We have been playing with all sorts of search data lately to see what interesting things we can share with the community.  The following list is the top Batman and Detective searches for the first 5 months of 2020.  Some things to consider before checking out this list.  Things that are newer are more likely to be searched for as collectors try to learn about them.  As expected, 2020 has the most books in the top 50 searches at 7.  As time goes on, only the important books will remain highly searched.  There is a good balance in this list as every decade from the 1930s to the 2020s is represented except for the 1950s.

In defense of the 1950s, Deadshot, Bat-hound, Mr. Freeze, Batwoman, Bat-Mite, Mad Hatter, and Red Hood all have their first appearance in Detective or Batman during that time.  Comic books needed to change because of the Comic Code Authority and the controversy around Seduction of the Innocents book.  The Batman stories were more silly instead of serious.  How serious can a story about Bat-Mite be?  

Please note this isn’t a list we’ve created to show the most important first appearances.  This list is what members of CPG have searched for this year.  Most of these issues are big events or appearances but not all.  A few books made this list because, during the comic bubble, issues were produced in quantity.  

All issues are linked to Comics Price Guide and will pop up in a new window if you want to check them out.

  1. Batman #89 (vol. 3) – 2020 Cameo of Punchline
  2. Batman #90 (vol. 3) – 2020 1st appearance/origin of The Designer
  3. Batman Adventures #12 (vol. 1) – 1993 1st appearance of Harley Quinn
  4. Batman #1 (vol. 2) – 2011 1st Batman issue in the New 52
  5. Batman Damned #1 (vol. 1) – 2018 Guest-starring the Bat Member
  6. Batman: The Killing Joke – 1988 Classic Alan Moore/Brian Bolland story
  7. Batman #251 (vol. 1) – 1973 Iconic Neal Adams Joker cover, return to violent Joker
  8. Batman #89B (vol. 3) – 2020 Variant cover cameo of Punchline
  9. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 – 1986 – Start of Frank Miller’s groundbreaking mini-series
  10. Detective Comics #880 (vol. 1) – 2011 Iconic Jock cover
  11. Batman: Vengeance of Bane (vol. 1) – 1993 Origin and 1st appearance of Bane
  12. Batman #497 (vol. 1) – 1993 Bane breaks Batman’s back
  13. Batman #181 (vol. 1) – 1966 1st appearance of Poison Ivy
  14. Batman #404 (vol. 1) – 1987 Frank Miller’s year 1 part 1
  15. Batman #608 (vol. 1) – 2002 Hush storyline begins
  16. Batman Beyond #37 (vol. 4) – 2019 1st appearance of Batwoman Beyond
  17. Batman #612 (vol. 1) – 2003 Cameo of Hush
  18. Batman #232 (vol. 1) – 1971 1st appearance of Ras Al Ghul
  19. Batman #1 (vol. 1) – 1940 1st appearance of Joker and Catwoman
  20. Detective Comics #359 (vol. 1) – 1967 1st appearance of Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)
  21. Batman #227 (vol. 1) – 1970 Classic Neal Adams homage to Detective #31
  22. Batman #91 (vol. 3) – 2020
  23. Batman #500C (vol. 1) – 1993 Die-Cut cover by Quesada
  24. Batman #90B (vol. 3) – 2020 Variant cover 1st appearance/origin of The Designer
  25. Batman: Damned #1B (vol. 1) – 2018 Variant cover guest appearance of the Bat Member
  26. Batman #189 (vol. 1) – 1967 1st Silver age appearance of Scarecrow
  27. Batman #88 (vol. 3) – 2020 1st mention of the Designer
  28. Batman #635 (vol. 1) – 2005 1st Jason Todd as Red Hood
  29. Batman #609 (vol. 1) – 2003 1st appearance of Tommy Elliott (Hush)
  30. Batman #357 (vol. 1) – 1983 1st appearance of Jason Todd
  31. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #2 (vol. 1) – 1986 1st appearance of Carrie Kelley
  32. Detective Comics #27 (vol. 1) – 1939 1st blessed appearance of Batman
  33. Batman #386 (vol. 1) – 1985 1st appearance of Black Mask
  34. Batman #428 (vol. 1) – 1988 Death in the Family Part 3
  35. Batman #234 (vol. 1) – 1971 1st Silver age appearance of Two-Face
  36. Batman #405 (vol. 1) – 1987 Frank Miller’s Year 1 part 2
  37. Batman #655 (vol. 1) – 2006 1st Damian Wayne cameo
  38. Batman #77 (vol. 3) – 2019 Death of Alfred
  39. Batman #427 (vol. 1) – 1988 Death in the Family Part 2
  40. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #3 (vol. 1) – 1986 Death of the Joker
  41. Batman Damned 1C (vol. 1) – 2018 Advanced reader copy
  42. Batman #423B (vol. 1) – 1988 Todd McFarlane’s classic Batman cape cover
  43. Batman #86 (vol. 3) – 2020
  44. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #4 (vol. 1) – 1986 Batman vs. Superman by Frank Miller
  45. Batman Beyond #1 (Mini-Series) – 1999 1st appearance of Terry McGinnis
  46. Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (One-Shot) – 1999 Iconic Alex Ross Harley and Joker Cover
  47. Spawn: Batman(One-Shot) – 1994 McFarlane and Miller team up for this one-shot
  48. Batman #200 (vol. 1) – 1968 Classic Neal Adams cover
  49. Batman #656 (vol. 1) – 2006 1st full appearance of Damian Wayne
  50. Detective #1000 (vol. 1) – 2019 1000th issue

Is there anything in this list that surprises you?  For me, the Hush related books surprised me.  It was a good story so not sure why I’m surprised.  If you are reading this far, what title would you like to see next?

by 

Ron Cloer

BatmanDetective Comics
By Batman, Comic Characters, Comic Publishers, DC Comics, Hot Comics, Uncategorized3 Comments on Top Batman and Detective Comic Searches

3 Replies to “Top Batman and Detective Comic Searches”

  1. I appreciate the information that you have put together from the data. I was a bit surprised that the story Batman Ten Nights of the Beast is not on the list. I have been watching the auctions on eBay for that one for a while and it always commands a premium. Granted its not a lot of extra money, but they seem to sell well and have a lot of bidders. Maybe its dealers driving up the price a bit.

    I think Spider-Man is a logical choice for data mining. He enjoys a similar popularity and also has multiple titles like Batman. Arguably the most famous character from Marvel surpassing the Fantastic Fours widespread popularity of the 60s while they were still a ‘big deal.’

    1. 10 nights of the Beast has always been a favorite of mine. I love all the covers and the story is great. When you look back now, the story is a little dated with the Cold War feel to it. I still love it though.

  2. I guess, without being a batman ‘expert’ at all, I’m putting out the feelers for “Gotham” and “Gotham Girl”‘s 1st apps in Batman #1 from Rebirth. I didn’t follow much up on that storyline after issue 15 or so, I am aware of how Gotham ended up but it does feel like maybe those are some loose threads they could easily catch up on at a later time, and with that issue being an easy find (maybe even in dollar bins?) it might have some merit to someday be on a list like this. It’s like one hand is waving Punchline while the other tucks the Gotham siblings into their pocket. Just thought they should be part of this convo.

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