- Detective Comics
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Detective Comics 
Detective Comics #1 (March 1937)
Cover art by Vin Sullivan.Publication information Publisher Detective Comics, Inc. (1–119)
National Comics Publications (120–296)
National Periodical Publications (297–467)
DC Comics (468–current)Schedule Monthly (bi-monthly from 1973–1975) Format Ongoing series Publication date (vol. 1)
March 1937 – August 2011
(vol. 2)
September 2011 - PresentNumber of issues (vol. 1): 881 (plus issues numbered 0 and 1,000,000, and 12 annuals)
(vol. 2): 3 (as of November 2011)Main character(s) Since #27:
Batman
Other characters:
Batgirl, Robin, Manhunter, Green ArrowCreative team Writer(s) (vol. 1)
Bill Finger, Frank Robbins, Denny O'Neil, David V. Reed, Gerry Conway, Steve Englehart, Bob Rozakis, Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka
(vol. 2)
Tony DanielPenciller(s) (vol. 1)
Bob Kane, Dick Sprang, Sheldon Moldoff, Carmine Infantino, Bob Brown, Neal Adams, Irv Novick, Gil Kane, Don Heck, Frank Robbins, Jim Aparo, Walter Simonson, Ernie Chua, José Luis García-López, Mike Grell, Marshall Rogers, Don Newton, Gene Colan, Tom Mandrake, Alan Davis, Norm Breyfogle, Pete Woods, Ramon Bachs, J. H. Williams III, Don Kramer
(vol. 2)
Tony DanielInker(s) (vol. 1)
Jerry Robinson, Charles Paris, Sid Greene, Joe Giella, Murphy Anderson, Dick Giordano, Terry Austin, Alfredo Alcala, Shawn McManus, Paul Neary, Wayne FaucherColorist(s) Adrienne Roy Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 (cover-dated May 1939). It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and the source of its company's name. With 881 monthly issues published as of August 2011 (the last issue before a new #1), it is the longest continuously published comic book in the United States.[1]
Contents
Publication history
House ad for Detective Comics #1. Note the originally planned cover date of December 1936.
Detective Comics was the final publication of the entrepreneur Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, whose comics company, National Allied Publications, would evolve into DC Comics, one of the world's two largest comic book publishers, though long after its founder had left it. 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 newspaper comic strips and comic-strip-style new material. His second effort, New Comics #1, would be 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 would be Detective Comics, advertised with a cover illustration dated Dec. 1936, but eventually premiering three months late, with a March 1937 cover date. In 1937, however, Wheeler-Nicholson was in debt to printing-plant owner and magazine distributor Harry Donenfeld, who was as well a pulp-magazine publisher and a principal in the magazine distributorship Independent News. Wheeler-Nicholson took Donenfeld on as a partner in order to publish Detective Comics #1 through the newly formed Detective Comics, Inc., with Wheeler-Nicholson and Jack S. Liebowitz, Donenfeld's accountant, listed as owners. Wheeler-Nicholson was forced out a year later.
Originally an anthology comic, in the manner of the times, 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.
Batman
Detective Comics #27 (May 1939) featured the first appearance of Batman (as "The Bat-Man"). That superhero would eventually become 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 widely considered one of the most valuable comic books in existence, with one copy selling for $1,075,000 in a February 2010 auction.[2]
Issue #38 (April 1940) introduced Batman's sidekick Robin (billed as "The Sensational Character Find of 1940" on the cover). 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 fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.
In addition to the Batman stories, the comic also had numerous back up strips such as "The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel" in Detective Comics #225, the story which introduced Martian Manhunter.
After publishing on a monthly schedule throughout its run, Detective Comics became a bi-monthly book from issues #435–#445 (June/July 1973 – Feb./Mar. 1975). In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the magazine adopted the expanded format used by the canceled Batman Family, adding solo features including "Robin: the Teen Wonder", "Batgirl", the "Human Target" and the anthology "Tales of Gotham City", which featured the stories of the ordinary people of Gotham City. 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.
Batwoman
Main article: Batwoman: ElegyIn 2009, as part of 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.[3] The series returned Batman to a starring role in early 2010.
Relaunch
DC Comics relaunched Detective Comics with issue #1 in September 2011, as part of the 2011 DC Universe reboot. The series is being written and drawn by Tony Daniel.[4][5][6] DC Comics is referring to Detective Comics as its new "flagship title". In the first arc of the series, Batman, while in pursuit of the Joker, encounters a new enemy known only as the "Dollmaker".[7]
Awards
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.
Character debuts
Character Issue Publication date Slam Bradley #1 March 1937 Crimson Avenger #20 October 1938 Batman #27 May 1939 Commissioner James Gordon #27 May 1939 Joe Chill #33 November 1939 Hugo Strange #36 February 1940 Robin #38 April 1940 Clayface (Basil Karlo) #40 June 1940 Penguin #58 December 1941 Two-Face #66 August 1942 Tweedledum and Tweedledee #74 April 1943 Riddler #140 October 1948 Red Hood #168 February 1951 Firefly #184 June 1952 Batmen of All Nations #215 January 1955 Martian Manhunter #225 November 1955 Batwoman #233 July 1956 Calendar Man #259 September 1958 Bat-Mite #267 May 1959 Clayface (Matt Hagen) #298 December 1961 Catman #311 January 1963 Blockbuster #345 November 1965 Cluemaster #351 May 1966 Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) #359 January 1967 Jason Bard #392 October 1969 Man-Bat #400 June 1970 Talia al Ghul #411 May 1971 Harvey Bullock #441 July 1974 Leslie Thompkins #457 March 1976 The Calculator #463 September 1976 Rupert Thorne #469 May 1977 Silver St. Cloud #470 June 1977 Clayface (Preston Payne) #478 July 1978 Maxie Zeus #483 May 1979 Killer Croc #523 February 1983 Jason Todd #524 March 1983 Onyx #546 January 1985 Ventriloquist (Arnold Wesker) #583 February 1988 Ratcatcher #585 April 1988 Anarky #608 November 1989 Renee Montoya #642 March 1992 Stephanie Brown #647 August 1992 Crispus Allen #742 March 2000 Sasha Bordeaux #751 December 2000 Nyssa Raatko #783 August 2003 Ventriloquist (Peyton) #827 March 2007 Dollmaker #2 October 2011 Collected editions
See also: Batman collected editionsThe Detective Comics series has been collected into a number of trade paperbacks:
- Batman Archives (seven volumes):
- Vol. 1, collects #27-50, November 1997, ISBN 978-0930289607
- Vol. 2, collects #51-70, November 1997, ISBN 978-1563890000
- Vol. 3, collects #71-86, November 1997, ISBN 978-1563890994
- Vol. 4, collects #87-102, December 1998, ISBN 978-1563894145
- Vol. 5, collects #103-119, April 2001, ISBN 978-1563897252
- Vol. 6, collects #120-135, August 2005, ISBN 978-1401204099
- Vol. 7, collects #136-154, November 2007, ISBN 978-1401214937
- The Batman Chronicles (ten volumes):
- Vol. 1, collects #27-38 and Batman #1, April 2005, ISBN 978-1401204457
- Vol. 2, collects #39-45, Batman #2-3, and The New York World's Fair Comics #2, September 2006, ISBN 978-1401207908
- Vol. 3, collects #46-50, Batman #4-5, and World's Finest Comics #1, May 2007, ISBN 978-1401213473
- Vol. 4, collects #51-56, Batman #6-5, and World's Finest Comics" #2-3, October 2007, ISBN 978-1401214623
- Vol. 5, collects #57-61, Batman #8-9, and World's Finest Comics #4, April 2008, ISBN 978-1401216825
- Vol. 6, collects #62-65, Batman #10-11, and World's Finest Comics #5-6, October 2008, ISBN 978-1401219611
- Vol. 7, collects #66-70, Batman #12-13, and World's Finest Comics #7, March 2009, ISBN 978-1401221348
- Vol. 8, collects #71-74, Batman #14-15, and World's Finest Comics #8-9, October 2009, ISBN 978-1401224844
- Vol. 9, collects #75-77, Batman #16-17, and World's Finest Comics #10, March 2010, ISBN 978-1401226459
- Vol. 10, collects #78-81, Batman #18-19, and World's Finest Comics #11, December 2010
- Batman: The Dynamic Duo Archives (two volumes):
- Vol. 1, collects #327-333 and Batman #164-167, March 2003, ISBN 978-1563899324
- Vol. 2, collects #334-339 and Batman #168-171, June 2006, ISBN 978-1401207724
- Showcase Presents: Batman (four volumes):
- Vol. 1, collects #327-342 and Batman #164-174, August 2006, ISBN 978-1401210861
- Vol. 2, collects #343-358 and Batman #175-186, June 2007, ISBN 978-1401213626
- Vol. 3, collects #359-375 and Batman #189-202, July 2008, ISBN 978-1401217198
- Vol. 4, collects #376-390 and Batman #202-215, July 2009, ISBN 978-1401223144
- Manhunter: The Special Edition, collects Manhunter backup stories from #437-442 and the Batman/Manhunter crossover in #443, Manhunter #1, and Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #100, June 1999, ISBN 978-1563893742
- Batman: Strange Apparitions, collects #469-476, #478-479, December 1999, ISBN 978-1563895005
- Batman: Year Two, collects #575-578, January 1990, ISBN 978-0930289492
- Batman: Blind Justice, collects #598-600, May 2005, ISBN 978-1563890475
- Batman: Anarky, collects #608-609, Batman Chronicles #1, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #40-41, and Anarky #1-4, February 1999, ISBN 978-1563894374
- Batman: Evolution, collects #743-750, August 2001, ISBN 978-1563897269
- Batman: The Man Who Laughs, collects #784-786 and Batman: The Man Who Laughs (one-shot), February 2009, ISBN 978-1401216269 (Hardcover: January 2008, ISBN 978-1401216221)
- Batman: War Drums, collects #790-796 and Robin (vol. 2) #126-128, October 2004, ISBN 978-1401203412
- Batman: City of Crime, collects #800-808, #811-814, July 2006, ISBN 978-1401208974
- Batman: Face the Face, collects #817-820 and Batman #651-654, September 2006, ISBN 978-1401209100
- Batman: Detective, collects #821-826, April 2007, ISBN 978-1401212391
- Batman: Death and the City, collects #827-834, November 2007, ISBN 978-1401215750
- Batman: Private Casebook, collects #840-845 and DC Infinite Halloween Special, November 2009, ISBN 978-1401220150 (Hardcover: December 2008, ISBN 978-1401220099)
- Batman: Heart of Hush, collects #846-850, March 2010, ISBN 978-1401221249 (Hardcover: April 2009, ISBN 978-1401221232)
- Batwoman: Elegy, collects #854-860, June 2011, ISBN 978-1401231460 (Hardcover: July 2010, ISBN 978-1401226923)
References
- ^ Action Comics has amassed more individual issues due to 42 issues (#601-642) in 1988–89 that were published weekly, and because of Detective Comics' bimonthly run from 1973–1975. The American record-holder for most issues published is Dell Comics' Four Color series, which amassed more than 1,300 issues over a 23-year run.
- ^ "Batman, Superman comic books set records for sale price". The Washington Post. February 27, 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/26/AR2010022605938.html. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
- ^ "Batwoman takes over 'Detective'". ICv2. February 9, 2009. http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/14269.html. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
- ^ "DC New 52: Detective Comics". The Source. DC Comics.com. http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/new-52-detective-comics.
- ^ "Batman Relaunch: New #1s for "Batgirl", "Batman", "Detective", "Catwoman", "Birds of Prey" (UPDATED)". Comics Alliance. June 6, 2011. http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/06/06/new-dcu-batman-detective-batgirl.
- ^ Truitt, Brian (September 5, 2011). "Tony Daniel makes history with 'Detective Comics' No. 1". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-09-05/Tony-Daniel-makes-history-with-Detective-Comics-No-1/50263336/1. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
- ^ Detective Comics #1
Further reading
- Jones, Gerard (2004). Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book. Basic Books. ISBN 0-4650-3657-0.
External links
- DC Comics official site
- Detective Comics at the Grand Comics Database
- Detective Comics at the Comic Book DB
- Detective Comics at the Big Comic Book DataBase
- Batman: Yesterday, Today, & Beyond - Comics
- Detective Comics cover gallery
Batman Creators Batman
FamilyShared codenamesCharacter namesAce the Bat-Hound • Bat-Mite • Helena Bertinelli • Stephanie Brown • Cassandra Cain • Tim Drake • Barbara Gordon • Dick Grayson • Betty Kane • Selina Kyle (Catwoman) • Alfred Pennyworth • Jason Todd • Jean-Paul Valley (Azrael) • Bruce Wayne • Damian Wayne • Helena WayneSupporting
charactersEnemies Bane • Catwoman • Clayface • Harley Quinn • Hush • Joe Chill • Joker • Killer Croc • Mad Hatter • Man-Bat • Mr. Freeze • Penguin • Poison Ivy • Ra's al Ghul • Riddler • Scarecrow • Two-FaceLocations Equipment Vehicles Miscellanea Publications (Detective Comics • Batman)
Alternative versions of Batman • Alternate versions of Robin • Alternative versions of Barbara Gordon • Homosexuality in the Batman franchiseIn other media Batman in other media • Robin in other media • Barbara Gordon in other media • Joker in other media •Batman publications and storylines Current series Former ongoing
seriesAzrael • Batman Beyond • Batman Incorporated • Batman: Gotham Knights • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight • Batman: Shadow of the Bat • Batman: Streets of Gotham • The Batman Adventures • The Batman Chronicles • Batman Confidential • Batman Family • The Brave and the Bold • Gotham Central • Gotham City Sirens • Red Robin • Superman/Batman • World's Finest ComicsCompleted
limited seriesAnarky • Batgirl: Year One • Batman: Battle for the Cowl • Batman: Cacophony • Batman: The Cult • Batman: The Dark Knight Returns • Batman: Dark Victory • Batman: GCPD • Batman: The Long Halloween • Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne • Batman: Gates of Gotham • Batman: Turning Points • Batman: The Widening Gyre • Batman: Year 100 • Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity • Batman and the Mad Monk • Batman and the Monster Men • Batman Black and White • The Dark Knight Strikes Again • First Wave • Gotham Underground • Robin: Year One • Superman & Batman: Generations • Trinity • The Untold Legend of the BatmanOne-shots Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth • Batman: The 12 Cent Adventure • Batman: Castle of the Bat • Batman: Dark Knight Dynasty • Batman: Digital Justice • Batman: Holy Terror • Batman: In Darkest Knight • Batman: The Killing Joke • Batman: Knight Gallery • Batman: The Man Who Laughs • Batman: Nine Lives • Batman: Noël • Batman: Son of the Demon • Batman: Two Faces • Batman/Houdini: The Devil's Workshop • The Batman Adventures: Mad Love • Batman & Dracula: Red Rain • Gotham by Gaslight • JokerStorylines "Joker's Millions" • "Year One" • "Year Two" • "A Death in the Family" • "Year Three" • "The Man Who Falls" • "Gothic" • "Prey" • "The Last Arkham" • "Knightfall" • "Leatherwing" • "Contagion" • "Legacy" • "Cataclysm" • "The Berlin Batman" • "No Man's Land" • "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive" • "Hush" • "Broken City" • "As the Crow Flies" • "War Games" • "Under the Hood" • "War Crimes" • "Face the Face" • "Batman & Son" • "Dark Moon Rising" • "The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul" • "Batman R.I.P." • "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" • "Bruce Wayne: The Road Home"Inter-company
crossoversBatman/Aliens • Batman/Hellboy/Starman • Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham • Batman/The Spirit • Batman versus Predator • Spawn/Batman • Superman and Batman versus Aliens and PredatorIncomplete or planned All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder • Batman: Earth OneRelated topics Batman: Anarky • Batman: Child of Dreams • Batman: Haunted Knight • The Batman ChroniclesStorylines are listed in publication order. Publications are listed alphabetically by published titles.
Compiled without respect for canon or "current" continuity.Categories:- Batman titles
- 1930s comics debuts
- 2011 comic debuts
- Publications established in 1937
- Comics anthologies
- Batman Archives (seven volumes):
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