New Age (Post-“Superman Reborn”) Chronology
!!!UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!![1]
__________________________________________________________________
YEAR ZERO (2002)
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #28—originally told in Frank Miller’s “BATMAN: YEAR ONE.” Bruce Wayne, having returned to Gotham after years of training abroad, strategizes a plan to utilize non-lethal tactics to bring justice to evildoers. Unsure of exactly how to specifically enact this plan, Bruce continues his intense training at Wayne Manor. He is now strong enough to be able to kick through fully grown trees.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #24—originally told in Frank Miller’s “BATMAN: YEAR ONE.” Bruce comes up with an actionable vigilante war-plan. With the very reluctant guidance of loyal butler/father-figure Alfred Pennyworth, a disguised Bruce takes to the rough streets of Gotham’s East End to kick ass. He runs afoul of Stan the Pimp and winds up getting stabbed by young orphan Holly Robinson. This leads to a street fight against Holly’s friend, martial arts expert and sex worker, Selina Kyle. The injured Bruce fends off Selina and retreats home.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #21-24, All-Star Batman #10-11, Action Comics #980, Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #22, Dark Days: The Forge #1, Superman Vol. 4 #25, Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7, Detective Comics #959, Justice League Vol. 3 #24, and Trinity Vol. 2 #11. Bruce, inspired by a bat, decides to become a costumed vigilante. First, with a still very reluctant Alfred at his side, he tailors an armored high-tech costume (grey with a black bat chest insignia and purple gloves), designed to strike fear into the hearts of criminals. Second, Bruce constructs a utility belt to wear with his new costume. The utility belt will contain just about anything you can imagine a well-prepared superhero would have, including incendiaries, tranquilizer gun, sonic weaponry, smoke pellets, rope, tools, mini grappling gun, items protecting against magick, and snack bars.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #21-26, All-Star Batman #10-11, Action Comics #980, Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #22, Dark Days: The Forge #1, Superman Vol. 4 #25, Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7, Detective Comics #959, Gotham Academy: Second Semester #11, and Dark Nights: Metal #1. With his costume and utility belt complete, Batman is officially born. Bruce builds the Batcave under Wayne Manor, a secret cavern lair complete with multiple vehicles (including a hyper-submarine and several tricked-out Batmobiles, boats, motorcycles, planes, and jetpack gliders), a fully-equipped state-of-the-art crime lab, and a cache of various weapons. Among Batman’s weapons are various types of bat-shaped boomerangs called Batarangs. Different Batarangs will have different features, such as the unfortunately named Bangarang, which is an explosive weapon. Presumably, as also done in previous comic book eras, Batman heavily secures and camouflages entrances to the Batcave and then uses computer tech to erase any public geological records of the cave, which connects to larger waterways via a series of underground rivers. Batman also builds multiple hidden passageways from the Batcave to Wayne Manor above. Also note that Wayne Manor already has several hidden rooms and passageways thanks to a wild design by eccentric occult architect Ambroos Lydecker, who also designed Arkham Aslyum and Gotham Academy. Bruce exploits some of these passageways by connecting them to the Batcave.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #21, All-Star Batman #10-11, Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #22, Detective Comics #959, Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #10, and Green Arrow Vol. 6 #29. In regard to his civilian alter-ego, Bruce becomes the head of his family’s wealthy corporate business, Wayne Enterprises. Via its subsidiary WayneTech, has controlling interests in the financial, industrial, aerospace, tech, R&D, real estate, and hotel sectors. Via the subsidiary Wayne Foundation, the parent corporation is also involved in charity, philanthropic arenas, and social justice. Bruce, in order to mask any possible connections to Batman, begins publicly acting as a wild playboy. Bruce hires his friend Lucius Fox to handle the day-to-day business affairs for Wayne Enterprises. As a famous (and notorious) public persona, Bruce will attend galas, fancy parties, and business meetings. He will sometimes be followed by paparazzi and will have his picture taken and published quite often. Bruce will also meet and befriends the majority of Gotham’s financial elites, with whom he will quickly earn the reputation of being an introvert that doesn’t like to stay out very late. We won’t see most of these occurrences listed on our timeline, but be aware that they will happen sprinkled invisibly throughout the chronology, moving forward.
–REFERENCE: In Dark Nights: Metal #1. Bruce and Alfred set up a complex communications system linked to multiple WayneTech satellites and various computer networks. With this system, Alfred will have multiple encrypted ways of contacting Batman. Presumably, the Bat-Family will use this same comm system in the future.
–REFERENCE: In Gotham Academy: Second Semester #11. Bruce begins collecting war-related items (both new and old), ranging from katanas and bo staffs from Feudal Japan to suits of armor from Medieval Europe. Bruce will even collect assault rifles. These things go into an above-ground armory in Wayne Manor, which has both a public entrance and a hidden entrance. Bruce will add to this personal collection over the years and also train with most of these weapons.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #21-26, All-Star Batman #10-11, Action Comics #980, Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #22, Dark Days: The Forge #1, Superman Vol. 4 #25, Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7, and Detective Comics #959. March. Batman begins going on routine anti-crime patrols in Gotham. Despite strongly disapproving, Alfred acts as field surgeon and tactical point-man, backing Batman’s operations. Alfred will constantly stitch-up and repair the broken Batman, moving forward. We will simply have to imagine these occurrences sprinkled throughout our timeline below.
–REFERENCE: In Batwoman: Rebirth #1. An unknown person is wronged or injured during one of Batman’s first in-costume missions and comes to blame Batman for their condition. This person will return years later as the evil villain known as “The First Victim.”
–REFERENCE: In Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7. Batman retires his purple gloves, replacing them with the more standard black fare.
–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #20, Action Comics #980, Detective Comics #959, and Nightwing Vol. 4 #24. In the Batcave, Batman sets up the state-of-the-art Bat-computer, which is secretly linked to all of WayneTech’s satellites and his costume. Batman immediately begins logging information into a computer database that will hold criminal dossiers for every opponent he will face. While we won’t see Batman logging these dossier entries on our timeline, be aware that he will do this for just about everyone, even for good guys too. Each entry will include holographic 3D photos, weapon info, known associates and affiliations, power info, and last known addresses/locations. In the future, most Bat-Family member costumes will be networked into the Bat-computer system. (Batman’s closest allies will eventually be known as the Bat-Family.) Also note that Batman will research and log information about super-villains and superheroes that he has never even met.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. Batman fights The Red Hood, who falls into a vat of toxic chemicals. Of course, the Red Hood will soon return as Joker.
–REFERENCE: In Blue Beetle Vol. 9 #4. While on patrol, someone snaps a picture of Batman. Gotham’s Dark Knight makes national headlines.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #26. The mainstream media begins to call Batman by various appellations, including “The Dark Knight,” “The Caped Crusader,” “Dark Detective,” and “The World’s Greatest Detective.”
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #29—and also referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #25-26 and Batman Vol. 3 #28—originally told in “ZERO YEAR.” Batman matches wits with the debuting Riddler (Edward Nigma aka Edward Nygma aka Edward Nashton), who debuts by committing a series of big-time heists, leaving public riddle clues/challenges for both Batman and law enforcement before each crime. After a very public confrontation with Batman, the Riddler claims victory and takes over the entire city, ruling with an iron fist for weeks. Eventually, Batman teams-up with the Gotham City Police Department‘s (GCPD) Commissioner Jim Gordon to defeat Riddler. Batman fights Riddler and punches him out. Shackled behind Arkham Asylum bars, Riddler quickly becomes recruited as a police consultant for complex and bizarre crimes, sort of like Hannibal Lecter.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #23 and Trinity Vol. 2 #11. Batman, having recently worked well with Commissioner Gordon, cements their relationship. The Dark Knight has now earned the trust and confidence of both Gordon and the GCPD. Gordon, specifically, will become one of Batman’s best friends and partners in crime-fighting. We should note that, while Batman will maintain that he “prefers to work alone” throughout his entire career, he will often find himself working with others—including Gordon, multiple Robins, the Bat-Family, various Justice Leagues, Outsiders, and more. A better interpretation of Batman’s concept of “preferring to work alone,” moving forward, will be that Batman “likes to work with others—provided he is in a leadership role.”
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #22 and Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7. Commissioner Gordon, in conjunction with Batman, creates the Bat-signal, a spotlight bat-symbol that will shine in the night sky both to frighten criminals and as a means of summoning Batman if he is needed by the police.
–REFERENCE: In Green Arrow Vol. 6 #29. Batman begins the habit of ending conversations as soon as he gets the information he needs, doing so by simply vanishing without a trace. He does this with Commissioner Gordon, various law enforcement officials, and others. This will become the Dark Knight’s signature trademark, which he will even do to other superheroes, moving forward on our timeline.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. Batman obtains a Tyrannosaurus Rex robot from an unspecified case and puts it on display in the Batcave. This will be the start of Batman’s trophy collection.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. Batman obtains a giant penny from an unspecified case and puts it on display in the Batcave as a trophy.
–REFERENCE: In Batwoman: Rebirth #1. Batman defeats the debuting Professor Hugo Strange.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21, Batwoman: Rebirth #1, and Batman Vol. 3 #27. Joker debuts, using his patented Joker Venom (aka Joker Juice) gas on victims, which kills them while putting permanent rictus grins on their faces. Joker also leaves his signature, a joker playing card, with each victim. While Batman fights Joker and fends off a gas attack, store owner Virgil Myers gets gassed. Due to a bizarre allergic reaction, Myers winds up with metahuman powers. (Myers will return years later as the super-villain known as The Mute.)
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #29—and also referenced in Dark Days: The Casting #1. Batman fights Joker again, punching him out, and putting him behind Arkham Asylum bars. When he returns to the Batcave to find one of Joker’s signature playing cards, Batman worries that Joker knows his secret ID. Bruce visits Arkham Asylum under the auspices of a Wayne Enterprises business visit, sneaks off, meets with Joker, and shows him the playing card. Joker looks at Bruce, but makes no response or recognition. Even though the connection between Bruce and Batman has to be quite evident, Bruce believes that Joker’s twisted mind works in mysterious ways. He thinks that Joker doesn’t care who he is beneath the mask, and never will—that the madman is incapable of even broaching the subject of Bruce Wayne, for it might ruin his fun. Is this true? Or does Joker have more cunning faculty in regard to this matter than Bruce is willing to admit? Later, Batman enlarges Joker’s playing card and hangs it on display in the Batcave as a trophy.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #27. Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum and hires four experts, including aerodynamics whiz Chuck Brown, to help him build the Jokermobile. Joker then kills three of the experts, leaving only Brown alive, before taking his new roadster for a spin. Batman’s Batmobile proves to be the superior vehicle, besting the short-lived Jokermobile, which sends Joker back behind bars.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman gets the Bat-costume that his father once wore at a masquerade before he was born. He puts it on display in the Batcave.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman defeats the deadly vampire and evil cult leader known as The Mad Monk.
REFERENCE: In the second feature to All-Star Batman #10 and Batman Vol. 3 #26. Batman, District Attorney Harvey Dent, and Commissioner Gordon team-up to bust key members of the Falcone Family, Gotham’s number one organized mob group, significantly weakening their operational capability. While down, the Falcones are not completely out. They will remain a part of the Gotham Underworld for years to come, led by patriarch Carmine Falcone.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman fights the debuting Scarecrow (Professor Jonathan Crane), who unleashes his tortured and brainwashed students, including Abigail O’Shay, upon the Caped Crusader. (Abigail will return years later as the super-villain Madame Crow.) Scarecrow also uses his patented Fear Gas on Batman, causing him to have intense hallucinations. Eventually, Batman wins the day.
–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Casting #1. Dr. Paul Dekker debuts as Crazy Quilt, a gaudy super-villain with knowledge of the occult and bizarre chemical science. Batman puts him behind Arkham bars.
–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 #8, Superman Vol. 4 #20,Wonder Woman Vol. 5 Annual #1, Part 1, and Super Sons #5. Batman meets Superman (Kal-El/Clark Kent). They discover each other’s secret identities, after which Batman meets Superman’s love interest and intrepid reporter Lois Lane. Despite getting to know one another a bit, Superman and Batman are completely at odds. Batman won’t come to trust Superman (and vice-versa) just quite yet. In fact, Batman and Superman will often get into heated arguments when they cross paths. Most of these fights will happen invisibly, scattered throughout our timeline below.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #24. Batman first hears what will become Superman’s very public signature catch phrase: “Up, up, and away!”
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman and Superman team-up to bust the debuting Magpie.
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #982. Batman builds a data file, detailing how to defeat Superman in the off chance that the Man of Steel turns evil or is mind-controlled by an evil force. Batman will continuously catalog information about Superman, starting now. This information will be stored on the Bat-computer network.
__________________________________________________________________
YEAR ONE (2003)
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #24—originally told in the Golden Age’s Batman #1. Batman boards a boat to prevent the theft of a priceless diamond by the debuting Catwoman (Selina Kyle). Batman recovers the diamond and busts Catwoman, who is disguised as an old woman. After unmasking Catwoman, Batman falls instantly falls in love with her and lets her go free. Later, Bruce realizes that the love he feels for Selina is legit. He knows that he’s met his equal and there will never be another quite like her. Bruce purchases the diamond that Catwoman had attempted to steal on the boat and stores it in a safe place, knowing deep down that one day, he will give it to her.
–REFERENCE: In Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #22. Bruce meets Lex Luthor. Presumably, Batman (separately, of course) meets Luthor too.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League/Power Rangers #2-4. Superman’s arch rival Brainiac shrinks down and bottles-up whole cities all across the universe, destroying the planets from which he collects. Batman teams-up with Superman to defeat Brainiac.
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #980. Batman learns about (and possibly meets) Superman’s arch-rival Blanque.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Dr. Leslie Thompkins discovers Batman’s secret identity and is not pleased. Despite her reservations, she will support Batman and remain one of his closest allies.
–REFERENCE: In Batwoman: Rebirth #1. Famous actor Basil Karlo becomes the shape-changing super-villain Clayface. During Clayface’s debut fight against Batman, film production assistant Glory Griffin gets doused with chemicals, becoming a mud person like Clayface, only without the ability to change shape. (Glory will return years later as a super-villain named Mudface.) Batman brings Clayface to justice.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #25. Mad Hatter (Jervis Tetch) debuts.
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #979 and Batwoman: Rebirth #1. Batman bests the debuting Poison Ivy (Pamela Isley) and rescues permanently injured hostage Guy Mandrake, who will later become the super-villain Mr. Noxious.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #25. Mr. Freeze (Dr. Victor Fries) debuts.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #25. Harvey Dent is horribly scarred on half of his face by gangster Sal Maroni (patriarch of the Maroni Family mob organization). Damaged both physically and mentally, Dent becomes the murderous super-villain Two-Face. Batman challenges his old friend, bringing him to justice.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #25. Batman defeats The Ventriloquist (Arnold Wesker) and his gun-toting dummy Scarface.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #25. Batman busts Deadshot.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #25. Batman defeats the immortal semi-zombie Solomon Grundy.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #25. Master assassin Deathstroke (Slade Wilson) debuts, fighting Batman.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #25. Killer Croc (Waylon Jones) debuts.
–REFERENCE: In Batwoman: Rebirth #1 and Batman Vol. 3 #25. Batman meets super-science husband-and-wife duo Dr. Kirk Langstrom and Dr. Francine Langstrom. Kirk ingests experimental Man-Bat Serum, which mutates him into the raging Man-Bat. Batman takes-down Man-Bat and restores Kirk to normal. Thankful to Batman, the Langstroms become allies to him. Unfortunately, Kirk will be an unstable ally, easily manipulated and prone to control by malevolent forces, moving forward.
–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #22 and Batman Vol. 3 #26. Batman busts Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #26. Batman busts the horrific serial killer Victor Zsasz.
–REFERENCE: In Batwoman: Rebirth #1 and Batman Vol. 3 #26. Batman defeats Cluemaster (Arthur Brown), but gives him a little more leeway than other criminals when he learns that he is raising a young daughter, Stephanie Brown.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #26. Batman bests the debuting pyromaniac Firefly.
–Wonder Woman Vol. 5 Annual #1, Part 1
Batman goes on patrol, which ultimately ends in stitches from doctor Alfred. Meanwhile, Diana of Themyscira makes her public debut at a mall outside of San Diego. With the help of her friends Steve Trevor, Etta Candy, and Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva, the powerful Amazonian foils a terror plot by The Sear Group (aka The Ares Group, human soldiers loyal to the Greco-Roman God of War, Ares). (This debut versus the Sear Group happens in Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #10—”Wonder Woman: Year One.”) When video of Diana hits the mainstream media, Lois, Clark, and photographer pal Jimmy Olsen hightail it to California. As Batman returns home from the next day’s patrol, once again requiring stitches, Alfred directs his attention to the big Diana news on TV. Superman learns that Diana is testing her powers on behalf of the US Army in a Nevada desert, so he goes there. Batman, having acquired the same intel, goes there as well. Wonder Woman gets the jump on the boys, sneaking up on them from behind. The first meeting of DC’s Big Three occurs! Diana offers effusive greetings and tells the male heroes to take ahold of her magick lasso, which they do. Forced to tell their true names, Batman says his is “Batman,” showing that he identifies with that name just as much (if not more) than “Bruce Wayne.” Seeing into Diana’s soul via the lasso, the boys learn that she is pure of heart and has good intentions. Diana will be given the name Wonder Woman by the press a couple days later, after she defeats Ares in battle—as seen in the conclusion of “Wonder Woman: Year One” (Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #14).
–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 5 #5, Justice League/Power Rangers #1-2, Batman Vol. 3 #26, Justice League Vol. 3 #24, and Green Arrow Vol. 6 #29. The Justice League forms, making the Secret Sanctuary in Happy Harbor, RI its official headquarters. Its lineup features Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter (J’onn J’onzz), Flash (Barry Allen), Aquaman (Orin/Arthur Curry), and Green Lantern Hal Jordan. Batman learns about the Green Lantern Corps, a universal police force created by The Guardians of the Universe, who live on the planet Oa. Hal is but one of many soldiers in this army. He provides Batman and the rest of the Justice League with a bunch of signal devices that can be used to contact the Green Lantern Corps. While Aquaman is an essential part of the JL, he won’t trust surface dwellers for years to come. Despite this, Aquaman does introduce his partner Mera to the other heroes. While Aquaman and Mera act as husband and wife, they technically won’t officially marry until years from now. Presumably, Batman and the other heroes learn all about the undersea kingdom of Atlantis as well.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. Flash finds an instant connection with Batman in the Justice League, as they can talk for hours about evidence and CSI stuff, something the other team members are less versed or interested in.
–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Casting #1 and Dark Nights: Metal #1. The Justice League meets and creates the official JL Bylaws, a set of rules by which each JLer must live by in order to remain on the team. One of the many bylaws bans the incarceration of dangerous criminals without the JL’s full approval first. Similarly, one of the Bylaws states the the JL must vote on everything before taking any action.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. The Justice League defeats Starro the Conqueror.
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #976. The Justice League defeats the debuting Despero.
–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 #12. The Justice League purchases properties in major cities all over the world to use as emergency safe-houses. In Gotham, for example, the JL sets-up at least one brownstone apartment building as a safe-house.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #25-26. April-May. Batman is “coming off his first year” in costume and Riddler has been imprisoned for almost a year. When Joker escapes from jail and kills fourteen people, Batman puts police alerts on locations all over Gotham but is unable to find the Clown Prince of Crime. By the time Commissioner Gordon and the GCPD locate Joker at a comedy club, the morning sun has risen over Gotham. Batman, having patrolled all night long, has gone home to sleep. While the Dark Knight slumbers, Joker kills a dozen more and then blows up the place, calmly walking away while shooting cops left-and-right. Meanwhile, Riddler escapes from Arkham, intrigued by the method to Joker’s madness. After some more brutal killings, Joker ascends to the penthouse of a skyscraper. There, Riddler confronts him and gets shot in the stomach for his trouble. Riddler survives, but the bullet in his belly becomes his casus belli. Batman tries to chase after Joker, but both Joker and the bleeding Riddler escape. While Joker murders a family in the suburbs, Riddler gets life-saving surgery from underground doctor Jamie Knowles (the doctor that fixes-up Joker in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman movie!), which leaves him with a scar that he turns into a question mark on his chest. After brutally murdering Knowles, Batman and Commissioner Gordon examine the crime scene. Upon hearing Riddler is alive, Joker calls Carmine Falcone and tells him to execute Riddler. Carmine is scared enough of Joker to immediately send his men after Riddler, who immediately goes to Poison Ivy for help. When Carmine’s men strike in the park, Poison Ivy wraps them up in deadly living vines. Batman cuts the seemingly dead men free, later learning from Gordon that one of them was an undercover cop. Joker shows his frustration by murdering Carmine’s mother and Carmine’s top men and then shooting Carmine in the arm. Joker then usurps Carmine’s assistant, Oswald Cobblepot, making him his own assistant instead. Not long after, both Riddler and Joker recruit super-villains into their respective folds. Riddler’s team includes Two-Face, Scarecrow, Clayface, Firefly, Victor Zsasz, Killer Croc, and Deathstroke. Joker’s team includes Oswald Cobblepot, Solomon Grundy, Man-Bat (Kirk Langstrom), Cluemaster, Deadshot, Mad Hatter, Tweedle-Dum, Tweedle-Dee, Mr. Freeze, and the Ventriloquist (with Scarface). These two factions begin warring with each other for weeks, which leads to dozens of innocent deaths. The mainstream media outlets begin to call this carnage “The War of Jokes and Riddles.”
–Batman Vol. 3 #27
May. Batman shakes down Chuck Brown, asking him to get Joker’s phone number in an effort to find out his location and end “The War of Jokes and Riddles.” Brown reaches out to Deadshot, who gives him a number, but it winds up being untraceable. Batman then orders Brown to set up a one-on-one meeting with Joker (which will be a staging ground for an ambush). Brown calls Joker and sets up a face-to-face, but Riddler finds out and has Clayface kidnap Brown to learn details of the meeting. Batman then shakes down Brown yet again and learns that Joker and Riddler are both planning to be at the meeting. A day later, Batman gets in the middle of a battle-royale including Solomon Grundy, Scarecrow, Killer Croc, Riddler, Joker, and Brown. As punishment, Joker straps an explosive device to Brown’s body and tells him his son Charlie will die unless he suicide bombs Batman at their next meeting. Batman puts Charlie into police protection, after which Brown realizes the bomb on his chest is fake anyway. Despite being under protection, Riddler is able to poison young Charlie to death. Batman tells Brown he will avenge his son’s death. A distraught Brown becomes the gaudy Kite Man, returning to offer his services to Joker.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Vol. 3 #28-29. May-June. The “War of Jokes and Riddles” continues with Joker’s army taking over the Upper West Side and Riddler’s army taking over the Upper East Side, turning the park into a war-zone and causing dozens of innocent lives to be lost. Batman and Commissioner Gordon are helpless and watch the city fall apart for a week or so. Gordon meets with both villain armies, asking what they want. Both sides say they want Batman. Gordon then reports back to Batman, telling him that he has contacted the federal government for military support. Shortly thereafter, both villain groups begin purging members. Notably, Kite Man is shit-canned and forcibly ejected through a skyscraper window. Batman saves him and then confronts Catwoman, who is robbing a Maroni Family safe. In a sexy reprieve from the war, the Cat and the Bat get it on. Presumably, this is where Batman reveals his secret identity to Catwoman. Later, Deadshot and Deathstroke begin a solo war against each other. Batman apprehends them both, but not for five bloody days, which results in 62 deaths. An angry Batman pummels Deadshot so mercilessly that he nearly dies in the hospital. Afterward, Gordon reports to Batman, telling him that two Army Special Forces units were completely wiped-out by Joker and Riddler. After more bodies pile up, Bruce takes a page out of his mom’s playbook, calling a truce and arranging a meeting at Wayne Manor, during which both sides will share in a nine course French dinner and negotiate an end to the conflict. As Gotham’s worst villains hover around while Alfred waits the table, Bruce tells Joker and Riddler to convince him which side should get to kill Batman. Bruce explains that whoever makes the best case gets one billion dollars, which should be sufficient enough to give the winner the advantage to win the war, thus ending the carnage. After they state their cases, the villains and their crews leave as Bruce says he will send his answer and the prize money later via Commissioner Gordon.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #25-26. June. Immediately following the “War of Jokes and Riddles,” Batman retraces the steps of all parties involved, trying to make sense of it all. Batman studies victim dossiers, watches recordings, interviews witnesses, and collects evidence. He then visits and interrogates each imprisoned villain that took part in the conflict.
–REFERENCE: In All-Star Batman #10. Oswald Cobblepot becomes the super-villain known as The Penguin and matches wits with Batman.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #958 and Gotham Academy: Second Semester #10. Due to existing in the same wealthy socialite circles, Bruce (as Bruce Wayne) officially meets the detestable Penguin. Their paths with cross many times over the course of the next decade, but Penguin will have no idea that Bruce and Batman are one and the same.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #10—also referenced in Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #6-10. Originally told in “THE SAGA OF RA’S AL GHUL.” Batman deals with the threat of the League of Assassins—led by Ra’s al Ghul, who desires to “purge” the planet via a drastic reduction of global population using any means necessary. Also known as “The Demon’s Head,” Ra’s al Ghul has stayed alive for centuries due to the life-extending powers of bathing in the magickal Lazarus Pits. Ra’s al Ghul has come to dominate the global underworld by using an army of ninja assassins and the cult-like devotion of the Ubu Clan. (Ra’s al Ghul’s right hand man is the leader of the Ubu Clan, who simply goes by Ubu.) Impressed by his new adversary, Ra’s al Ghul enacts a plan to partner the Dark Detective with his daughter, the beautiful and intelligent Talia al Ghul. Batman immediately becomes infatuated with Talia and they begin a whirlwind affair. Eventually, a shirtless Dark Knight sword-fights Ra’s al Ghul in the Sahara Desert. Batman defeats Ra’s al Ghul with some help from Talia. Batman and Talia al Ghul then share a romantic night and conceive a child. The conception, birth, and existence of the child will be kept a secret from Bruce for years to come. Batman and Talia’s tumultuous on-and-off-again love affair will continue for the next couple months before fizzling out entirely.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 5 #8—originally told in Batman #332-335 (“THE LAZARUS AFFAIR”). Batman follows Talia al Ghul in a wild goose chase across the globe, eventually winding up on the mysterious Infinity Island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. After Batman and Talia defeat various attacking warriors in a strange compound, Ra’s al Ghul emerges from the shadows. Infinity Island is a League of Assassins stronghold. Talia joins her father, revealing that everything has been a setup just so Ra’s al Ghul could have a rematch against the Dark Knight. Shortly thereafter, Batman and Ra’s al Ghul square-off one-on-one with the Caped Crusader gaining victory yet again as most of Infinity Island is blown up in a volcanic eruption.
–REFERENCE: In All-Star Batman #10-12 and Super Sons #5. Worried about Bruce’s well-being, Alfred is still reluctant about his quest to fight crime. In spite of this concern, Alfred throws his full support and devotion to his surrogate kin, someone he raised as a boy and truly loves as a father loves a son. Alfred is already aware of Bruce’s intensity and commitment to the cause, a laser focus that occupies nearly every second of both their waking lives. Often, Alfred will be the only confidant in Batman’s world, guiding him through turbulent times and providing a voice of reason. Alfred’s scaffolding will give Batman both encouragement but also help him show necessary restraint when engaging in generally reckless endeavors. Despite this, Batman will often frustratingly ignore Alfred’s advice.
__________________________________________________________________
YEAR TWO (2004)
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #24. Batman and Catwoman become lovers. Despite being at odds and occasionally warring with one another, Batman and Catwoman will remain very close from this point forward. Their on-again-off-again love affair will continue for years to come, although most of it will remain invisible on our timeline.
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #976. The Justice League defeats the debuting Kanjar Ro.
–REFERENCE: In Titans Vol. 3 Annual #1, Superman Vol. 4 #20, Super Sons #5, and Nightwing Vol. 4 #24. The Justice League defeats the creation of Professor Anthony Ivo, the evil android known as Amazo.
–NOTE: Referenced in Teen Titans Vol. 6 #6 and Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7. Damian al Ghul is born to Talia al Ghul. She will keep the boy a secret from his father Bruce. Damian will be raised by the League of Assassins and spend his entire youth training to be a killer.
–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 #8. Batman helps Superman defeat his arch-rival, the 5th Dimensional imp Mr. Mxyzptlk.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman defeats the debuting Calendar Man (Julian Day).
–REFERENCE: In Batwoman Vol. 2 #6 and Green Arrow Vol. 6 #29. Batman meets and befriends GCPD Detectives Harvey Bullock and Renee Montoya.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman defeats the debuting Cavalier.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman defeats the debuting Signalman (also commonly written-out in two separate words as “Signal Man”).
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman defeats the debuting Catman.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman defeats the debuting Zebra Man (also known as “Vortex”).
–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Casting #1. Batman outfits one of his Batplanes with a metal extending arm that can grip things via a claw at its end. This silly looking thing seems to be a nod to Superman’s Supermobile, a jet that has a metal extending arm with a fist at the end of it.
__________________________________________________________________
YEAR THREE (2005)
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21 and Nightwing Vol. 4 #21-23. Bruce visits the Haly’s Circus and witnesses the Flying Graysons fall to their deaths during a trapeze act. Young Dick Grayson is orphaned. Upon learning that the trapeze act was sabotaged by crook Tony Zucco, Batman takes in Dick, legally adopting him. Before long, Batman reveals his secret identity to Dick, vowing to bring Zucco (who has gone into hiding) to justice. Batman begins training Dick to become his sidekick. The training will last six months.
–REFERENCE: In Deathstroke Vol. 4 #19. Batman tells Dick that criminals are a “superstitious and cowardly” lot.
–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #24. Batman continues training Dick, telling him to always take advantage of your surroundings while in combat. Batman also tells Dick that most criminals are unable to focus on anything other than themselves, which is a weakness that can be exploited.
–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Mother Panic #5 and the second feature to Mother Panic #7—originally told in LOTDK #156-158 and LOTDK #164-167. Batman meets and saves the life of Lee Hyland (Blink), a metahuman conman who is completely blind, but can see through the eyes of any animal or person he touches. Shortly thereafter, despite Blink using his powers to steal from people’s bank accounts, Batman saves the villain’s life a second time. Afterward, Batman lets Blink go, encouraging him to use his powers for good. Blink promises to do so.
–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 #9. During an unspecified Justice League mission, Flash takes hold of Batman and uses his powers to vibrate them through a wall. Batman does not like the experience and lets Flash know. While we won’t see every instance of this practice moving forward on our timeline, Flash will use this move in conjunction with Batman multiple times in the future, much to his chagrin.
–REFERENCE: In ???. The Justice League defeats the debuting Dr. Arthur Light.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21, Nightwing Vol. 4 #21, Teen Titans Vol. 6 #8, and Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7. Dick Grayson completes his training and becomes Batman’s sidekick: Robin. Batman designs a bright costume for Robin, secretly imbedding a hidden camera into its breastplate (and into the breastplates of each spare costume as well). From these cameras, Batman can (and will) monitor Robin when he gets out of his line of sight or does anything solo. The cameras will also save video footage and archive cases on the Bat-computer. (Note that, while it won’t be listed on our timeline moving forward, Batman will have the inveterate tendency to embed hidden cameras on every future Robin’s costume—and presumably other Bat-Family members—in order to keep tabs on them. It is thanks to these secret costume cams, for instance, that Batman will be able to log and view all of Robin’s future Teen Titans cases.) Robin goes on his first official patrol with the Caped Crusader at his side. The newly formed “Dynamic Duo” (as Batman and Robin will quickly be labeled) becomes the immediate scourge of Gotham’s underworld. The media will also quickly label Robin as “The Boy Wonder.”
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman and Robin bust Tony Zucco.
–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #26. Batman tells Robin to never use real names when out in the field. This is a tough thing to remember and something that Batman will consistently have to remind Robin, moving forward on our timeline, while on patrols and completing missions.
–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #24. Batman assigns Robin ongoing homework to read the criminal records and info sheets for all masked super-villains, even crooks that neither he nor Batman have met before. Both Bruce and Dick will do this practice for the remainder of their crime-fighting careers, constantly keeping up to date on all things in the hero-villain community, whether it affects them directly or not. Batman also teaches Robin how to turn any object within reach into a weapon, encouraging him to continue training himself in this regard, moving forward.
–REFERENCE: In Batwoman: Rebirth #1, Dark Days: The Forge #1, and Detective Comics #958—originally told in Batman & Robin Eternal. Batman and Robin chase Scarecrow to Prague, where they learn he has connections to an international crime-boss called Mother. The near-immortal Mother orphans children and then turns them into brainwashed playthings for the rich and powerful, including the sinister Sacred Order of St. Dumas, a violent Christian cult that was once a part of the Knights Templar in Medieval Times. Noting the strangeness and danger involved in this case, Batman begins recording all details and thoughts pertaining to the matter at hand. He stores this secret information, a series of “Shadow Files,” on a secret “Shadow Drive” associated with the Bat-computer. Bruce will record information about his most top secret cases on the “Shadow Drive” for years to come. Not even the highest-ranking members of the Bat-Family will have access. Soon after learning about Mother’s operations, Bruce arranges a meeting with Mother, meeting both the villainess and her top assassin David Cain. Bruce, outed as Batman, orders a new Robin via her process (as part of a con to expose and bring her down). In Cairo, Batman and Robin bust Scarecrow. Batman fights and defeats both Mother and Cain, but is forced to watch a live video feed from Gotham that shows Cassandra Cain (David Cain’s young daughter) attacking young Harper Row’s small-time crook parents, Miranda Row and Marcus Row. (Harper is Mother’s young “chosen heir” for Batman.) Miranda is brutally murdered while terrified Marcus runs away. In Cairo, Mother escapes when local law enforcement arrive. Back home, the Dark Knight builds a file on Harper Row and her brother Cullen Row, filled with details about their lives. He will keep tabs on the Rows for years to come.
–FLASHBACK: From Nightwing Vol. 4 #23. Batman and Robin defeat the massively powerful but mindless Blockbuster (Mark Desmond), who is controlled by his devious brother Roland Desmond.
–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #27. Kathy Webb-Kane, daughter of notorious ex-Nazi Otto Netz (Dr. Dedalus) and ex-wife of Bruce’s uncle, becomes Bat-Woman. She goes on adventures with Batman and Robin, even debuting her own sidekick, Bat-Girl (Bette Kane). Batman and Bat-Woman become lovers, but the relationship is ill-fated. Bat-woman breaks up with Batman and the female Dynamic Duo retires from crime-fighting.
–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #21-23—originally told via flashback from Nightwing Vol. 4 #11. The Dynamic Duo busts neophyte “art terrorists” The Pigeon (Beatrice Butler) and her teenage sidekick Defacer (Shawn Tsang).
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. Batman deals/interacts with the US government’s primary organization that deals with metahuman, superhero, and super-villain affairs: the DEO. Batman also deals/interacts with the private sector’s equivalent in STAR Labs. He meets STAR Labs scientist Dr. Silas Stone.
–REFERENCE: In Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #20, Bug! The Adventures of Forager #1, Super Sons #5, and Gotham Academy: Second Semester #12. Batman tailors and switches to a new blue and grey with yellow oval insignia costume. He puts his old costume on display in the Batcave.
–REFERENCE: In Green Arrow Vol. 6 #25 and Green Arrow Vol. 6 #29. Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) meets and joins the Justice League. Although, unlike other recruits, he won’t make very strong connections with anyone else on the team, often acting as an uncertain ally of sorts. Green Arrow and Batman do learn each other’s secret identities, but fail to connect despite both being mega-rich playboys in their alter-egos. Batman and Green Arrow don’t get along very well, nor will they in the future. (Note that this is the same in the New 52, but decidedly different from the Silver and Modern Ages where Batman and Green Arrow were close friends.)
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. The Justice League defeats The Demons Three. Afterward, they put the Green Bell of Uthool, the Silver Wheel of Nyorlath, and the Red Jar of Calythos, which hold the Demons Three, into the Trophy Room. Hal Jordan calls the Trophy Room the “Hall of Lost and Found.”
–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Forge #1 and Dark Nights: Metal #1. The winged Thanagarian space cop Hawkman (Katar Hol/Carter Hall) joins the Justice League. The JL also meets his wife and crime-fighting partner Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders). Both Carter and Kendra are technically immortal, having existed in some form for thousands of years, constantly reincarnated as different champions of justice. Their current incarnations are simply the latest in a long line of Hawk-related warriors. Unlike many of the other heroes, Hawkman and Hawkgirl won’t share their secret IDs or history with the hero community.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 5 #5. The Justice League meets and works with The Atom (Professor Ray Palmer). Presumably he joins he JL.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 2 #21, Flash Vol. 5 #21, Titans Vol. 3 Annual #1, Nightwing Vol. 4 #21, and Deathstroke Vol. 4 #19. The Teen Titans debut, helping out in the New England town of Hatton Corners. The team features the sidekicks of the Justice League, including Robin, Speedy (Roy Harper), Aqualad (Garth), Wonder Girl (Donna Troy), and Kid Flash (Wally West). The Teen Titans make their HQ on a small island in Hatton Corners.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #958. Killer Moth (Drury Walker) debuts and is busted by Batman.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman (and possibly the Justice League) defeat Eclipso, an evil supernatural force that inhabits the body of Dr. Bruce Gordon (no relation to the Gordons of Gotham).
–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 5 #5. The Justice League meets and works with Black Canary. Presumably she joins the JL.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21-22. The Justice League meets and teams-up with heroes from an earlier generation, including Hourman (Rex Tyler), Star-Spangled Kid, Starman (Ted Knight), Flash (Jay Garrick), Johnny Thunder, Yz, and others. After this unspecified mission, the Justice League puts Starman’s Gravity Rod and the costumes of Hourman, Star-Spangled Kid, and someone else (possibly Dr. Mid-Nite, the original Atom, or Wildcat) into the Trophy Room. Note that these characters were all members of the decades-old superhero team known as the Justice Society of America. However, thanks to the cosmic meddling of Dr. Manhattan, the existence of the JSA has either been erased or blocked from the world’s collective memory… for now. Until things change, the old JSA members that engage with the JL members in this item simply appear as retired heroes from an earlier generation with no connection to the JSA. This will change, though! Also note that Jay Garrick and the elemental Yz (likely due to their powerful connections to lighting and the Speed Force) have been totally erased from everyone’s memory and imprisoned outside of time and space by Dr. Manhattan.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. The Justice League defeats Matter Master and keeps his wand as a trophy for the “Hall of Lost and Found.”
__________________________________________________________________
YEAR FOUR (2006)
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #961—originally told in the Batman The Animated Series TV show. A robotics company called Cybertron creates the towering sentient stationary AI known as HARDaC (Holographic Analytical Reciprocating Digital Computer), which goes rogue and builds several human-like replica androids in an attempt to kill and replace their real counterparts. Batman defeats the replicants, including a Batman android, and shuts down HARDaC for good. (Years from now, an inert HARDaC will wind up the property of Luke Fox’s company FoxTech.)
–REFERENCE: In Titans Vol. 3 Annual #1 and Flash Vol. 5 #21. The Justice League defeats The Key. Afterward, they put his Keyblaster weapon into their Trophy Room.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. The Justice League defeats Toyman (Winslow Schott). Afterward, they put his toy box into their Trophy Room.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. The Justice League defeats Dr. Destiny. Afterward, they keep his costume with the original Materioptikon attached, placing it into their Trophy Room.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman and Hawkman defeat the debuting Gentleman Ghost (the spirit of villain Jim Craddock).
–REFERENCE: In Batgirl & The Birds of Prey #11 and Batgirl Vol. 5 #14. Summer. Commissioner Gordon’s daughter Barbara “Babs” Gordon moves to Gotham from Chicago. Soon after, she debuts as Batgirl, piquing the interest of the Dynamic Duo. Batman and Robin meet Batgirl and team with her on several unspecified missions to test her mettle.
–REFERENCE: In Batgirl Vol. 5 #14. Summer. Batman and Robin easily discover Batgirl’s secret identity as Barbara Gordon. They learn all about her life, including how her deadbeat mom led to her moving from Chicago to Gotham to live with her dad, Commissioner Gordon. When cheerleaders at Babs’ new high school (where Babs is a new freshman attending summer school) begin acting crazy, Batman puts Robin on lookout duty at the stadium. There, he runs into Batgirl, who is also working the case. Later, Robin and Batgirl hit it off and patrol together, learning that Mad Hatter is at the source of the cheerleaders’ madness.
–REFERENCE: In Batgirl & The Birds of Prey #11. Having earned the trust of the Dynamic Duo, Batgirl becomes an official member of the newly formed Bat-Family.
–REFERENCE: In ???—originally told in The Brave & The Bold #78. The snake-themed villain known as Copperhead debuts and is defeated by Batman and Batgirl.
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #979-980. The Justice League defeats the tyrant ruler of WarWorld, Mongul.
–REFERENCE: In ???. The Justice League defeats Ultra-Humanite.
–REFERENCE: In Titans Vol. 3 #11 and Teen Titans Vol. 6 #8. Batman isn’t directly a part of this item, but he definitely monitors the situation via hidden Robin cam. Deathstroke and his son Ravager (Grant Wilson) attack the Teen Titans (Robin, Speedy, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and new member Omen). Thanks to unstable new powers given to him by the criminal organization known as HIVE, Ravager has a heart attack during battle and drops dead. Deathstroke takes his son’s corpse and leaves the scene, blaming the Teen Titans for his death. Batman monitors all of this via hidden camera. It is likely that Batman meets Deathstroke face-to-face for the first time shortly after Ravager’s death.
__________________________________________________________________
YEAR FIVE (2007)
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #978 and Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #25. Having fought side-by-side for a few years now, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman have become very closely bonded. From this point forward, their bond will only grow. This trio—from which almost every important thing that occurs in the DCU will center—will now be known as the Trinity. The Trinity decides to make their secret meeting spot, where they will meet on occasion (invisibly and randomly, moving forward), at the Nevada desert site where they all first met.
–FLASHBACK: From Gotham Academy: Second Semester #12—and also referenced in Gotham Academy: Second Semester #9-12. Batman busts pyrokinetic super-villain Calamity (Sybil Silverlock), who claims that the ghost of Amity Arkham, one of the long deceased matriarchs of the notorious Arkham Family, has been possessing her. Batman defeats Calamity and rescues her young daughter, Olive Silverlock. Afterward, the trauma of this event causes all Olive’s memories of her mom as Calamity to become deeply repressed. Bruce puts Olive into an orphanage where he will watch over her for years to come. Batman also does research on Amity Arkham, discovering that the Silverlock Family has a long history of mental illness, is related to the Arkhams, and is linked to Penguin’s ancestor Millie Jane Cobblepot. Bruce meets with Penguin, who brings a lockbox that once belonged to Millie Jane, at Wayne Manor. The lockbox contains information and items pertaining to Millie Jane, Amity, Ambroos Lydecker, and the occult tome known as “The Old Book of Gotham.” Bruce steals the lockbox and puts it into a vault in Wayne Manor. Later, he studies the contents of the lockbox and realizes the importance of Gotham Academy to Gotham’s occult history. Bruce buys his way onto the Board of Directors of the prestigious school so he will always be linked-in and able to keep tabs without arising suspicion.
–REFERENCE: In ???. The Justice League defeats the debuting Vandal Savage.
–REFERENCE: In ???. The Justice League defeats Wonder Woman’s former best friend and now metahuman rival, The Cheetah (Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva).
–REFERENCE: In ???. The Justice League defeats Gorilla Grodd, ruthless terrorist from Gorilla City.
–FLASHBACK: From Super Sons #5—and also referenced in Titans Vol. 3 Annual #1. The Justice League learns of the New Gods, defeating the evil New God Darkseid and his army of Parademons. Afterward, Batman studies the physiology of a dead Parademon.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21 and Trinity Vol. 2 #9. The Justice League, using Kryptonian, Martian, and Thanagarian technology, constructs a satellite called The Watchtower, to be its new HQ. The team moves all of its stuff, including trophies, into the new HQ, which floats in Earth’s atmosphere. Batman sets-up an alarm that will go off in the Batcave if things are tampered with on the Watchtower.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Zatanna Zatara joins the Justice League.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond) joins the Justice League.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. The Justice League teams-up with Sargon the Sorcerer, a veteran magick user and legendary hero of yesteryear, to defeat Starbreaker. Afterward, Sargon retires and gives his costume to the JL. It goes on display in the Trophy Room.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman defeats Professor Achilles Milo, who uses hallucination-inducing chemical attacks against him. Not long after, Milo turns Olympic athlete Anthony Lupus into a werewolf. Batman busts Milo and the werewolf.
–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #27. While Batman fights Bronze Tiger, Kathy Kane is supposedly killed during a fight between rival factions of the League of Assassins, one of which is led by The Sensei (Ra’s al Ghul’s father). In actuality, Kathy has faked her own death in order to focus on running Spyral, her international spy organization that was once run by her dad Otto Netz. Batman mourns the loss of Kathy. Later, Batman befriends Bronze Tiger, despite his connections to the League of Assassins, finding a genuine mutual respect between he and the skilled martial artist.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Billionaire John Mayhew attempts to recruit Batman and Robin onto a new team of international heroes dubbed The Club of Heroes. Of the recruits are the so-called “Batmen of All Nations,” including Wingman (Benedict Rundstrom), El Gaucho (Santiago Vargas), Man-of-Bats (William Great Eagle), Little Raven, The Legionary (Alphonso Giovanni), The Musketeer (Jean-Marie), and The Ranger. Once assembled, this Club of Heroes venture will fail immediately. The team doesn’t get along and disbands in less than a half hour. Shortly thereafter, during an encounter with Spyral agents, the Dark Knight is sprayed with a gas weapon that causes a vivid hallucination. Batman lucidly dreams that he is on a distant planet known as Zur-En-Arrh, where he is endowed with super-powers and gets to meet his perfect alien double, who wears a garish purple-and-red bat costume. Not long after, Dr. Simon Hurt implants post-hypnotic suggestions into Batman’s psyche while the Dark Knight is undergoing sensory deprivation tests. Hurt is actually Thomas Wayne, Bruce’s great(x5) uncle born in the 1700s, endowed with quasi-immortality. During these sensory deprivation tests, Hurt is able to psychoanalyze Batman and literally hear in detail about all of the Dark Knight’s hallucinations, new and old—(Batman has been drugged by Scarecrow, Achilles Milo, and Joker before and was recently drugged by Spyral). Using dialogue specific to Batman’s most recent hallucination, Hurt implants the trigger word “Zur-En-Arrh” into Batman’s brain. Once this word is uttered, Bruce will “shutdown” and lose all memory of having ever been a crime-fighter. After a lengthy period of sleep-deprivation in an isolation chamber, Batman temporarily believes Robin has died as a result of an alien encounter (another vivid hallucination). Afterward, Batman forgets ever meeting Hurt thanks to hypnosis. Hurt also blocks all of Batman’s memory of him using hypnosis. Hurt then sics three substitute Batmen (cops Josef Muller, Branca, and Michael Lane) against a groggy and confused Batman, who still easily defeats them. Hurt blocks Batman’s memory of the fight against the substitutes and then sends the Dark Knight on his way. Batman still has no memories of ever meeting Simon Hurt or of fighting his substitute Batmen. Hurt will retrain (and sadistically torture) his substitute Batmen for years before unleashing them upon Gotham again.
–FLASHBACK: From Bug! The Adventures of Forager #1—originally told in the Modern Age’s Cosmic Odyssey #1-4. Darkseid has long searched for The Anti-Life Equation, the cosmic sentient mathematical formula with which one can dominate all life. Now, Darkseid thinks he’s finally found it, but in actuality he has only discovered half of it in the form of the Anti-Life Entity, which, now stirred-up, threatens to destroy everything. (The other half of the Anti-Life Equation lies within the godlike entity called The Source.) Unable to control the Anti-Life Entity, Darkseid asks for the aid of his rivals, the “good” New Gods of the interdimensional planet of New Genesis (opposite of Apokolips, home to the Darkseid and the evil New Gods). After forming a truce, the New Gods recruit Earth’s top heroes to save the multiverse. Batman and Forager save Earth. Superman and Orion save Thanagar. Lightray and Starfire save Rann. Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern John Stewart fail to save Xanshi. In the end, the heroes prevail, but Forager falls in battle, going into a dormant state akin to death. (The heroes will all assume Forager is dead.) Orion makes a racist/classist comment about the fallen Forager, so Batman punches Orion out!
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #976 and Action Comics #978—originally told in “THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN.” Doomsday debuts, dispatching the Justice League (sans Batman and Superman) with ease. Superman fights Doomsday solo and is killed by the monster. The world mourns. The Eradicator, Steel, and Cyborg Superman rise up to replace the deceased Man of Steel.
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #976 and Action Comics #978—originally told in “THE RETURN OF SUPERMAN.” Cyborg Superman reveals his evil nature, teaming with Mongul to fight Hal Jordan and wipe the hero’s hometown of Coast City off the map with a nuclear explosion. Thanks to Kryptonian technology, Superman comes back from the dead—complete with a black costume and long hair. The resurrected Superman defeats Mongul and Cyborg Superman. The world celebrates the Man of Steel’s return. Shortly thereafter, Clark gets engaged to Lois. Wedding invitations are sent out to friends, including Bruce.
–FLASHBACK: From Action Comics #978. Bruce attends the wedding of Lois and Clark, who are happily married.
–NOTE: Referenced in Action Comics #978. Superman switches to his Mandarin/Nehru collar costume (based on his look from the New 52).
–FLASHBACK: From Super Sons #5. Batman and Superman get in a bad argument about an unspecified topic. Batman get so heated that he punches-out Superman.
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #978. Superman goes on unspecified business with Batman before returning home to his wife Lois, who reveals she is pregnant!
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. The Justice League acquires a Kirby Dot (!), which goes into the Watchtower Trophy Room.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #23. Batman meets and befriends the plant elemental known as Swamp Thing (Alec Holland).
–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 #12. Batman meets the cockney chain-smoking British wizard, arcane history buff, and magick expert John Constantine, who also happens to be currently dating Zatanna. Batman teams-up with both Constantine and Zatanna on an unspecified case.
–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 #12. Batman meets and befriends Deadman (the superhero spirit of Boston Brand, former circus trapeze artist and friend of the Flying Graysons). Deadman can inhabit and control any body, living or dead.
–REFERENCE: In ???. The Justice League defeats the global terrorist organization/apocalypse cult known as the Kobra Cult. The Kobra Cult is led by Lady Eve and Jeffrey Franklin Burr, who goes by “Lord Naga-Naga” or simply “Kobra.”
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman fights the debuting Captain Stingaree.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman fights the debuting Colonel Blimp.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman meets The Spectre.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman meets Powergirl.
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #978, Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #20, and Super Sons #5. Batman retires the yellow oval costume. He tailors and begins wearing a new grey-and-black costume (his look from the New 52). Batman puts his old costume on display in the Batcave.
–REFERENCE: In Super Sons #5. Batman and Superman finally find a mutual respect for each other. Realizing that have a lot in common, Bruce and Clark become best of friends. Over time, their friendship will grow to be one of the strongest bonds in the DCU. Despite the camaraderie, trust, and mutual respect, Batman and Superman will still butt heads and fight each other quite often. Most of these fights will happen invisibly, scattered throughout our timeline below.
–FLASHBACK: From Action Comics #978. When arms dealers attempt to assassinate a nine-month-pregnant Lois, Superman takes his wife to the safety of the Fortress of Solitude. While Batman guards the perimeter, Wonder Woman helps deliver the baby: Jonathan Samuel Kent. After Jon is born, Lois and Clark take sabbaticals from the Daily Planet and move to California to raise their kid right. Superman also builds a second Fortress of Solitude in the Himalayas and switches to an all-black costume, deciding to keep out of the limelight while raising his son for a few years to come. Superman will switch interchangeably between his black costume and his regular costume for the next decade.
–REFERENCE: In Deathstroke Vol. 4 #19. This item occurs one year after Grant Wilson’s death. Robin meets with Deathstroke alone and enters into a secret pact with the killer. In exchange for Robin befriending and providing his young daughter Rose Wilson with the Bat-Family’s positive values, Deathstroke will stop trying to kill the Teen Titans, going so far as to turn his long-running lucrative contract with HIVE into a “Lazarus Contract,” effectively canceling out any hits he is working on for them. Shortly thereafter, Dick befriends Rose. Presumably, Batman monitors all of this via hidden Robin cam. Dick will meet with Rose regularly, moving forward.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 2 #21, Flash Vol. 5 #21, Titans Vol. 3 Annual #1, and Nightwing Vol. 4 #21—originally told in Titans Hunt #6-7, DC Universe: Rebirth #1, and Titans Vol. 3 #2-3. The current lineup of the Teen Titans—Robin, Wonder Girl, Aqualad, Speedy, Omen, Cave Boy (Gnarrk), Hawk (Hank Hall), Dove (Don Hall), Herald (Mal Duncan), and Kid Flash—fight their rival Mr. Twister. Tragically, Mr. Twister murders Dove. In order to defeat Mr. Twister and save the day, the Titans are forced to allow the world to undergo a global mind-wipe. This complete memory erasure, done by Omen, causes not only the defeat of Mr. Twister, but also causes the Teen Titans to become erased from the collective memories of the entire world. The world won’t recover these lost memories for years. Also note that Kid Flash not only gets erased from everyone’s memory but he also goes missing, trapped within the Speed Force, exiled there by his rival Abra Kadabra, who takes advantage of the chaotic situation. As referenced in Green Arrow Vol. 6 #23, Speedy has a falling out with Green Arrow, changing his name to Arsenal and going solo, roughly a decade prior to Year Fifteen. It is likely that Speedy becomes Arsenal immediately after this Mr. Twister item, hence placement here at the end of Year Five.
__________________________________________________________________
YEAR SIX (2008)
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21 and Nightwing Vol. 4 #21. Dick quits his position as Robin and becomes the superhero Nightwing. Batman puts Dick’s Robin costume on display in the Batcave.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman and Alfred briefly move their operating HQ into the downtown Wayne Tower (aka Wayne Foundation Building). There, the Bat-operations occur in a hidden bunker while civilian residency takes place in the penthouse suite. This downtown move only lasts for a very short time before they move back into Wayne Manor.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7 and Red Hood & The Outlaws Vol. 2 #12. Batman meets juvenile delinquent Jason Todd when the latter boldly attempts to steal the tires off the Batmobile! Batman catches him red-handed, but gives the spunky kid a break. After a lengthy conversation, Batman enrolls Jason in the boy’s neighborhood orphanage, Faye “Ma” Gunn‘s Home For Wayward Boys. Unknown to the public, Ma Gunn is a criminal. Jason contacts Batman and helps him bust Ma Gunn. Seeing promise in Jason, Bruce makes the troubled teen his legal ward. Shortly thereafter, Bruce reveals his superhero secret and offers Jason the position of being Batman’s new sidekick. Jason then starts on an intensive six month training course.
–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 Annual #1. The Justice League meets the ancient demon Etrigan, who has a symbiotic relationship and is bonded with the immortal mage, Jason Blood.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman fights the debuting Dr. Phosphorus.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman fights the debuting Film Freak.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman defeats the debuting Ten-Eyed Man.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman defeats the debuting super-villain known as The Spook.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman busts the debuting Maxie Zeus.
–REFERENCE: In and Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7 and Red Hood & The Outlaws Vol. 2 #12. Jason Todd’s training ends and he debuts as the new Robin.
–REFERENCE: In All-Star Batman #10. Batman defeats the debuting Black Mask (Roman Sionis) and his False Face Society.
–NOTE: Referenced in ???. Nightwing, Beast Boy, Raven, Cyborg, Wonder Girl, and Starfire form a new Teen Titans.
–REFERENCE: In All-Star Batman #10—originally told in “TEN NIGHTS OF THE BEAST.” Batman defeats deadly Russian assassin The Beast (aka Anatoli Knyazev aka KGBeast).
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman busts the debuting Black Spider.
__________________________________________________________________
YEAR SEVEN (2009)
–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Forge #1—originally told in The Crisis on Infinite Earths. Bear in mind, this is a very altered version of the original Crisis on Infinite Earths. Furthermore, certain parts of it have been removed by Dr. Manhattan. Here’s the synopsis. Pariah arrives on Earth with startling news; the omniverse is slowly being destroyed by a godlike entity known as The Anti-Monitor, who has successfully outmatched his rival, The Monitor (leader of a group of other Monitors that watch over the local DC multiverse). Thousands of universes are erased in one fell swoop and, as the wave of destruction gets nearer and nearer to the local DC multiverse, the Monitor is killed. Even after death, the Monitor’s spirit is able to create and raise towering golden machines all over multiple Earths, antennas designed to delay the wave of destruction. Despite the creation of these interdimensional tuning towers, the erasure wave gets closer and closer. All the heroes are whisked away to the Monitor’s HQ by Harbinger, who briefs them on how to defeat their opponent. Eventually, all the superheroes of the multiverse band together to fight against evil, defeating the Anti-Monitor and winning the day. Batman keeps one of the Monitor’s interdimensional tuning towers for study. Due to its massive size, Batman definitely has some metahuman help in securing and transporting the tower—although not from Superman, since the Man of Steel won’t be aware that Batman is keeping one. Instead of telling Superman about his plans and knowing that he would likely disapprove, Batman simply asks the Man of Steel to construct a giant room for him under his Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic. Batman then puts the tuning tower in the impenetrable underground room and seals it up, making Superman promise to never to look inside. After showing his trust by agreeing, Batman uses some unknown means to shoot the room’s only key into the sun.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 5 #5 and Justice League of America Vol. 5 #8-9. Batman meets and teams-up with Vixen. They form a close bond, learning each other’s secret IDs in the process. Bruce tells Vixen all about the death of his parents and how he became Batman.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 5 #8. Batman encounters the global criminal organization known as SKULL, tech brokers that “hoard progress” using an army of robot soldiers. SKULL is notorious for bartering world-changing tech in exchange for political influence. Batman shuts down the organization, putting its financial backer behind bars.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21, Justice League of America Vol. 5 #7, Mister Miracle Vol. 4 #1, and Blue Beetle Vol. 9 #11-12. When the Justice League disbands, Batman joins scheming Max Lord‘s new Justice League International venture, which includes Martian Manhunter, Booster Gold, Big Barda, Mr. Miracle, Rocket Red (Vladimir Mikoyan), Fire (Beatriz da Costa), Ice (Tola Olafsdotter), Dr. Fate, Shazam, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Black Canary, Dr. Light (Kimiyo Hoshi), and Blue Beetle (Ted Kord). This team will go on a variety of missions, some of which will simply have to be imagined on our timeline below. (NOTES: First, Blue Beetle, unlike in the Modern Age, is merely a part-time member of this team. In fact, he will only ever even interact with Batman a few times. Second, Max Lord is also head of the secret government organization known as Checkmate. Third, Vladimir Mikoyan is merely one—#7 to be exact—of several Rocket Reds, Russian soldiers in high-tech combat-suits. Fourth, Booster Gold, a hero from the future, is always accompanied by his floating robot companion Skeetz. Fifth, Dr. Fate is linked to the immortal magick demigod known as Nabu, who is a charter member of the cosmic Lords of Order. And sixth, Mister Miracle is often accompanied by his diminutive manager Oberon.)
–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Forge #1. Batman, having now worked closely with both Mr. Miracle and Big Barda, gains even more insight into the world of the New Gods. Mr. Miracle gives Batman a special method of communicating with both he and certain New Gods, should the Dark Knight need their assistance in the future.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21—originally told in the Modern Age’s Millennium. Manhunter Robots—originally a failed venture created by the Guardians of the Universe prior to the Green Lantern Corps—activate sleeper agents embedded within the superhero community in an attempt to take control of Earth. Notably, Rocket Red reveals himself as an evil Manhunter, attacking the JLI from within. After the Manhunters are defeated and the Earth is saved, Vladimir Mikoyan’s Rocket Red #7 suit goes into the JL Trophy Room.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman encounters Lady Shiva—Cassie Cain’s mother—for the first time.
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #980. Batman meets government official Amanda Waller and learns some information about her clandestine program Task Force X, which controls the super-villain covert-ops team known as The Suicide Squad. Waller’s operations are based out of the Belle Reve Federal Prison in Louisiana.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. Lobo joins the JLI, but is outed as a double agent working against the team and is subsequently kicked out. Lobo’s original hook and chain are put into the Justice League Trophy Room.
__________________________________________________________________
YEAR EIGHT (2010)
–REFERENCE: In All-Star Batman #10. Bruce and Alfred visit Miami. Alfred takes notice of the construction boom that is going on in the city.
–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #21. Bruce gives Dick a watch for his 18th birthday. (This item might move, depending on how old Dick was at the time of his parents’ deaths.)
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman takes in the diminutive mute hunchback Harold Allnut, a genius inventor and tech whiz. Harold lives temporarily in the Batcave, creating new costume upgrades and vehicles for the Bat-Family. Shortly thereafter, Harold leaves to live on a farm in New England.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #23—originally told in Batman #487. Batman saves Commissioner Gordon’s life from master assassin Headhunter, who kills by putting two bullets in his victims head at close range. After fighting and chasing after him, Batman busts Headhunter, taking notice of an extremely rare white caiman crocodile tooth necklace that the super-villain wears.
–REFERENCE: In Mother Panic #4 and Mother Panic #8. Batman fights the debuting Ratcatcher (Otis Flannegan), and knocks him unconscious before sending him off to prison.
–REFERENCE: In ???—originally told in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1-4 (“THE LAST ARKHAM”). Dr. Jeremiah Arkham takes over his family’s business, becoming the head of the infamous private prison known as Arkham Asylum. In order to find out how Victor Zsasz keeps escaping, Batman goes into the belly of the beast, imprisoning himself with Jeremiah Arkham’s permission. Batman fights a bunch of his rogues, including newcomer Amygdala, before figuring out Zsasz’s escape route and busting him.
–REFERENCE: In Trinity Vol. 2 #12—originally told in “A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.” Robin is brutally murdered by Joker. A funeral is held and Batman puts the second Robin’s tattered costume on display in memoriam in the Batcave. Unknown to the Bat-Family, Talia al Ghul digs up Jason’s corpse and revives him via Lazarus Pit. Jason, angry at both Batman’s failure to save him and his non-lethal position in regard to punishing Joker, won’t make his return for a couple years, choosing to train for the perfect revenge in the meantime.
–REFERENCE: In Batgirl & The Birds of Prey #11—originally told in The Killing Joke. Joker shoots Barbara Gordon in the spine, permanently paralyzing her. Batman brings Joker to justice.
__________________________________________________________________
YEAR NINE (2011)
–REFERENCE: In Batwoman: Rebirth #1 and Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7. Young genius Tim Drake, having long been following the careers of Batman and Robin, notices a lack of Robin and change in Batman’s demeanor (based upon news reports). Able to deduce Batman’s secret ID, Tim assists Batman on a case, earning his respect and trust. Reluctantly, Batman agrees to take Tim on as his newest trainee. Tim will train for the next six months with Batman.
–Wonder Woman Vol. 5 #22
This item occurs exactly eight months and seven years since Wonder Woman first left Themyscira. Wonder Woman volunteers to participate in a date auction for charity in Las Vegas. In attendance are Bruce—in full playboy persona, surrounded by women—and Lex Luthor. Both men bid top dollar, but Dr. Veronica Cale winds up spending the most dough, winning the date. Veronica secretly wants to analyze Wonder Woman’s powers on behalf of her organization Godwatch. After dinner, Veronica tells a sob story that leads Wonder Woman into battle against human-traffickers. During the fight, Veronica scans Wonder Woman’s metapowers and magick lasso. The next day, Wonder Woman visits and scolds Veronica, having learned that she is connected to the Cheetah and is up to no good.
–REFERENCE: In Dark Nights: Metal #1—originally told in Starman #9-10. Batman meets and teams-up with latest and fourth incarnation of Starman (host vessel Will Payton combined with the spirit of previous Starman Prince Gavyn). Together, Batman and Starman defeat Blockbuster. Unknown to Batman, Starman works for Hawkman and Hawkgirl, specifically on their ongoing thousands-of-years-old investigation into the mystery behind the origin of Nth Metal and its link to the Dark Multiverse.
–FLASHBACK: From the second feature to Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #17. Batman meets and chats with Joker’s primary Arkham psychiatrist, Dr. Harleen Quinzel. This flashback is just a single image from a title splash page attached to this second feature.
–REFERENCE: In Batwoman: Rebirth #1 and Batman Beyond Vol. 8 #7. Tim finishes his training and becomes the third Robin.
–REFERENCE: In Batgirl & The Birds of Prey #11-12. Barbara Gordon, paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair, decides that she’s not done being a superhero. She becomes the Bat-Family’s resident super-hacker and information-dispatcher, Oracle. As Oracle, Babs also leads her own superhero group known as the Birds of Prey, which features Black Canary and rotating cast of other female heroes.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. The JLI disbands. Several items are placed into the JL Trophy Room, including: one of Blue Beetle’s Bug-ships, some of Big Barda’s weapons (including her original Mega Rod), Dr. Fate’s helmet (a replica or one of several?), and Skeetz’s original shell. Shortly thereafter, a new Wonder Woman-led Justice League is formed (sans Batman or Superman, but featuring mostly ex-JLI members).
–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 5 #7—originally told in “BLOODLINES.” The Bat-Family fights the Xenomorph-like Bloodlines Parasites (Angon, Gemir, Glonth, Lissik, Pritor, Slodd, and Venev), which suck people’s spinal fluid out of their bodies, which either kills them or turns them into metahumans with random powers. Lissik and Venev create the super-villain Terrorsmith, who is defeated by Wonder Woman’s Justice League. All the heroes combine to defeat and kill the Bloodlines Parasites.
–REFERENCE: In Bane: Conquest #1-2—originally told in the “KNIGHTFALL,” “KNIGHTQUEST,” and “KNIGHT’S END” story-arcs. New super-villain Bane makes his presence known publicly in Gotham, threatening Batman. After releasing all of Arkham’s inmates, Batman and the Bat-Family wear themselves down re-jailing all of them. Batman defeats Bane’s top henchmen Bird, Trogg, and Zombie, before finally taking on Bane himself. Pumped full of the steroid known as Venom, Bane crushes a weakened Batman, breaking his spine. Bane instantly becomes the king of the Gotham Underworld. We have to assume that, due to the severity of his spinal injury, Batman is out of action for an extended period. But as he did in the Modern Age and New 52, the Caped Crusader must make a recovery faster than normal. Some metahuman healing power, magick, or science fiction-type event must occur, helping Bruce heal up in mere months. After re-training his body, Batman has a return match with Bane and defeats him.
–REFERENCE: In Bane: Conquest #2. Batman fights the underground martial arts gang known as The Monkey Fist Cult (aka The Brotherhood of the Monkey Fist), which is led by the deadly assassin Silver Monkey.
–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #22. Batman and Nightwing defeat Gorilla Grimm, who runs a Gotham smuggling operation selling high-tech Gorilla City weapons on behalf of his boss Gorilla Grodd.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21—originally told in JLA #1-4 (“NEW WORLD ORDER”). The Justice League disbands. In its place, the team reforms as the Justice League with a new stronger “Big Guns” lineup—Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, and Aquaman (who has a temporary prosthetic harpoon hand, having recently lost his hand in battle). The first threat they deal with is the White Martian group known as The Hyperclan (Armek, Protex, Primaid, and ZüM). After defeating the Hyperclan, the JL puts robotic head of Armek into the Trophy Room, along with the costumes of Protex, Primaid, and ZüM.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21 and Dark Days: The Forge #1—originally told in JLA #11-15 (“ROCK OF AGES”). Lex Luthor threatens the Justice League with the cosmic-powered Philosopher’s Stone, alternately known as the Worlogog, in which part of the Source resides. Metron introduces the JL members to the android Hourman from the 853rd century and shows them how to deal with Luthor. Plastic Man officially joins the JL roster, helping to defeat Luthor on his very first mission with the team. Afterward, the Worlogog goes into the JL Trophy Room.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21—originally told in JLA: Paradise Lost. Fallen angel Zauriel and the Justice League get stuck in the middle of a war between Heaven and Hell as the fallen angel Asmodel teams with Neron (King of Hell) to battle the angels of Heaven. The war ends when Neron begins infighting with Asmodel. Afterward, Zauriel becomes the newest member of the JL. Zauriel’s original cloak and flaming sword will eventually go into the JL’s Trophy Room.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21—originally told in JLA #16-17. The new “Big Guns” Justice League is taken down by the debuting Prometheus, who infiltrates Watchtower security. Catwoman, while attempting to steal from the Watchtower, winds up saving the day, defeating Prometheus, who retreats to Limbo.
–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #17. Joker’s longtime therapist Dr. Harleen Quinzel, having fallen in love with the super-villain, breaks him out of Arkham Asylum, becoming his girlfriend and sidekick Harley Quinn. Batman busts Joker and Harley, who will remain on-and-off partners for years to come.
–REFERENCE: In the second feature to Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #22-25. Batman encounters The Wonderland Gang, a Lewis Carroll-inspired crime group that includes Mad Hatter, Tweedle-Dum, Tweedle-Dee,[2] The Carpenter (Jenna Duffy), The Lion, The Unicorn, The Walrus, and March Harriet (aka March Hare). The Carpenter is responsible for constructing the gaudy hideouts of most of the super-villains in Gotham.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21—originally told in “DC ONE MILLION.” The Justice Legion-A (the Justice League from the 853rd century) appears in the Watchtower to invite the JL to a ceremony that will see Superman (still alive in the 853rd century and godlike) awaken from a long hibernation inside the sun). But thanks to the scheming of Vandal Savage and Solaris, the JL gets trapped in the future while a nano-virus spreads across the entire present day Earth. With Batman stuck in the future, the Batman of the 853rd century teams-up with Nightwing, Robin, and Alfred to take down some baddies, including Firefly. Future Batman realizes the only way to stop Solaris in the future is to construct the evil AI now, which they do, saving the present day. In the 853rd century, Batman winds up on the prison (dwarf) planet of Pluto where he learns from Robin The Toy Wonder (a robot Robin) that this era’s Batman is warden. After the JL defeats a bunch of future villains, Solaris is tricked—thanks to the JL’s machinations in the past—into giving a Green Lantern power ring to the sun-emerging future Superman, who uses it to defeat Solaris for good. After the ceremony, our heroes return to present day. Future Hourman decides to live in the present day, joining the JL for a brief spell. Considered a nuisance by Batman, Hourman mostly interacts with other heroes, using his massive ornate Timeship to go on time-traveling adventures. At the end of his JL tenure, Hourman’s Timeship goes into the JL Trophy Room.
–REFERENCE: In ???—originally told in JLA: Earth 2. After meeting Alexander Luthor, the number one superhero of the Antimatter Earth aka Earth-3, the Justice League helps him fight their Earth-3 counterparts: the evil Crime Syndicate of Amerika (dictator Ultraman, his cuckolding partner Superwoman, drug-addicted Johnny Quick, Batman’s counterpart Owlman), and Hal Jordan’s counterpart Power Ring. (Power Ring’s cosmic ring contains a sliver of “First Lantern” Volthoom’s soul, making the ring itself a sort of evil sentient Volthoom entity.) After fighting to a stalemate on both Earth-0 and Earth-3, the two teams reluctantly join forces to defeat Brainiac.
–REFERENCE: In Titans Vol. 3 Annual #1—originally told in JLA #36-41 (“WORLD WAR III”). Batman defeats Prometheus in one-on-one combat. He then joins the Justice League to ward off the threat of that planet-sized cosmic being known as Mageddon.
__________________________________________________________________
YEAR TEN (2012)
HARLEY LOVES JOKER
———————-––the second feature to Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #18-19
———————-––the second feature to Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #22
Early to mid January. While others celebrate the New Year’s Eve Ball dropping, Joker and Harley Quinn rob a department store jewelry vault of its contents. Joker pauses to give Harley a new stolen fur coat as a gift. Later, Batman visits the crime scene and finds Harley’s old coat, which he shows to live TV news reporter Summer Gleason. At night, Joker and Harley watch the news and see the glaring evidence of their crime on display to the world. Not only that, but Harley has written their secret lair’s address on the label. Batman smashes through the window to arrest the duo, but they get away by siccing their pet hyenas (Bud and Lou) on Batman and then blowing up the building. A week or so later, Harley visits her pals, the Carpenter and March Harriet, who are in the middle of a hotel/spa robbery with their Wonderland Gang partners, Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee. Harley hires the Carpenter to fix up a new hideout for she and Joker. Across town, Commissioner Gordon meets with Bruce to tell him that a new Brazilian villainess called The Grison has stolen WayneTech R&D files. Joker, disguised as a cop, listens-in. Later, the Carpenter begins renovating an abandoned joke shop for Harley and Joker.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #957. Batman defeats teenage left wing anti-hero Anarky (Lonnie Machin).
–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Forge #1. Batman meets the techno-whiz and supposed “world’s smartest man” Mr. Terrific. They quickly become close, sharing each other’s secret IDs. Batman and Mr. Terrific will share a close friendship for years to come.
–REFERENCE: In Titans Vol. 3 Annual #1. Batman encounters Superman’s arch-rival Metallo.
–REFERENCE: In ???. Batman defeats the debuting mutant whale super-villain called Orca.
–REFERENCE: In All-Star Batman #10—originally told in Arkham Asylum: Living Hell. Warren White is tortured by his fellow inmates during an Arkham Asylum riot and becomes one of Batman’s wiliest rogues, The Great White Shark. During the riot, which Batman quells, Arkham’s chief of security Aaron Cash loses a hand courtesy of Killer Croc.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21—originally told in JLA/Avengers. One of the original Guardians of the Universe, Krona, begins destroying planets. Soon, several beings from the DCU inexplicably crossover to Universe-616 and vice-versa. The Universe-616 cosmic entity known as The Grandmaster materializes on the Watchtower and explains the only way to save the omniverse is to collect 12 items of power, spread across Universe-0 and Universe-616. After the Justice League tours Earth-616, the JL and The Avengers throw down in Earth-0’s Metropolis, but soon realize they are on the same side and begin collecting the needed items. Eventually, it is revealed that the Grandmaster, Krona, and Metron have been scheming together. Krona gathers the items of power and alters reality dramatically. The heroes of two universes join once more in a realm between universes to defeat Krona, trapping him in a Cosmic Egg, which is then stored for safekeeping in the Watchtower. The JL bids the Avengers farewell and the two teams return to their respective universes. The Spectre undoes Krona’s damage.
–REFERENCE: In All-Star Batman #10—originally told in the Modern Age’s “HUSH” arc. One of Bruce’s closest childhood friends, Dr. Tommy Elliot, returns to Gotham and becomes the super-villain known as Hush. Armed with knowledge of Bruce’s identity as Batman, a disfigured Elliot wraps bandages around his face and, as Hush, strikes the surprised Caped Crusader. Batman successfully defeats Hush, but learns a sobering truth about his old friend. Years ago, a young Tommy cut the brake cables on his parents’ car, resulting in their untimely deaths.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21. Following the events of the original Crisis a couple years ago, superhero cum cosmic historian Harbinger recorded the “History of the DC Universe” and stored the information in a small satellite. Harbinger soon became accepted into the Amazonian tribe on Themyscira, at which time the updated “History of the DC Universe” recording was transferred into the mystical Universe Orb. Cut to now. The Universe Orb is moved to the Justice League Trophy Room, likely given to the JL for safekeeping by Wonder Woman.
–REFERENCE: In Titans Vol. 3 Annual #1 and The Fall and Rise of Captain Atom #1. The DCU’s top heroes decide to reboot the Justice League lineup. A new JL—featuring Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Hal Jordan, Aquaman, Flash, and Cyborg—forms just in time to foil a Darkseid invasion attempt. (According to The Fall and Rise of Captain Atom #1, the formation of this “New 52 version” of the JL occurs specifically at some point prior to mid-December 2012, hence placement here.)
–REFERENCE: In Dark Nights: Metal #1. The new Justice League (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Hal Jordan, Aquaman, Flash, and Cyborg) begins training in an effort to be a more cohesive unit than has ever been seen before. The team comes up with several fighting formations, including the Aegea Formation and Iphito Formation. Presumably, there are many more of these as well. The JL will continue to train together on-and-off (albeit invisibly on our timeline), moving forward.
–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #22. Batman and Nightwing go undercover as biker gang members to bust street racing super-villain Thrill Devil.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #960. While battling the League of Assassins, Batman discovers a great conspiracy, a secret war that has impacted global politics and socio-economic conditions at the highest levels imaginable for hundreds of years. Batman comes face-to-face with The League of Shadows—an elite group within the League of Assassins that wields greater power and poses as a greater threat. The League of Shadows, consisting of an army of sleeper cells hiding in plain sight, has been secretly responsible for the largest acts of terror in human history. Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Shadows capture Batman and wipe his mind of all knowledge of the organization via magickal means.
–REFERENCE: In ???—originally told in “DEATH AND THE MAIDENS.” Nyssa Raatko al Ghul kills her father Ra’s al Ghul and takes over the League of Assassins alongside her sister Talia.
- [1]COLLIN COLSHER: Pardon our dust! So far, since the New Age timeline is so new, we haven’t gotten official debut references, flashbacks, or stories that reflect a lot of the guaranteed Batman mythos. Please be patient during this construction period and hold commentary until later. Thanks!↩
- [2]COLLIN COLSHER: In the Modern Age, Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee were cousins Dumfree Tweed and Deever Tweed, respectively. When Dumfree died, Deever’s twin brother Dumson took over as the new Tweedle-Dum. In the New 52, that was altered and reversed by writer Scott Snyder so that the original Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee were Dumson and Deever. Dumson was later replaced by Deever’s twin brother Dumfree as the new Tweedle-Dum. Also of note: In the Modern Age, the Tweeds were the secret leaders of the Wonderland Gang. In the New 52, they were merely “foot soldiers” for the group. In the New Age, we don’t know which Tweeds these are, nor do we know who is really in charge of the group.↩
Collin, I think you made a mistake with Jonathan Kent’s age.
He’s 10, not 12.
In addition, Dan Jurgens confirmed via twitter we’re in Year 15 of the Post-Reborn Timeline
I see that wikipedia says he is 10-years-old, but where in the comics does it ever say that? Also, can you send me the link on that Jurgens confirmation? I know Bleeding Cool guessed at a roughly 15 year long timeline.
(Not that I don’t trust ya, but I’m just getting the facts straight.) Thanks for the help!
I’m trying to reconstruct Superman’s timeline post-Reborn… with a little help from Dan Jurgens’ twitter posts… some images from AC and Superman… some information from “The Button”… we can say that The Golden-Silver and Modern Age events that are to be included in the Post-Reborn (New Age) timeline happened in the first 5 years of Superman’s career. Debut, The Krypton Man, The Crimson Kryptonite, Exile, Revelation to Lois, Death Of Superman-Reign Of The Supermen-Return, Marriage, Death Of C.K. and other stuff. The next 10 years comprise the New52 adventures in the armor costume along with Jon’s birth (with Bruce and Diana in the Fortress) and all the stuff ’til now.
I guess all Bruce’s events from Golden-Silver and Modern Age timelines are to be included in the first 5 years in Batman’s costume as well. My guess is from Year Zero (but rumors say that Year One could come into play) to Return Of Bruce Wayne adventures will be compressed in these 5 years.
I don’t know if you have already included Knightfall and NML along with BW Murderer/Fugitive but I’m pretty sure they are to be included in those first 5 years as well. Of course, like DOS and ROTS, these events must have occured in a very different way: No Conner and no Kents for Superman make these events very very different for Clark, and no JP Valley and no Cassandra Cain make Knightfall and NML very very different for Bruce.
But they happened. Knightfall for sure. NML could be questionable…
Thanks for this, Antonio. I don’t know of anyone else tackling this new continuity yet. The costumes are a big deal for sure, letting us know where things evolve or change. I haven’t included NML yet, waiting for more in-story references. But I will definitely take into account your notes moving forward. If you spot anything else, let me know!
A thousand thank yous. 🙂
UPDATE: Made a bunch of changes. It’s still a work in progress, but we’ll get there… probably just in time to switch it all up again haha.
No offense taken, Collin. I know that you need “official” confirmation when constructing a detailed timeline like this.
Ok, as far as Jon’s age, Superman confirms he is ten years old in Superman 9 and Jon reaffirms it in Super Sons 1.
As far as Jurgens’ statement that the New Age is in Year 15, things may get complicated because in the myriad of the twitters he posted I don’t know how to be able to get back to the twitter we’re interested in. I can’t find it anymore.
So, things can’t be official yet. I understand.
Anyway, I read the twitter when he posted it stating that those missing ten years are “back” in the timeline after REBORN and that now we’re around Y15.
The missing 10 years (back) make sense because, incredibly and absurdly, the New 52 timeline was supposed to be in Year 5!!!!
Yes, Collin… Year 5. And Jurgens clearly stated that the 5 Year long timeline IS NO MORE! (I remember the exact twitter post)
Thank God The New 52 absurdity is over.
I think we’ll have to wait and see for more stories to be added after the “Metal” series and “Doomsday Clock” for both Bruce and Clark.
Shouldn’t the reference about the Club of Heroes in Year 12 say originally told in “The Black Glove”?
A minor editing quibble, but let me do my best to explain. Adding in “originally told” information is a relatively new concept for this website, something I’m trying for the current reboot timeline. Seems to make sense since so much material is pure retroactive referencing—even stuff that literally was published a year ago.
In regard to “The Black Glove,” that title was only a trade paperback title. There was no arc that was titled “The Black Glove.” It was a bunch of Grant Morrison issues linked together. Because this site doesn’t really deal with trades as such, I am not using the title “The Black Glove.” However, you make a good point and I will add in the original issue numbers. Thanks for brining it to my attention.
In regard to this portion of Morrison’s arc, I’m sure it is in-continuity since it ties into so much of Batman’s other canonical mythos, but technically there hasn’t been a direct reference to it yet in the “New Age”/”Rebirth”/”post-Superman Reborn” era. Keep your eyes peeled.
That reasoning makes perfect sense and I suspected the trade title situation. Thanks for responding so quickly and adding the issue numbers. I like the “originally told in”s since they provide a sort of reading order even though stories like Knightfall happened a lot differently.