Batman #1

About a year after Detective Comics #27 introduced the world to Batman, the character got his own title in April of 1940. The first comic included five different stories, introducing The Joker and Catwoman while also detailing Batman’s backstory.

While the comic has five stories, only four of them are notable. The first one shows how Bruce Wayne became Batman after his parents were killed (does anyone not know this origin). The two Joker stories involve him killing people in incredibly clever ways just so he can steal their treasures and the Catwoman does what she does best: steal things only to give them up.

The cover is pretty much the same as Detective Comics #27, but instead of Batman swinging while carrying someone, he’s doing it with Robin this time. But it’s just as mediocre as the other.

The origin story, which is first, does well in explaining that Bruce is just an ordinary human being that really just wants to get rid of crime by exploiting the cowardice of criminals. It’s also detailed, very brief, which actually helps it since it doesn’t get contrived. It explains that he’s at his peak physicality and is adept at science and deduction.

As for the Joker stories, they’re pretty interesting. He’s not as dark as Ledger’s portrayal, considering this is the Golden Age, but he still finds creative and clever ways to kill people, such as a gas that takes 24 hours to work or a needle in the receiver of a phone. But it is important to note that he actually died in the second story that featured him. In fact, if it weren’t for an astute editor, he’d still be dead.

As for the Catwoman story, it kind of overstays its welcome. Batman and Robin are on a boat that has valuable jewels and they find a woman that steals them. She gives them up after she’s caught, but then another group wants to steal them and it goes on from there. It would have been a better story had it left out the second group.

Batman #1 – 3/5