Best Batman Comics of the Bronze Age

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Lasting from around 1970 until DC’s reset of their universe with Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985, the Bronze Age of comics was when they began to shed the childishly simple storytelling of the Silver Age in favor of darker and more complex narratives. Few places could this be seen more clearly than with Batman. In many ways it was both a return to his roots and when his comics as we know them came into being. Once again Batman could embrace the noirish crime and gothic horror that often defined his earliest stories, only now with a modernized style.

Last time, we looked at some of the best Batman comics of his early career. Because of the age of that era, the comics were largely modern reimaginings of old stories. This time, the stories themselves will be coming directly from the Bronze Age itself. The creators listed here are among the most influential figures in Batman history.

The Secret of the Waiting Graves

What better way to kick off the Bronze Age than with the first ever team up between writer Dennis O’Neil and artist Neal Adams. More than anyone else, these two would define this decade of character, after which Dennis O’Neil would become Group Editor for Batman titles throughout the remainder of the 80s and 90s. “The Secret of the Waiting Graves” is an appropriately macabre tale of supernatural ritual murder. It’s exactly the sort of comic that wouldn’t be allowed during the Silver Age, but would soon become the norm for the Batman.

Paint a Picture of Peril!

O’Neil and Adams team up once more (a common theme for this list) for a comic of Batman having to outsmart a wealthy art thief. Soon does Batman realize that every art piece he’s stolen has one detail in common. It’s a story about obsession and filled with enough elaborate traps to make for a thrilling caper.

Man-Bat Saga

Would you believe me if I told you that Man-Bat was one of the most popular Batman characters in the 70s? It’s true! He had his own spin-off title and they even made him an official part of the “Bat Family” for a while. It all started with this trilogy of issues written by Frank Robbins and drawn by Neal Adams, where Kirk Langstrom unwittingly turns himself into the titular bat creature, slowly descending more into bestial madness. There’s a lot of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde influence here, fitting perfectly with the gothic tone.

The Demon of Gothos Mansion!

In another deliciously haunting story by Dennis O’Neil, Batman investigates a mystery plaguing Alfred’s Niece in a far-off mansion in the woods. What he discovers is a conspiracy involving cults, rituals, and ghosts. It’s a simple premise executed wonderfully, with a cover homage to the original Mad Monk story from the last list.

Ghost of the Killer Skies!

When a murder takes place on the set of a WWI aerial ace film, Batman (who conveniently happens to be there when Bruce Wayne is) must uncover the dark history surrounding the pilots. Eventually the murder mystery evolves into a climactic dogfight in the sky, In addition to being a classic murder mystery, it’s also a tribute to the oft-forgotten DC anti-hero Enemy Ace.

The Demon Saga

If there’s one story that defines this era of Batman, it’s probably this one. The Demon Saga first introduced Ra’s and Talia al Ghul to the world of Batman, spanning the globe as Batman tracks down the megalomaniacal immortal terrorist. It’s filled with drama, romance, and action, all the while facing off against what may be the deadliest enemy Batman has ever seen. The story remains the definitive take on the al Ghuls, and was even adapted by Dennis O’Neil into a series of episodes for Batman: The Animated Series.

A Vow From The Grave!

Batman tracks down a killer to a hideout of former circus side-show performers and finds himself amidst a web of secrets. Not everyone is as they seem and there may be more danger than Batman realizes. Many of you might recognize this as the inspiration for the Batman: The Animated Series episode “Sideshow”.

Half an Evil

Two-Face was a minor reoccurring villain throughout Batman’s Golden Age, but disappeared throughout the Silver Age of the 50s and 60s. It was this story that brought him back in spectacular fashion, coin obsession and all. The plot itself is a captivating detective story where Two-Face manages to covertly steal an entire pirate ship.

Night of the Reaper!

When the Grim Reaper attacks a Halloween party attended by Dick Grayson, the Dynamic Duo team up to find out who’s behind the haunting assault. While a lighthearted premise on the surface, the story becomes one of O’Neil’s tragically profound scripts. What is seemingly an almost Scooby-Doo-like villain becomes a tragic exploration on the meaning of justice and revenge.

The Batman Nobody Knows

This story is certainly on the shorter side, actually appearing as the issue’s backup instead of the main event. Despite its brevity, it’s a memorable piece where a group of kids on a camping trip all give their own description of what they think Batman’s like. It shows how Batman as a symbol can mean different things to different people.

Joker’s Five-Way Revenge!

During the Silver Age, Joker was far more clown than criminal. His crimes rarely went beyond hilarious heists and goofy gags. With Joker’s Five-Way Revenge, Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams brought Joker into the Bronze Age with an added dose of lethality. His sense of humor remained, but now anyone on the receiving end of the joke might not live to tell about it. This shift is perfectly encapsulated by when his exploding cigar gag turns out to be closer to TNT than a firecracker.

Night of the Stalker

This comic shows what it’s like to be hunted by the Dark Knight. After shooting their way out of a robbery, a group of criminals are picked off one by one by Batman as he brings them to justice. Batman is almost framed like a monster here, seemingly unstoppable and constantly stalking its prey. It puts real weight to why they might be “cowardly and superstitious”.

There is No Hope in Crime Alley

Once a year, Batman visits the spot where his parents were shot in Crime Alley. When a group of muggers decide to use that moment to strike, he takes it personally. Batman’s origins had already been well established by this point, but it’s this comic that truly highlighted the personal tragedy it represented for Bruce. This was also the first introductions of Leslie Thompkins and was adapted into the Batman: The Animated Series episode “Appointment in Crime Alley”.

Strange Apparitions

Individually, this run contains classics such as the returns of both Hugo Strange and Deadshot, and who could forget the legendary “The Laughing Fish”? However any attempt to separate them would be incomplete, as they are all connected through storylines following characters such as Rupert Thorne and Silver St Cloud. In a short time, Steve Englehart created some of the most iconic stories Batman has ever seen.

The Coming of… Clayface III!

A lot of people don’t realize just how many Clayfaces there are. It eventually got so convoluted that the they were all combined into one person, but prior to that we got memorable characters like the third Clayface Preston Payne. Arguably the most tragic of all the Clayfaces, Preston is unable to keep a solid form and must rely on his suit to move about. If that weren’t bad enough, his very touch is lethal.

Death Strikes at Midnight and Three

This is a rather unique entry in the list, as it’s not really a comic at all. Rather, it’s written by Dennis O’Neil entirely in prose with accompanying illustrations by Marshall Rogers. The format allows the story to really focus on the characters and mystery with a level of detail not regularly seen during this era.

Dreadful Birthday, Dear Joker…!

It’s the Joker’s birthday, and he plans to have his party go out with a bang! This story is the perfect sort of deadliness mixed with camp that makes for the best Joker stories. There’s just enough ridiculous Silver Age style theatrics without ever losing its sense of danger.

To Kill a Legend

What if Bruce Wayne had the chance to stop his parents from ever being shot? In “To Kill a Legend”, he gets that chance, but must also grapple with the question of whether he can stop Batman from coming into being. Like many of the comics from this list, it’s an opportunity to explore who Batman is and what drives him.

Haven

Batman gets stuck in a snow storm while trying to capture Maxie Zeus and finds an unexpected ally. While this comic starts out like your usual “catch the bad guys” story, it becomes a touching tale about violence and the value of pacifism in the face of evil. It’s not one that gets talked about as much as some others on this list, but a more than memorable story nonetheless.

Honorable Mentions: The Batman Adventures and The Batman and Robin Adventures

While these comics aren’t strictly from the Bronze Age, they are in spirit and deserve a mention. You may have noticed how many comics on this list were adapted into episodes of Batman: The Animated Series (and I didn’t even mention all of them). If it wasn’t obvious, this era of Batman had a huge influence on that show. The Batman Adventures and its follow up The Batman and Robin Adventures are the tie-ins to the cartoon and continue its excellent quality. Just like the show itself, the stories within fit perfectly among the Bronze Age comics that inspired them, even if they didn’t technically come out at the time.

Well those are some of the most iconic and memorable stories from Batman’s Bronze Age. Its position as a bridge between the campy silliness of the Silver Age and the grim seriousness of Modern Age makes for a perfect blend of fun yet dramatic adventure. That and others are why they remain a pillar of what people envision when think of Batman to this day.

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