- For other realities designated "Earth-One", see: Earth-1 (Disambiguation)
Silver-Age Batman Family
Earth-One was the main continuity for DC Comics during the Silver and Bronze Ages of comics (1955-1970 and 1970-1985, respectively). Initially introduced without ceremony, the continuity resembled the original "Earth-Two". However, initial tales were more light-hearted and campy to attract younger readers and avoid criticism by parental groups. However, during the 1960s, Batman stories became much darker and grimmer to return back to the original tone of Batman stories.
Among the most notable changes introductions were a fully-formed Batman Family, the League of Assassins, corruption in various sectors of Gotham City, and stronger links with other superheroes including Superman and the Justice League. Its most notable creators include Sheldon Moldoff, Gardner Fox, Julius Schwartz, Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams, and Steve Englehart.
Description[]
The Comics Code Authority
The Silver Age[]
The Comics Code Authority[]
Following the end of World War 2, the public's interest in comic-book superheroes went down as the subgenera was very emblematic of war-times. This encouraged comic-book companies like DC to start expanding into horror comics, sci-fi comics, western comics, romance comics and erotic comics.
However as comics were still a relatively new medium and were perceived as being predominately child-oriented, this allowed for politically-right groups to use fear mongering and propaganda against the comic-book industry for encouraging taboo behaviours in youths. One book in particular known as Seduction of the Innocent (1954) by Fredric Wertham accused the Batman franchise specifically of using Robin to turn kids homosexual (with the oppressive status-quo of 1950s America having vilified and criminalized the LGBTQ community).
The result of this caused the creation of the Comics Code Authority of America which heavily regulated the comic-book industry making it so that superhero comics were the only safe and consistent comic subgenera published and even then were heavily controlled by the Authority. Due to this, the Batman franchise would begin to be separated from the horror-aesthetics, noire themes, dark characters and violence of the original golden age.
This would also lead to the creation of Batwoman (Kathy Kane) and Bat-Girl (Bette Kane) as love-interests for Batman and Robin to combat accusations of the two being non-heterosexual. The Batman Family would also be introduced, likely feeding into this and the 1950s/60s push for nuclear-family behaviors. This would also likely result in increased queer-coding within the Batman rogues gallery as a means of further vilifying sexuality/gender non-conformity while making the Dynamic Duo (and Batman Family) more heteronormative by comparison.
Camp[]
The Batman franchise was able to survive thanks to the Batman TV show and movie that were made starring Burt Ward and Adam West and adapted by William Dozier. The TV series was made during a time of increased family entertainment on television (particularly family comedies), many of which were adapted from existing properties in the public consciousness. As William Dozier had little interest within The Batman franchise as-is, The Batman TV series became much more of a comedy satire of Batman comics and had a mission statement to compel younger audiences with its action and characters while entertaining older audiences with its tongue-and-cheek comedic tone.
The 1960s series became a success and resulted in what comics fanzines deemed, "The Batmania" and allowed the franchise to thrive through the silver-age. However the popularity of the show would also mean that Batman comics would be changed to have their tone and characters match those of the ever-popular TV series (such as Barbara Gordon's Batgirl who was made for TV). This was much to the dismay of then fans of Batman, and also resulted in making the TV series a parody of a parody of itself.
The Bronze Age[]
Bronze Age Batman by Neal Adams
The Bronze Age of comics was largely marked by a return to form of high-stakes action stories which revolved around complex psyches, dark themes, and civil-rights commentaries. A great contributor to Batman's success in the Bronze Age was Dennis O'Neil who had previously written the acclaimed Green Lantern/Green Arrow series.
Under O'Neil's writing and editorial position, Batman's villains were made much more serious and deranged with Gotham City coming to resemble much more of a horror/noir melting pot. The Bat-Family as it once was was almost completely annihilated with Robin being progressively phased out of the series.
Introductions[]
Silver Age[]
Characters[]
Super-Heroes[]
1950s
- Ace the Bat-Hound:
- Bat-Mite:
- Batwoman/Kathy Kane: The original person to take the identity, Batwoman (Katherine "Kathy" Kane) was created Edmond Hamilton and Sheldon Moldoff in Detective Comics #233. Initially concepted to disassociate allegations of homoeroticisms towards Batman and Robin, she served as Gotham's first female crime-fighter and a love-interest for the former (replacing Catwoman). Kathy would be removed to make way for the "New Look Batman" in 1964, though was temporarily brought back in the 1970s due to fan request. Kathy would eventually return in 2013's Batman Incorporate as an agent of Spyral and supporting character to Dick Grayson.
- Bat-Girl/Bette Kane:
- Mogo:
- The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh:
- Nightwing & Flamebird (aliases):
1960s
- The Creeper:
- Zatanna:
- Metamorpho:
- Batgirl/Barbara Gordon:
Supporting Characters[]
Villains[]
1950s
- Mr. Freeze/Mr. Zero: Initially introduced as "Mr. Zero", Freeze (Dr. Art Schivel) was created by David Wood and Sheldon Moldoff in Batman #212. A cryogenics based supervillain, the character was rendered unable to survive outside of a sub-zero environment due to a lab accident. Mr. Zero was initially intended to appear in a single story, though his adaptation as "Mr. Freeze" for the 1960s Batman series brought the character into the spotlight. Renamed and returning on multiple occasions, Freeze would later be developed further in Batman: The Animated Series by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, who changed his alter-ego to Victor Fries and changed his motivations to curing his terminally ill wife.
- Calendar Man:
- Lew Moxon:
- False Face:
- Prof. Achilles Milo:
- Doctor Double X:
- Fox:
- Shark:
- Vulture:
1960s
- Zebra-Man:
- The Rainbow Creature:
- The Spinner:
- The Dummy:
- Planet-Master/Irving Norbert:
- Clayface/Matt Hagen:
- Catman:
- Zodiac Master:
- Dr. No-Face:
- Mr. Polka-Dot:
- Andrew Warner:
- Owl-Man:
- Johnny Witts:
- The Getaway Genius:
- Karmak/Professor Gorilla/Beast-Bomb:
- Composite Superman:
- Kite-Man:
- Blockbuster/Mark Desmond:
- The Monarch of Menace:
- The Eraser:
- Tiger Moth:
- Silken Spider:
- Dragonfly:
- Poison Ivy:
- Gaggy:
- Spellbinder:
- Lord Death Man:
- Cluemaster:
- The Outsider:
- Copperhead:
Groups[]
- The Terrible Trio:
- The Suicide Squad:
- The Justice League of America:
- The Batmen of All Nations:
- Stagg Enterprises:
- The Grasshopper Gang:
- The Crime Syndicate:
- The False Face Society:
- The Teen Titans:
Bronze Age[]
Characters[]
Super-Heroes[]
Supporting Characters[]
Villains[]
Super-Villains[]
1970s
- Moloch:
- Man-Bat:
- The Ten-Eyed Man:
- Doctor Moon:
- The Spook:
- Ebeneezer Darrk:
- Ra's al Ghul:
- Talia:
- Ubu:
- Bronze Tiger:
- Lady Shiva:
- Captain Stingaree:
- Black Spider/Eric Needham:
- Rupert Thorne:
- Doctor Phosphorus:
- Calculator:
- Clayface/Preston Payne:
- Joker's Daughter:
- Maxie Zeus:
- Xavier Simon:
1980s
- Manikin:
- Snowman:
- Mirage:
- Electrocutioner:
- Killer Croc:
- Nocturna:
- Nightslayer:
- Planet Master/Edward Burke:
- Magpie:
- Black Mask/Roman Sionis:
Other Rogues Galleries[]
Groups[]
Locations[]
Objects[]
Notes[]
- When Earth One was concepted, it was initially planned for it to be name "Earth-Two" whilst the original Golden Age continuity was named "Earth-One". However, miscommunication with writer led to the older continuity being name "Earth-Two" whilst Earth-One became the name for the newer one.