(April 1994 to March 1995)[1]
64A. Batman: Dark Victory #7, Part 2 by Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale (2000)[2]
April 1. Two-Face holds a mock trial in order to determine who the Hangman is. Calendar Man, Joker, Scarecrow, Mr. Zero, Poison Ivy, Mad Hatter, and Riddler are in attendance. Solomon Grundy plays the bailiff role. Back at Wayne Manor, Bruce trains and begins to doubt his abilities to catch the Hangman. Alfred pries a bit and discovers that Master Bruce has been running with traces amounts of Fear Gas in his system for exactly three months now! After a quick session with Dr. Pennyworth, all’s well again. Later, the Hangman strikes again and tries to kill Commissioner Gordon, but both Batman and Two-Face are there to protect him—(Two-Face doesn’t want to get blamed for crimes he isn’t committing). Elsewhere, Tony Zucco and Edward Skeevers plot a sinister money-making scheme against Haly’s Circus. Uh oh.
–NOTE: The first appearance of Catman (Thomas Blake) happens. There’s no specific Catman origin story in the Modern Age, but we’ll be seeing a lot of him from now on. “Heat” by Doug Moench/Russ Heath from LOTDK #46-49 (1993) is a Thomas Blake origin story, but it’s a completely different version of the character entirely, so this story is totally out-of-continuity.
–NOTE: Killer Moth debuts (as referenced in Robin: Year One #2). Killer Moth’s first appearance is a mash-up of his original few appearances in the Golden Age.
–NOTE: Batman captures the nefarious Dr. No-Face (as originally told in Detective Comics #319 and first canonically referenced in the pages of 52).
64B. Batman: Dark Victory #8 by Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale (2000)
May 8. It’s Mother’s Day. Joker kills a bunch of Sal Maroni’s top men then kills a bunch of Mario Falcone’s business associates. Later, the Hangman murders Commissioner Gordon’s appointed bodyguard. Later still, Joker attacks Sofia Gigante Falcone in her home, but gets warded off by a gun-wielding Alberto Falcone and Batman. Batman thrashes Joker and puts back in Arkham. Back at Wayne Manor, Alfred sets out tickets (given to Bruce for a donation his company made a while ago) to Haly’s Circus.
64C. Batman: Dark Victory #9, Part 1 by Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale (2000)
May 9. Bruce attends C.C. “Pop” Haly‘s “Greatest Show on Earth” at Haly’s Circus only to watch a tragedy unfold. Zucco, who was refused by the circus after offering a bogus protection/insurance racket, gets his revenge by sabotaging the act of the famous trapeze artist family, the Flying Graysons. The Grayson parents fall to their deaths as Bruce watches from the audience. Young Dick Grayson is left orphaned. The terrible death of the Flying Graysons is also chronicled through flashback in Batman #436.[3] Not only is Bruce present, but so is a nearly 4-year-old toddler Tim Drake. The Flying Graysons death scene is also shown through flashback in Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1, altohugh Tim is incorrectly referred to as being seven years-old instead of going on four. Secret Origins Vol. 2 #50 also contains a Denny O’Neil prose version of the death of the Flying Graysons.
–[4]
–FLASHBACKS:
–May 9. Immediately following his parents’ deaths, Batman swoops down to speak with Dick and examine the scene. Dick mentions Tony Zucco as a suspect, but no one really listens (as seen in Batman #436).
–May 9. Dick’s parents have just died. Batman spies on Dick, who says his goodbyes to Pop Haly and his friends, before going with a state agent to be placed into the rough-and-tumble Gotham Youth Center (as seen in the 55-page flashback “Robin Year One” issue of Robin Annual #4). We see Dick leave with the shrewish state agent, but a flashback from Batman #436 shows that Commissioner Gordon is the one who actually escorts him to the Youth Center. Therefore, we must surmise that the shrewish agent delivers him over to Gordon first. Batman #436 also introduces us to the loving, caring headmistress Sister Mary Elizabeth. We should note that while Sister Mary Elizabeth may be loving and caring, the Youth Center is a bad bad place (as detailed in Robin Annual #4) where Dick gets beaten up almost every day by other kids.
–Mid June. A custody hearing is held and Dick is adopted by Bruce Wayne as his ward (as seen in Batman #439). “Batman Year Three” tells us that Dick is in the orphanage for two months—while close, it’s actually a little less than a month-and-a-half. Similarly, Robin Annual #4 tells us that Dick is in the orphanage for a month—again, close but no cigar.
–Mid June. Alfred accompanies Dick to Wayne Manor for the first time (as seen in Robin Annual #4). There, Bruce (along with supermodel Brittany St. James) settles him in and shows him the lay of the mansion. An alternate version of this scene is shown via flashback in Batman #437—however, this version is totally non-canon. In Batman #437 Bruce immediately reveals his secret to Dick, gives him his Robin costume, and starts training him. Obviously, this is not how things went down.
64D. Batman: Dark Victory #9, Part 2 by Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale (2000)
Mid June. Father’s Day. A depressed Dick chats with Alfred at Wayne Manor. The Falcones are brought in for police questioning and Batman listens in. Concurrently, Gordon’s driver becomes the next victim of the Hangman. Later, Batman talks to Dick and let’s him know that his parents’ murderer will be brought to justice. Later still, Bruce muses in front of his parents’ graves and lays down a rose.
–NOTE: Mid June. Robin Annual #4 tells us Robin’s training program will last six months. Likewise, the six month training info can also be confirmed straight from Nightwing Secret Files #1 which has a Robin timeline. For things to jibe neatly with Robin: Year One later this year, Dick’s training should begin now (and actually last more like five-and-a-half months). How does this work since Batman hasn’t yet revealed his secret to Dick, you ask? Not to worry. I have a perfectly good explanation. Since Batman has just made contact with Dick (in the second part of Dark Victory #9), we can assume that Batman tells Dick to start training on his own right away, in order to prepare for Zucco’s arrest. Thus, if he starts now, in mid June, he will finish in December, right in time for Robin: Year One, which begins around then.
–NOTE: Mr. Zero changes his name to Mr. Freeze (as referenced in Batman: Dark Victory #10).
64E. Batman: Dark Victory #10 by Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale (2000)
July 4. While Dick lounges at Wayne Manor, bored to tears, Batman, Gordon, and his elite squad go hunting in the sewers. The heroes fight Two-Face, Joker, Mad Hatter, and Mr. Freeze. They realize that the Hangman is down there too, finding one of Gordon’s squad hanged. The villains scatter, but Gordon arrests and jails Two-Face. Later, Dick sneaks out to Haly’s Circus to witness Edward Skeevers and another hood roughing up Pop Haly. Dick tries to intervene but gets knocked-out. Batman shows up, sends the bad guys packing, and takes Dick to the Batcave to recover. Dick wakes up, surprised at his surroundings. Batman unmasks and reveals his secret. Robin Annual #4 details this night as well, although significant additions have been made. First, we get a scene showing Bruce and Dick talking about how he won’t go to school—Alfred will tutor him instead. Bruce mentions that its too late in the year to sign him up for a real school, which doesn’t make sense and should probably be ignored. Second, Skeevers and a few other hoods (not just one) are roughing up Pop Haly and they wind up shooting him dead! Now, I’m not sure Pop Haly’s death is meant to be canon or not—we do see Haly alive again, but only in three issues. The first is New Titans #60, published well before Robin Annual #4, meaning Haly’s appearance there is retconned away. The second and third are in Nightwing Vol. 2 #102-103, which already has some shaky continuity to begin with. Since we don’t see or hear from Pop in any other issues ever again (besides those three), I’m leaning toward canonizing the death of Pop Haly. Makes sense. Third, Bruce takes Dick upstairs into Wayne Manor from the Batcave before unmasking. It’s really up to you which version—the Dark Victory #10 version or the Robin Annual #4 version—you want to go with. They essentially tell the same story, with a few differences.
–FLASHBACK: July 6. Dick attends Pop Haly’s funeral along with several of his friends, including ringmaster Stan Rutledge (as seen in Robin Annual #4). Afterward, Batman asks him about the funeral and updates him on the search for Tony Zucco, who is still in hiding.
–FLASHBACK: July. This single-panel from Legends of the DCU #6 shows Batman return to the Batcave after teaming-up with Superman on an unspecified case. Dick, awed, asks Bruce what the Man of Steel is like.
64F. Batman: Dark Victory #11-12 by Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale (2000)
August 1-September 5. Batman continues searching for Tony Zucco, roughing up some of Sal Maroni’s men in the process. In the Batcave, Dick complains to Alfred that he’s been training for nearly a month and is ready to hit the streets. Batman arrives and tells Dick that he’s got Zucco’s location. The Dark Knight and Dick then hunt down Zucco, who runs, revealing that Mario and Alberto Falcone are twins, before having a heart attack and passing out as ambulances arrive. Batman checks Zucco’s pulse and tells Dick that he’s dead. This is either a huge continuity error or Batman is blatantly lying, since we’ll see Zucco alive again down the road. I’d lean towards the latter—Batman wouldn’t want Dick still hellbent on revenge whilst in the middle of his training period. It’s a nasty lie, I’ll admit, but that’s just how it is. On August 2, Two-Face is put on trial. Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, and Solomon Grundy interrupt the proceedings on behalf of Two-Face and the latter escapes with their help. At midnight, another of Gordon’s elite crime-fighting squad is murdered by the Hangman. On August 4, Scarecrow and an escaped Joker kidnap DA Janice Porter on behalf of Two-Face, who kills his lover without a bat of an eye. Two days later, Batman learns that Porter and Two-Face have been in cahoots the whole time. On August 20, Alberto Falcone learns that the “voice” he’s been hearing for months now belong to none other than the Calendar Man, messing with him because he’s been jealous of the attention Falcone got during the Holiday murders. Later, Batman and Gordon find Calendar Man, badly beaten and with Alberto’s electronic surveillance bracelet on him. Alberto and Sophia Falcone are both missing. On Labor Day, Dick solves the Hangman puzzle. Batman goes to the downtown Falcone penthouse and discovers the Hangman’s secret lair. The Hangman attacks, getting the better of the Dark Knight by slipping a noose around his neck from behind and hanging him off the balcony. Catwoman shows up to rescue Batman.
64G. Batman: Dark Victory #13, Part 1 by Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale (2000)
September 5. Labor Day. Catwoman saves Batman from the noose of the Hangman and then they chat for a bit (the usual mean-spirited conversation with undertones of sexual tension). Batman returns to the Batcave and meets with Alfred and Dick. Dick has now been training for two months.
–NOTE: Bruce tells Dick a Joker story that gives the boy nightmares for a week (as referenced in Robin: Year One #2).
64H. Batman: Dark Victory #13, Part 2 by Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale (2000)
October 10-11. On Columbus Day, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, and Joker each murder the heads of four of the five major Gotham mobs. The Falcones are next. Elsewhere, Sophia and Alberto Falcone, the latter still suffering from injuries dealt to him by the Calendar Man a month-and-a-half ago, hide out for their own safety. Sophia puts her brother out of his own misery, smothering him to death. Mario Falcone, meanwhile, goes to Gordon for protection. Mario tells Gordon and Batman that he had been secretly working for the late Janice Porter. Batman deduces that Sophia Gigante is the Hangman. She’s been faking her paraplegic injuries! Batman goes after Sophia who is hiding in the sewers, but gets distracted by Scarecrow, allowing Two-Face to get to her first. Batman eventually saves Two-Face and fights Sophia before Two-Face shoots her dead. During the chaos, Solomon Grundy gets electrocuted to death. Don’t worry, he is already a zombie and will get reincarnated again soon. Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Joker, and Mr. Freeze then escape blindly through the sewers and wind up, of all places, inside the Batcave! Dick, ever vigilant, dons his self-made Robin costume for the first time (!) and takes the fight to the super-villains! Batman soon arrives and helps him kick ass. Joker shoots Two-Face, who survives but falls into the waterways deep below the Batcave and is washed away. The Dynamic Duo the busts the other villains. Batman later meets with Gordon to discuss Two-Face. Gordon mentions that he’s “heard about” the Dark Knight’s new young partner—obviously from the Joker and company.
65A. Batman: Gotham After Midnight #1-6 by Steve Niles/Kelley Jones (July 2008 to December 2008)[5]
October. Batman takes on an escaped Scarecrow, the Axeman, and Man-Bat before realizing that they are all acting strangely and obviously under the control of another person. Meanwhile, a mysterious serial killer has been literally stealing people’s hearts. It doesn’t take long for Batman to discover that the killer, known as Midnight, is controlling the villains using experimental drugs. Soon after, Bruce, in and out of costume, meets the beautiful GCPD Lieutenant April Clarkson. Midnight then hires Clayface to attack Batman, which results in a Godzilla-like battle with a gigantic Clayface fighting Batman in a giant robot. On Halloween weekend, Joker briefly teams-up with Midnight and the former kidnaps some kids. Midnight unsuccessfully tries to kill Batman when the Caped Crusader arrives to save the children. Midnight then abducts GCPD cop Barry Lucas and makes his escape.
65B. Batman: Gotham After Midnight #7, Part 1 by Steve Niles/Kelley Jones (January 2009)
Late October. Part 1 of Gotham After Midnight is listed as “Chapter 1″ in the issue. Batman, Gordon, and GCPD Lieutenant April Clarkson discuss the disappearance of her partner, Barry Lucas. They fear he is dead at the hands of Midnight. (He is). Batman vows to locate Midnight’s secret lair.
64I. Batman: Dark Victory #13, Part 3 by Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale (2000)
Halloween. Dick swears an oath to Batman by ceremonial candlelight and officially becomes the first member of the Bat Family. His training, only a little more than halfway over, will continue. Commissioner Gordon celebrates Halloween with wife Barbara and Julia Lopez, who he appoints as new Lieutenant.
66. “Faces” by Matt Wagner (LOTDK #28-30) 1992
Early November. This legend takes place around two years after Harvey Dent has become Two-Face. In “Faces” Two-Face escapes Arkham with plans to illegally purchase an island off the coast of French Guiana so he can start his own “Deformity Nation,” a sovereign state comprised only of hideously deformed freaks. Batman is not really happy about this, so he puts a stop to it before it happens.
–[6]
–FLASHBACK: Dick, still in his training period, poses in his Robin costume (as seen via a single-panel flashback in Nightwing Vol. 2 #101). Batman tells him that it would be wiser to wear long leggings instead of a speedo, but Robin really digs his digs.
–NOTE: November. Now that Dark Victory is over and the mobs have all been destroyed, this opens the floodgates for crazed costumed super-villainy in Gotham. A few of C-Listers eagerly debut, including Spellbinder, The Calculator, and The Getaway Genius. There aren’t specific debut stories for these guys in the Modern Age, but we’ll be seeing a lot of them in the coming months and years.
–NOTE: November. The costumed super-villains keep on a-comin’. Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee debut and are bested by Batman. After his first tangle with Dum and Dee, Batman keeps their hats and puts them on display in the trophy room of the cave.
–NOTE: November. It just won’t stop! Eraser, Kite Man, Mr. Polka-Dot (aka Polka-Dot Man), Mad Hatter II (aka Hat Man), and The Cavalier make their first appearances. We’ll be seeing these villains again and again from now on.
–FLASHBACK: November. Dick, wearing his Robin costume, passes his “ambush training test,” successfully surprising (kinda) the Dark Knight inside the Batcave (as seen through flashback in Batman #687). Dick’s six month training will end in a couple weeks.
–FLASHBACK: November. The flashback tale recounted in Ron Marz/Bernie Wrightson’s “Splash” (from Batman Hidden Treasures #1) occurs now. When a serial killer begins knocking off homeless people in the sewers, Batman suspects a reincarnated Solomon Grundy. Batman tracks Grundy to Slaughter Swamp after the villain kidnaps a homeless man. In a twist, the Dark Knight learns that Grundy’s “victim” is actually the serial killer. Thus, Grundy, who surprisingly (or not surprisingly) has a bunch of hobo pals, saves the day.
–NOTE: Early December. The basic elements of the wonderful Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet by Bruce Canwell/Lee Weeks (1997) occur now, since they are referenced in multiple future issues (including Robin: Year One). However, there are two main continuity errors that make me hesitant to “officially” list it on my chronology with a number. Error #1: Gordon is still a captain—he should be the commissioner. Error #2: It takes place in June, and ends on the fourth of July—it must take place later than that. In fact, according to Dark Victory, Bruce only first reveals his identity as Batman to Dick on the fourth of July. If we ignore these two items, then the story fits perfectly. In any case, the basic plot elements of The Gauntlet remain canonical. Robin is put through a “final exam” where he runs a twenty-four hour gauntlet through the city while Batman silently stalks him. During the test, which ends his training period, Robin is able to systematically shut down Joe Minette‘s criminal organization and send the mob boss to prison. Afterward, Batman introduces Robin to Gordon.
–[7]
–NOTE: Robin goes on his first official on-patrol outing with Batman and is told to wait in the car while the Dark Knight trails the Joker into a mansion (as seen through flashback in Detective Comics #866). Inside, the Joker tries to steal a sacred medallion that belongs to the Order of St. Dumas. Joker gets away when Batman gets attacked by a man who wields a flaming sword (an Order of St. Dumas member, possibly even the father of Jean-Paul Valley, therefore probably Azrael). Outside, Joker gets in a confrontation with small-time thief Loomis before Robin ambushes the Joker from behind, leaving him for the cops. Meanwhile, Loomis gets arrested for a crime he didn’t commit; the theft of the medallion. Bruce is wearing the wrong yellow-oval costume in this flashback. Ignore.
–FLASHBACK: Starman #9 shows a canonical flashback which details the origins of both the original Blockbuster (Marc Desmond) and his criminal brother Roland Desmond. Batman and Robin deal with this duo right now.
–NOTE: Batman and Robin bring down the debuting Crazy Quilt, with emphasis on Robin being the one who brings him down (as referenced in Flash Vol. 2 #210). Robin will now start his own measly Hall of Trophies, starting with Crazy Quilt’s helmet as his first prize.
67A. Robin: Year One #1 by Chuck Dixon/Scott Beatty/Javier Pulido (2000)
December. Robin: Year One is a great four-issue story that not only follows up on the canonical bits of Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet, but helps further define Robin’s early days superbly. Dixon originally wrote this story so that it spanned the course of many, many months. However, he seemingly also deliberately wrote it in a way that also be read so that it spans a mere month or two. To make everything jibe smoothly, I’ve leaned toward the latter reading. Now, onto the synopsis. Batman and Robin take down some gun runners on the docks. Back home, Alfred asks Dick if he’s happy going down the tough path ahead. Dick responds by saying that with Zucco dead there isn’t much reason for him to continue, but he wants to anyway. We see a single-panel flashback to Dark Victory where Dick captures Zucco and he “dies” of a heart attack. Of course, Zucco isn’t really dead; Bruce and Alfred have been maintaining the lie for a while now. The next day, Bruce drops Dick off at Bristol Middle School for his first day of public education! At night, after a Wayne Manor party, our heroes learn of a sinister series of child abductions from Commissioner Gordon (incorrectly referred to as “captain”). The next night, with Alfred’s help, Robin follows up a lead, fights a hired thug at a warehouse, and tracks the missing girls to a yacht that coincidentally happens to be hosting a gala in Gotham Harbor, a gala being attended by Bruce. Aboard the ship, Robin defeats the abductor, Mad Hatter, and exposes his accomplice, the corrupt president of a small Asian country called Rheelasia.
–FLASHBACK:“Grimm” by J.M. DeMatteis/Trevor Von Eeden from LOTDK #149-153 (2002) is a issue-length flashback story narrated by Nightwing as he peruses the old files of the Batcave computer in 2002. In the issue, Dick jogs down memory lane and visits an old case that deals with the insane twin sister duo of Cyanide and Mother Grimm, which happens now. Batman and a very green Robin defeat the sisters.
–NOTE: December. The Cluemaster and Firefly debut now. Both are busted by the Dynamic Duo (as referenced in Robin: Year One #2).
–FLASHBACK: Batman and Robin bust some random thugs (as seen via flashback in Nightwing Vol. 2 #56). Martial-arts expert and League of Assassins member Shrike observes from the shadows. While Batman and Robin don’t meet him yet, Shrike will factor heavily into the next part of Robin: Year One.
–FLASHBACK: Batman and Robin send the Riddler to Blackgate Prison (as referenced in Robin: Year One #4 and seen in a single-panel of Robin Annual #4).
–FLASHBACK: Gotham is in the grip of an uninterrupted super-villain crime wave. Batman and Robin, having just taken down the Riddler (from our previous note) busts Poison Ivy and then later brings Joker to justice in the sewers (as seen in a single-panel of Robin Annual #4).
67B. Robin: Year One #2-3 by Chuck Dixon/Scott Beatty/Javier Pulido (2000)
December. Batman and Robin bust Killer Moth. A day later, they bust Blockbuster. A day after that, Two-Face kidnaps the judge who was present when he was maimed by Sal Maroni—(we see a flashback to Harvey Dent getting his face burned by Maroni, but the flashback itself and text associated with the flashback are all kinds of incorrect, so we have to ignore it completely). Commissioner Gordon, worried about Robin’s age, questions Batman whether or not the Boy Wonder is a permanent fixture. Gordon mentions that Robin has been around for months. While Robin has only debuted about ten days ago, Gordon has known about him since October, so this comment makes sense. Batman goes to hunt down Two-Face, telling Robin to sit this one out. When Batman confronts Two-Face, Robin disobeys and shows up anyway. Batman and Robin wind up getting captured and put into a twisted scenario involving the corpse of Sal Maroni and a double gallows. Two-Face executes the judge and then violently beats Robin with a baseball bat until Batman saves him and takes down the villain. (The start of Robin’s beating is also shown in a single-panel flashback in Robin Annual #4). Batman then rushes Robin into the care of Leslie Thompkins (drawn with red hair and too young looking, but oh well). Later, Gordon chastises the Dark Knight for endangering a child. Batman tells Gordon that Robin is officially retired. The next day, Bruce fires Robin, who is bandaged, bruised, and has an arm cast—(we must assume it isn’t actually a fracture since his arm will seem healed in a few days). A few days later, a determined Dick begins his rehab exercising with zeal. A few days after that, Dick checks in with Dr. Thompkins, but Mr. Freeze (back to wearing his Mr. Zero duds) interrupts and robs the clinic. The next night, Dick, wearing his street clothes and a domino mask, takes down Freeze, who had attempted to obtain a large sum of cash from Mayor Gill. Back at Wayne Manor, Bruce and Alfred read a letter left behind by Dick; he’s leaving and not coming back home. That same night, Two-Face escapes from jail and Dick runs into Shrike, who recruits Dick into his “Vengeance Academy,” a martial-arts training program for teenagers.
65C. Batman: Gotham After Midnight #7, Part 2 by Steve Niles/Kelley Jones (January 2009)
December 19-20. Part 2 of Gotham After Midnight is listed as Chapter 2 through Chapter 6 in the issue. Batman is finally able to find Midnight’s secret lair. When Batman infiltrates the lair, a drug-controlled Killer Croc is waiting to ambush him. Batman easily takes down Croc and recovers the corpse of Barry Lucas, but Midnight is long gone, continuing to murder dozens, even assassinating Mayor Gill! In spite of all the chaos, Batman begins a romantic affair with Lieutenant April Clarkson!
65D. Batman: Gotham After Midnight #8-9 by Steve Niles/Kelley Jones (February 2009)
December 21-January 1. Batman attends the funeral of Barry Lucas and then continues the hunt for Midnight. On X-mas Eve, Batman’s girlfriend April Clarkson is killed by Midnight. SPOILER ALERT: Clarkson has faked her death. She is Midnight. Catwoman is then kidnapped by Midnight and drugged into the villain’s complete control. A depressed Dark Knight continues the hunt for Midnight, but the latter keeps on killing and killing. (Remember, Batman is doubly depressed right now not only because of the supposed death of his girlfriend, but also because Dick has left home).
67C. Robin: Year One #4 by Chuck Dixon/Scott Beatty/Javier Pulido (2000)
Mid January. Joe Minette, from prison, hires Shrike to kill Two-Face. Meanwhile, a mopey Alfred muses how the holidays have come and gone and still no word from Dick. Batman chats with the Joker at Arkham. Meanwhile, Dick continues his training with the Vengeance Academy, even committing museum robberies with the group. Shrike then orders the hit on Two-Face to be completed by his boys. The Vengeance Academy team assaults Two-Face head-on, but Dick can’t pull the trigger when it comes to executing the super-villain. Shaken, Dick returns to the Batcave for the first time in weeks, chats with Alfred, and leaves a note for Bruce about Shrike’s operation. In Blackgate Prison, Minette gets shivved to death, a message from Two-Face on the outside. At the Vengeance Academy hideout, Dick fights his former team until Batman comes and helps him take down Shrike. The reunited Dynamic Duo then hugs it out—Robin Annual #4 shows the reunited Batman and Robin posing in a single-panel flashback—before taking down Two-Face. Batman #710 specifically references this Robin: Year One scene where Batman and Robin bust Two-Face.
–FLASHBACK: Mid January. Christmas With the Super-Heroes #2 shows a scene where Alfred and Bruce lead Dick down into the Batcave where a Christmas tree and decorations have been set up. Robin opens a present and receives a fresh Robin costume. Batman and Robin then suit up and ceremonially shake hands before heading out on patrol. Obviously, this is mid January and Christmastime is over and I would regard this flashback as non-canon, but it actually works since Dick missed the holidays (as seen in Robin: Year One). We can imagine this as a surprise belated X-Mas the morning after the conclusion of Robin: Year One #4. The Robin costume gift and handshake can be seen as Batman officially “swearing Robin back in.”
–NOTE: Robin learns that Tony Zucco is still alive when the criminal escapes from jail and goes back into hiding. This note is inferred from the fact that Batman and Robin will recapture Zucco this coming spring (as detailed in Robin Annual #4).
–FLASHBACK: Signalman debuts by robbing the Gotham Trust and using smoke signals as clues (as mentioned in Robin #149). In Trinity #18 there is a flashback that illustrates the Dynamic Duo having just defeated the flamboyant Signalman, who wears his signature the yellow-and-red clad costume with moons and stars all over his cape.
–FLASHBACK: Batman and Robin encounter the one-shot villain known as The Bowler. Bruce takes giant bowling pins as trophies from this encounter and displays them in the Batcave. This original story is from Detective Comics #238, but there is a canonical two-page flashback splash depicting this encounter in Detective Comics #725 as well.
68. “Robin & Superman: Fear of God” by Kelley Puckett/Dave Taylor/Kevin Nowlan (Legends of the DCU #6) July 1998
Robin meets the Man of Steel and they team-up to fight some gangsters in Gotham.
–[8]
69. “Geometry” by Dan Jurgens/Norm Rapmund (Superman #700) August 2010
Bruce plays billionaire party-boy dummy for a night instead of patrolling. Dick is confined to quarters and must finish his homework before Bruce gets back home. No solo costumed adventuring! But when arms dealers are up to no good in Gotham, Robin sneaks out and fights them on his own. Robin nearly dies until Superman shows up, saves him, and nabs the bad guys. Supes then rushes Dick home and into bed, even doing Dick’s homework for him. Bruce is fooled! That is until Clark and Dick realize they’ve left Robin’s motorcycle at the scene of the crime. Nice try.
–FLASHBACK: A four-month-long investigation culminates with charges being brought against Bruce citing that he is an unfit guardian for Dick (as seen via flashback in Nightwing Vol. 2 #75). At a custody trial, an attorney cites seven bachelor parties, eighteen late night female guests, and several injuries that Dick has sustained as reasons that the boy should be remanded to state custody. The parties and late night guests have not been listed on our chronology, but are a part of Bruce’s ever ongoing campaign to appear as the ultimate playboy. Bruce is constantly keeping up appearances, so we must imagine these items, along with many others, scattered randomly throughout the timeline. Of course, the state loses this case and Bruce gets to keep custody of Dick.
–FLASHBACK: Bruce and Alfred re-organize the Batcave trophy room, which is now filled with items that Batman barely recalls ever receiving (as seen through flashback in Batman #682). Bruce ponders aloud, “It seems like our entire lives these past couple of years belong in the Black Casebook.”
–FLASHBACK: Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman team-up with a gathering of superheroes (including Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Flash, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter) to battle the vile aliens known as the Appelaxians. The Appelaxians have the power to turn people into wood, crystals, or various other organic material. This battle against the Appelaxians is oft featured in flashbacks detailing the history of the JLA, most notably in DC Universe Legacies #3 and in a flashback within a flashback from Justice League of America Vol. 2 #0. Wonder Woman is the princess of the Amazons, a race of demigod warrior women relative to the Greco-Roman gods. Hal Jordan is a power-ring-wielding intergalactic peace officer for the organization known as the Green Lantern Corps.[9]
–[10]
–FLASHBACK: The famous conference between DC’s Trinity occurs. Immediately after the DCU’s major heroes unite to battle the Appelaxians, the Big Three meet up. Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman decide its time step it up a notch and unite their fellow superhero comrades into the Justice League of America (as seen in Justice League of America Vol. 2 #0). The initial lineup of the League includes Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter. After the League is created, Batman and Superman don’t actually join full-time until the end of this year. In fact, while Bruce agrees to join this League, he is very hesitant and untrustworthy of working with relative strangers. While Bruce bankrolls the construction of a high-tech HQ in Rhode Island, his apprehension in regard to the new League is so great, he doesn’t even attend the first team meeting. Furthermore, Batman won’t even interact with the JLA for another month or so. I should also mention something a bit confusing, but very very important. Triumph is not only also an original founding member of the JLA, but the initial leader of the JLA as well. However, on the JLA’s first ever mission, which happens immediately after the formation of the JLA (but sans Batman), Triumph is transported to a dimensional limbo where he will remain trapped for years. Not only that, his entire existence is completely erased from the timeline. Therefore, when he eventually returns years down the road, no one will have any memory of his existence—only he will remember that he was once a part of the Big Four and leader of the JLA. Triumph will be depressed because no one remembers any of this or knows who he is. Things will be okay for a while, but will turn ugly later on. But that’s years away and we’ll adress it when we get there.[11]
70. Batman: Gotham After Midnight #10-12 by Steve Niles/Kelley Jones (April 2009 to June 2009)[12]
February 14-19. Midnight has continued to collect human hearts for months now. Midnight has also been able to use experimental drugs to control Catwoman, Man-Bat, Killer Croc, Scarecrow, and the Axeman for the past several months as well. Midnight sends these drug-controlled warriors to attack Batman, but the Dark Knight is able to fend them off when Catwoman shakes off her puppet strings and switches sides. Batman then slugs it out one-on-one with Midnight and the latter winds up dying in a fire. But Bruce isn’t satisfied. The investigation continues, and Bruce finds out the horrible truth about Midnight’s secret identity. Midnight was his former girlfriend, April Clarkson, the whole time! She had faked her death at Christmas-time. Mercifully, this rather lame story ends with this dumb twist and we can all move on.
71. “Teenage Sidekick” by Paul Pope (Solo #3) April 2005
Paul Pope’s short from his award-winning Solo issue. Robin gets nabbed by Joker. Batman saves him. Cool stuff!
–NOTE: Batman and Robin take down Joker in a plot that involves a pair of giant dice, which the Dynamic Duo keep for the trophy room (as seen depicted in the Batcave in numerous other Batman tales). Since we will see (and have already seen) various bizarre trophies on display in the Batcave, we can assume that Batman will have other adventures this year that will result in the obtaining of other trophies, such as dozens of portraits, marble statues, and others. While not listed, we must assume that these adventures that net trophies must be scattered throughout the chronology.
–FLASHBACK: We should address Joe Chill, the gangster that gunned down Bruce’s parents. The events of Zero Hour retconned him out of existence, so at that point Batman simply never knew who committed the crime. However, the events of Infinite Crisis overruled or reversed some of the effects of Zero Hour, and thus, Joe Chill, once again, had always been the Wayne murderer. Therefore, Joe Chill is in-continuity as the man who shot Thomas and Martha Wayne. It is around this point in our timeline that Batman will learn that Chill was responsible for his parents’ deaths and confront him. This amazing flashback sequence detailing this confrontation is shown in Batman #673 by Grant Morrison/Tony Daniel. After tracking down Chill, Bruce unveils the original gun that killed his parents and hands it over to Chill. (We previously learned that Bruce kept the murder weapon in Batman Confidential #1 and also in Detective Comics #575). Batman then proceeds to scare the shit out of Chill and basically tells him that his life will be a living Hell from now on courtesy of the Dark Knight. Batman’s psychological terror is done. He leaves. Joe Chill shoots himself in the head. The end.
–FLASHBACK: With Robin at his side, Batman has become more mellow, relaxed, and light-hearted (as seen via flashback in Batman #682). (The death of Joe Chill probably has made him feel good as well). While hunting down an escaped Joker—who now enters his “pop-crime” phase, scheming with extreme silliness, using wild puzzles, gags, and Joker-faced helicopters and such—Robin tells jokes of his own and muses about what life would have been like in the “time of Hamlet.” Eventually catching up with the Clown Prince of Crime, Robin challenges him to a laughing contest. Joker accepts and is soundly defeated and sent back to Arkham.
–NOTE: Bruce and Dick get a dog named Ace! We’ll see the dog in various upcoming story-arcs.
–FLASHBACK: The Batman: Black & White flashback from the end of Batman: Gotham Knights #2 takes place. Batman and Robin stop the drug-trafficking Lyman Brothers.
–NOTE: Joker unveils his famous “laughing fish” gag (one of the most beloved Steve Englehart Joker tales of all time), putting his signature smile on all the fish in Gotham Bay, and killing many people in the process. Joker’s toxins spread across the entire Eastern seaboard, destroying aquatic life across half the Atlantic. This tale was originally from Detective Comics #475, but has been canonically referenced many times, notably in the upcoming Legends of the DC Universe #26-27.
72. “The Fishy Laugh / Reign of the Joker!” by Steve Englehart/Trevor Von Eeden (Legends of the DC Universe #26-27) March 2000 to April 2000
Immediately following the events of Englehart’s “laughing fish” story, Joker escapes from Batman and dives into Gotham Bay. Nearly drowning, Joker is rescued and given oxygen by an invading Atlantean army which has traced the source of the devastating pollution to Gotham. Aquaman meets Joker for the first time, and despite having recently been drafted into the JLA, Aquaman doesn’t have much experience interacting with humans yet, nor does he seem to have any knowledge of human culture or history. A confused Aquaman is fooled into believing that Joker is “King of the Land.” When Joker promises to help formulate a cure for the poisoned fishies of the sea, the invasion is halted, and the “King” is escorted to Atlantis. In Atlantis, Joker is able to seduce high ranking scientist Felua, who uses her political pull to influence the royal council to dethrone Aquaman from his seat of power. A disgraced Aquaman travels to Gotham and meets with Batman. (NOTE: Batman should not be wearing the yellow-oval costume yet. Ignore.) The two heroes have only met once before and are weary of each other, despite the fact that they are both affiliated with the JLA. Batman gives Aquaman the Joker Venom antidote and sends him on his way. Back in Atlantis, Aquaman outs Joker as a fraud and reclaims his throne from a puppet monarch that had been appointed by Joker and Felua. Joker escapes back to Gotham unharmed with his Atlantean lover, but the GCPD and the Dark Knight find Felua’s grinning corpse washed up near the docks a day later.
–NOTES:
–Batman and Robin meet and befriend Professor Carter Nichols, who has developed time-traveling technology. Nichols’ “hypnosis tech” (combined with a device known as the “Maybe Machine”) allows the user to attach himself to a high-tech device which sends an avatar of himself into the past. The process is similar to astral projection, except the avatar body is exactly the same as the user’s real body and can impact and interact with the physical world normally. Nichols won’t go public with his time-travel device even though he would have easily become the next Einstein and made millions. The reason for this is because decades ago, Nichols turned his back on the criminal organization known as The Black Glove led by Simon Hurt, and is thus, now forced to live in obscurity (as we learn in Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #5). However, Nichols will trust the Dynamic Duo with his secret and the heroes will go on several exploratory jaunts to the past, but not too many, since this a dangerous undertaking. The adventures dealing with Carter Nichols are originally from various Golden Age Batman stories, but are made canon via references from Batman #700. We don’t know which time-jaunting adventures the Dynamic Duo goes on specifically, but we must imagine several trips occurring here in Year Six and into Year Seven as well.
–Green Arrow joins the Justice League and begins secretly bankrolling all of the team’s operations using his vast wealth as multimillionaire businessman Oliver Queen (as referenced in Legends of the DCU #12).
–The JLA makes teenager Snapper Carr their official mascot/honorary member of the team (as referenced in Hourman #1). The Hourman series tells us Snapper was the team’s mascot for several years. However, with all the time compression of these early years, this just isn’t the case. Snapper will be the JLA mascot for about sixteen months or so.
–Early March. The events of Batman/Deadman: Death and Glory by James Robinson/John Estes (1996) take place here and now. I’m not numbering this story, however, because I believe that it has been heavily retconned (or should be). In this lackluster tale, Batman gets possessed by an evil spirit known as The Clown. While under possession of this vile apparition, Batman murders a room full of innocent people. Let me repeat this. Batman stabs to death dozens of people. Eventually, with help from Deadman (and Felix Faust and a random AIDS patient), Batman clears his name and exorcises The Clown. While the events which occur in this story are canon, Batman’s mass murders definitely are not. If Batman killed even one person, let alone dozens, and even if he was possessed, it would have way more significance and impact on his life and upon future story-arcs. This horrible act is never mentioned again and that is simply unbelievable/unacceptable. Therefore, either we disregard this entire tale as an Elseworlds thing, or we can read Death and Glory as if Batman simply attacked some people while possessed instead of horribly butchered them.
–FLASHBACK: Secret Origins Vol. 2 #44 by Mike W. Barr/Keith Giffen has a great flashback Basil Karlo aka Clayface I origin that involves the Dynamic Duo. After Batman and Robin’s skirmish with Clayface, Bruce keeps Karlo’s mask and puts it on display in the trophy room of the cave. PS. Julie Madison’s appearance in Secret Origins #44 must be ignored.
–FLASHBACK: The “Super Powers” flashback storyline (from Batman Confidential #50-54) supposedly takes place “seven years” before the Year Ten mind-wipe scandal. However, this storyline should occur four years before the mind-wipe scandal to fit correctly into the timeline. This tale details how and why Batman finally decides to begin interaction with his fellow JLA teammates, whom he has been avoiding like the plague for the past months-plus (ever since halfheartedly agreeing to form the team following the Appelaxian affair). After over two weeks of investigation into a string of random kidnappings, Batman follows the criminal trail to an abandoned hockey arena where he discovers the barely-alive, emaciated victims attached to a giant alien-looking machine. Batman then fights a grotesque green-skinned, bug-eyed humanoid named Fortas and winds up with three broken ribs and a concussion. The Caped Crusader heals up and then breaks into JLA HQ to search the team’s records for information regarding Fortas. While scanning the files, the JLA returns and attacks the intruder! Batman then defeats the entire JLA with ease! IMPORTANT RETCON INFO: Before continuing, I should mention that Marc Guggenheim writes this story as if this is the first time Batman is interacting with these other heroes. Obviously, this is completely untrue. While the JLA very well might attack Batman for breaking into the HQ, they do know Batman way more than Guggenheim elaborates. For example, Bruce would have been close friends with J’onn and Diana at this point. Moving on, J’onn has the team back down and the Dark Knight goes off to fight Fortas alone. In the end, the JLA helps Batman defeat Fortas and an army of “highly evolved” monster-people (the kidnapped victims transformed by the machine in the hockey arena). Following the victory, Bruce accepts his JLA transmitter and begins regularly joining the team on missions from now on. Note that Batman will join the JLA on tons of missions, many of which are small one-shot adventures that we’ll just have to imagine as scattered throughout the rest of the “Year One Era.” Most of the early JLA adventures are canon, but don’t have specific references or flashbacks. I’ve included the important ones sporadically below.
–NOTE: The JLA completes its first major mission, defeating the giant starfish-shaped mind-controlling alien known as Starro the Conqueror. The heroes of Earth will eventually learn that Starro the Conqueror is merely one of a race of unnamed monsters colloquially known as Star Conquerors (or Starros for short). The original Starro that the JLA faces now is actually controlled by yet another extraterrestrial from the planet Hatorei (as referenced in Infinite Crisis).
–NOTE: The JLA’s second challenge is completed; the defeat of the alien tyrant known as Despero.
–FLASHBACK: After an early JLA victory over the vile Professor Anthony Ivo and his super-android Amazo (which is shown via flashback in Blackest Night #0), Flash gets Superman’s autograph for a trophy room he is building “above his garage.” Green Lantern asks Flash if he wants his autograph too. Flash says, “Maybe later.” Ha! The diss on Jordan is seen through flashback in Action Comics #850.
–NOTES:
–The JLA defeats Xotar.
–The JLA defeats Darkseid. Darkseid is the ruler of the alternate dimensional planet of Apokolips. Apokolips is home to the evil New Gods, of which Darkseid is the oppressive king. Not all New Gods, however, are evil. The rival good New Gods live on the alternate dimensional planet known as New Genesis.
–The JLA defeats The Injustice Society
–The JLA defeats The Royal Flush Gang.
–The JLA defeats The Construct.
–FLASHBACK: The JLA has its first interactions with their semi-retired elder counterparts in the Justice Society of America. (Batman has already met Dr. Fate before). The first meeting between the JLA and JSA is a team-up against the Crime Champions, a super-villain team that includes several members, notably Felix Faust and Dr. Alchemy. Batman and Flash team with Dr. Fate to defeat Felix Faust, while the other JSA and JLA members defeat the other Crime Champions (as seen through flashback in DC Universe Legacies #4).
–NOTE: Another early team-up between the JLA and JSA pits the heroes against the powerful evil magician Mordru (as originally told in Justice League of America #148 and referenced in many, many other issues, including Action Comics #864). During this confrontation, the JLA and JSA meet and are assisted by the time-traveling superheroes from the 30th Century; the Legion of Superheroes. (Superman has already met the Legion and even served as an official 30th Century Legionnaire while adventuring during his youth as “Superboy”).
73. “A New Dawn” by Nunzio DeFilippis/Christina Weir/Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Batman Confidential #26-28) April 2009 to June 2009
“A New Dawn” brings Victor Goodman aka King Tut into official comic-continuity! Last time (and the only time) he was ever seen was on the old Adam West TV show from the 60s! Anyway, Batman teams-up with The Riddler (!) to bring King Tut to justice. Also, on the final page of the series, Tut’s partner, Ankh, makes her debut. Let’s hope we never see her again.
–NOTE: The JLA defeats Dr. Destiny.
74. Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight: Jazz #1-3 by Gerard Jones/Mark Badger (April 1995 to June 1995)
This is a strange homage to jazz music that reads more like a James Baldwin novel than a Batman comic… except for the bizarre jazz-themed criminal gang called The Brothers of Bop that Batman takes on during his investigation into the life of Blue Byrd (a Charlie Parker/Louis Armstrong analogue).
–NOTE: The JLA defeats Vandal Savage.
75. “Engines” by Ted McKeever (LOTDK #74-75) August 1995 to September 1995
This is one of my personal favorite LOTDK stories. Do yourself a favor and read everything Ted McKeever has ever done. He’s a real genius poet and wonderful artist to boot. In “Engines” we bear witness to the crazed existential hell that Eustace Marker views the world as. Marker’s vision is so distressing that he becomes a serial-killing vigilante and Batman is forced to apprehend him.
–NOTE: The JLA defeats Gorilla Grodd.
–NOTE: Hawkman and the Atom officially join the JLA (as referenced in Secret Origins Vol. 2 #29).
–FLASHBACK: Black Canary joins the JLA and goes on her first mission with Green Arrow in Las Vegas (as seen in Black Canary Vol. 3 #1). The rookies have been sent to protect the prime minister of Japan from a troupe of League of Assassins dressed as Elvis impersonators, led by Merlyn. This is Green Arrow’s first meeting with Black Canary, who he at first confuses with her mom. After the prime minister is safe, Batman, who had been overseeing, grades the duo, while the rest of the JLA checks in.
–NOTE: The JLA defeats The Cheetah.
–FLASHBACK: Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) throws a charity benefit where he asks Bruce Wayne to take over his duty of financing the JLA (as seen via flashback in Legends of the DC Universe #12). At the charity event, Bruce slips into his Batman togs and helps his fellow JLAers defeat Packrat. After initially denying Ollie’s request, Bruce changes his mind and picks up the tab.
–FLASHBACK: Late March. Batman and Robin apprehend Tony Zucco (as seen in Robin Annual #4). Zucco, who suffers from heart problems due to his obesity, has yet another heart attack and slips into a coma shortly after getting nabbed (as referenced in Batman #436-439). Zucco will eventually recover and serve a long jail sentence.
–NOTES:
–The JLA defeats Kanjar Ro.
–Late March. Batman & Superman: World’s Finest #2 is out-of-continuity, but the first annual Springtime meeting between the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel to commemorate the death of Harrison Gray still takes place now (as referenced in Batman & Superman: World’s Finest #4).
–The JLA defeats Amos Fortune.
–Bruce Wayne is named People Magazine‘s “Sexiest Man Alive” for the second year in a row (as mentioned in a flashback from Batman Confidential #52). What a heartthrob.
–The JLA defeats Epoch, The Lord of Time.
<<< PREVIOUS: YEAR FIVE <<< | >>> NEXT: YEAR SEVEN >>>
- [1] COLLIN COLSHER: This year is completely insane. It will feature several long-running arcs that overlap each other, including Dark Victory, Gotham After Midnight, Robin: Year One, a ton of character debuts, all of Robin’s debut stuff, and the debut of the JLA and many of the JLA’s early battles. Let’s do it! ↩
- [2] COLLIN COLSHER: Like with Long Halloween, the second half of Dark Victory has a fresh number. ↩
- [3] COLLIN COLSHER: Batman #436-439 by Marv Wolfman/Pat Broderick (1989), entitled “Batman Year Three,” contain a bunch of legit flashbacks that re-tell the origin of Dick Grayson as Robin and that fill in some gaps in the Robin origin story—(although, the flashbacks from Batman #437 are not canon, but we’ll adress that specifically below). Of course, the label “Year Three” is a loose term and exists only to give the “Year” stories a sense of chronological order. According to our timeline, we are definitely in May/June of Bat Year Six. ↩
- [4] COLLIN COLSHER: There are a few Robin origin tales that have been published over the years. Most, however, including the following, are non-canon. Legends of the Dark Knight #100 by Denny O’Neil/Dave Taylor (November 1997) is, and was always meant to be, an out-of-continuity alternate re-telling of Robin’s origin story. Totally non-canon. Likewise, the Robin origin story as told in Secret Origins Vol. 2 #13 is out-of-continuity as well. Another alternate Robin debut tale worth addressing: Frank Miller’s All-Star Batman & Robin. The entire All-Star line takes place on a different Earth. That being said, the exact events of Frank Miller’s “Year One” begin Batman’s career on the “All-Star Earth” too. In fact, Batman’s entire timeline on “All-Star Earth” comprises Miller stories (including Dark Knight Returns and Dark Knight Strikes Back)! DC’s press release regarding the “All-Star” imprint in 2005 was as follows: “The creative teams were not beholden to any previous and present continuities.” I think that answers any question regarding the canonical-status of the “All-Star” line pretty succinctly.
CHIP: Regarding All-Star Batman & Robin: It’s already on record that it’s part of a “Frank Miller Dark Knight Universe” that is actually designated as Earth-31 (according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_(Dark_Knight_Universe). It includes “Year One,” all “All-Star” titles, all Spawn/Batman books, Dark Knight Returns, and Dark Knight Strikes Again. Only “Year One” takes place in the regular Earth-0 continuity as well.
COLLIN COLSHER: Earth-31 is fantastic! Despite his disgusting political views, it’s really awesome that Frank Miller, being one the primary original architects of the entire Batman line, has his own Batman Earth. Too bad that the despicable Holy Terror isn’t a part of it as well… Or maybe that’s a good thing, haha. ↩
- [5] COLLIN COLSHER: There are a few errors in regard to Gotham After Midnight. First, Jeremiah Arkham is mentioned as the head of Arkham Asylum. However, he won’t be working there until Bat Year Thirteen. Also, Batman and Green Arrow are shown patrolling Gotham on Halloween night, and Ollie addresses Batman as “Bruce.” This is dead wrong. Ollie doesn’t know yet. And last but not least, Niles and Jones have given Batman a whole new array of mad-science gadgets and vehicles that we’ve never seen before and we will never see again (outside of this story-arc), so I don’t even really know what to say about that. Oh well. The authors not only add a crapload of weird, campy Bat-gadgetry in Gotham After Midnight, they include the first canonical use of the Batpole. Sigh. ↩
- [6] COLLIN COLSHER: I made a conscious decision to not include the flip book-style Batman: Two-Face Strikes Twice! graphic novels (which might’ve taken place here) based upon that fact that in the story Gilda Dent mothers the children of Two-Face (twins, naturally), however, we never heard from Gilda or her twins ever again after these graphic novels. But, after trolling around various Internet message boards and forums I discovered that most people believe Two-Face Strikes Twice! to be canon. However, the correct answer can be gleaned from Tony Salvador Daniel’s very forgettable “Pieces” story-arc (‘tec #707, #710-712) when Gilda returns to Gotham. In “Pieces” Batman (Dick Grayson) implies that Gilda hooked up with Mario Falcone shortly after the events of The Long Halloween and stayed with him ever since. If that is indeed the case, it renders Two-Face Strikes Twice! non-canon (because Gilda would have never given birth to the twins). It’s pretty obvious to me that Daniel ignored Two-Face Strikes Twice! when scripting “Pieces.” The Gilda in “Pieces” is definitively tethered to the Gilda from The Long Halloween and it is implied, as I have already stated, that Gilda and Mario Falcone become an item right after The Long Halloween. Also, Daniel’s lack of mention of the Dent children seems to mean that they don’t have children i.e. both parts of Two-Face Strikes Twice! have been rendered non-canon. Sorry, fans. Blame Tony S Daniel. ↩
- [7] COLLIN COLSHER: Batman: Turning Points #2 by Ed Brubaker shows Gordon meeting Robin, but is non-canon because Gordon is still a captain in it and also because it contradicts the general plot elements of the quasi-canonical Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet. Not to mention, Gordon reacts very negatively to the idea of a kid crime-fighter in Turning Points, whereas he doesn’t really react that way in other texts. Gordon would have already known about Batman’s sidekick for some months now (as we learned in Dark Victory). ↩
- [8] COLLIN COLSHER: Anytime you see the words “re-imagined” in comic book land it’s usually an out-of-continuity event. For example, the first three Superman/Batman Annuals are “re-imagined tales from yesteryear,” meaning re-told Silver Age stories (originally from the 60s and 70s) just for giggles. Although, the first one is a great story worth checking out involving Deathstroke, Owlman, Ultraman, and Deadpool (yes, the one from Marvel… check it out, it’s amazing). ↩
- [9] COLLIN COLSHER: JLA Year One #1-12 is non-canon (retconned out of existence by Brad Meltzer’s Justice League of America Vol. 2 series and later confirmed by Len Wein in DC Universe Legacies #3). However, if it were to fit onto the timeline, the first issue would appear one day after the Appelaxian attack and the following eleven issues would take place over the course of the next six months to a year. Also, note that Batman only appears in issues 2, 7, 11, and 12. Why is JLA Year One non-canon? First, Black Canary was not an original JLA member. Wonder Woman should take her place in the correct version of the Modern Age. Second, Batman and Superman, while not involved in many of the original JLA missions, would have been the first leaders of the team (along with Wonder Woman). JLA Year One depicts a world where Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman were not original members. Nearly all of its plot points revolve around stressing the lack of the Big Three’s involvement with the team. ↩
- [10] IVAN: Matt Wagner’s Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity (which depicts a first meeting between Batman and Wonder Woman) is non-canon as it doesn’t seem to fit anywhere very well for a ton of different reasons. Also, Batman wears bizarre armor in it which gives him flight capability and massive strength. He’s never used this before, so it seems odd that he would now.
COLLIN COLSHER: The Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity series (indeed an alternate version of when Batman first meets Wonder Woman) is non-canon for several more reasons, including the fact that the primary villain, Ra’s Al Ghul, wouldn’t have made his presence this early. Furthermore, a cursory internet search of the story will show that Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity contradicts a few other post Infinite Crisis/Final Crisis continuity changes, including the fact that the Big Three first meet when fighting the Appelaxians right before forming the JLA. So, for these reasons and more, Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity is impossible to place and therefore, 100% non-canon. ↩
- [11] DANIEL LIEVANO: Cosmic Teams is a wonderful resource worth checking out in regard to JLA chronology.
COLLIN COLSHER: Who knows where I’d be without the aid of Cosmic Teams. Thanks Cosmic Teams! ↩
- [12] COLLIN COLSHER: In case you didn’t notice, I’ve given the conclusion of Gotham After Midnight a new number, since it is relatively separated from the previous parts. ↩