Batman Family

Publication history

The Batman Family comic book series ran for 20 issues from September–October 1975 to October–November 1978 and featured solo and team-up stories starring Batgirl and Robin. The lead story in the first issue teaming Batgirl and Robin was originally intended for publication in an issue of 1st Issue Special. The series additionally featured reprints of Golden Age and Silver Age stories. Many issues of Batman Family featured Batman supporting characters such as Alfred Pennyworth, Vicki Vale, the Elongated Man, the Huntress, and Ace the Bat-Hound. Writer Bob Rozakis introduced the Duela Dent character in issue #6 (July–August 1976) and revived the original Batwoman in issue #10 (March–April 1977). The series began featuring only new material as of issue #11 (May–June 1977) and the Man-Bat began appearing as a regular feature. Batman Family converted to the Dollar Comics format with issue #17 (April–May 1978).

DC published several other ... Family titles concurrent with Batman Family. These included The Superman Family (1974–82), Super-Team Family (1975–1978) and Tarzan Family (1975–76). As a rule, DC's ... Family titles contained mostly reprints, and featured a higher page count (and higher price) than DC's normal books. Its final issue, #20 (Oct.–Nov. 1978), was published without any advertisements.

Merger with ''Detective Comics''

In 1978, after the DC Implosion, it was decided that DC Comics' long-running flagship title Detective Comics was to be terminated with #480. The decision was overturned, following strenuous arguments on behalf of saving the title within the DC office.

Despite being the better-selling title, Batman Family was instead merged with Detective, converting that series into a $1.00 68-page giant as of Detective Comics #481 (Dec. 1978-Jan. 1979). This arrangement lasted 15 issues. With issue #496 (Nov. 1980) Detective Comics reverted to its traditional size and price — thus effectively cancelling Batman Family for good.

2002–2003 series

Batman: Family was an eight-issue miniseries published from December 2002 to February 2003 and written by John Francis Moore. Issues #1-6 were illustrated by Stefano Gaudiano and Rick Hoberg. Steve Lieber replaced Hoberg on issues #7 and 8.

Collected editions

• Batgirl: The Greatest Stories Ever Told includes Batgirl stories from Batman Family #1 and 9, 160 pages, December 2010,
• Huntress: Dark Knight Daughter includes the Huntress stories from Batman Family #18–20, 224 pages, December 2006,
• Batgirl : The Bronze Age Omnibus Volume 1 includes stories from Batman Family #1, 3-7 and 10-11, 504 pages, December 2017,
• Batgirl : The Bronze Age Omnibus Volume 2 includes stories from Batman Family #12-20, 576 pages, April 2019,
• Robin : The Bronze Age Omnibus includes stories from Batman Family #1, 3, 4-9 and 11-20, 912 pages, March 2020,

References

References

1. "''Batman Family''".
2. McAvennie, Michael. (2010). "DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle". [[Dorling Kindersley]].
3. Abramowitz, Jack. (April 2014). "''1st Issue Special'' It Was No ''Showcase'' (But It Was Never Meant To Be)". [[TwoMorrows Publishing]].
4. (July–August 1976). "Batman Family".
5. Manning, Matthew K.. (2014). "Batman: A Visual History". [[Dorling Kindersley]].
6. (March–April 1977). "Batman Family".
7. Manning "1970s" in Dougall, p. 125: "The original Batwoman, Kathy Kane, made her first appearance in the Bronze Age of comics...in this story by writer Bob Rozakis and artist Bob Brown".
8. Manning "1970s" in Dougall, p. 125: "With this issue, ''Batman Family'' stopped printing back-up reprints. However, instead of reducing its page count, it continued as a 50-cent title but included even more new stories".
9. Stroud, Bryan. (July 2014). "A History of the Man-Bat". TwoMorrows Publishing.
10. Romero, Max. (July 2012). "I'll Buy That For a Dollar! DC Comics' Dollar Comics". TwoMorrows Publishing.
11. Manning "1970s" in Dougall, p. 129: "With this issue ''Batman Family'' included more new material than ever before".
12. Manning "1970s" in Dougall, p. 129: "The ''Batman Family'' title had reached its end".
13. Wells, John. (October 24, 1997). "'Lost' DC: The DC Implosion". [[Comics Buyer's Guide]].
14. Manning "1970s" in Dougall, p. 130: "With this issue, [''Detective Comics''] adopted the popular multi-story format of ''Batman Family'', spotlighting many of Batman's supporting cast".
15. Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 263: "After teasing the character Tracker in ''Detective Comics'' #773 (October 2002), and Bugg in ''Detective Comics'' #774, writer John Francis Moore and artists Rick Hoberg and Stefano Gaudiano launched this eight-issue miniseries".
16. "''Batman: Family''".