What's canon/in-continuity?

[Beelze]

Just wondering what things are officially considered canon, or what things you consider to be canon, when it comes to Batman comics. A lot of writers seem to be doing their own thing, but now and then those things seem to be considered as official parts of the story. Which stories does that include? Also, is there some list, or something, that shows the official timeline of Batman's life?

 

[rnewbz]

http://www.thebatsquad.net/batman/continuity/index.htm

everything here is canon (ignore batman year two)

 

[Rivethed]

The problem is Infinite Crisis just happened and so far we only know of the changes to Batman's origin. There could be a lot more.

 

[trustyside-kick]

http://www.thebatsquad.net/batman/continuity/index.htm

everything here is canon (ignore batman year two)

And ignore Year Three. Also that page is not completely updated but it is the best continuity site I have found.

 

[CrimsonMist]

The problem is Infinite Crisis just happened and so far we only know of the changes to Batman's origin. There could be a lot more.

are these changes significant enought to knock Year One out of continuity, or do these changes just fill in some gaps(like Chill murdering the waynes and such)?

 

[theMan-Bat]

Batman continuity is all *****ed up now.

 

[rnewbz]

yeah, so batman year two and three and son of the demon might all be back in continuity.

 

[souvlaki]

are these changes significant enought to knock Year One out of continuity, or do these changes just fill in some gaps(like Chill murdering the waynes and such)?

It's been a while since I read Year One but I don't remember them specifying one way or another what actually happened to Chill. Infinite Crisis never exactly made clear

Spoiler

what happened to Chill after he was arrested

but I can only assume that Year Two and Three are still out of continuity, while Year One, Long Halloween, and Dark Victory are still canon. The only comic that is known for certain to be no longer in continuity is Batman #0. I'd imagine it's more a matter of filling in the gaps with Chill.

 

[trustyside-kick]

yeah, so batman year two and three and son of the demon might all be back in continuity.

Wha? Really? Why do you say that.

 

[souvlaki]

yeah, so batman year two and three and son of the demon might all be back in continuity.

I can see Son of the Demon, simply because of the Grant Morrisson run coming up, but there is not a chance in hell that Year Two and Three will be in continuity again. Long Halloween, and Dark Victory effectively replaced both books, and DC would be nuts to ever write out either book from continuity. They were both wildly popular, whereas Year Two and Three weren't.

 

[rnewbz]

Yeah but, i mean since Joe Chill is back who knows.

 

[souloffire]

Don't even try to figure out how stories fit into continuity, It will drive you nuts. Just enjoy the stories as they are and don't try to make a timeline for them. For example everybody knows Dick Grayson became Robin in year 3, but if you try to do an exact timeline Dark Victory has Grayson become Robin in year 4. So like I said just enjoy then and don't worry to much about what's in or out.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Picking and choosing is probably best at this point.

 

[David Ford, RPD]

In you want to hate yourself and swear off the entire idea of continuity, just pick up an old comci where the date is mentioned. Like in the old 90's comic where Superman shakes hands with Bill Clinton. Oops.

 

[theMan-Bat]

Or in Legends in the 80's, where Superman is talking with Ronald Reagan.
Guess that means Legends is suppose to be out of continuity now.

 

[Themanofbat]

Was Thomas & Martha Wayne killed by Joe Chill in current continuity?

Because he's their killer in my old man opinion.

 

[trustyside-kick]

In Year Three you see Nightwing though...no way will it be brought into continuity.

 

[snipe]

In Year Three you see Nightwing though...no way will it be brought into continuity.

Year 3 doesn't happen during Batman's third year. It's the story of Zucco getting out of jail years after being imprisoned for the murder of the Graysons during Year Three.
As for the updating of the above linked page on my site, you're right. I'm not updating it anymore, I'm updating this one:

www.TheBatSquad.net/continuity

As for whether or not Year Two is in continuity: In it, Batman believed Joe Chill to be the murderer of his parents. He never confronted him about it. Zero Hour shows Batman learning that Chill couldn't have been the killer. It doesn't push Y2 out, it simply shows Batman can be wrong.
Now, due to the current Crisis, we have Chill as the murderer and he was arrested for the crime.

 

[Beelze]

Nice to know the official answers/see the pieces fall together. Now, for the more personal question, what do you consider canon? Myself, I'd probably only want to count stories that include only Batman - Batman and the different Robins at most. I think that DC has put too many different, special characters in the mix for my liking.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Year 3 doesn't happen during Batman's third year. It's the story of Zucco getting out of jail years after being imprisoned for the murder of the Graysons during Year Three.
As for the updating of the above linked page on my site, you're right. I'm not updating it anymore, I'm updating this one:

www.TheBatSquad.net/continuity

As for whether or not Year Two is in continuity: In it, Batman believed Joe Chill to be the murderer of his parents. He never confronted him about it. Zero Hour shows Batman learning that Chill couldn't have been the killer. It doesn't push Y2 out, it simply shows Batman can be wrong.
Now, due to the current Crisis, we have Chill as the murderer and he was arrested for the crime.

Thank you snipe. With your post I remember why they took Year Two out of continuity way back. DC did not like the fact that in that story Batman thinks he knows who killed his parents. I believe that was the main reason besides his main villain for the second year was the Reaper.

Awesome! I really appreciate your site man. It has really answered a lot of my questions and a really impressive site.

And about Year 3, yea I thought that was it because a friend told me about it and I have not been able to get my hands on it to read. He told me about Nightwing being in it so I was confused because why would it be Batman's 3rd year then. That makes sense now. Thanks.

 

[nite-owl]

Was Thomas & Martha Wayne killed by Joe Chill in current continuity?

Because he's their killer in my old man opinion.

I think it's been put back in.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Why do you say that is put back in? Which issue and such does it say so? That is stupid. Batman should not find out who killed his parents.

 

[nite-owl]

Why do you say that is put back in? Which issue and such does it say so? That is stupid. Batman should not find out who killed his parents.

IC7 Alexander Luthor mentions something about Batmans knowing his parents killer. Here's the quote

"There are changes within its history. Wonder Woman helped found the Justice League of America once again. Batman still fights for Gotham, even though his parents' killer was caught. There are recorded rumors of Superman's activities before his appearance in Metropolis. And that's just the beginning."

 

[trustyside-kick]

Oh ok. See, my brother has all of the Infinite Crisis issues just I have not been reading them really. I want to just need the right motivation. If I read it just to read then I will miss something or not pay much attention.

 

[snipe]

And about Year 3, yea I thought that was it because a friend told me about it and I have not been able to get my hands on it to read. He told me about Nightwing being in it so I was confused because why would it be Batman's 3rd year then. That makes sense now. Thanks.

Thanks for the kind words! Sadly, Year 3 has never been collected as a tpb - you'll have to track down the back issues.