Detective Comics #529
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeDetective Comics #529 is the opening chapter of one of the most narratively ambitious Batman story arcs of the Bronze Age — the introduction of the Knight siblings, Anton and Natalia, who would collectively reshape Bruce Wayne's personal life for the better part of two years. As the debut of Anton Knight operating as the 'Thief of Night' (later the murderous Night-Slayer), the issue launches a villain whose moral complexity — driven not by greed alone but by devotion to his ailing, light-sensitive partner — gave Doug Moench's run on both Batman titles a soap-operatic depth that was rare in mainstream superhero comics of that era. The issue also plants the first seeds of Nocturna's presence (she appears only in shadow here, not yet named), setting up what would become one of the most unusual quasi-romantic triangles in Batman history, involving Bruce Wayne, Jason Todd, and a villain who nearly became their family. Both characters would later be adapted across multiple DC continuities and animated projects, confirming their lasting footprint in the Batman mythos.
ComicBooks.com Value
Show all 11 grades ▾
More listings for this title
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
Writer Doug Moench was hired by DC to script both the Batman and Detective Comics monthly titles simultaneously, and editor Len Wein oversaw a deliberate editorial strategy of interlocking the two books so that storylines would spill across titles — a move designed to drive readership of both series. Detective Comics #529, published on May 26, 1983 with an August cover date, was drawn by Gene Colan with inks by Dick Giordano; the cover itself was rendered by Ed Hannigan and Giordano, with Nicola Cuti serving as assistant editor under Wein. Moench came to the Batman assignment fresh from his celebrated Marvel run on Master of Kung Fu and brought a similar interest in interconnected supporting casts and melodrama, making the Knight siblings among his first and most sustained creative contributions to the Batman world.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Anton Knight, a.k.a. the Night-Thief (later renamed the Night-Slayer), the issue's primary antagonist; created by writer Doug Moench and penciller Gene Colan.
- First appearance (in shadow only, unnamed on-panel) of Natalia Knight, a.k.a. Nocturna — her fully named, on-panel debut would follow in Batman #363 (September 1983).
- The lead story, 'The Thief of Night!,' was scripted by Doug Moench, pencilled by Gene Colan, inked by Dick Giordano, colored by Adrienne Roy, and lettered by Ben Oda.
- A backup Green Arrow story, 'Getting Up III: Lost in the Ozone,' also appears in the issue, written by Joey Cavalieri and illustrated by Paris Cullins; both stories were edited by Len Wein.
- The cover was pencilled by Ed Hannigan and inked by Dick Giordano; the issue shipped to retailers on May 3, 1983 with an August 1983 cover date.
- The narrative thread begun here continues directly in Batman #363, part of an intentional cross-title storyline architecture between Detective Comics and the Batman series.
- Anton Knight later evolved into the Night-Slayer persona beginning in Detective Comics #544 (November 1984), after his rejection by Nocturna.
- The Batman story from this issue was later reprinted in Tales of the Batman: Gene Colan Vol. 1 (DC, 2011), and also appeared in the Portuguese anthology Super-Heróis #34 (May 1985).
Cast · 3 characters
Full credits
Reprints
Reprinted in Batman Sonderheft #33 (1984), Batman #17/18 (1984), Batman #19 (1984), Les Jeunes Titans #9 (1984), Super-Heróis #34 (1985), Super-Heróis #40 (1985), Tales of the Batman: Gene Colan #1 (2011)
Key issues in Detective Comics
Variants (2)
Reviews
Reader reviews
No reader reviews yet.