SPLICED COMICS /
ISSUE 02
FEATURE / A BAT OF MANY COWLS
THE GOLDEN AGE
C.1938 – C.1950
CHARACTERISTICS: In 1940 Batman
#1 was published and introduced not
only Batman, but also characters such as
Catwoman and Joker. The primary writer
of this early rendition of Batman was Bill
Finger, and the primary artist was Bob
Kane, both the creators of the Batman
character. Towards the end of the Golden
Age, a tone of silliness had crept into the
comics, and their popularity began to fade.
PROMINENT VILLAINS: Joker, Mad
Hatter, Killer Moth, Catwoman, The
Riddler, Penguin, Harvey Dent/Two-Face
SIDEKICKS: Robin, Ace the Bat Hound
THE SILVER AGE
1956 – C.1970
CHARACTERISTICS: In an attempt to
revive the franchise, Julius Schwartz was
given control over the series, and removed
the sillier aspects that had slowly worked
their way into the comic. He gave it a new
look that premiered in Detective Comics
#327, and introduced elements of science
fiction into the series. In the 1960s the
television series Batman was very popular
and the comics were greatly influenced
by this, but it was a very camp, tongue-incheek approach to the characters.
PROMINENT VILLAINS: Mr Freeze,
Poison Ivy
SIDEKICKS: Batgirl
1970S
CHARACTERISTICS: In 1971, an attempt
was made to reinfuse the series with some
of the darker tones it had begun with in the
1940s. Comic historian Les Daniels argued
that writer Dennis O’Neil’s Batman was “a
vengeful obsessive compulsive”. Len Wein
became the writer in January 1979 and
introduced Lucius Fox,.
PROMINENT VILLAINS: Rha’s al Ghul,
SIDEKICKS: Lucius Fox
1980S
2006-2009
CHARACTERISTICS: The
introduction of Frank Miller and artist
David Mazzucchelli’s series The Dark
Knight Returns (later collected into
a single volume) and then Batman:
Year One gained huge following for its
representation of the evolution of Batman
as a character. A Death in the Family also
received a great deal of exposure during
this time.
CHARACTERISTICS: Grant Morrison
took over the Batman narrative and the
story arc saw the introduction of the evil
organization the Black Glove, who are
attempting to destroy Batman and all
he stands for. After thwarting the Black
Glove, Batman moved into the Final Crisis
series, where it appears as if he is killed by
Darkseid, when in fact he is transported
to the past and stranded. Following this
Batman went on a hiatus which saw Dick
Grayson take on the role of Batman in
Bruce Wayne’s absence, and in a new
series called Batman and Robin, Grayson
is Batman and Bruce’s son Damian Wayne
plays Robin.
PROMINENT VILLAINS: Black Mask
1990S
CHARACTERISTICS: Greatly influenced
by Tim Burton’s Batman film, the 1990s
introduced a darker tone to the comics.
In Knightfall, Batman’s back is broken
by Bane, and Jean-Paul Valley takes on
the role of Batman. The 90s were largely
dominated by the crossover No Man’s
Land, which sees Gotham ravaged by an
earthquake and ordered to evacuate.
SIDEKICKS: Jean-Paul Valley (kind of)
2000-2003
CHARACTERISTICS: Ed Brubaker
became the writer of the series and
continued with the gritty crime drama feel
the series had developed and included
more of villains such as the Penguin as well
as new villains Zeiss and Deadshot.
PROMINENT VILLAINS: Zeiss,
Deadshot
2003-2006
CHARACTERISTICS: Writer Jeph Loeb
and artist Jim Lee began work on a year
long storyline called Hush. A murder
mystery that delved into different parts
of Batman’s history, it called into question
the events surrounding the death of Jason
Todd (Robin).
PROMINENT VILLAINS: Darkseid,
Black Glove (organization)
SIDEKICKS: Damian Wayne, Dick
Grayson
2010S
CHARACTERISTICS: Bruce Wayne
returned and starred in two new titles,
Batman Incorporated and Batman:
The Dark Knight. In June 2011 it was
announced that all series in the DC
Universe would either be cancelled and
relaunched.
THE NEW 52
CHARACTERISTICS: The New 52
Batman #1 was launched in September
2011, written by Scott Synder. Bruce
Wayne is about five years younger than
in previous versions of the comics, and all
characters that have served as Robin with
the exception of Stephanie Brown, have
been accounted for. Dick Grayson returns
to his role as Nightwing, and Bruce Wayne
is once again Batman.
PROMINENT VILLAINS: Hush,
Red Hood
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