Batman

First appearance of Batman — "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate." Bruce Wayne debuts as the Bat-Man. One of the most valuable comics in existence.

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Second appearance of Batman — still in his original costume without gloves

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Third appearance — first time Batman's origin is hinted at. First appearance of Doctor Death, Batman's first recurring villain.

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Batman's origin story told for the first time — young Bruce Wayne witnesses his parents' murder in Crime Alley

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First issue of Batman's own title. First appearance of the Joker AND Catwoman in the same issue — two of the most iconic villains ever created.

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First appearance of the Joker — Batman's greatest enemy. The Clown Prince of Crime debuts as a murderous psychopath.

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First appearance of Catwoman (as "The Cat") — Selina Kyle, thief and love interest. Introduced in the same issue as the Joker.

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First appearance of Alfred Pennyworth — Bruce Wayne's loyal butler and surrogate father. Originally portrayed as overweight and comedic.

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First appearance of the Penguin — Oswald Cobblepot, one of Gotham's most persistent crime lords

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First origin of the Joker revealed — the Red Hood falls into a vat of chemicals at Ace Chemical

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First appearance of the Riddler — Edward Nigma, the puzzle-obsessed criminal mastermind

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First appearance of the Scarecrow — Jonathan Crane uses fear toxin to terrorize Gotham

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First appearance of Clock King — one of Batman's earliest themed villains

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First appearance of the modern Clayface (Matt Hagen) — shape-shifting villain of the Silver Age

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First appearance of Mr. Freeze (as Mr. Zero) — Victor Fries, the tragic ice-themed villain

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First appearance of Poison Ivy — Pamela Isley, eco-terrorist with toxic powers and pheromone control

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First appearance of Ra's al Ghul — the immortal leader of the League of Assassins. Neal Adams art. One of the greatest Batman issues ever.

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First Silver Age appearance of Two-Face — Harvey Dent returns in the Neal Adams era

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First appearance of Man-Bat — Dr. Kirk Langstrom transforms into a bat creature. Neal Adams cover and art.

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First appearance of Talia al Ghul — Ra's al Ghul's daughter and Batman's complicated love interest. Mother of Damian Wayne.

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First appearance of Bane — the man who broke the Bat. Origin story of the villain born in a prison.

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First comic appearance of Harley Quinn — Dr. Harleen Quinzel, the Joker's psychiatrist turned accomplice. Originally from the animated series.

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First appearance of Black Mask — Roman Sionis, Gotham crime lord who wears a skull mask

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First appearance of Cassandra Cain as Batgirl — the silent, deadly fighter raised as a weapon

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First full appearance of Killer Croc — Waylon Jones, born with a reptilian condition

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First appearance of the Red Hood (Jason Todd resurrected) — the former Robin returns as an anti-hero

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First appearance of Damian Wayne — Bruce Wayne's son with Talia al Ghul. Grant Morrison's run begins.

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First appearance of the Court of Owls — a secret society that has controlled Gotham for centuries. Scott Snyder's landmark run begins.

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First appearance of Robin (Dick Grayson) — the original Boy Wonder. The first major superhero sidekick in comics.

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First appearance of Jason Todd (pre-Crisis) — the second Robin. A street kid Bruce takes in.

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Jason Todd's post-Crisis origin — Bruce catches him stealing the Batmobile's tires

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Death of Jason Todd — the Joker beats Robin to death with a crowbar. Fans voted for his fate by phone.

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First appearance of Tim Drake — the third Robin who deduced Batman's identity on his own

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Tim Drake officially becomes Robin — earns the mantle after proving himself to Batman

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First appearance of Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) — Commissioner Gordon's daughter puts on the cape

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Dick Grayson's first solo ongoing series as Nightwing — the original Robin comes into his own

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First appearance of Damian Wayne — Bruce's biological son, trained by the League of Assassins since birth

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Damian Wayne dons a Robin costume for the first time — Grant Morrison's run continues

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First appearance of the Joker — debuts as a homicidal maniac with a permanent grin

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"The Joker's Five-Way Revenge" — Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams redefine the Joker as a terrifying killer after years of campy portrayals

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"Dreadful Birthday, Dear Joker" — classic Joker story, first appearance of the modern Joker Fish concept

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Alan Moore's masterpiece — the Joker shoots and paralyzes Barbara Gordon. Explores the Joker's possible origin. One of the most important graphic novels ever.

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"A Death in the Family" — the Joker murders Jason Todd (Robin). Readers voted by phone to decide Robin's fate.

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"The Clown at Midnight" — Grant Morrison reimagines the Joker as a constantly evolving personality

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"Death of the Family" begins — the Joker returns wearing his own severed face. Scott Snyder's horrifying arc.

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"The Secret of the Waiting Graves" — Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams redefine Batman as a dark, serious character. The birth of the modern Batman.

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Ra's al Ghul debut — "Daughter of the Demon." The beginning of one of the greatest Batman sagas. Neal Adams art.

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"The Joker's Five-Way Revenge" — the definitive return of the Joker as a serious threat

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"There Is No Hope in Crime Alley" — Leslie Thompkins comforts young Bruce on the anniversary of his parents' murder. A tearjerker.

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Frank Miller's masterpiece — an aging Bruce Wayne comes out of retirement. Redefined Batman and changed comics forever.

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Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli retell Batman's origin — Batman #404-407. The definitive Batman origin story.

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Alan Moore and Brian Bolland — the Joker's origin and the shooting of Barbara Gordon. Essential Batman reading.

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Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale — a murder mystery spanning a year in Gotham. Features nearly every major Batman villain.

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Bane breaks Batman's back — the climax of Knightfall. One of the most iconic panels in comics history.

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Azrael becomes Batman — Jean-Paul Valley takes over the mantle after Bane breaks Bruce's back

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"Batman R.I.P." conclusion — Grant Morrison's epic. Bruce Wayne apparently dies fighting the Black Glove.

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Batman "dies" — Bruce Wayne is hit by Darkseid's Omega Sanction, sending him lost through time

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Dick Grayson becomes Batman with Damian Wayne as Robin — Grant Morrison's dynamic new duo

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Bruce Wayne fights his way back through time — caveman Batman, pirate Batman, cowboy Batman

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Death of Damian Wayne — Batman's son is killed by his own clone. Grant Morrison's devastating conclusion.

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The New 52 begins — Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo redefine Batman. Court of Owls saga starts.

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Batman trapped in the Court of Owls' labyrinth — the issue rotates as Batman loses his mind. Innovative storytelling.

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"Death of the Family" — Joker returns wearing his own cut-off face. One of the most disturbing Batman stories.

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"Zero Year" begins — Snyder's retelling of Batman's origin for the New 52 era

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"Endgame" begins — the Joker returns with his most apocalyptic plan yet. Batman vs the entire Justice League.

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"Endgame" conclusion — Batman and Joker apparently die together. The end of Snyder's greatest arc.

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First appearance of Robin (Dick Grayson) — the first superhero sidekick, transforming Batman from loner to mentor

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First appearance of Alfred Pennyworth — Batman's butler, medic, father figure, and most loyal ally

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First appearance of Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) — Commissioner Gordon's daughter becomes a hero

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First appearance of Catwoman's modern costume — the iconic purple suit by Irv Novick

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Cassandra Cain's first solo series as Batgirl — the silent warrior gets her own title

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First appearance of Cassandra Cain in the Batman costume — "No Man's Land" era

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