Issue Description

A very powerful being is killing Gothamites and the only clue to the killer's identity is graffiti scrawled on the walls of the city's buildings. Batman must solve the puzzle before the body count rises, and face one of the strangest adversaries in his career: the Ogre.

1) 20,000 Volts of Vengeance!: A hooded man and an ape attack a Dr. Belmont. The man makes some remarks about being the sole survivors of an experiment of Dr. Belmont's. He pulls his hood back to reveal a grotesquely disfigured visage. They inject the doctor with a tranquilizer and plug an electrode into his skull. They electrocute their victim, and then call the police. They climb out the window, and the ogre tells his primate companion that he can listen to some Mozart when they get home.

2) The Writing on the Wall: Sgt. Bullock of the GCPD talks to the coroner about their stiff, while Batman is at the scene of the crime and listening in. The coroner tells Bullock that while Dr. Belmont's death may seem gruesome; it was actually quite humane. The victim had been heavily sedated first, and likely never felt a thing. Batman notices some graffiti painted on a wall next to the Dr. Belmont's building directory.

3) Gothic Garret: The ogre and the ape return home to their garret. While the ape puts on a record, the ogre reminisces about their past and paints. It's revealed that he was once a homeless junkie who was coerced into becoming the subject of an experiment to bridge the gap between primates and humans. The ogre paints on his canvas the same graffiti that Batman noticed at Dr. Belmont's office.

4) Intelligence Squared: Batman has done some investigation into Dr. Belmont's past and discovered that he was part of a classified experiment.

5) Man and Ape: A man returns to his home, and is furious to discover that vandals have spray painted his home. He then recognizes the symbol that had been painted and becomes afraid. The ogre catches him and greets him as Dr. Chopra.

6) Murder One Times Two: Alfred enters the Batcave and tells Batman that there's been another murder. Batman goes to the crime scene where the GCPD is on the case. They reveal that it's the same MO as the previous crime, and Batman takes a photo of another graffiti symbol.

7) Ogre's Evolution: Back in their hideout, the ogre reminisces to his companion about their escape from their brutal tormentors. On his canvas, the ogre has added another symbol.

8) Hardback's Hieroglyphics: Commissioner Gordon discusses the graffiti with expert Mackenzie "Hardback" Bock on the roof of the police headquarters. Batman listens in.

9) The Miracle Mistake: Batman is going through Dr. Belmont's records, and uncovers references to something called "Project Mirakle", and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue".

10) Gorillas of Gotham: The ogre picks a lock at the Gotham Zoo, so his companion can socialize with a female ape that he has a crush on. The zoo ape rejects the civilized one's advances, and the ogre reminds him that they are truly alone. They leave to continue their mission of vengeance.

11) Canvas Clues: Gordon calls Bruce Wayne on their scrambled "dark" line. Gordon has remembered where he has seen that graffiti before: it's also been painted at the Gotham Men's Club, and the Knightsbridge Clinic.

12) Gentlemen of Gotham: Bruce Wayne pays a visit to the Gotham's Men Club, and under the guise of applying for membership, he acquires a list of members.

13) Mirakle and Murder: The ogre and the ape have claimed their next victim, but this time Batman arrives before they can make their escape. They battle; and the ape knocks Batman through a wall. The ogre reminds his companion that Batman is innocent and they leave.

14) Erasures and Additions: Batman has Oracle look for information on Project Mirakle. She finds something and he rushes over. Meanwhile, the ogre and the ape have only two people left on their list of vengeance.

15) The Oracle's Advice: Oracle is silently distraught over the information she's uncovered about Project Mirakle. Batman reads through and finds out why. Project Mirakle was an experiment to bridge the gap between humans and apes. The scientists tried to superevolve an ape, and devolve a human. There were only two survivors the experiments, and when they managed to escape; the project was shut down. Oracle begs Batman to stop them. Batman promises he will... if the ogre doesn't do it first.

16) Meeting in the Middle: Batman drives past one of the project doctor's residence, but notices the graffiti and deduces that he's too late. He immediately rushes to the sole remaining doctor.

Meanwhile, the ogre and the ape are in the process of claiming their final victim. This scientist is prepared however, and shoots the ape. The ogre becomes enraged and prepares to jab the electrode into the man's skull, but Batman intervenes. Batman tells the ogre that he cannot allow ANYONE to kill, but he now has the information to make the man pay for what he's done. The ogre decides to prove that he's still human and show mercy. He grabs his companion's body and leaves. The scientist is furious that Batman is just going to let them leave. Batman angrily punches the man and knocks him out. He prepares to bring him to Commissioner Gordon. Elsewhere, Oracle is haunted by the knowledge of the horrible experiments.

Batman (1940)

Publisher

DC Comics

Volume Description

The entire run of Batman still stands upon large controversies over who actually came up with some of the characters. Bob Kane supposedly came up with the idea for the hero, but it has been suggested that he only came up with a "Bird-man" and Bill Finger suggested he be a "Bat-man". Both creators however, share credit for this character. As for the Joker, the first concept sketch was drawn by Jerry Robinson, but Kane disputed that his input was "minimal" suggesting he and Bill came up with the idea. Kane also finagled many legal aspects of Batman related print and media. Every movie and comic reads "Batman created by Bob Kane" when it should read "Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger". However It is not disputed that Robinson and Finger came up with the character, Robin after "Robinhood" . Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff co-created numerous bat-creations including Alfred Pennyworth, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Batwoman, Batgirl as well as Bat-Mite and Ace the Bat Hound just to name a few. Bill Finger also co-created Penguin, Riddler, and Catwoman.

Ad for Batman #1

One of DC's longest running books showcasing the adventures of the Dark Knight, Batman. Through out the years, a majority of Batman's marquee story lines have happened within the pages of this book including, but not limited to the death of the second Robin, Jason Todd, and Bane breaking Batman's back, leading to Jean-Paul Valley to assume the role of Batman for a period of time in the 90s.

In 2006, super-star writer Grant Morrison took over the book. Morrison wrote stories that introduced readers to Bruce's son Damian Wayne as well as putting Bruce through a series of near fatal trials against The Black Glove and Doctor Hurt, leading up to the epic 2008 story lines of Batman RIP and Final Crisis where Bruce Wayne had apparently died at the hands of the evil god Darkseid.

After Bruce's "death," and the Battle for the Cowl, Dick Grayson, the first Robin, took up the mantle of Batman, continuing to protect Gotham exactly as his mentor had. He even took in Damian as his own Robin. With the exception of two issues set prior to the events of Final Crisis, Dick Grayson has been the star of the book since issue #687.

When the super hero community learned that Bruce Wayne had never actually died, and was sent back in time by Darkseid, Dick Grayson eventually knew that his time as Batman would soon end. But with Bruce's return, and formation of Batman Incorporated, Bruce deemed Dick Grayson the Batman of Gotham City, as he traveled the world, searching for more recruits for his new organization.

Charles Paris has drawn the most issues of Batman thus far at 128. Denny O'Neil is a long time writer and editor at DC with 211 issues. He also contributed the location of Arkham Asylum as well as the characters Man-Bat, Ra's al Ghul and Talia al Ghul.

In September 2011, DC Comics relaunched their entire line in an event known as "The New 52" which would see the premiere of fifty-two new titles, thus the long-running Batman series ended with #713 during Tony S. Daniel's run on the title. In the new line, however, Tony Daniel will continue writing in the "Batman universe" but under the character's other main title, Detective Comics. The new Batman series will be written instead by Scott Snyder (who was writing Detective Comics pre-relaunch).

For Post Flashpoint volume 2, refer to Batman.

Trade Volumes that collect Batman issues:

Classic and Archived Batman:

Batman: A Celebration of 75 Years (#1, 49, 181, 497)The Joker: A Celebration of 75 Years (#1, 5, 25, 32, 85, 163, 251, 427)The Batman Chronicles Volume 1 (Batman #1, Detective Comics #27-37)The Batman Chronicles Volume 2 (Batman #2-3, Detective Comics #39-45, New York World's Fair Comic #2)The Batman Chronicles Volume 3 (Batman #4-5, Detective Comics #46-50, World's Finest #1)The Batman Chronicles Volume 4 (Batman #6-7, Detective Comics #51-56, World's Finest #2-3)The Batman Chronicles Volume 5 (Batman #8-9, Detective Comics #57-61, World's Finest #4)Batman: Arkham - The Riddler (#171, 179, 292, 317 & 362)

see also Batman Archives, Batman: The Dark Knight Archives, Batman: The Dynamic Duo Archives etc...

For late 60`s - 70`s comics...

Showcase Presents: Batman

Modern Batman (Post-Crisis)

Batman Arkham: Two-Face (#234, 346, 410 & 411)Tales of the Batman: Len Wein (#307-310, #312-319, #321-324, #326-327)Batman: Second Chances (#402, 403 & 408-416)Batman: Year One (Batman #404-407)Batman: The Many Deaths of Batman (Batman #433-435)Batman: Ten Nights of the Beast (#417-420)Batman: A Death in the Family (Batman #426-429)Robin: The Teen Wonder (Batman #428 and 442, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #100, Nightwing #101, Batman #428 and 442, Robin #126 and 132, and Teen Titans #29)Robin: A Hero Reborn (Batman #455-457 and Robin #1-5)Robin: Reborn (#455-457)Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Broken Bat (Batman #491-497, Detective Comics #659-663)Batman: Knightfall Part 2: Who Rules the Night (Batman #498-500, Detective Comics #664-666, Showcase '93 #7-8, Shadow of the Bat #16-18)Batman: Knightfall Part 3: Knightsend (Batman #509-510)Batman By Doug Moench & Kelley Jones Volume 1 (#515-525, 527-532 and 535-536)Tales of the Batman: J.H. Williams III (#526, 550 and 667-669)Batman: Road To No Man's Land (#555-559)Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 1 ( Batman #563-564, No Man's Land #1, Shadow of the Bat #83-84, Detective Comics #730-731, Legends of the Dark Knight #116)Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 2 (Batman #565, Shadow of the Bat #85-87, Detective Comics #732-733, Legends of the Dark Knight #117, #119, Batman Chronicles #16)Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 3 (Batman #566-569, Shadow of the Bat #88, Detective Comics #734-735, Legends of the Dark Knight #120-121)Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 4 (Batman #571-572, Shadow of the Bat #92-93, Detective Comics #736, # 738-739, Legends of the Dark Knight #125, Batman Chronicles #18)Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 5 (Batman #573-574, Shadow of the Bat #94, Detective Comics #740-741, Legends of the Dark Knight #126, No Man's Land #0)Batman by Ed Brubaker (#582-586 & 591-594)Batman: False Faces (Batman #588-590, Detective Comics #787, Wonder Woman #160-161, Tale from Batman: Gotham City Secret Files and Origins)Batman: Bruce Wayne-Murderer? (Batman #599-600, Batman: The 10 Cent Adventure, Detective Comics #766-767, Batgirl #24, Nightwing #65-66, Batman: Gotham Knights #25-26, Birds of Prey #39-40, Robin #98-99)Bruce Wayne: Fugitive Volume 1 (Batman #601, #603; Batman: Gotham Knights #27-28; Batgirl #27, #29; Birds of Prey #41, #43; Nightwing #68-69)Batman: Bruce Wayne - Fugitive (#603-607)Bruce Wayne: Fugitive Volume 2 (Batman #605, Detective Comics #768-772, Batman: Gotham Knights #31)Bruce Wayne: Fugitive Volume 3 (Batman #606-607, Detective Comics #773-775, Batgirl #33)Batman: Hush (Batman #608-619)Batman vs. Superman: The Greatest Battles (#612)Batman: Broken City (Batman #620-625)Batman Noir: Eduardo Risso (Batman #620-625)Batman: As the Crow Flies (Batman #626-630)Batman: War Games Volume 1 (Batman #631, Batman: The 12 Cent Adventure, Detective Comics #797, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #182, Nightwing #96, Batman: Gotham Knights #56, Robin #129, Batgirl #55, Catwoman #34)Batman: War Games Book One (New Edition) (#631)Batman: War Games Volume 2 (Batman #632, Detective Comics #798, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #183, Nightwing #97, Batman: Gotham Knights #57, Robin , Batgirl #56, Catwoman #35)Batman: War Games Volume 3 (Batman #633, Detective Comics #799, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #184, Nightwing #98, Batgirl #57, Catwoman #36, Robin #131, Batman: Gotham Knights #58)Batman: Under the Hood Volume 1 (Batman #635-641)Batman: War Crimes (Batman #643-644, Detective Comics #809-810, Batman Allies Secret Files and Origins, Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins)Batman: Under the Hood Volume 2 (Batman #645-650, Batman Annual #25)Batman: Face the Face (Batman #651-654, Detective Comics #817-820)Batman: Batman and Son (Batman #655-658, #663-666)Batman Unwrapped by Andy Kubert (Batman #655-68, 664-666, 686 and 700)DC Comics Presents: Robin War 100-Page Spectacular (#657)Damian: Son of Batman Deluxe Edition (#666)Batman: The Black Glove (Batman #667-669, 672-675)Batman: The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul (Batman #670-671, Batman Annual #26, Detective Comics #838-839, Robin #168-169, Robin Annual #7, Nightwing #138-139)Batman: Batman R.I.P. (Batman #676-683)Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader (Batman #686, Detective Comics #853, Secret Origins #36, Secret Origins Special #1, Batman: Black and White #2)Batman: Long Shadows (Batman #687-691)Batman: Life After Death (Batman #692-699)Batman: Time and the Batman (Batman #700-703)Batman: Eye of the Beholder (Batman #704-707, Batman #710-712)Batman: Gotham Shall Be Judged (Batman #708-709, Red Robin #22, Gotham City Sirens #22, Azrael #14-18)

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