DC Celebrates 80 Years of Batman and Detective Comics
Marking the 80th anniversary of Batman’s debut in Detective Comics in 1939, DC Comics will release Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman The Deluxe Edition, a hardcover collecting 80 years of Batman stories, and a special 1000th issue of Detective Comics.
The book and periodical comic will be released in March 2019.
The Batman character made its first appearance in issue #27 of Detective Comics in March 1939 and since then the Dark Knight of Gotham has become one of the most popular comic book superheroes of all time.
The deluxe hard cover edition will be edited by author and former DC Comics publisher Paul Levitz and will include essays about the character by a lineup of celebrated authors and past Batman creators. Contributors include such writers as Cory Dotorow, Neil Gaiman, Denny O’Neil and others. The book will feature a new cover by artist and DC publisher Jim Lee, and several unpublished Batman stories, including a story by Levitz and artist Denys Cowan.
The book follows the publication this year of Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman, a similar hardcover collection that celebrated the debut of the Man of Steel in 1938.
In a joint statement, DC publishers Jim lee and Dan DiDio said, “The enduring popularity of Batman over the past 80 years speaks to the character’s multi-generational appeal. We’re proud to celebrate Batman’s cultural impact with these special releases and look forward to a year of commemorating this milestone anniversary with fans across the globe.”
