_ THE ey Auli ye THE FryeA thousand years ago, the state of the art that combines words and pictures was the illuminated manuscript - a carefully crafted, fragile document telling a tale only a select few would ever be privileged to read. A thousand years from now, the art form may evolve so that each of us takes the raw electrons from the and turns them inta aur own fantasies, moving and speaking on command for the world to access. In between those forms, we have comics. DC Comics celebrates the millennium mark by offering you the best and most vital examples of our art form. This millennium collection represents our most creative, most cataclysi and most collectible issues far your shelf. ie YH / | Paul Levitz Executive Wick PRresinent & Pus.isHeR REMEMBERING THE MILLENNIUM With the success of Superman in ACTION COMICS, editor Vin Sullivan began looking for more od heroes. He asked frequent humorstrip contributor Bob Kane if he'd like to reate ac d character of his own. The teenage artist, hungry for a major feature of his own was determined to leave his cartoony drawing style behind and craft a more adventurous style. Casting about for ideas, he began to assemble various influences, them ir new character. His sics of the Bat-Man. Finger made s which would turn the n icon who could stand ultimately helping ery bit as immortal These included reshaping the wings into a cloaklike cape, and adding gloves sugges character into ¢ upermd costuim uum Detective Comics #27 ee Fae Arrives in Gotham City and a full-coverage cowl ¥ Batman owed as mu: to Superman as to the shadowy pulp heroes of the day, Sullivan liked the darker tone, feeling it better fit a title called DETECTIVE COMICS, and so he bought the first story. Like Superman, Batmar an immediate hit with the readors, although, also like Superman, Batman was not always the cover feature at first That all changed with DETECTIVE COMICS #35, and Batman hasn‘'t missed a cover sinc Batman's companion features were spies and private eyes, along with a costumed crimefighter called the Crimson Avenger, who would be the last character to appear ona DETECTIVE cover other than the Caped Crusader. The other features faded © hero powers, easier for Kane to identify v would use gadgets instead including batlike wings to glide Sharing these icleas with writer and friend Bill Finger, Kane quickly assembled continued on inside back cover > J (Originally pubiched 26 DETECTIVE COMICS #27 May 1939, copyright 19139) ss. 1700 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Cover and introductin copyrigh Comics. All rights reserved. OC. issue, iictive lrtesses there! end all relet of DC Comics, The stories, publication are entirely fictional. Printed on recyclab inment Company. UBF A Time Warner Ente7 MYSTERIOUS AND RIGH TE QUSNESS AND APPREHENDING THE J WRONG DOER, IN HIS LONE BATTLE ‘AGAINST THE EVIL FORCES OF Sociery... ). HIS*IDENTITY REMANG UNKNOM. ‘CF COMMISSIONER GORDON, WHO AT THE - s MOMENT IS. RTAINING KIS YOUNG SOCIALITE FRIEND, HELLO WHAT'S GRUCE WAYNE THAT? LAMBERT, THE CHEMICAL KING» STABGED, WELL COMMISSIONER, TO DEAT? HIS SON'S ANYTHING EXCITING HAPPENING THESE Days 2 HELLO SERGEANT, EVERYTHING UNDER M GOWG THERE NOW, LIKE TO COME T AND AFTER A THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF THE HELLO LAMBERT, SCENE OF THE CRIME, THE LOOM BECOMES BUSY THEY SAY You KILLED WITH THE USUAL Pouce ROUTINE YOUR FATHER! 4, WELL IM FINISHED Vf WHERE, LET ME TALK TO YOUNG LAMBERT,