GUIDES

Continue below to check out the comic book guide for the The Batman Strikes! series from DC Comics. Details include release dates, descriptions and more.

| Issue #1-20 | Issues #21-40 | Issues #41 - End | Specials | Issue #01 - Penguin Rising Cover Date - September 2004. - Series Premiere - September 15th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art by Christopher Jones & Terry Beatty; Cover by Jeff Matsuda It’s a time of challenge for young Bruce Wayne, heir and CEO of Wayne Industries by day, caped vigilante by night. The Batman has patrolled Gotham’s streets for three years, and, though he’s still an urban legend to most citizens, he’s made a dent in crime. But now Gotham’s attracted a new class of villains like the Joker, Penguin, Man-Bat, Bane and Catwoman. And a young detective of the Gotham P.D. is determined to restore the force’s reputation and unmask the vigilante! In this debut issue, when the vengeful Penguin pulls a heist that could reveal Wayne’s secret and destroy vast portions of the city, the Batman will have to use every resource at his disposal!   Issue #02 - City of Bats Cover Date - October 2004. - October 20th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny, Art by Christopher Jones & Terry Beatty; Cover by Jeff Matsuda The thrilling series reflecting the great new animated show continues! The creature called Man-Bat escapes Arkham with a secret weapon: a sonar shriek that drives citizens “batty”! Can the Batman keep Gotham from becoming a “City of Bats”? Issue #03 - Outlaw and Disorder Cover Date - November 2004 - November 10th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art by Christopher Jones & Terry Beatty; Cover by Jeff Matsuda & Dave McCaig The thrilling series reflecting the great new animated show continues with the debut of The Joker! Criminals are getting caught, then disappearing — but where? When the Joker plays policeman, it’s “Out-law and Dis-order” for Gotham and The Batman! Note: This issue contained a reprint of the Adventures of the DCU, titled "The Truth About Cats and Gods!" The story was written by Steve Vance, penciled by John Delaney, inked by Ron Boyd, colored by Bob le Rose and lettered by Tim Harkins.   Issue #04 - Without a Chance Cover Date - December 2004 - December 8th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art by Christopher Jones & Terry Beatty; Cover by Jeff Matsuda The young Dark Knight faces a foe who’s twice his size with the wiles of ten men: the mighty Bane! Issue #05 - Deadly Partner Cover Date - January 2005 - January 8th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art by Christopher Jones & Terry Beatty; Cover by Jeff Matsuda Scarface and the Ventriloquist are back! But when they attach a mini-Scarface dummy onto Batman's arm that’s primed to set off bombs, can Batman get out of Scarface’s trap without destroying Gotham City? Issue #06 - The Cat's Prize Cover Date - February 2005 - February 9th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art by Christopher Jones & Terry Beatty; Cover by Jeff Matsuda Priceless diamonds are being stolen in Gotham City, and the cops are hot on the trail of Catwoman for the crime. The Batman knows she’s innocent, but he may not be able to stop the police… and no one may be able to stop the laser-wielding thieves behind the crimes! Issue #07 - Icestorm Cover Date - March 2005 - March 16th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art by Christopher Jones & Terry Beatty; Cover by Jeff Matsuda Reflecting the style of the hit cartoon on the Kids’ WB! Mr. Freeze wants a piece of Gotham City all to himself, and what Freeze wants, Freeze gets! Only Batman’s cunning and technology will be able to save Gotham from being put to sleep . . . permanently. Issue #08 - Firefall Cover Date - April 2005 - April 13th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art by Christopher Jones & Terry Beatty; Cover by Jeff Matsuda Reflecting the hit cartoon on Kids’ WB! Gotham City’s never been hotter, which can only mean one thing: Firefly’s back! Will Batman be able to stop this pyromaniac before Gotham’s reduced to ash? Issue #09 - Sanity Plea Cover Date - May 2005 - May 11th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art by Christopher Jones and Terry Beatty; Cover by Jeff Matsuda The Joker's back! But he's never been seen like this before. Why is the Clown Prince of Crime claiming that he's sane? It's up to Batman to find out before the Joker is free of Arkham forever! Issue #10 - Illumination Cover Date - June 2005 - June 8th - 32 pages Written by Matthew Manning; Art by Wesley Craig; Cover by Dave McCaig A psychology field trip gone wrong, three college students find themselves trapped in Arkham Asylum with a rampaging Man-Bat on the loose. When the power goes out, and with no guards in sight, the kids become the prime targets, and only Batman can possibly help even the scales. Cover, Credits and Description provided by writer Matthew Manning.   Issue #11 - Man of Service Cover Date - July 2005 - July 13th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art by Christopher Jones and Terry Beatty; Cover by Jeff Matsuda The Penguin's got Batman on the ropes, and the Dark Knight's last hope is…Alfred?! The keeper of the Batcave may be the only hope Batman has, but even this newer, stranger dynamic duo may not be able to save Gotham City! Issue #12 - Break In At Gotham Central Cover Date - August 2005 - August 17th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art by Christopher Jones and Terry Beatty; Cover by Jeff Matsuda Based on the hit cartoon on the Kids' WB! The scientist who created Bane has been arrested by the Gotham City Police. But when Bane wants payback on the man who made him a monster, it'll take Batman and the police to stop him! Issue #13 - Prowler Cover Date - September 2005 - September 14th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art and cover by Christopher Jones and Terry Beatty Based on the hit cartoon on Kids' WB! Batman is on the hunt for Catwoman after a string of burglaries, but Catwoman's claiming she's innocent! Issue #14 - Sands of Time Cover Date - October 2005 - October 12th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art and cover by Christopher Jones and Terry Beatty Based on the hit cartoon on The Kids' WB! He was once Bruce Wayne's closest friend… now he's Batman's most dangerous enemy. It's Batman vs. Clayface! Issue #15 - The Lost Ones Cover Date - November 2005 - November 9th - 32 pages Written by Matthew Manning; Art by Wesley Craig; Cover by Jeff Matsuda This moody tale, which guest-stars the Penguin, serves as a companion piece to Batman Vs. Dracula, and introduces Dracula into Gotham City. Issue #16 - Hit and Run Cover Date - December 2005 - December 14th - 32 pages Written by J. Torres; Art by Christopher Jones and Terry Beatty; Cover by Christopher Jones and Terry Beatty The Joker's taking the Batmobile for a joyride through Gotham City! Batman's going to have his hands full when the Clown Prince of Crime takes over the rules of the road. Note: Improperly solicited as being written by series writer Bill Matheny.   Issue #17 - A Question of Identity Cover Date - January 2006 - January 11th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art and cover by Christopher Jones and Terry Beatty The Riddler's come back to Gotham City with a plan to unmask Batman once and for all! It's a power struggle and a race against time, before Gotham City is shown the true face of The Batman!   Issue #18 - The Greenhouse Effect Cover Date - February 2006 - February 8th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art by Christopher Jones and Terry Beatty; Cover by Jeff Matsuda Introducing: Batgirl! For the first time ever in The Batman Strikes, Barbara Gordon hits the streets of Gotham City, fighting for justice and keeping her secret alter ego hidden from her father, Police Commissioner James Gordon!   Issue #19 - Born on a Monday Cover Date - March 2006 - March 8th - 32 pages Written by Bill Matheny; Art by Christopher Jones and Terry Beatty; Cover by Dave McCaig Solomon Grundy, smashes things on Monday! The first time we saw Grundy, he was really Clayface, but Batman's about to find out that the legend of the swamp monster is very, very real!   Issue #20 - Title Card Cover Date - April 2006 - April 12th - 32 pages Written by Jai Nitz; Art by Christopher Jones & Terry Beatty; Cover by Dave McCaig  Batman must foil a nefarious prizefighting scheme, pitting him against gangster Rupert Thorne and the powerful Bane.   Check out much more at The World's Finest. The Batman and all characters and related indicia are (c) and TM of their respective owners. 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