10 Best Things to Happen in the Batman Comics

For decades, Batman has consistently been the most beloved superhero. The Dark Knight skillfully blends familiar elements from different types of stories, creating a unique place in superhero history. The idea behind Batman is incredibly versatile, allowing for all sorts of stories featuring the Caped Crusader. His comic books have thrived for almost a century, and during that time, there have been many highs and lows. We’ve seen some truly exceptional comics come from the Batman universe, and he’s introduced characters that have significantly impacted pop culture.

With that in mind, Batman comics have evolved considerably since the character’s debut in 1939. Throughout the years, the comics have gained richer stories and deeper character development, ultimately improving them. Here are 10 instances or turning points that positively impacted the Batman comics, establishing them as significant milestones.

10) The 1966 Batman TV Show

Batman was a pioneer among superheroes, transitioning from comic books to other media. He first appeared in movie serials in the 1940s, and later starred in a live-action TV series, Batman, in 1966. The show, featuring Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin, captured the hearts of children and drove many to purchase Batman comics. As a result, the comics themselves adjusted their style to match the show, ultimately making Batman the top-selling comic book.

Batman remained popular on television for many years through reruns, and for many viewers, it was their initial experience with Batman’s adventures. It played a significant role in establishing Batman as a widely recognized icon.

9) Batman’s Amazing Villains

Batman is known for having incredibly compelling villains, and these characters have significantly contributed to his enduring popularity. Over time, the villains have often become the most interesting aspect of the comics. The very best of them have been developed with such depth and complexity that they rival, and sometimes even equal, Batman in terms of fame and notoriety-The Joker being a prime example.

Characters like Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy have become popular stars in their own right, even outside of Batman stories. Meanwhile, villains like Two-Face, the Penguin, Mister Freeze, and Bane are widely recognized. These compelling villains are essential to the Batman comics, and have significantly contributed to their success and popularity, helping them reach great heights. They’ve truly made the Batman universe special.

8) Grant Morrison’s Batman Run

Grant Morrison is widely considered one of the most talented superhero writers ever, and their work on Batman is frequently cited as one of the best comic book runs of all time. They demonstrated their skill with stories like Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, “Gothic”, and their contributions to JLA. This success led DC Comics to eventually give Morrison the opportunity to write the primary Batman comic series.

Grant Morrison’s run on Batman #655-683, #700-702, Batman and Robin #1-16, Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1-6, Batman Incorporated (Vol. 1) #1-8, and Batman Incorporated (Vol. 2) #0-13 is a must-have collection for any Batman enthusiast. Their stories formed a large, three-part saga for the character, featuring the introduction of Damian Wayne, Dick Grayson taking on the role of Batman, and Batman’s influence growing worldwide. It’s a truly exceptional run and some of the greatest Batman storytelling ever created. Even the more unusual ideas Morrison presented-such as new backstory for Batman’s “Zur-En-Arrh” identity-continue to impact Batman comics today, even in the 2020s.

7) Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo Run

The New 52 significantly altered DC Comics, though it wasn’t ultimately a lasting triumph. While most fans aren’t particularly fond of the New 52 comics in retrospect, the exception is Batman (Vol. 2). Created by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, this 52-issue run was exceptional, as the creative team really pushed boundaries and added fresh elements to Batman and his universe.

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo worked together brilliantly, delivering memorable storylines such as “The Court of Owls”, “Death of the Family”, “Endgame”, “Year Zero”, and “Superheavy”, among others. Their work on Batman has profoundly influenced every subsequent run, and they significantly expanded the Batman mythos in a wonderful way.

6) The Dark Knight Returns

The Dark Knight Returns fundamentally reshaped Batman comics. Frank Miller’s four-part story introduces a future where Bruce Wayne, out of retirement, returns as Batman to rescue a Gotham City overrun by crime, and confronts a changed world. It’s widely considered to have reintroduced sophisticated storytelling to Batman comics, something that hadn’t been seen since the 1966 television show.

That statement isn’t entirely accurate (we’ll discuss why shortly), but Miller definitely added a serious, weighty tone to Batman comics that had been absent before. The Dark Knight Returns was very important in helping comics grow up at a crucial moment, and it’s now considered one of the best comics ever made.

5) The Bat-Family

Batman is a compelling character, however, focusing solely on him can sometimes feel repetitive. There’s a limit to how much of a lone hero one can enjoy. This is precisely why the Bat-Family has grown to be so crucial in the Batman comic books. It adds variety and depth to the stories, offering different perspectives and dynamics. It’s a smart move for the franchise, really.

Even considering Alfred and Dick Grayson, a sort of Bat-Family existed for a while. However, the large group of superheroes we now call the Bat-Family really came together in more recent comics. The Bat-Family lets readers see Batman from a new perspective and understand how others approach his goals. They’re essential to Batman’s success, and DC Comics has greatly benefited from their popularity, with characters like Nightwing, Red Hood, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Batgirl, Batwoman, the different Robins, Azrael, and many others all getting their own comic book series.

4) Bronze Age Maturation of Batman

Batman (1966) became a huge hit, attracting many new readers to the comic books. However, it also started to cause problems for the comic industry. Viewers began to see Batman stories as lighthearted and funny, and the comics needed to prove they could offer more than just simple comedy.

When the 1970s began, writers Denny O’Neil and artist Neal Adams reintroduced a darker tone to the Batman comics. While still familiar to readers, their work moved the character away from the lighthearted style of the popular TV series. O’Neil and Adams successfully made a serious Batman appealing once more. Later in the decade, Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers collaborated on Detective Comics, delivering further compelling and serious Batman stories. These Bronze Age Batman comics significantly shaped the character and paved the way for the Batman we know today.

3) The Joker

The Joker is widely considered Batman’s greatest enemy and has played a huge role in the popularity of the Batman comics. He began as a typical, outlandish villain like many others, but something about his personality resonated with fans. Throughout the years, the Joker has undergone many transformations, and this ability to change has kept him as relevant and important as Batman himself.

The Joker is undoubtedly the most well-known comic book villain ever created-a fascinating and enigmatic character that artists and writers in various forms of entertainment have reimagined in remarkable ways. He’s inseparable from the Batman comics, and his presence has significantly contributed to the Dark Knight’s popularity. It’s hard to imagine the Batman stories without him, and he’s become a major reason for the hero’s success.

2) Robin

Robin first appeared in the Batman stories in 1940 and has since become a crucial character. Dick Grayson really changed the world of comics by introducing the idea of a young sidekick to superheroes, which made young heroes incredibly popular. Over the years, there have been many different Robins, and each one has faced both challenges and successes.

Robin really brightened up Batman’s world, bringing both light and vibrancy to his life, and over time, we’ve seen several different versions of the character, each unique and enjoyable. Robin marked a significant expansion of the Batman story, demonstrating that Batman was more than just a solitary crime fighter. He introduced the idea of family into the Batman comics, making them more appealing and relatable to younger readers. It broadened the scope of the Batman universe and allowed for more diverse storytelling.

1) Bill Finger

While Bob Kane is credited with “creating” Batman, Bill Finger was crucial to shaping the character into what we know and love today. Finger built upon Kane’s initial concept for the vigilante, adding all the elements that made it truly great. In the early days of Batman, Finger – along with Jerry Robinson – was arguably the most important creative force. Many of the beloved characters and ideas from that era of Batman actually originated with Finger.

Kane tried to minimize the importance of Bill Finger and others, but that has shifted recently as Finger’s impact on Batman has gained wider recognition. Bill Finger was crucial to the success of the Batman comics, and his work continues to be influential nearly a century later.

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2025-09-29 20:14