May 1, 1939 CE
Batman Debuts in Detective Comics #27
Bob Kane and Bill Finger introduce Batman in Detective Comics #27, establishing the character as a wealthy vigilante fighting crime in Gotham City. #comics #dc
Chronological Storyline (34 Milestones)
Nov 1, 1939 CE
Robin the Boy Wonder Introduced
Batman gains a sidekick, Dick Grayson as Robin, in Detective Comics #38, providing a lighter counterpoint and expanding the Bat-Family. #comics #dc )
Apr 1, 1940 CE
Joker Makes First Appearance
The Joker debuts in Batman #1, becoming Batman's arch-nemesis and one of the most iconic villains in comics. #comics #villains )
Apr 1, 1940 CE
Catwoman First Appears
Catwoman (then called 'The Cat') debuts in Batman #1 as a cat burglar and occasional love interest. #comics #dc
Dec 1, 1941 CE
Batman's Origin Story Revealed
Batman #1 reveals Bruce Wayne's origin: witnessing the murder of his parents Thomas and Martha Wayne in Crime Alley. #comics #origin )
Jun 1, 1943 CE
Batman Serial Film Released
The first Batman serial starring Lewis Wilson airs, bringing the character to live-action for the first time. #film #dc )
Jun 1, 1952 CE
Batman and Superman Team Up
Superman #76 features the first team-up of Batman and Superman, leading to the iconic World's Finest series. #comics #dc
May 1, 1964 CE
New Look Batman Introduced
Detective Comics #327 introduces a redesigned Batman with a yellow oval bat-symbol, modernizing the character. #comics #dc
Jan 12, 1966 CE
Batman TV Series Premieres
The campy Batman TV series starring Adam West debuts, popularizing the character with a colorful, humorous tone. #tv #dc )
Aug 1, 1969 CE
Batman Moves to Wayne Manor Penthouse
In Detective Comics #395, Batman relocates his base from the Batcave to a penthouse atop the Wayne Foundation building. #comics #dc
May 1, 1970 CE
Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams Revamp Batman
The creative team returns Batman to a darker, more serious tone in Detective Comics #395, defining the modern Batman. #comics #dc
By Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA - IMG_0127, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91984448
Oct 1, 1973 CE
Ra's al Ghul Introduced
Ra's al Ghul debuts in Batman #232, becoming a major adversary and testing Batman's detective skills. #comics #villains
Aug 1, 1980 CE
The Dark Knight Returns Announced
Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns is published, redefining Batman as an aging, gritty vigilante. #comics #graphicnovel
Feb 1, 1986 CE
Batman: Year One Published
Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's Batman: Year One retells Batman's origin with a realistic, noir style. #comics #origin
Mar 1, 1987 CE
Jason Todd Killed by Joker
In Batman #428, the second Robin Jason Todd is murdered by the Joker, a pivotal moment in Batman's history. #comics #death
Dec 1, 1988 CE
The Killing Joke Published
Alan Moore's The Killing Joke explores the Joker's origin and cripples Barbara Gordon (Batgirl), a landmark graphic novel. #comics #graphicnovel
Jun 23, 1989 CE
Tim Burton's Batman Film Released
Tim Burton's Batman starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson redefines the character for cinema with a gothic aesthetic. #film #dc )
Sep 5, 1992 CE
Batman: The Animated Series Premieres
The acclaimed animated series debuts, featuring Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker, defining a generation. #tv #animation
By DC Entertainment - https://dcanimated.com/btas/btas-backstage/btas-backstage-press-kit/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150289070
Apr 1, 1993 CE
Bane Breaks the Bat
In Batman #497, Bane breaks Batman's back, leading to the Knightfall storyline and Azrael taking over as Batman. #comics #storyline
Mar 1, 1999 CE
Batman: No Man's Land Storyline
A massive earthquake devastates Gotham, leading to a year-long storyline where Batman fights to reclaim the city. #comics #storyline
Jun 15, 2005 CE
Batman Begins Released
Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins reboots the film franchise with a realistic origin story starring Christian Bale. #film #dc
May 1, 2006 CE
Batman and Son Storyline
Grant Morrison introduces Damian Wayne, Bruce's son with Talia al Ghul, in Batman #655. #comics #dc
Jul 18, 2008 CE
The Dark Knight Released
Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight features Heath Ledger's iconic Joker and becomes a critical and commercial success. #film #dc
Mar 1, 2009 CE
Batman: Battle for the Cowl
After Bruce Wayne's apparent death in Final Crisis, Dick Grayson becomes Batman in Battle for the Cowl. #comics #storyline
Sep 1, 2011 CE
New 52 Batman Relaunch
DC's New 52 reboots Batman with Scott Snyder's run, starting with Batman #1, introducing the Court of Owls. #comics #reboot )
Jul 20, 2012 CE
The Dark Knight Rises Released
Christopher Nolan concludes his trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises, featuring Bane and Catwoman. #film #dc
Jun 1, 2013 CE
Batman: Zero Year Storyline
Scott Snyder's Zero Year retells Batman's origin in the New 52 continuity, replacing Year One. #comics #storyline
Mar 25, 2016 CE
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Released
Ben Affleck debuts as Batman in Zack Snyder's film, pitting the Dark Knight against Superman. #film #dc
Jun 1, 2016 CE
DC Rebirth Batman Relaunch
Tom King's Batman run begins with DC Rebirth, exploring Batman's psyche and relationship with Catwoman. #comics #reboot )
Nov 17, 2017 CE
Justice League Film Released
Batman assembles the Justice League in the DCEU film, uniting with Superman, Wonder Woman, and others. #film #dc )
Oct 4, 2019 CE
Joker Film Released
Todd Phillips' Joker, an origin story for the villain, becomes a cultural phenomenon and wins awards. #film #dc )
Jan 1, 2020 CE
Batman: Three Jokers Published
Geoff Johns' Three Jokers reveals there are three distinct Jokers, exploring Batman's trauma. #comics #storyline
Mar 4, 2022 CE
The Batman Film Released
Matt Reeves' The Batman starring Robert Pattinson presents a noir detective version of the character. #film #dc )
Sep 1, 2023 CE
Batman: The Brave and the Bold Animated Series
A new animated series featuring Batman teaming up with various DC heroes is announced. #tv #animation