Posted By Dan Greenfield on Dec 18, 2022 | 3 comments

An ANNIVERSARY SALUTE to one of comics’ coolest gimmicks…

By PETER BOSCH

On December 18, 1941, Detective Comics #60 (Feb. 1942 publication date) appeared on the newsstands and in it the Batsignal first saw the light of day (or, rather, night). Without any prior fanfare, Commissioner Gordon summoned Batman and Robin to police headquarters with this symbol in the sky.

Detective Comics #60. Pencils by Bob Kane, inks by Jerry Robinson and George Roussos.

Though not an essential part of every plot, it did serve a purpose — that of letting both the upright citizenry of Gotham and its fearful criminal element know that Batman was there to bring justice in his own way. While the police could not be everywhere, Batman was.

This signal, in the same way that the big red “S” on Superman’s chest did when confronting law-breakers, has symbolized for decades: “Don’t mess with me.”

Detective Comics #164 (Oct. 1950). Batman updates the design of the Batsignal.  Pencils by Bob Kane and Lew Sayre Schwartz, inks by Charles Paris.

Here is a gallery of 13 COVERS to show off that glorious illumination in the sky. In chronological order:

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Detective Comics #108 (Feb. 1946). George Roussos art.

Batman #47 (June-July 1948). Pencils by Bob Kane, inks by Charles Paris

Detective Comics #150 (Aug. 1949). Jim Mooney art.

Batman #59 (June-July 1950). Pencils by Bob Kane and Lew Sayre Schwartz, inks by Charles Paris.

Detective Comics #164 (Oct. 1950). Pencils by Win Mortimer, inks by George Roussos.

Detective Comics #186 (Aug. 1952). Win Mortimer art.

Detective Comics #196 (June 1953). Win Mortimer art.

World’s Finest #74 (Jan.-Feb. 1955). Pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Ray Burnley

Batman #170 (Mar. 1965). Pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Joe Giella.

Limited Collectors’ Edition #C-44 (June-July 1976). Painting by Wallace Fax, based on a 1966 Carmine Infantino-Murphy Anderson Batman image.

Detective Comics #561 (Apr. 1986). Gene Colan pencils, Dick Giordano inks, Ed Hannigan layout.

Detective Comics #567 (Oct. 1986). Klaus Janson art.

Batman #442 (Dec. 1989). George Pérez art.

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MORE on THE BATSIGNAL

— IRV NOVICK’s Greatest BATMAN Page. Click here.

— Just Look at This Unsung BATMAN Splash Page by DON NEWTON. Click here.

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PETER BOSCH’s first book, American TV Comic Books: 1940s-1980s – From the Small Screen to the Printed Page, has just been published by TwoMorrows. He has written articles and conducted celebrity interviews for various magazines and newspapers. Peter lives in Hollywood.