TITLE: Batman issue #0
YEAR: October 1994
COMPANY: DC Comics
Created by Bob Kane
Writer: Doug Moench
Artist: Mike Manley
Inker: Josef Rubinstein
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Letterer: Ren Bruzenak
Edited by Dennis O’Neill
Back in the early ’90s, DC Comics wanted to fix timeline inconsistencies. As “Crisis on Infinite Earths” did with parallel universes, “Zero Hour” would try to address the problems with older characters and newer characters (ie. Superman and Supergirl retconned from Legion of Super Heroes, who is the Hawkman of the past if he never made his entrance until 1989, etc.).
And writers tried to make sense of the characters and the origins, which wouldn’t mean a thing because DC Comics would eventually change things up with the 52, the New 52 and eventually Rebirth.
Numerous issues were released as issue #0 and for “Batman”, the character is featured as returning after the defeat of Azrael (who was temporarily Batman).
The issue would be no less the origin of Bruce Wayne and his family, how he met Alfred and how Alfred became a major part of the Wayne family, how he would transform himself as a teenager and student and how he would eventually become a martial arts master, detective and scientist.
The origin story also gives us a little of Thomas and Martha Wayne and while telling an origin story, the story would feature Batman trying to capture a serial killer in Gotham.
It’s a fascinating origin issue as it does show Bruce’s parents influence on him and how they were caring people and of course, how his parents died and how it affected him to become the man he is.
But most of all, liked the fact that Doug Moench, longtime Batman writer was involved with issue #0.