If you partook in the incredible celebration surrounding Action Comics #1000 earlier this year and hoped for Batman to receive similar treatment when he hits a similar milestone, well, then today’s the day we can guarantee your wish being granted.
You see, DC Comics have finally released the first details concerning Detective Comics #1000, and it looks like something none of us will want to miss. In fact, the landmark issue will introduce a new version of the Arkham Knight, thus bringing the familiar name into proper continuity.
As you may remember, the eponymous antagonist was first introduced in Rocksteady’s hit video game Batman: Arkham Knight, where he was ultimately unmasked as being Jason Todd. But considering how Jason’s well-established as the Red Hood within the DC Universe, it makes sense for someone else to be under the mask this time around.
Right now, I imagine that’ll go down in the original story to be included in the book, which is set to be written by Peter J. Tomasi (Batman and Robin, Superman) and illustrated by Doug Mahnke (Batman: The Man Who Laughs, Batman: Under The Red Hood). And when you factor in how Tomasi had previously penned the riveting Arkham Knight – Genesis tie-in comic, it makes sense for him to do the honors in a different sense here.
If that weren’t enough, top DC talent including Geoff Johns, Brian Michael Bendis, Paul Dini, Christopher Priest, Denny O’Neil, Neal Adams, Kelley Jones, Dustin Nguyen, Alex Maleev and various others will be contributing other tales in what’s shaping up to be quite the anthology.
On top of that, the Caped Crusader will follow in the footsteps of what his buddy achieved in Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman when Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman The Deluxe Edition ships in hardcover around the same time. And according to the publisher, it’ll feature “an all-new cover by Jim Lee and several unpublished treasures, including a story about a traumatic early moment in Bruce Wayne’s life by Paul Levitz and acclaimed artist Denys Cowan and an extraordinary look at a work in progress—Bob Kane “ghost” Lew Sayre Schwartz’s original layouts for the Batman tale from DETECTIVE COMICS #200.
In addition, the celebratory book will include essays looking at Batman from extraordinary perspectives including Cory Doctorow, Neil Gaiman, Glen David Gold, Denny O’Neil, former San Diego police chief Shelley Zimmerman and pulp historian Anthony Tollin.” Plus, it’ll also contain the first appearances of Robin, Batwoman, Bat-Mite, Batgirl, Two-Face, the Riddler, Clayface and Man-Bat.
Right now, Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman The Deluxe Edition and Detective Comics #1000 haven’t been given concrete release dates, but both will hit shelves sometime in March of 2019.