #19)
 * September: The mentally-unbalanced Tally Man first appears.

formidable Bat-armor. (BATMAN #500) (DETECTIVE COMICS #663)
 * October: In order to defeat Bane, Jean-Paul Valley adopts more
 * The Trigger Twins make their debut.

Drake)#Not_just_a_sidekick|ROBIN vol. 2]] #1)
 * November: Tim Drake's own ongoing series is launched. ([[Robin (Tim

1994
(THE HUNTRESS vol. 2 #1)
 * June: The Huntress returns in her own four-issue long mini-series.

battle to reclaim the Batman mantle from the maddened Jean-Paul Valley. (BATMAN #509)
 * July: In "KnightsEnd", Bruce Wayne must

the guise of Batman to Bruce Wayne. (BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #63)
 * August: As the "KnightsEnd" storyline ends, Jean-Paul Valley returns

his four flagship titles. In this revised history, Bruce Wayne never discovers the identity of his parents' murderer. (BATMAN #0, DETECTIVE COMICS #0, BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #0, BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #0)
 * October: Batman's origins are recounted in zero numbered editions of

Prodigal|Prodigal]]" begins, Dick Grayson assumes the role of Batman while Bruce Wayne is busy attending to a secret agenda. (BATMAN #512)
 * November: As the multi-part storyline "[[Batman:

1995
the mantle as Batman. (ROBIN #13) Batman first encounters the bloodthirsty Steeljacket. (DETECTIVE COMICS #681)
 * January: As "Prodigal" concludes, Bruce Wayne once again takes up
 * MacKenzie "Hardback" Bock joins the Gotham police force as

Valley begins an odyssey to discover his true place in the world. (AZRAEL #1) (DETECTIVE COMICS #685)
 * February. In the launch of Azrael's own ongoing series, Jean-Paul
 * The deadly Silver Monkey first appears.

debut. COMICS #687)
 * July: Quarterly anthology The Batman Chronicles makes its
 * Modern-day privateer Cap'n Fear first appears. (DETECTIVE

mini-series. (NIGHTWING #1)
 * September: Dick Grayson makes his solo debut with a four-issue long


 * October: Firebug II sets Gotham City ablaze. (DETECTIVE COMICS #690)

forsakes his soul to become the insectoid monster Charaxes. (UNDERWORLD UNLEASED #1) her debut. (DETECTIVE COMICS #691)
 * November: Killer Moth, previously identified as a perennial loser,
 * Spellbinder II makes

inflict his own brand of justice on Gotham City's criminals. (ROBIN
 * December: Incareration expert Lock-Up begins to
 * 23)

1996
flora, making enemies of Poison Ivy and Batman in the process. (DETECTIVE COMICS #693)
 * January: The Allergent targets Gotham's

debut. (BATMAN #527)
 * February: The schizoid known as Schism makes his

begins, hundreds of thousands die as the Ebola Gulf-A virus (otherwise known as "The Clench") is let loose upon Gotham. (BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #48)
 * March: As the epic storyline "Contagion"

Langstrom first appears. (MAN-BAT #3)
 * April: "Baby-Bat" Aaron Langstrom, the son of Kirk and Francine

turn his victims into a state of bliss, first appears. (BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #50)
 * May: The nefarious Narcosis, who uses gas to

concludes, Batman races to stop Ra's al Ghul from unleashing yet another plague. (DETECTIVE COMICS #700)
 * August: As the multi-part "Legacy" storyline

adventures with the launch of Nightwing.
 * October: Dick Grayson graduates to his own monthly series of
 * The Ogre and Ape make their debuts. (BATMAN
 * 1) 535)

series. (BATMAN: GORDON'S LAW #1) Come]]'' offers a glimpse of a troubled future for Batman. (KINGDOM COME #1-4)
 * December: Commissioner James Gordon appears in his first solo mini-
 * The "Elseworlds" story called ''[[Kingdom Come (comic book)|Kingdom

1997
makes her debut appearance. (BATMAN #540)
 * March: Bruce Wayne's latest flame, radio host Vesper Fairchild,

(comic book)|ANARKY]] vol. 1 #1)
 * May: Anarky stars in hiw own four-issue long mini-series. ([[Anarky

Knight'', Dick Grayson's origin as Robin is retold. Freeze#Modern_Age|BATMAN: MR. FREEZE]])
 * November: In the 100th issue of ''Batman: Legends of the Dark
 * The origin of Mr. Freeze is finally revealed. ([[Mr.

1998
fifth Clayface debuts. (BATMAN #550) robotic prosthetics and a hunger for revenge as Gearhead. (DETECTIVE COMICS #717)
 * January: Cassius Payne, the
 * Kidnapper Nathan Finch returns with

the "Cataclysm" storyline. (BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #73)
 * April: Gotham City is devastated by an earthquake, thus beginning


 * July: The killer known as Brutale first appears. (NIGHTWING #22)

Answer]] first appear. (BATMAN VILLAINS SECRET FILES #1) title change of his series. Also, the evil Nicholas Scratch debuts. (AZRAEL: AGENT OF THE BAT #47)
 * October: Bat-rogues Ferak and [[The Answer (DC Comics)|The
 * Azrael's ties to the Batcave are restablsished, resulting in the

1999
monthly series, joining forces with Black Canary in the process. (BIRDS OF PREY #1)
 * January: Barbara Gordon (as Oracle) starts appearing in her own

begins, Gotham City is now made up of fiefdoms ruled by escaped Bat- rogues. (BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND #1) older incarnation of the Titans. (THE TITANS #1)
 * March: As the "No Man's Land" storyline
 * As Gotham slowly disintegrates, Nightwing joins a regrouped and


 * May: Anarky stars in his own eight issue long series. (ANARKY vol. 2
 * 1)

inherit the mantle of Batgirl, makes her first appearance. Also debuting is the assassin Cain. (BATMAN #567) (LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #119)
 * July: Martial arts prodigy Cassandra Cain, who would ultimately
 * The covert agent known as Echo first appears.

Animated Series]]'') makes her official Batman comic book continuity debut. ([[Harley Quinn#DC_Universe_Comic_history|BATMAN: HARELY QUINN]] #1)
 * October: Harley Quinn (who first appeared on ''[[Batman: The

2000
Gotham City. (BATMAN #573)
 * January: After a year of "No Man's Land", [[Metropolis (comics)
 * Metropolis]] mogul Lex Luthor spearheads the rebuilding of

Land" storyline, the Joker murders James Gordon's wife, Sarah Essen- Gordon. (DETECTIVE COMICS #741)
 * February: In "Endgame", the penultimate chapter of the "No Man's

features back-up black-and-white stories. zealot known as The Banner. (BATMAN #575)
 * March: Batman: Gotham Knights in launched. The series
 * The stability of a rebuilt Gotham is threatened by the patriotic

publication of her own ongoing series. (BATGIRL #1) appear. (DETECTIVE COMICS #743)
 * April: The new adventures of Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) begin with the
 * Ra's al Ghul's agents, Kyle Abbot and Whisper A'Daire first


 * May: Batman encounters the undead spirit [[Samsara (comics)
 * Samsara]]. (BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #3)


 * July: Batman battles Orca. (BATMAN #579)

off with Ra's al Ghul yet again.
 * November: In the 750th issue of Detective Comics, Batman faces

book title, lasting 38 issues. (HARLEY QUINN #1)
 * December: The Joker's moll Harley Quinn gains her own ongoing comic

2001
Officer|Officer Down]]" begins, Commissioner Gordon is nearly killed by a mysterious gunman. (BATMAN #587)
 * March: As the multi-part storyline entitled "[[Batman:

GOTHAM KNIGHTS #17)
 * June: Batman first encounters the murderous Matota. (BATMAN:


 * July: The optically enhanced villain known as [[Zeiss (comics)
 * Zeiss]] makes his debut. (BATMAN #591)

(comics)|Orpheus]], in the first issue of the five-part mini- series "Batman: Orpheus Rising". knowledge of his secret identity of Batman. (DETECTIVE COMICS #759)
 * August: Gotham City gains a new hero in the form of [[Orpheus
 * Bruce Wayne confronts his bodyguard Sasha Bordeaux over her

novel "Catwoman: Selina's Big Score", Selina Kyle adopts a new costume and lease on life. serving as personal protection to Bruce Wayne. (DETECTIVE COMICS #762)
 * November: Following the publication of the hardcover graphic
 * Sasha Bordeaux dons a mask and costume alongside Batman to continue

best selling "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" with three-issue long mini-series "The Dark Knight Strikes Again". it, the Joker falsely believes that he's dying from a brain tumor and leads a break-out of "Jokerized" villains from the Slab.
 * December: After 15 years, writer/artist Frank Miller follows up his
 * The six-issue long mini-series "Joker: Last Laugh" begins. In

2002
Fairchild in "Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure" serves as a prelude to the multi-part "Bruce Wayne: Murder?" storyline. (DECECTIVE COMICS #765)
 * March: The brutal killing of Bruce Wayne's love interest Vesper

entitled "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive" leads off with Bruce escaping from prison. Bruce later goes underground to prove himself innocent of the murder of Vesper Fairchild.
 * April: In the 600th issue of Batman, the storyline

known as Nicodemus. (BATMAN #601)
 * May: Batman first feels the fiery touch of the crazed vigilante
 * Robin reaches its 100th issue.

capable of raising the dead. (BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #28)
 * June: Batman meets The Mortician, a foe who's

friends of Batman to be introduced in the five-part "Batman Family" mini-series.
 * October: The Tracker is the first of five new

Batman face old enemies who are enabled and embodied by a diabiolical new foe. (BATMAN #609)
 * December: As the epic "Hush" storyline begins,

2003
weaponry courtesy of Hush. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne's childhood friend Tommy Elliot first appears. (BATMAN #609)
 * January: The Huntress acquires a provactive new costume and updated

launch of a nine-issue long miniseries entitled "Batgirl: Year One". the Gotham City Police Department entitled "Gotham Central" makes its debut. storyline introduces Paul Sloan, a.k.a. [[Charlatan (comics)
 * February: Barbara Gordon's beginnings as Batgirl are revealed in the
 * An all-new ongoing comic book series focusing on the detectives of
 * The six-issue long "Dead Reckoning"
 * Charlatan]]. (DETECTIVE COMICS #777)
 * Batman meets the tortured tattoo artist known as [[Pix (comics)
 * Pix]]. (BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #36)

finally appears. (BATMAN #614)
 * June: After manipulating Batman and his adversaries for months, Hush


 * July: Batman reveals his secret identity to Catwoman (BATMAN #615)

succumbs to a form of the "Clench" and nearly dies. (BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #42) first appears in the "Death and the Maidens" feature within Detective Comcs #782.
 * August: After being infected by the bats of the Batcave, Alfred
 * Nyssa Raatko, a previously unknown daughter of Ra's al Ghul

new "Birds of Prey" operative. (BIRDS OF PREY #57)
 * September: The Huntress joins Black Canary and Oracle as a

again battling injustice in the debut of the monthly, ongoing "Superman/Batman" series.
 * October: The "World's Finest Team" of Batman and Superman are once

2004
Liberat|Veritas Liberat]]" beings to commence, Bane learns that Sir Edumund Drake, a.k.a. King Snake is his father. (BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #47)
 * January: As the three-part storyline "[[Batman: Veritas

Little Boy (comics)|Fatman and Little Boy]]. (BATMAN #623)
 * March: Batman meets the Japanese gangsters known as [[Fatman and

role of Robin. (ROBIN #125)
 * June: At his father's urging, Tim Drake quits the

left by Tim Drake as the first female Robin. (ROBIN #126)
 * July: Stephanie Brown, a.k.a. the Spoiler takes up the mantle of

the "War Games" storyline, is a published. It's a multi-part epic that pits Batman and his allies against Black Mask and the gangs of Gotham. (DETECTIVE COMICS #797)
 * October: "Batman: The 12-Cent Adventure", a prelude to

2005
Comics'' makes Batman's flagship comic book one of the longest running titles in comic book history.
 * January: The publication of the landmark 800th issue of ''Detective
 * Stephanie Brown dies after being tortured by Black Mask. (BATMAN
 * 1) 623)


 * February: The Nightwing title reaches its 100th issue.

twice monthly in the pages of Nightwing. (NIGHTWING #101)
 * March: The six-part "Nightwing: Year One" storyline appears