Your Own Batman Chronology

thwhtguardian
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Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 9, 2019 21:08:40 GMT -5 shaxper likes this

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Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 9, 2019 21:08:40 GMT -5

This started as a bit of a mental exercise/ plan for a reading project while I was relaxing by the pool today but I thought it might be fun to see how others lists would stack up to mine so I thought I'd open it up to everyone here. The premise is this: using any published comics from Batman's history what stories would you use to build your own chronology for the Caped Crusader's career?
Mine would go something like this(though some issues might be slightly wonky as they have Robin before I'd actually introduce him):

The Early Adventures:
Batman: Year One(Batman #404-407, 1987)
The Redhood(Batman #0, 21-25, 2012-13)
Batman and the Monster Men(2006)
Questions Multiply the Mystery(Detective Comics Annual #8, 1995)
Batman: The Man Who Laughs(2005)
Case of the Chemical Syndicate(Detective Comics #27, 2014)
The Perfect Frame Up(Detective Comics #58,1941)
Joe Chill in Hell(Batman #673, 2008)
Sanctum(Legends of the Dark Knight #54,1993)
Challenge of the Manbat(Detective Comics #400,402 ,407 and 416, 1970-71)
Batman and the Mad Monk(2006-07)
Night of the Stalker(Detective Comics #439, 1975)
Batman: Poison Ivy(1997)
Calendarman (Batman #312, 1979)
Joker's 5 Way Revenge (Batman #251,1973)
Prey(Legends of the Dark Knight #11-15,1990)
Snow(Legends of the Dark Knight #192-196,2005)
Batman: The Long Halloween(1996)

Birth of the Batfamily
Dark Victory(1999)
The Gauntlet(1997)
Robin Year One(2001)
Batgirl: Year One(2003)
Challenge of Clayface(Detective Comics 298,1961)
Batman/Scarecrow: Year One(2005)
Batman and Superman: World's Finest(1997)
House that Haunted Batman(Detective Comics #408,1971)
Enter Talia(Detective Comics #411, 1971)
Robin Dies at Dawn(Batman #156,1963)
Superman of Clay(World's Finest#140,1964)
Daughter of the Demon(Batman #232, 1971)
A Riddle for Commissioner Gordon(Batman Adventures #21, 1997)
Talia Versus Batgirl(Batman Adventures #9, 1996)
The Demon Lives Again(Batman #244)
Nightwing:Year One(Nightwing #101-106,2005)
Son of the Demon (1988)

Middle Years
Made of Wood (Detective Comics #784-86, 2003)
Joker Returns(Detective Comics #475-76,1978)
Enter Jason Todd(Batman #408-409, 1987)
Batman: The Cult(1988)
Catch as Catscan(Detective Comics #569-70,1986)
For the Man Who Has Everything(Superman Annual #11)
Growing Pains(Batman #422, 424-25, 1988)
A Death in the Family(Batman #426-29,1988)

The Coming Storm
Venom(Legends of the Dark Knight #16-20,1990)
A Lonely Place of Dying(1989)
Tim Drake's parents in peril(Detective Comics #618-621)
Tim becomes Robin(Batman #455-57,1990)
Bride of the Demon(1990)
Tim starts his training(Robin #1-5,1991)
First Night(Batman #465,1991)
Tim and Dick Team up(Nightwing #25, 1998)
Christmas with the Joker(Detective Comics #826, 2007)
Batman: Sword of Azrael(1992)
Vengeance of Bane(1993)
Knightfall
Batman: KnightFall
KnightsQuest
KnightsEnd
Prodigal
Troika
( I'll flesh out which issues when I get here)

Up to "Today"
All of Dini and Morrison's Runs( I'll flesh out which issues when I get here)

I'll admit that end point is nebulous but I love pretty much every issue during that time.

What issues would you add, or subtract? Do you have your own canon?

Last Edit: Jul 6, 2019 8:53:37 GMT -5 by thwhtguardian

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Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 9, 2019 21:24:47 GMT -5 shaxper, Roquefort Raider, and 1 more like this

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Post by Cei-U! on Jun 9, 2019 21:24:47 GMT -5

Where my canon begins depends on whether we're talking about the Earth-One or Earth-Two Caped Crusader but either way mine ends with Batman #400. I don't recognize anything published after that as featuring the "real" Batman.

Cei-U!
I summon the old school Dark Knight!

I read bad comics so you don't have to.

rberman Friendly Neighborhood Regular Posts: 4,613	Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 9, 2019 21:45:03 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by rberman on Jun 9, 2019 21:45:03 GMT -5 When did the comics stories change from Batman of Earth 1 to Earth 2? It was published continuously, right? Which one gets Bat Mite?
	Last Edit: Jun 9, 2019 21:45:19 GMT -5 by rberman

beccabear67
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Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 9, 2019 22:15:55 GMT -5 Roquefort Raider likes this

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Post by beccabear67 on Jun 9, 2019 22:15:55 GMT -5

Earth 2 Batman? Oh, you mean the real Batman?*

1st Appearance Detective Comics #27

1st spiritual death Detective Comics #198

2nd spiritual death Detective Comics #207

3rd spiritual death Detective Comics #267

Retirement Batman #300

Bats est morte! Adventure Comics #462

Heh heh heh, more room for Wonder Woman, The Flash and Aquaman...

* Real Batman according to really old dudes.

1st faux/clone/tv Batman (and clone Robin) Detective Comics #327

Last Edit: Jun 9, 2019 22:47:41 GMT -5 by beccabear67

Icctrombone Fortress of Solitude member Posts: 22,745 Member is Online	Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 9, 2019 22:53:55 GMT -5 Hoosier X, Prince Hal, and 1 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Icctrombone on Jun 9, 2019 22:53:55 GMT -5 I don't have a Chronology. He's always 29 , so all the stories are happening at the same time.
	The strong must always protect the weak

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Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 9, 2019 23:02:42 GMT -5 Reptisaurus! likes this

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Post by Cei-U! on Jun 9, 2019 23:02:42 GMT -5

Jun 9, 2019 21:45:03 GMT -5 rberman said:

When did the comics stories change from Batman of Earth 1 to Earth 2? It was published continuously, right? Which one gets Bat Mite?

There is no official trasition point, but I break it down this way:

Earth-Two

Batman #1-91

Detective Comics #27-219

New York World's Fair – 1940

Star-Spangled Comics #88-95, 112

World's Best Comics #1

World's Finest Comics #2-70

plus appearances in All-Star Comics and the Robin solo series in Star Spangled Comics

Earth-One

Batman #92-400

Detective Comics #220-366

World's Finest Comics #71-323

plus Batman and the Outsiders, The Batman Family, The Brave and the Bold, and Justice League of America

Cei-U!

I summon the dual Dynamic Duos!

Last Edit: Jun 9, 2019 23:12:39 GMT -5 by Cei-U!

I read bad comics so you don't have to.

zaku
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Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 10, 2019 3:23:46 GMT -5 Farrar likes this

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Post by zaku on Jun 10, 2019 3:23:46 GMT -5

Jun 9, 2019 21:45:03 GMT -5 rberman said:

When did the comics stories change from Batman of Earth 1 to Earth 2? It was published continuously, right? Which one gets Bat Mite?

There is this good analysis

The Dividing Line Between Earth-2 and Earth-1: Batman (from Mike's Amazing World of Comics)

And this wonderful chronology

Golden Age Batman Chronology

Duragizer
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Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 10, 2019 3:58:28 GMT -5

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Post by Duragizer on Jun 10, 2019 3:58:28 GMT -5

I haven't read enough Batman to say. Very little from the Silver & Modern Ages, at any rate.

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brutalis
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Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 10, 2019 8:15:58 GMT -5

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Post by brutalis on Jun 10, 2019 8:15:58 GMT -5

Easy:

See Batman television show in syndication, pick up odds and ends issues as growing up and then in the late 70's start collecting monthly issues (when Bats was cool) off the spinner rack and then early to mid 80's collecting through the LCS. 1989 start watching Batman movies and 1992 watching Batman the animated series. Still collect through LCS until around 1996/97. Once stopped, never went back as he soon became an unrecognizable and unlikable version to me. Occasional dips back into the water since then for a story or writer or artist but never staying long...

Gimme a home on the ol' prairie where I can sit in my rockin' chair reading my favorite old comic books of yesteryear!

Reptisaurus! Friendly Neighborhood Regular Posts: 3,316	Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 10, 2019 10:19:43 GMT -5 Slam_Bradley, Hoosier X, and 1 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Reptisaurus! on Jun 10, 2019 10:19:43 GMT -5 As long as you start with the One True Continuity as written by Bob Haney everything else is negligible.
	Erica "Squirrel Girl" Henderson is a great artist.

Hoosier X
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Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 10, 2019 10:23:31 GMT -5 thwhtguardian and beccabear67 like this

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Post by Hoosier X on Jun 10, 2019 10:23:31 GMT -5

The first thing I'd do is leave out any story where the Waynes were killed by a conspiracy. BOOOO! It was Joe Chill, a desperate first-time criminal who was acting tough and things got out of hand. He later started a trucking business which he used as a front to transport fugitives to places of safety. But eventually, Batman caught up to him and he was killed by his fellow thugs when they found out he was the reason for Batman's existence.

I like the story where Thomas Wayne wore a bat costume to a masquerade party, but in my version, Lew Moxon didn't have anything to do with Joe Chill.

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shaxper
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Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 10, 2019 10:58:16 GMT -5

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Post by shaxper on Jun 10, 2019 10:58:16 GMT -5

Mine is pretty simple, as I've read A LOT of Batman, but only truly cared about a small chunk of it:

The Early Years
Untold Legends of The Batman

The Dick Grayson Years
This is the stuff of legend/cultural mythology. It doesn't feel right allowing one, or even a handful of specific interpretations to govern it.

The Ensuing Years
Batman #307-391, and corresponding issues of 'Tec. As I argue to death in my "The Complete Batman: 1979-2011", the Wein/Conway/Moench stretch was the perfect Batman run, with great stand alone and multi-part epics, brilliant artwork, (sometimes) brilliant writing, and the best characterizations and supporting cast ever done in a Bat book.

Last Edit: Jun 10, 2019 11:02:21 GMT -5 by shaxper

shaxper
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Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 10, 2019 10:59:46 GMT -5

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Post by shaxper on Jun 10, 2019 10:59:46 GMT -5

Jun 9, 2019 23:02:42 GMT -5 Cei-U! said:

Jun 9, 2019 21:45:03 GMT -5 rberman said:

When did the comics stories change from Batman of Earth 1 to Earth 2? It was published continuously, right? Which one gets Bat Mite?

There is no official trasition point, but I break it down this way:

Earth-Two

Batman #1-91

Detective Comics #27-219

New York World's Fair – 1940

Star-Spangled Comics #88-95, 112

World's Best Comics #1

World's Finest Comics #2-70

plus appearances in All-Star Comics and the Robin solo series in Star Spangled Comics

Earth-One

Batman #92-400

Detective Comics #220-366

World's Finest Comics #71-323

plus Batman and the Outsiders, The Batman Family, The Brave and the Bold, and Justice League of America

Cei-U!

I summon the dual Dynamic Duos!

Just curious why you draw the line there?

Cei-U!
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Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 10, 2019 16:20:00 GMT -5 shaxper and thwhtguardian like this

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Post by Cei-U! on Jun 10, 2019 16:20:00 GMT -5

Jun 10, 2019 10:59:46 GMT -5 shaxper said:

Jun 9, 2019 23:02:42 GMT -5 Cei-U! said:

There is no official trasition point, but I break it down this way:

Earth-Two

Batman #1-91

Detective Comics #27-219

New York World's Fair – 1940

Star-Spangled Comics #88-95, 112

World's Best Comics #1

World's Finest Comics #2-70

plus appearances in All-Star Comics and the Robin solo series in Star Spangled Comics

Earth-One

Batman #92-400

Detective Comics #220-366

World's Finest Comics #71-323

plus Batman and the Outsiders, The Batman Family, The Brave and the Bold, and Justice League of America

Cei-U!

I summon the dual Dynamic Duos!

Just curious why you draw the line there?

Several factors. First, several Earth-Two stories identify 1955 as the year the Batman of that world married its Catwoman. Second, Batman #92 (June 1955) is the debut of Bat-Hound, first of the new characters (Batwoman, Bat-Mite, Bat-Girl) that came to be known as the Batman Family, all of whom would be explicitly tied to Earth-One continuity in later stories, so originally I used that comic and the same month's Detective as my starting point. However, since the first DC titles released under the Comics Code Authority bore a March '55 cover date (including Adventure #210, the first appearance of Krypto, another new character with explicit ties to E1 continuity), I decided to go ahead and roll back my starting point to there. Finally, because several of the earliest Superman-Batman team-up stories in World's Finest--including the first in issue #71 (July-August '54)--are referenced in later E1-set stories, I include those as well. For the same reason, I count the lead story in Superman #76 (May-June '52) as the first canonical appearance of the E1 Superman, Batman, Robin. Lois Lane, Commissioner Gordon, Metropolis, and Gotham City... and their only appearance prior to World's Finest #71. I have always assumed there is some overlap, that some Atomic Age B&R stories occur on both Earths.

Cei-U!

Clear as mud, right?

I read bad comics so you don't have to.

shaxper
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Your Own Batman Chronology Jun 10, 2019 18:12:31 GMT -5 Cei-U! likes this

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Post by shaxper on Jun 10, 2019 18:12:31 GMT -5

Jun 10, 2019 16:20:00 GMT -5 Cei-U! said:

Jun 10, 2019 10:59:46 GMT -5 shaxper said:

Just curious why you draw the line there?

Several factors. First, several Earth-Two stories identify 1955 as the year the Batman of that world married its Catwoman. Second, Batman #92 (June 1955) is the debut of Bat-Hound, first of the new characters (Batwoman, Bat-Mite, Bat-Girl) that came to be known as the Batman Family, all of whom would be explicitly tied to Earth-One continuity in later stories, so originally I used that comic and the same month's Detective as my starting point. However, since the first DC titles released under the Comics Code Authority bore a March '55 cover date (including Adventure #210, the first appearance of Krypto, another new character with explicit ties to E1 continuity), I decided to go ahead and roll back my starting point to there. Finally, because several of the earliest Superman-Batman team-up stories in World's Finest--including the first in issue #71 (July-August '54)--are referenced in later E1-set stories, I include those as well. For the same reason, I count the lead story in Superman #76 (May-June '52) as the first canonical appearance of the E1 Superman, Batman, Robin. Lois Lane, Commissioner Gordon, Metropolis, and Gotham City... and their only appearance prior to World's Finest #71. I have always assumed there is some overlap, that some Atomic Age B&R stories occur on both Earths.

Cei-U!

Clear as mud, right?

Relatively brilliant, actually. And I'm even more of a fan because I own most of those issues

Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 9, 2019 21:08:40 GMT -5

Post by Cei-U! on Jun 9, 2019 21:24:47 GMT -5

Post by rberman on Jun 9, 2019 21:45:03 GMT -5

Post by beccabear67 on Jun 9, 2019 22:15:55 GMT -5

Post by Icctrombone on Jun 9, 2019 22:53:55 GMT -5

Post by Cei-U! on Jun 9, 2019 23:02:42 GMT -5

Post by zaku on Jun 10, 2019 3:23:46 GMT -5

Post by Duragizer on Jun 10, 2019 3:58:28 GMT -5

Post by brutalis on Jun 10, 2019 8:15:58 GMT -5

Post by Reptisaurus! on Jun 10, 2019 10:19:43 GMT -5

Post by Hoosier X on Jun 10, 2019 10:23:31 GMT -5

Post by shaxper on Jun 10, 2019 10:58:16 GMT -5

Post by shaxper on Jun 10, 2019 10:59:46 GMT -5

Post by Cei-U! on Jun 10, 2019 16:20:00 GMT -5

Post by shaxper on Jun 10, 2019 18:12:31 GMT -5

Your Own Batman Chronology