The top-selling comic book last month was The Batman 244

The original Batman comic series is one of the pillars of American comics. Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in 1939, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, and the character got his own solo title soon after with Batman #1 in 1940. That first issue also introduced the Joker and Catwoman, which is honestly an absurdly strong start for one comic. Given how popular these characters are now.

Even in its earliest years, it had more darkness, crime, weird villains, and gothic atmosphere than many other superhero books. Batman wasn’t just punching bad guys. He was dealing with mobsters, master criminals, and twisted enemies who made his world feel believable.

The series was especially popular in the 1940s, when superhero comics were exploding in America, and Batman quickly became one of DC’s biggest stars. But the tone changed with time. Some early stories were pulpy and grim; later stories got lighter and more colorful, especially in the post-war years.

One of the coolest things about the original Batman run is how many major characters and ideas were built there. The book introduced Robin, the Joker, Gotham, and Batman’s role as more than just a superhero. He was also a detective, a symbol, and sometimes almost a horror character.

There were also plenty of memorable collaborations and creative eras. Artists and writers like Jerry Robinson, Dick Sprang, Bill Finger, and later Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams all contributed to the character and his legacy. By the early 1970s, the title had moved away from the campier image many people associated with the 1960s and brought Batman back toward darker, more adult storytelling. That era gave readers major stories involving Ra’s al Ghul, Talia, and more global threats.