May 1, 1939 CE
Batman First Appears in Detective Comics #27
Bob Kane and Bill Finger introduce Batman in Detective Comics #27. The character quickly becomes a cultural icon. #comics #batman
Chronological Storyline (44 Milestones)
Apr 1, 1940 CE
Robin the Boy Wonder Debuts
Dick Grayson becomes the first Robin, introducing the sidekick concept in Detective Comics #38. #batman #robin )
Apr 1, 1940 CE
Catwoman First Appears in Batman #1
Selina Kyle, as The Cat, debuts as a jewel thief and love interest for Batman. #batman #catwoman
Apr 1, 1940 CE
The Joker First Appears in Batman #1
The Joker debuts as a cunning psychopath, becoming Batman's greatest nemesis. #batman #joker )
Jul 1, 1943 CE
First Batman Serial Movie Released
The 1943 serial 'The Batman' introduces the Batcave and influences the comic book Alfred. #batman #movies )
Oct 1, 1948 CE
The Riddler First Appears in Detective Comics #140
Edward Nigma, the Riddler, becomes a recurring enemy obsessed with puzzles. #batman #riddler
May 1, 1964 CE
Batman Gets a New Look in Detective Comics #327
Editor Julius Schwartz revamps Batman with a yellow oval bat-symbol, modernizing the character. #batman #comics )
Jan 12, 1966 CE
Batman TV Series Premieres
The campy Batman TV series with Adam West and Burt Ward airs, popularizing the character. #batman #tv )
Jan 1, 1967 CE
Batgirl Barbara Gordon Debuts in Detective Comics #359
Barbara Gordon becomes Batgirl, quickly becoming a beloved supporting character. #batman #batgirl
Dec 1, 1969 CE
Dick Grayson Leaves for College in Batman #217
Dick Grayson goes to college, leading Batman to become more solitary and grim. #batman #comics )
Jan 1, 1970 CE
O'Neil and Adams Revamp Batman as Dark Avenger
Creative team Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams restore Batman's darker tone, starting with 'The Secret of the Waiting Graves'. #batman #comics
By Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA - IMG_0127, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91984448
Feb 1, 1986 CE
The Dark Knight Returns Redefines Batman
Frank Miller's miniseries presents an older Batman returning from retirement, influencing modern interpretations. #batman #graphicnovel
Jan 1, 1987 CE
Batman: Year One Retells Batman's First Year
Year One provides a gritty, realistic origin story for Batman. #batman #comics
Mar 1, 1988 CE
The Killing Joke Explores the Joker's Origin
Alan Moore's one-shot graphic novel delves into the Joker's possible origin, profoundly impacting Batman lore. #batman #joker
Sep 1, 1988 CE
Jason Todd Killed by the Joker in A Death in the Family
Readers voted to kill Jason Todd, making the Joker a murderer and leaving lasting guilt for Batman. #batman #robin
Jun 23, 1989 CE
Batman (1989) Movie Released
Tim Burton's dark Batman film starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson revitalizes the franchise. #batman #movies )
Nov 1, 1989 CE
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight Pioneers Elseworlds
The first Elseworlds story sets Batman in Victorian-era Gotham, inspiring many alternate takes. #batman #comics
Sep 5, 1992 CE
Batman: The Animated Series Debuts
The acclaimed animated series sets the gold standard for Batman storytelling, introducing Harley Quinn. #batman #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
Jan 1, 1993 CE
Knightfall: Bane Breaks the Bat
In the Knightfall saga, villain Bane famously breaks Batman's back, leading to Azrael taking over. #batman #comics
Jun 16, 1995 CE
Batman Forever Brought to Screen
Joel Schumacher's lighter film starring Val Kilmer and Jim Carrey as Riddler. #batman #movies
Jun 1, 1996 CE
The Long Halloween Miniseries Starts
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's story follows Batman's early years and the Holiday killer. #batman #comics
Jun 20, 1997 CE
Batman & Robin Released
The widely panned film with George Clooney nearly kills the film franchise. #batman #movies )
Jan 1, 1999 CE
Batman Beyond Animated Series Premieres
Set in a futuristic Gotham, an elderly Bruce Wayne mentors new Batman Terry McGinnis. #batman #animation
By Warner Bros. Animation - The World's Finest, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=162221401
Mar 1, 1999 CE
No Man's Land Arc After Earthquake
Gotham is devastated by an earthquake and declared a no man's land, forcing Batman to reclaim the city. #batman #comics
Jan 1, 2002 CE
Batman: Hush Storyline Begins
A mysterious villain manipulates Batman's rogues gallery; Jim Lee's art popularizes the arc. #batman #comics
Jun 15, 2005 CE
Batman Begins Reboots the Film Franchise
Christopher Nolan's realistic take starring Christian Bale launches The Dark Knight Trilogy. #batman #movies
Sep 1, 2006 CE
Damian Wayne Introduced as Batman's Son
Grant Morrison introduces Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, later becoming Robin. #batman #comics
Nov 1, 2006 CE
Under the Red Hood Reveals Jason Todd Alive
Jason Todd returns as the Red Hood, challenging Batman's no-kill rule. #batman #comics
Jul 18, 2008 CE
The Dark Knight Starring Heath Ledger
Christopher Nolan's second Batman film features a legendary performance by Heath Ledger as the Joker. #batman #movies
Jun 1, 2009 CE
Battle for the Cowl Explores Succession
After Bruce is apparently killed, Dick Grayson takes up the Batman mantle. #batman #comics
Aug 25, 2009 CE
Batman: Arkham Asylum Video Game Launch
Rocksteady's action-adventure game sets a new standard for superhero games. #batman #videogames
Sep 1, 2011 CE
DC's New 52 Reboot Batman's History
Batman's history is compressed into five years, with Dick Grayson having been Batman earlier. #dc #reboot
Oct 18, 2011 CE
Batman: Arkham City Expands the Open World
Sequel features an open-world prison city and a wide roster of villains. #batman #videogames
Oct 1, 2011 CE
Court of Owls Introduced in New 52 Batman
Scott Snyder's run introduces the Court of Owls, a secret society controlling Gotham for centuries. #batman #comics
Jul 20, 2012 CE
The Dark Knight Rises Ends Nolan's Trilogy
Bane returns and Batman sacrifices himself, later revealed alive. #batman #movies
Oct 25, 2013 CE
Batman: Arkham Origins Game Released
Prequel to Arkham Asylum games, featuring young Batman and his early encounters with villains. #batman #videogames
Apr 1, 2014 CE
Batman: Eternal Weekly Comic Begins
A year-long weekly series exploring Gotham's underworld and family secrets. #batman #comics
Sep 22, 2014 CE
Gotham TV Series Debuts on Fox
Prequel series focusing on Jim Gordon and young Bruce Wayne. #batman #tv )
Jun 23, 2015 CE
Batman: Arkham Knight Completes the Trilogy
Finale of the Arkham series introduces the Batmobile and Scarecrow. #batman #videogames
Mar 25, 2016 CE
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Released
Ben Affleck's older Batman faces Superman in a divisive film. #batman #dceu
Aug 2, 2017 CE
Batman: The Telltale Series Episode 1 Released
Interactive narrative game where player choices affect Batman's story. #batman #videogames
Oct 4, 2019 CE
Joker Film Explores the Villain's Origin
Todd Phillips' R-rated film with Joaquin Phoenix offers a gritty origin of the Joker, separate from Batman. #batman #joker #movies )
Aug 1, 2020 CE
Three Jokers Miniseries Reveals Multiple Jokers
Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok's story posits there are three Jokers, exploring the character's history. #batman #comics
Mar 4, 2022 CE
The Batman (2022) Starring Robert Pattinson
Matt Reeves' noir-infused Batman film focuses on a younger Batman solving a mystery. #batman #movies )