Batman #1

Nov 2011 · DC · 2.99 USD

📊 ~280,360 copies sold its debut month

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“Knife Trick”

★ Key event — Batman

About this Issue

Batman (Vol. 2) #1 is the opening chapter of what many readers and critics consider one of the defining Batman runs of the modern era — the Snyder/Capullo collaboration that introduced the Court of Owls, a secret cabal woven into the founding mythology of Gotham City itself, and in doing so expanded the character's rogues' gallery for the first time in decades with a villain organization that has since become a permanent fixture of the Batman mythos, appearing in television and video games. The issue also marks a structurally significant moment in DC publishing history: it was the first time the Batman comic's numbering had restarted from #1 in 71 years, making it both a creative and institutional reset. Rather than discarding Bruce Wayne's accumulated history wholesale, Snyder and Capullo threaded pre-existing continuity through a compressed timeline, offering new readers a clear entry point without alienating longtime fans. The run that began here — spanning 52 issues through major arcs like 'Death of the Family' and 'Endgame' — is frequently cited as the standout success story of DC's New 52 initiative.

writer Scott Snyder · artist Greg Capullo · inker Jonathan Glapion · colorist FCO Plascencia · letterer Richard Starkings · letterer Comicraft's Jimmy Betancourt · cover Greg Capullo

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NM · 2nd print $4.75 2nd print $4.99 2nd print $5.69 Blank $5.99 Variant $5.99 NM · Variant · 3rd print $6.99 Variant · 2nd print $8.99 NM $12.99

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History

The issue was published on September 21, 2011, as part of DC's company-wide New 52 relaunch, which followed the Flashpoint event miniseries and reset or revised the continuity of every DC title simultaneously. Scott Snyder came to the flagship Batman title fresh from a critically praised run on Detective Comics (collected as 'The Black Mirror') and the Batman: Gates of Gotham miniseries — both of which served as thematic warm-ups for the Gotham mythology he would develop here. Greg Capullo, previously known for his work on Spawn, joined as the series artist, with Jonathan Glapion on inks and FCO Plascencia on colors. Behind the scenes, Snyder faced significant editorial pressure during the early arc: DC executives wanted Batman to definitively solve the mystery at the heart of the 'Court of Owls' storyline, a demand Snyder resisted so strongly that he reportedly considered leaving the project — ultimately prevailing and preserving the deliberate ambiguity that gives the arc its lasting thematic weight.

Trivia · 8 facts

Published September 21, 2011; cover-dated November 2011. Written by Scott Snyder, penciled by Greg Capullo, inked by Jonathan Glapion.
First issue of Batman Volume 2 — the first time the title's numbering had restarted from #1 in 71 years of publication.
Contains the first appearance of Lincoln March (Prime Earth), the mayoral candidate later revealed to be connected to the Court of Owls, in his civilian identity.
Contains the first cameo appearance of Harper Row (not named in this issue), a character who would later become a significant supporting figure and eventually the hero Bluebird.
Contains the first appearance of James Gordon Jr. in the rebooted Prime Earth continuity (the character originally appeared in Batman #407, 1987).
Story title: 'The Court of Owls, Part One: Knife Trick.' The issue seeds the Court of Owls conspiracy via a murder victim pinned to a wall with antique throwing knives bearing owl symbols.
The issue went to at least five printings, along with a 1:25 Ethan Van Sciver variant cover and a 1:200 Greg Capullo black-and-white sketch cover, reflecting exceptional retail demand at launch.
The run that begins here — Batman #1–52 — has been collected in multiple formats including trade paperbacks, hardcovers, DC Essential Editions, a Batman Noir edition, an Absolute edition of the Court of Owls arc, and two omnibus volumes.