Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jun 17, 2026 | 9 comments

AN ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL…

By JASON CZERNICH

June 17 marks 40 years since DC published one of the greatest Caped Crusader issues ever, Batman #400. I consider it to be quite possibly the best anniversary issue ever made — even rivaling Justice League of America #200. Speaking of which, I would not mind seeing Batman #400 in a treasury-size facsimile edition like the one that we’re getting for JLA #200. Are you listening DC?

Here are 13 REASONS this spectacular Batman outing is worthy of the Masked Manhunter:

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1. The Cover. There’s no question about it, this cover is iconic and has appeared on T-shirts and as a statue in the years since. It’s even reproduced on the back cover of Batman #400 itself, without the copy from the front — so you can fully appreciate this magnificent painted image in all its glory. The artist was even represented inside the issue as well…

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2. Bill Sienkiewicz. His expressive art style was a revelation to me in 1986. I had never seen anything like it. And what a way to first experience his work — in painted form, AND interior pencils/inks! But, Sienkiewicz wasn’t the only top-flight artistic talent in this book.

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3. All the Artists. This extra-size extravaganza had a murderer’s row of the talent of the day, some of whom were illustrating Batman for the very first time. John Byrne, Steve Lightle, Art Adams, Terry Austin, Joe Kubert, Andy Kubert, Rick Leonardi, Brian Bolland and many others brought their A-game to this landmark issue. Even the late, great George Pérez got to illustrate a chapter where he gave us…

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4. Batman Villains Galore! Pérez got the pleasure of employing his specialty of drawing crowd scenes by illustrating the biggest gathering of Batman villains I have ever seen. Batman #400 is worth it for Pérez’s contribution alone.

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5. Stephen King’s Intro. What could possibly be cooler in 1986 than having the hottest novelist of the day tell you why Batman was his favorite superhero and singing the praises of that’s year’s Dark Knight Returns?

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6. The Supporting Cast. Batman’s pre-Crisis supporting cast even played a role in the story. We got to see the Bronze Age versions of  Commissioner Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth, Harvey Bullock, Catwoman, Jason Todd, Vicki Vale, and Julia Pennyworth for one last time.

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7. The Pinups. Just when you think the fun is over, rounding out the book is a gallery of pinups by Mike Grell, Michael Kaluta, Bernie Wrightson, and Steve Rude.

Grell

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8. Detective Comics #566 Was a Great Lead-In. It served as the prologue for Batman #400 and has a Dick Giordano cover that has become equally iconic over the years and has also been reproduced on various forms of merchandise.

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9. Ra’s al Ghul’s Master Plan. It’s the last pre-Crisis story featuring the Demon’s Head and this time it’s personal. Ra’s frees as many Bat-foes as he can from both Arkham Asylum and the state penitentiary, and takes the Dark Knight’s supporting cast hostage as leverage in one final attempt to “persuade” Batman to join his side. Writer Doug Moench pulled out all the stops the make this a story where the stakes were the highest they had ever been for Batman and his allies.

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10. Some of the Chapters Stand on Their Own. Examples: “A Small Itch Scratched” is a playful interaction between Bullock and Poison Ivy, and “The Big Sticking” is a beautiful, Joe Kubert-drawn vignette of Batman searching for a clue at an underworld dive bar.

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11. It Contributed to a Standout Year for Batman. 1986 was a great year for the Caped Crusader in general and this anniversary issue helped make it so.

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12. It Ended the Era of Detective Comics and Batman Crossing Over Every Month. Starting in Gerry Conway’s tenure on the Bat-books, Batman and Detective Comics crossed over every month. From 1981 to 1986 Conway and Doug Moench gave the Masked Manhunter’s adventures a soap opera feel with tight continuity. Batman #400 and Detective Comics #567 officially ended that era.

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13. It Was the Last Pre-Crisis Story, Along with Detective Comics #567. Speaking of eras ending, this issue was the last of Moench’s ’80s Batman run that began three years earlier. Detective #567 was artist Gene Colan’s last on the Bat-titles, which he had been contributing to regularly since 1981. Dennis O’Neil was taking over as editor on the books from Len Wein and Batman: Year One was just around the corner.

Batman #400 was the farewell to the Bronze Age Dark Knight that loyal readers needed — and deserved.

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MORE

— DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TURNS 40 — But 1986 Was Even Bigger for BATMAN Than You Realize. Click here.

— 1986: Comics’ Watershed Year — 40 YEARS LATER. Click here.

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JASON CZERNICH was born smack dab in the middle of the Bronze Age of Comics. Early memories of Power Records and other Batman merchandise, as well as watching reruns of the 1966 Batman series on TV38 in Boston, imprinted on him heavily. Today, he lives and works as a clinical social worker in central Massachusetts with his wife, child, cat, and beloved French bulldog.