When was Batman created and who drew the original character?
Bob Kane drew a character with red tights and bat wings in early 1939. The character debuted as Batman on the 30th of March 1939 in Detective Comics #27.
Questions about Batman
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who wrote most of the early Batman stories and what did they add to the character?
Bill Finger did most of the writing for the early Batman stories. He added the dark tone, detective elements, and the name Bruce Wayne from historical figures like Robert the Bruce.
What specific changes did DC editor Whitney Ellsworth make to Batman in 1940?
Whitney Ellsworth changed the direction of Batman after Robin appeared in 1940. He established an ethical code that prohibited killing and lightened the tone to boost sales numbers significantly.
Which gadgets were introduced by Gardner Fox and Bill Finger during the first year of publication?
Gardner Fox introduced the utility belt in Detective Comics #29 in July 1939. Bill Finger created the Batgyro for Detective Comics #32 in October 1939 and the first batarang appeared in issue #31 that same year.
When did Jason Todd die and who succeeded him as Robin?
Jason Todd died after fans voted for his death in A Death in the Family storyline of 1988. Tim Drake took over as Robin in 1989 before Damian Wayne became Robin in the late 2000s.
How many copies of Batman comics have been sold worldwide according to DC Comics?
Sales figures reach 460 million copies worldwide according to DC Comics. Batman is the second best-selling comic book series in history with merchandise sold around the globe.