Detective Comics (later retitled as Batman Detective Comics) is an American comic book series published by Detective Comics, later shortened to DC Comics.The first volume, published from 1937 to 2011 (and later continued in 2016), is best known for introducing the superheroBatman in Detective Comics #27 (cover-dated May 1939).
A second series of the same title was launched in September 2011, but in 2016, reverted to the original volume numbering. The series is the source of its publishing company's name, and—along with Action Comics, the series that launched with the debut of Superman—one of the medium's signature series. Between 1937 and 2011, there were 881 issues of the series. It is the longest-running comic book series in the United States.[1]
Publication history
Detective Comics was the final publication of the entrepreneur MajorMalcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, whose comics company, National Allied Publications, evolved into DC Comics, one of the world's two largest comic book publishers, though long after its founder had left it.
(vol. 1) Bill Finger Dennis O'Neil Frank Robbins Gerry Conway Archie Goodwin Steve Englehart David V. Reed Chuck Dixon Ed Brubaker Greg Rucka Scott Snyder Paul Dini (vol. 2) Tony Daniel Derek Fridolfs Gregg Hurwitz Matt Kindt John Layman Frank Tieri Peter J. Tomasi Francis Manapul Brian Buccellato Benjamin Percy Ray Fawkes (vol. 1 cont.) James Tynion IV Michael Moreci Bryan Hill James Robinson Peter J. Tomasi Mariko Tamaki Ram V
pencillers
(vol. 1) Bob Kane Dick Sprang Sheldon Moldoff Carmine Infantino Gil Kane Neal Adams Irv Novick Jim Aparo Walt Simonson Ernie Chan Marshall Rogers Gene Colan Alan Davis Tom Mandrake Don Newton J. H. Williams III, Pete Woods (vol. 2) Ed Benes, Andy Clarke, Tony Daniel Scot Eaton Jason Fabok Mikel Janin Syzmon Kudranski Eduardo Pansica Javier Pina
inkers
(vol. 1) Jerry Robinson Charles Paris Murphy Anderson Joe Giella Sid Greene Dick Giordano Terry Austin Alfredo Alcala
colorists
Adrienne Roy
subcat
Batman
sort
Detective Comics
Wheeler-Nicholson's first two titles were the landmark New Fun: The Big Comic-Magazine #1 (cover-dated Feb. 1935), colloquially called New Fun Comics #1 and the first such early comic book to contain all-original content, rather than a mix of newspapercomic strips and comic-strip-style new material.
His second effort, New Comics #1, was retitled twice to become Adventure Comics, another seminal series that ran for decades until issue #503, in 1983, and was later revived in 2009.
The third and final title published under his aegis was Detective Comics, advertised with a cover illustration dated December 1936, but eventually premiering three months later, with a March 1937 cover date. Wheeler-Nicholson was in debt to printing-plant owner and magazine distributor Harry Donenfeld, who was, as well, a pulp-magazinepublisher and a principal in the magazine distributorship Independent News.Wheeler-Nicholson took Donenfeld on as a partner to publish Detective Comics #1 with Wheeler-Nicholson and Jack Liebowitz, Donenfeld's accountant, listed as owners.[2] Wheeler-Nicholson was forced out a year later.
Originally an anthology comic, Detective Comics #1 (March 1937) featured stories in the "hard-boiled detective" genre, with such stars as Ching Lung (a Fu Manchu-style "Yellow Peril" villain); Slam Bradley (created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster before their character Superman saw print two years later); and Speed Saunders, among others.Its first editor, Vin Sullivan, also drew the debut issue's cover.The Crimson Avenger debuted in issue #20 (October 1938).[3]
Early issues of the series have been criticized for their racism and xenophobia.[4][5][6][7]
Batman / Bruce Wayne
Detective Comics #27 (released March 1939, with a cover date of May 1939) marked the first appearance of Batman.[8] He eventually became the star of the title, the cover logo of which is often written as "Detective Comics featuring Batman".Because of its significance, issue #27 is among the most valuable comic books in existence, with one copy selling for $1,075,000 in a February 2010 auction.[9]
Batman's origin is first revealed in a two-page story in issue #33 (Nov. 1939).[10] Batman became the main cover feature of the title beginning with issue #35 (Jan. 1940).[11] Issue #38 (April 1940) introduced Batman's sidekickRobin, billed as "The Sensational Character Find of 1940" on the cover and the first of several characters that would make up the "Batman Family."[12] Robin's appearance and the subsequent increase in sales of the book soon led to the trend of superheroes and young sidekicks that characterize the era that fans and historians call the "Golden Age of Comic Books."Several of Batman's best known villains debuted in the pages of Detective Comics during this era, including the Penguin in issue #58,[13]Two-Face in issue #66,[14] and the Riddler in issue #140.[15]
Batwoman first appeared in Detective Comics #233 (July 1956).[16] Since the family formula had proven very successful for the Superman franchise, editor Jack Schiff suggested to Batman co-creator Bob Kane that he create one for the Batman.A female was chosen first, to offset the charges made by Fredric Wertham that Batman and Robin were homosexual.[17] Writer Bill Finger and artist Sheldon Moldoff introduced Bat-Mite in issue #267 (May 1959)[18] and Clayface in #298 (Dec. 1961).[19]
In 1964, Julius Schwartz was made responsible for reviving the fading Batman titles.[20] Writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino jettisoned the sillier aspects that had crept into the franchise, such as Ace the Bathound and Bat-Mite and gave the character a "New Look" that premiered in Detective Comics #327 (May 1964).[21] Schwartz, Gardner Fox, and Infantino introduced, from the William Dozier produced TV series, Barbara Gordon as a new version of Batgirl in a story titled "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!"in issue #359 (Jan. 1967).[22]Mike Friedrich wrote the 30th anniversary Batman story in Detective Comics #387 (May 1969) which was drawn by Bob Brown
Writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams had their first collaboration on Batman on the story "The Secret of the Waiting Graves" in issue #395 (Jan. 1970).[24] The duo, under the direction of Schwartz,[25] revitalized the character with a series of noteworthy stories reestablishing Batman's dark, brooding nature and taking the books away from the campy look and feel of the 1966–68 ABCTV series.[26] Comics historian Les Daniels observed that "O'Neil's interpretation of Batman as a vengeful obsessive-compulsive, which he modestly describes as a return to the roots, was actually an act of creative imagination that has influenced every subsequent version of the Dark Knight."[27] Adams introduced the Man-Bat with writer Frank Robbins in Detective Comics #400 (June 1970).[28]
After publishing on a monthly schedule throughout its run, Detective Comics became a bi-monthly book from issues #435 (June–July 1973) to #445 (Feb.-March 1975). Issues #438 (Dec. 1973-Jan. 1974) to #445 (Feb.–March 1975) of the series were in the 100 Page Super Spectacular format.[31] O'Neil and artist Dick Giordano created the Batman supporting character Leslie Thompkins in the story "There Is No Hope in Crime Alley" appearing in issue #457 (March 1976).[32] Writer Steve Englehart and artist Marshall Rogers produced an acclaimed run of Batman stories in Detective Comics #471–476 (Aug. 1977 – April 1978),[33] and provided one of the definitive interpretations that influenced the 1989 Batman film and was adapted for the 1990s animated series.[34] The Englehart and Rogers pairing, was described in 2009 by comics writer and historian Robert Greenberger as "one of the greatest" creative teams to work on the Batman character.
Writer Mike W. Barr and artists Alan Davis and Todd McFarlane crafted the "Batman: Year Two" storyline in Detective Comics #575–578 which followed up on Frank Miller's "Batman: Year One".[44] Writer Alan Grant and artist Norm Breyfogle introduced the Ventriloquist in their first Batman story together[45] and the Ratcatcher in their third (#585).[46]Sam Hamm, who wrote the screenplay for Tim Burton's Batman, wrote the "Blind Justice" story in Detective Comics issues #598–600.[47]
The "Batman: Legacy" storyline began in issue #700 (August 1996).[51] The "No Man's Land" storyline crossed over into Detective Comics in issues #730–741.Writer Greg Rucka and artist Shawn Martinbrough became the creative team as of issue #742 (March 2000)[52] and created the Sasha Bordeaux character in issue #751 (Dec. 2000).[53] Issue #800 (Jan. 2005) was written by Andersen Gabrych and drawn by Pete Woods.[54] Paul Dini became the writer of the series as of issue #821 (Sept. 2006)[55] and created a new version of the Ventriloquist in #827 (March 2007).[56]
Back-up features
In addition to the Batman stories, the title has had numerous back-up strips. The Boy Commandos by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby debuted in Detective Comics #64 (June 1942) and were then soon spun off into their own title.[58] The character Roy Raymond first appeared in issue #153 (Nov. 1949).[59] The Martian Manhunter was created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa in the back-up story "The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel" in Detective Comics #225 (Nov. 1955).[60] After issue #326 (April 1964), the Martian Manhunter was moved to House of Mystery and in issue #327 the Elongated Man and his wife, now remodeled after Dashiell Hammett's Nick and Nora Charles, took over. The characters crossed over with Batman three times. The Elongated Man run lasted until issue #383 (Jan. 1969) and his feature returned sporadically 15 times until issue #572, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the title by teaming him up with Batman, Robin, Slam Bradley and
Batwoman
In 2009, as part of a planned reorganization of the Batman universe due to the events shown in Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis, Detective Comics went on hiatus for three months while DC Comics published the Battle for the Cowl miniseries.Upon its return, the series featured the newly reintroduced (in 52) Batwoman as the new star of the book, as well as a 10-page back-up feature starring Renee Montoya as the new Question.[69] The series returned Batman to a starring role in early 2010.
The New 52
DC Comics relaunched Detective Comics with issue #1 in September 2011, as part of an initiative called The New 52.[70] The series was written and drawn by Tony Daniel until the 12th issue, with the team of John Layman and Jason Fabok beginning with issue #13.[71][72]
The first issue of the relaunched Detective Comics has received six printings, second only to the relaunched Justice League which had seven printings.[73] The series' 7th issue was also DC Comic's 6th highest selling digital comic, ranking above many other series in the Batman category.[74] Scott West of Sciencefiction.com gave the series' third arc a positive review, stating that "After last month's disappointing 'Night of the Owls' tie-in issue, it's nice to see 'Detective Comics' getting back to where it should be...good detective stories."
2016–present
In February 2016, DC Comics announced that as part of the company's continuity relaunch called DC Rebirth, Detective Comics would resume its original numbering system with June 2016's issue #934. The 52 issues of Detective Comics volume 2 (2011–2016) were added to the original count of 881 issues from Detective Comics volume 1 (1937–2011), making Detective Comics #934 the premier issue following the end of the DC Rebirth initiative. The series was published twice-monthly.[91]
The creative team beginning with issue #934 included writer James Tynion IV and artists Eddy Barrows and Alvaro Martinez.[92] The series featured a team led by Batman and Batwoman (Kate Kane), operating out of a secondary base in the heart of Gotham known as the Belfry.Team members initially included Red Robin (Tim Drake), Spoiler (Stephanie Brown), Orphan (Cassandra Cain) and Clayface (Basil Karlo), with Batwing (Luke Fox) and Azrael
Significant issues
First appearances
Collected editions
Volume 1 (1937–2011)
The Detective Comics series has been collected into a number of trade paperbacks and hardback collections.
Batman Archive editions
All DC Archive Editions are hardback only and printed on high quality archival paper.
Batman Chronicles
The Batman Chronicles series plans to reprint every Batman adventure in color, in chronological order, in affordable trade paperbacks.It is not to be confused with the now-finished series of the same name.
Showcase Presents
All Showcase Presents collections are large (over 500 pages), softcover, black and white only reprints.
Celebration hardcovers
Starting in 2014, DC began releasing character retrospective anthologies, several of which feature issues of Detective Comics
Tales of The Batman/Legends of the Dark Knight
These hardcover books reprint issues by particular creators and contain many issues of Detective Comics, as well as other Batman titles.
Other editions
Many of these other editions are anthologies containing comics from titles other than Detective Comics. Titles here are presented as close to chronologically as possible.
Batman Archive editions
All DC Archive Editions are hardback only and printed on high quality archival paper.
Batman Chronicles
The Batman Chronicles series plans to reprint every Batman adventure in color, in chronological order, in affordable trade paperbacks.It is not to be confused with the now-finished series of the same name.
Showcase Presents
All Showcase Presents collections are large (over 500 pages), softcover, black and white only reprints.
Celebration hardcovers
Starting in 2014, DC began releasing character retrospective anthologies, several of which feature issues of Detective Comics
Tales of The Batman/Legends of the Dark Knight
These hardcover books reprint issues by particular creators and contain many issues of Detective Comics, as well as other Batman titles.
Other editions
Many of these other editions are anthologies containing comics from titles other than Detective Comics. Titles here are presented as close to chronologically as possible.
The New 52
The New 52 saw every DC Comics series collected in its entirety in trade paperback form. Notably, collected volumes of Detective Comics vol. 2 were published in hardcover editions first, with paperback editions being delayed until the release of the next hardcover volume.
Material from Detective Comics vol. 2 was also included in several collections of crossover events, each printed in both hardcover and softcover. In each case, the material consisted of tie-ins to the main event.
DC Rebirth to present
Volumes 1–5 were published with DC Rebirth trade dress on the cover. This was dropped from volume 6 onwards, coinciding with the end of "DC Rebirth" branding on the series from issue #970 onwards.
Numbering on the collected editions was restarted from volume 1 with the start of Peter Tomasi's run as writer in issue #994. The first three volumes were published in hardcover editions first, before being reprinted in paperback.
Millennium Editions
In 2000 and 2001, DC reprinted several of its most notable issues in the Millennium Edition series.Seven issues of Detective Comics were reprinted in this format.[101]
8.Wallace "1930s" in Dolan, p. 24: "DC's second superstar debuted in the lead story of this issue, written by Bill Finger and drawn by Bob Kane, though the character was missing many of the elements that would make him a legend."^
10.Wallace "1930s" in Dolan, p. 25: "In November's Detective Comics #33, a two-page story titled 'The Batman and How He Came to Be' recounted the Dark Knight's tragic and driven origin."^
11.Joe Desris. The Golden Age of Batman The Greatest Covers of Detective Comics From the '30s to the '50s Artabras, 1994^
12.Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 31: "Writer Bill Finger and artist Bob Kane justified any hyperbole in this issue, for with the introduction of Robin, Batman's world changed forever."^
13.Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 37: "One of Batman's most peculiar foes first appeared in this issue, and naturally he brought his trademark umbrella with him. The Penguin was a squat dandy with a beaked nose and a tuxedo."^
14.Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 41: "The nightmarish Two-Face debuted as Batman's antagonist in this story by writer Bill Finger and artist Bob Kane."^
15.Wallace, Daniel "1940s" in Dolan, p. 59: "The Riddler debuted as a perplexing foe of Batman in a story by writer Bill Finger and artist Dick Sprang."^
16.Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 80: "In the story 'The Batwoman' by writer Edmond Hamilton and penciller Sheldon Moldoff (as Bob Kane), Bruce Wayne took notice of a young admirer who...was fighting crime while wearing a bat-costume."^
18.Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 94: "The impish Bat-Mite made his first appearance in Detective Comics #267, care of writer Bill Finger and artist Sheldon Moldoff."^
19.McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 103: "Scribe Bill Finger and artist Sheldon Moldoff reshaped the face of evil with the second – and perhaps most recognized – Clayface ever to challenge the Dark Knight."^
21.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 110: "The Dark Knight received a much-needed facelift from new Batman editor Julius Schwartz, writer John Broome, and artist Carmine Infantino. With sales at an all-time low and threatening the cancelation of one of DC's flagship titles, their overhaul was a lifesaving success for DC and its beloved Batman."^
22.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 122 "Nine months before making her debut on Batman, a new Batgirl appeared in the pages of Detective Comics...Yet the idea for the debut of Barbara Gordon, according to editor Julius Schwartz, was attributed to the television series executives' desire to have a character that would appeal to a female audience and for this character to originate in the comics. Hence, writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino collaborated on 'The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!'"^
23.Matt Forbeck, Alastair Dougall. Batman: A Visual History Dorling Kindersley, 2014^
24.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 143: "Artist Neal Adams and writer Denny O'Neil rescued Batman from the cozy, campy cul-de-sac he had been consigned to in the 1960s and returned the Dark Knight to his roots as a haunted crime fighter. The cover of their first collaboration, "The Secret of the Waiting Graves", was typical of Adams' edgy, spooky style."^
25.Robert Greenberger, Matthew K. Manning. The Batman Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the Batcave Running Press, 2009^
26.Goulart, Ron, Ron Goulart's Great History of Comic Books (Contemporary Books, Chicago, 1986) ISBN 978-0-8092-5045-5, p. 297^
27.Les Daniels. DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes Bulfinch Press, 1995^
28.Greenberger and Manning, p. 177 "Adams helped darken Gotham City in the 1970s [and] the scene was set for a new host of major villains. One of the first was Man-Bat, who debuted in the pages of 1970's Detective Comics #400."^
29.Manning, Matthew K. "1970s" in Dougall, p. 109: "Batman had his first brush with the mysterious League of Assassins in this issue written by Dennis O'Neil and illustrated by Bob Brown."^
30.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 145 "Before Batman first encountered one of his greatest adversaries, Ra's al Ghul, he met his daughter, the lovely but lethal Talia [in a story by] writer Denny O'Neil and artist Bob Brown."^
31.Michael Eury. A Look at DC's Super Specs Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, July 2015^
32.Greenberger and Manning, p. 30: "It was Dick Giordano who, among many other similar feats, drew the March 1976 fan-favorite issue #457 of Detective Comics to illustrate the fabled Denny O'Neil yarn 'There is No Hope in Crime Alley'."^
33.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 174: "...first-time collaborators Steve Englehart and artist Marshall Rogers firmly entrenched Batman in his dark, pulp roots."^
35.Greenberger and Manning, p. 27: "Batman was now a true creature of the night, and every artist and writer team worth their creative salt wanted a piece of him. One of the greatest of such pairs consisted of writer Steve Englehart and artist Marshall Rogers...when Rogers joined Englehart in Detective Comics issue #471 (August 1977), their styles meshed with such ease that the result gave the impression of years' worth of collaboration."^
36.Greenberger and Manning, p. 163: "In this fondly remembered tale that was later adapted into an episode of the 1990s cartoon Batman: The Animated Series, the Joker poisoned the harbors of Gotham so that the fish would all bear his signature grin, a look the Joker then tried to trademark in order to collect royalties."^
37.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 179: "Writer Len Wein and artist Marshall Rogers vividly depicted Batman's battle with a third Clayface."^
38.Max Romero. I'll Buy That For a Dollar! DC Comics' Dollar Comics Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, July 2012^
39.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 183: "September's Detective Comics #485 featured...the League of Assassins' murder of Kathy (Batwoman) Kane [an event] that sent Batman out for revenge in a story by scripter Denny O'Neil and artist Don Newton."^
40.Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 193: "The comic responsible for DC's name reached its 500th issue with the help of a variety of talented comic book icons...In a dimension-spanning story by writer Alan Brennert and fan-favorite artist Dick Giordano, Batman traveled to an alternate Earth to save the parents of a young Bruce Wayne...Writer of pulp icon the Shadow, Walter Gibson, spun a prose story of the Dark Knight, illustrated by Tom Yeates."^
41.Robert Greenberger. Memories of Detective Comics #500 Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, December 2013^
42.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 200: "Killer Croc made his mysterious debut in the pages of Detective Comics #523, written by Gerry Conway, with art by Gene Colan...Croc would soon become a major player in Gotham's underworld."^
44.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 229: "In 'Year Two', a four-part sequel [to "Batman: Year One"] set in Batman's second year as a crime fighter, writer Mike W. Barr and artists Alan Davis and Todd McFarlane challenged the Caped Crusader with the threat of the Reaper."^
45.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 235: "In February [1988], the Batman crossed paths with Scarface and the Ventriloquist in Detective Comics #583 by writer John Wagner and Alan Grant and artist Norm Breyfogle."^
46.Manning "1980s" in Dougall, p. 171: "Writers John Wagner and Alan Grant and artist Norm Breyfogle introduced the Ratcatcher in this two-part story."^
47.Greenberger and Manning, p. 41: "In the pages of Detective Comics, Batman screenwriter Sam Hamm took advantage of that year's ongoing writers' strike to write a three-issue story entitled "Blind Justice", which culminated in that title's 600th issue."^
48.Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 195: "Chuck Dixon became the new writer on Detective Comics, starting with this issue with the help of the pencils of Tom Lyle and the inks of Scott Hanna."^
51.Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 274: "['Legacy'] kicked into full speed in the anniversary issue of Detective Comics (#700), which came with a unique envelope wrapping."^
52.Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 246: "Greg Rucka was handed the reins of Detective Comics, alongside artist Shawn Martinbrough...To visually distinguish the title from other Batman books, Martinbrough employed a minimal color palette, using shades of only one or two colors per issue."^
53.Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 252: "Greg Rucka and artist Shawn Martinbrough debuted a major new character and love interest into the life of Batman: Sasha Bordeaux."^
54.Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 318: "Detective Comics ' 800th issue was extra large to celebrate the comic's anniversary and set up a new direction for the Dark Knight...Scripted by Andersen Gabrych and pencilled by Pet Woods, the issue took Batman back to basics."^
55.Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 290: "Paul Dini came aboard Detective Comics as its new ongoing writer as of this issue."^
56.Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 293: "Paul Dini and artist Don Kramer introduced a new Ventriloquist in this self-contained issue."^
58.Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 41: "The inaugural issue of Boy Commandos represented Joe Simon and Jack Kirby's first original title since they started at DC though the characters had debuted earlier that year in Detective Comics #64."^
59.Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 61: "Television was a new medium in 1949, and this issue saw the debut of Roy Raymond, adventurer and star of the fictional TV program 'Impossible _ But True!'"^
60.Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 77: "The Martian called J'onn J'onzz debuted as a regular feature in Detective Comics #225. 'The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel', by writer Joe Samachson and artist Joe Certa, gave the origin for the lonely Martian Manhunter."^
61.John Wells. The Master Crime-File of Jason Bard Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, May 2013^
62.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 157: "Together with exciting new artist Walt Simonson, [Archie] Goodwin executed seven flawless tales that chronicled Paul Kirk's hunt for the world's deadliest game...Manhunter's award-winning revival earned undying acclaim for its talented storytellers."^
63.Alex Boney. Hunting the Hunters: Manhunter and the Most Dangerous Game Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, May 2013^
64.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 199: "Green Arrow netted the coveted position as backup story to the Dark Knight's adventures in Detective Comics. Written by Joey Cavalieri, with art by Trevor Von Eeden, the new feature saw Star City's renowned archer renew his war on crime."^
65.Jim Kingman. The Ballad of Ollie and Dinah Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, May 2013^
66.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 214: "Dinah Lance adopted a new costume tailor-made for the 1980s in the pages of this issue's 'Green Arrow' back-up feature."^
70.Manning "2010s" in Dougall, p. 319: "For the first time, Batman starred in a first issue of Detective Comics as the title was restarted to reflect the revised continuity of DC Comics' New 52 universe."^
Writer Len Wein and Rogers co-created the third version of the supervillain Clayface in Detective Comics #478 (July–Aug. 1978).[37] From issue #481 (Dec. 1978 – Jan. 1979) through #495 (Oct. 1980), the magazine adopted the expanded Dollar Comics format used by the canceled Batman Family,[38] adding solo features including "Robin: the Teen Wonder", "Batgirl", the "Human Target" and the anthology "Tales of Gotham City", which featured stories of the city's ordinary people.
Julius Schwartz, who had edited the title for most of its run since 1964, left the series as of issue #484 (June–July 1979)[20] The original Katherine Kane also known as "Batwoman" was killed in the lead story in issue #485 (Aug.–Sept. 1979) by the League of Assassins.[39]
The title's 500th issue (March 1981) featured stories by several well-known creators including television writer Alan Brennert and Walter B. Gibson best known for his work on the pulp fiction character The Shadow.[40][41] Also used during the 1980s was the use of serialization of the main Batman story, with stories from Detective Comics and Batman directly flowing from one book to another, with cliffhangers at the end of each book's monthly story that would be resolved in the other title of that month.
A single writer handled both books during that time beginning with Gerry Conway and followed up by Doug Moench.
The supervillain Killer Croc made a shadowy cameo in issue #523 (Feb. 1983).[42] Noted author Harlan Ellison wrote the Batman story in issue #567.[43]
Chuck Dixon
became the writer of the series with issue #644 (May 1992).
After the Elongated Man back-up feature ended, Batgirl held the role until issue #424.
She returned from issues 481–519 after being moved to Batman Family.
Jason Bard appeared as the backup feature in the odd-numbered issues of Detective from #425–435.[61] The Manhunter was resurrected in a story by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson in issue #437 (Oct.-Nov. 1973).[62][63] With the last episode of the series, Manhunter moved to the front of the book in a full-length team-up with Batman.
The Green Arrow became the back-up feature starting with issue #521 (Dec. 1982)[64] and running until #567 (Oct. 1986).[65] The Black Canary received a new costume in the back-up story in issue #554 (Sept. 1985).[66]DC Comics Bonus Books were included in issues #589 (August 1988)[67] and 595 (Jan. 1989).[68]
After a lengthy absence, the backup features returned for issues #746–810. These were more closed-ended stories featuring new and established characters in the Batman mythos. The first was "The Jacobian" in issues #746–757, followed by a one-issue Batman story in #758. The following issues, #759–762, featured Slam Bradley and were a lead-in to the 2002 Catwoman series. Issues #763–772 featured Josephine "Josie Mac" MacDonald, a Gotham police detective. Issues #773–775 were titled "Tales of Gotham" and feature Detectives Crispus Allen and Renee Montoya. Batman starred in "Spore" from issues #776–780. #781 featured a special Elseworlds tale, while #782 featured a Batman solo tale. Issue #783 featured a prelude to the "Death and the Maidens" miniseries, and issue #784 featured a Josie Mac tale. The "Tales of Gotham" stories resumed in issues #785–788 with "The Dogcatcher", and #789–794 featured "The Tailor". "Polished Stone", featuring the Green Arrow and Onyx, ran in issues #795–796. "Low", featuring the Riddler and Poison Ivy, ran from issues #797–799. Under the title "Tales of Gotham," Detective Comics #800 had a short Batman back-up story. A four-issue (#801–805) story featuring the Barker entitled "When You're Strange" was next and "Mud" in issue #805. The last back-up was a three-issue (#808–810) story about Killer Croc. It came after a two-issue (#806–807) story about Alfred.
The "Manhunter" series that ran as a backup in Detective Comics from 1973 to 1974 won the Shazam Award for "Best Individual Short Story (Dramatic)" in 1974 for the story "Cathedral Perilous" in issue #441, written by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson.
Daniel wrote and penciled the series until the Night of the Owls crossover, at which point Ed Benes, Julio Ferreira, and Eduardo Pansica began drawing the series for a three-issue arc.[78][79] The price of Detective Comics was increased due to the addition of a backup feature starring Batman villain Two-Face, which was written by Daniel and illustrated by Syzmon Kudranski, this followed a similar backup featuring Professor Hugo Strange.[80] Daniel left the series with issue #12 being his last as writer and the "0" issue his last as penciller.[81]
DC celebrated the first anniversary of The New 52 in September 2012 by publishing a number "0" of each original New 52 title which act as prequels to the series and reveal previously unexplained plot elements.[82]Gregg Hurwitz wrote the "0" issue.[83] Hurwitz was approached by Daniel to write the "0" issue due to Daniel's busy schedule.[84][85] To follow up on the Night of the Owls elements in Detective Comics, Daniel wrote Detective Comics Annual #1, which was pencilled by Romano Molenaar and inked by Sandu Florea.[86]
Following Daniel's tenure on the series, John Layman became the new writer and Jason Fabok the new artist[87] with James Tynion IV writing the backup features and Syzmon Kudranski remaining as artist for Tynion's first feature. With issue #19 of Detective Comics vol. 2, released on April 3, 2013, the series reached 900 issues as combined with the first volume of the series, and was a special oversized celebratory issue. Under Layman, the series featured its first crossover, Gothtopia after which Layman and Fabok moved to the Batman Eternal series and Detective Comics was taken over by Brain Buccalleto and Francis Manapul.[88]
In commemoration of the second anniversary of The New 52, DC Comics announced "Villains Month" with Detective Comics getting four issues.The issues starred Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, the Scarecrow, and the Man-Bat, and, respectively, being numbered #23.1, #23.2, #23.3, and #23.4, by an ensemble of writers and artists.[89]
also briefly joins the team as a guest star in several issues.
This status quo ended with the conclusion of Tynion's run on the series in issue #981, published May 2018.
During the interim period without a permanent writer, Bryan Edward Hill wrote the story arc "On the Outside" starring Batman, Orphan, Signal, Katana and Black Lightning over issues #983–987 as a prelude to his ongoing series Batman and the Outsiders.
The next regular writer, Peter Tomasi, began on the series with issue #994, published December 2018.
Tomasi's run as writer continued for two years until issue #1033, published December 2020.
On March 27, 2019, DC Comics released the series' 1,000th issue,[94] marking the second American comic book in history to reach that milestone after Action Comics in 2018.[95][96][97] The issue, which coincided with Batman's 80th anniversary,[98] is an anthology featuring several stories from a variety of different creative teams.[94]
Writer Mariko Tamaki began on the series with issue #1034 as part of the Infinite Frontier line-wide relaunch.[99] In April 2022, it was announced that Ram V and Rafael Albuquerque would serve as the new creative team starting with issue #1062.[100]
