The hosts of the Batman Family Reunion podcast make their picks…
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I’ve long been on record that pound for pound, Batman Family was the best Bat-series of the Bronze Age. But for its 50th anniversary — Issue #1 was released June 5, 1975 — I wanted a fresh perspective, so I invited Paul Kien and Shawn M. Myers of the Batman Family Reunion podcast on the Fire and Water Podcast Network to rank their TOP 13 ISSUES. They considered the original 20 entries of the series — and Detective Comics #481-495, which effectively completed the run after the two titles merged in 1978. — Dan
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By PAUL KIEN and SHAWN M. MYERS
June 5 marks the 50th Anniversary of the release of Batman Family #1, a DC comic that ran for 20 issues from 1975-1978, and then “rescued” Detective Comics from the DC Implosion when the two were merged. The book effectively continued for 15 more issues into 1980, when Detective reverted to its traditional format.
The title started out with new features starring Batgirl and Robin along with reprints, before morphing into all-new stories starring other members of the Batman Family such as the Huntress, Commissioner Gordon, Man-Bat and even extended “family” members like the Demon.
We are excited to share our love of these stories as we present THE TOP 13 ISSUES OF BATMAN FAMILY — RANKED:
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13. Detective Comics #492. We love this issue for its great Batman/Batgirl team-up by Cary Burkett and Don Newton, as Babs faces her fears and emerges stronger. We also get Robin taking on the Penguin solo for the first time, but you can’t beat Man-Bat facing off against a giant rat!
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12. Detective Comics #487. Behind a gorgeous Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (praised be his name) cover, Batman has to deal with a watertight apartment as Batgirl waits on the results of Election Night. But the highlight of the issue is The Odd Man by Steve Ditko. Originally intended as a backup feature for Shade the Changing Man before the DC Implosion, this was the only installment that Ditko drew.
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11. Batman Family #15 might take the award for the wackiest story as Killer Moth and the Cavalier try to find the Batcave and learn that Robin might be an alien! But even better, this issue also features fantastic Michael Golden art on the Man-Bat story with a gripping cliffhanger!
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10. Batman Family #20 features more breathtaking Golden art with his take on Batman and Ragman in the final issue before the DC Implosion. We love the interaction with the broader DCU as Robin and Batgirl use JLA transporter technology and get some help from Red Tornado and the Elongated Man. With the stunning wraparound cover by Jim Starlin, why is this the only issue not on DC Universe Infinite? Come on, DC, make that happen!
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9. Detective Comics #481 and #482. We cheated by combining two issues that boast a smorgasbord of fantastic stories! A fab two-part Jim Starlin Batman story kicks us off, but the hits keep coming as Robin tries on different costumes, Batgirl travels to China, and Batman goes to London to decipher a mystery, by Denny O’Neil and Marshall Rogers! There’s also Man-Bat solving a missing-person case and the series debut of the Demon — but who could have expected a story set on Earth-Prime starring… Bat-Mite!
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8. Batman Family #12. Jim Aparo did a number of Batman Family covers, but this is one of our favorites! We also love this issue for Robin’s mastery of the Batarang, the introduction of Batgirl’s brother, and outstanding Marshall Rogers art as Man-Bat becomes a Were-Jaguar!
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7. Batman Family #9. Robin solves the mystery of the Joker’s Daughter and gives us a classic mask reveal! Need we say more? (Yes, actually.)
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6. Batman Family #17 would be among our favorites solely because it is the first Dollar Comic of the series and the only one with interior Aparo art. But we also dig the through line of the Huntress appearing in each story and especially when she puts Dick in his place! But, wow, Michael Golden brings it with an awesome Man-Bat/Demon team up, featuring a GCPD cop delivering the best line of the series.
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5. Batman Family #1 is more than a great first issue, it sets the relationship dynamic for Batgirl and Robin for the series. We love the Mike Grell art and how Robin swings from the Washington Monument, but the iconic moment is the kiss!
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4. Batman Family #3 delivers on all counts! We were “thrilled” by the fun Batgirl/Robin team-up with crazy-good interior art by Garcia-Lopez! Batgirl and Robin learn each others’ secret identities but the real secret gem of the issue is the wonderful and inspiring Golden Age reprint of Batman in “The Year 3000!”
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3. Batman Family #11. 13th Dimension Editor Dan Greenfield may have his Mego-style Joker’s Daughter figures, but we need Batgirl and Robin figures in these wedding outfits! Throw in a great Man-Bat story and a Commissioner Gorden/Alfred yarn that is a brilliant Bob Rozakis set-up, and you have the makings of a classic — and one of our favorites!
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2. Batman Family #7 is number 2 on our list since it is such an amazing package. We get two classic reprints — one telling us why there are broken trophies in the Batcave, and the other with Doctor Double X. We are also treated to a great Robin and Batgirl team-up, as they battle the fantastic husband/wife team of Sportsmaster and the Huntress (no, not that one). That tale showcases the teamwork and communication that became a hallmark of their relationship and gives us a rollicking adventure to boot! This issue is also special since it is Shawn’s first comic book purchase ever!
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1. Batman Family #13. This book has it all! It boasts a triple-team-up of Batgirl, Robin, and Man-Bat in a book-length story with tremendous art by Don Newton and Marshall Rogers. It features the return of the Outsider in all his outrageous glory, and sports a stunning Jim Aparo cover showcasing our stars. But the quiet scene of Dick confessing his feelings for Babs tugs on our heartstrings and propels this issue to the top.
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MORE
— Why BATMAN FAMILY #1 is a Surprising Landmark in Comics History. Click here.
— BATMAN FAMILY: The Coolest Batbook of the Bronze Age. Click here.
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Paul Kien and Shawn M. Myers are the hosts of the Batman Family Reunion podcast on the Fire and Water Podcast Network.
June 5, 2025
Great list gents! I love Batman Family, and your podcast coverage was fantastic from start to finish!
June 5, 2025
You included the cover, but didn’t rank my favorite issue, #17. Not only is Earth-2’s Huntress in the mix of stories, but also the original Batwoman. I realize everyone has their own set of favorites, but #17 is by far my choice for the top spot.
June 5, 2025
#17 is my top of the heap, too! But you make a compelling case for your top pick. A nicely written list!
June 5, 2025
Great stuff – Paul and Sean know more about Batman than the Batcave’s computer and Alfred combined!
June 5, 2025
Thanks for the kind words everybody! Article was a lot of fun to write – thanks to Dan G for asking us to! As for #17 it was at the beginning of the article since I feel it has the best COVER of the series. But it did make it into our list overall at #6! So many great issues it was tough to choose!
June 5, 2025
Random question on Batman Family #7, I never read the series in the Seventies. Were these a different Sportsmaster and Huntress as they were then Earth 2 supervillains?
June 5, 2025
Hi OJ – it is never mentioned but it kind of has to be the Earth 1 versions. We didn’t talk about that issue on the Batman Family Reunion show where we covered #7 but I think the only other appearance of the Earth 1 versions was in DC Super Stars 10 (Strange Sports Stories) and I talk about that at length on the first episode of DC SpecialCast!
June 5, 2025
Sportsmaster also battled Batman in his own title, so yeah, Earth-One
June 6, 2025
Are you sure you’re not confusing him with the Sportsman from Batman 338?
(It’s a natural mistake, since –according to the later letters page on the issue — Conway and Thomas originally intended him to *be* the Earth-1 Sportsmaster.)
June 6, 2025
Yes, you are correct! Thanks!
June 6, 2025
Actually, Batman Family 7 *does* explicitly state that these are the Sportsmaster and Huntress of Earth-1.
To quote the relevant narration:
“All right, now you know the Huntress and Sportsmaster are the masterminds behind this mess!”
“Now — who on Earth are they?”
“First of all, they aren;’t the same Sportsmaster and Huntress we’ve seen operate on Earth-Two…”
“They are a pair of super-criminals who are married — to each other…”
June 7, 2025
Bob Rozakis and I drove The Comicmobile for DC and reported all our first hand info based on our direct interactions with kids and teens and up as we sold DC Comics street by street, town by town.
Our reports to Carmine and Sol Harrison specified that the wide recognition of the names Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen due to the Superman TV series had faded along with that TV series and in the 70’s these names were no longer automatically related to Superman as headliners. The title “Superman” needed to be enlarged. That corresponded with flagging sales of those two comic books. Supergirl was also under performing at the time. That’s what prompted the decision to combine them into one “Superman” title… “Superman Family.” A similar situation was developing with Batman in Detective Comics. That would eventually lead to DC’s adding “Batman Family” following the success of the Superman book. To support all this, I designed three house ads: One had Superman listing all the title logos he was appearing in, then the same for a Batman ad. Next, I designed an ad for the three new “Family” books based on the popularity of the TV show, “All in the Family.” Carmine and Sol had also tried “Superman’s Action comics” and “Batman’s Detective Comics” to address these same issues.
June 7, 2025
As a fan from that era, I never had an issue with understanding where to find Superman or BATMAN. Or did I not understand Jimmy was Superman’s pal or that Lois Lane was his GF. If I struggled with anything it was mistaking a reprint title with current continuity titles. (E.g. Marvel Tales vs Spider-Man)
The other thing that was lost on me was the value in the added cost when a title went from .20 cents to .25 etc. The concept of pages of stories wasn’t something I worried about. I almost always dismissed the added 8 pages of an add-on story. In my eyes, they never stood up. To me the cost was everything. Getting 5 comics for a Buck beats 4 or less any day. (Looking at you 100 Page comics.)
Looking back with eyes of wisdom, I don’t think the publisher had a clue what us the fans were thinking.
June 8, 2025
Michael – thanks for the clarification! I love those 3 ads and never knew it was you that designed them! I think we talked about the Superman and Batman ones in an early episode of the podcast.
June 8, 2025
I absolutely loved this comic! (Wow! So long ago!) Loved the Batgirl-Robin wedding outfits! And Odd Man’s outfit reminds me of Colin Baker’s later Doctor Who duds!
June 8, 2025
BATMAN FAMILY #17! Nice to see the first comic I ever remember having back in 1978 ranked at #6. Both Michael Golden and Gerry Conway have signed it.
June 9, 2025
Great list! I sure do love me some Batman Family!