THE BRAINSTORMS

Detective Comics #27 begins a journey that will last 80 years and counting. But who doesn't board that journey at the first stop? In the opening pages of the first issue, Bruce Wayne (described as a socialite, rather than millionaire or billionaire) is socializing with Commissioner Jim Gordon, the very first recurring Batman character aside from Batman himself. None of the other characters in this very first issue appear in the second, or are relevant again. In fact, we don't

What is it about the Caped Crusader? What brings people back to him, time and time again? 8 months ago, someone calculated the appearances in comics Bruce Wayne has had, across versions across time, and according to that, since his debut he has appeared in 8,690 issues, across 88 years, with more and more guest appearances every year. Here's why: He's a real, no-powers human, but he dresses up as a giant bat and fights giant crocodile men, monks with the power to control were