Bat-Timeline – “Batman in 1985”

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APRIL: DC’s CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS streamlines DC’s 50 year history – and multiple Earths and realities – into one DC Earth with a neat and concise timeline. Gone from mainstream continuity are the Earth 2 members of the Batman Family, including Bat-Mite, Ace The Bat-Hound, and several other Golden Age Bat-characters. Robin II – Jason Todd – is also given a new origin story/background. Batman himself would be given a new and detailed origin story two years later in Frank Miller’s BATMAN: YEAR ONE.

AUGUST: Organized crime boss Roman Sionis – A.K.A. “Black Mask” – debuted in BATMAN #385. Here’s how the character was described on this issue’s cover: “Crazier than The Joker! Deadlier than Ra’s Al Ghul! Introducing a new villain for the 80s…BLACK MASK!”

JETT REMEMBERS 
Sadly, I believe 1985 was the first year in my life since I was 3 or 4 years old that I didn’t buy or read a Batman comic book. In 1985, I was finishing up my first year in college and starting my second. While I still loved comics and Batman, it wasn’t “cool” to like that sort of stuff back in the 80s. While I do own an original copy of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #1, I did not buy or read it until the early 1990s. Shame on me! BUT, that’s all about to change in 1986 with a little Batman story called THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS.

 

Share your memories of Batman in 1985 in the comments section below! – Bill “Jett” Ramey