Batman will be getting a hero’s tribute this September in the form of a giant-sized special marking his first appearance in the pages of DC’s flagship series. Weighing in at a hefty 144 pages, Detective Comics #1027 will feature stories from some of the biggest writers and artists in comics today, many of whom have created or contributed to some of the character's greatest stories.
Scheduled for release on September 15, 2020, DC announced in a press release today that the stories showcased in the issue will take us “from the seediest corners of Gotham City to the farthest reaches of the DC universe,” with fans also getting a few hints as to what Batman's next adventures might entail. Creative teams to be featured include Greg Rucka/Eduardo Risso, Grant Morrison/Chris Burnham, Tom King/Walt Simonson, James Tynion IV/Riley Rossmo, Peter J. Tomasi/Brad Walker, Dan Jurgens, Marv Wolfman/Emanuela Lupacchino and Bill Sienkiewicz, Brian Michael Bendis/David Marquez, Mariko Tamaki/Dan Mora, Scott Snyder/Ivan Reis, Kelly Sue DeConnick/John Romita Jr and Klaus Janson, and Matt Fraction/Chip Zdarsky. There will also be ten variant covers offered, showcasing friends and foes from Batman’s past. The issue will retail for $9.99.
Batman Group Editor Ben Abernathy said the book is an exciting, massive undertaking for DC Comics.
Detective #1027 has been a massive undertaking, and I’m really excited for fans to see what editors Paul Kaminski and Dave Wielgosz have in store come September, said Abernathy. A great combination of writers and artists are putting in their best work on the book and fans should pay close attention to these stories, since some of them will plant the seeds for both Batman’s future and that of the DC universe.
Which stories? You’ll have to wait until September 15 to find out!
Debuting in Detective Comics #27 back in 1939, Batman’s first adventure saw the vigilante assisting Commissioner Gordon in solving the murder of a wealthy chemical manufacturer. Written by Bill Finger (who only recently gained credit as co-creator of the Dark Knight) and illustrated by Bob Kane, the character spawned from that first story would go on to change the face superhero comics forever. Unlike Superman, who had debuted the year previous in Action Comics #1, the 'Bat-Man' had no superpowers (except for that one time) to speak of, relying on his intellect, combat prowess, and assortment of cool gadgets to save the day.
There have been a few other birthdays celebrated in the Batman universe this year. The most recent one came this week as the Joker received a 100-page special issue dedicated to the Clown Prince of Crime, while Robin got similar treatment in March. Both commemorated the 80th anniversaries of the respective character's creations. Batman's celebratory issue comes out on September 15, 2020.