BATMAN #259

Publisher: Detective Comics, Inc. | Writer: Denny O’Neill | Artist: Irv Novick and Dick Giordano

Retro Review

COVER PRICE: $60 | CURRENT ESTIMATED VALUE: $135 (DEPENDENT ON CONDITION) his abhorrence to guns. The trauma of his parents’ death resonates in Batman’s mind and his hatred of firearms serves as a crystal-clear extension of that trauma. Batman is faced with fear in this issue, and he is able to overcome that fear, one of the qualities that defines his heroism. This story is dedicated to Bill Finger, who had passed away shortly before the release of this issue, we is fittingly noted as a “friend.”

Hitting shelves in December of 1974, easily one of the coolest aspects of this issue is the team up between superhero icon Batman and pulp hero icon the Shadow, who determines Bat’s secret identity but promises to keep it a secret. I could also say that I love this book because it features legendary writer Denny O’Neill and legendary artist Dick Giordano. Denny had saved Batman from cancelation by trimming by ridding Batman of much of his extended cast of characters, retiring some (sorry, Ace the Bathound) and outright killing others (sorry, Batwoman). Denny’s gritty writing style was exactly the shot in the arm Batman needed. This is the style of Batman writing and art that I grew up with, so it holds a special place in my heart. I love this issue because this is where we as readers really start to hear Bruce Wayne articulate

9.0/10 VERDICT