Did the Golden Age Batman's adventures also happen to the Modern Age Batman?

[Buried Alien]

When Batman first appeared in DETECTIVE COMICS # 27, he had already been Batman for a while. The story featured in DETECTIVE COMICS # 27, "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate," was not Batman's first adventure (he was already known as "the Bat-Man" by Gotham's criminal underworld and the police).

The Batman from TEC # 27 was the Golden Age Batman of Earth-Two, who died in the 1970s and was retconned out of existence after the destruction of the Multiverse in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. Nevertheless, did the Modern Age Batman that we read about in today's comics experience his own corresponding "Case of the Chemical Syndicate" sometime during his career? What about other early Batman adventures such as Batman and Robin's first encounter with the Joker from BATMAN # 1? Do the Modern Age Batman and Robin (Dick Grayson) have a corresponding experience in their past?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Gordon Smith]

Broadly speaking, I think the answer to your question would be ''no''. Unless the earlier adventure has been referenced in the modern continuity, I would assume that the current Batman has not experienced a similar incident.

[DWEarhart]

That's what struck me as odd, considering Matt Wagner's current Batman projects, Mad Monk and Monster Men, are somewhat, I'm not sure sequels, but are connected to those Golden Age adventures.

But, since it's out of the regular titles, I guess DC can let that one slide.

[Alan2099]

How about the issues where Batman and Robin gunned down Nazis? Those happened, right?

[Babylon23]

That's what struck me as odd, considering Matt Wagner's current Batman projects, Mad Monk and Monster Men, are somewhat, I'm not sure sequels, but are connected to those Golden Age adventures.

But, since it's out of the regular titles, I guess DC can let that one slide.

These stories aren't sequals. They're retellings of the original events. I believe they are part of continuity, as Wagner has stated they take place after Batman: Year One.

[DWEarhart]

These stories aren't sequals. They're retellings of the original events. I believe they are part of continuity, as Wagner has stated they take place after Batman: Year One.

Yes. Now I remember him saying they are after Year One in his interview.

[Chad]

Detective 627 reprinted not only Tec 27's Case of the Chemical Syndicate and the Silver Age retelling of this story, but included two new takes on the story - one drawn by Jim Aparo and the other by Norm Breyfogle. I guess since the same issue contained two conflicting versions of events, neither one could said to be in continuity since at no point does Batman say anything along the lines of "Hey, haven't I already arrested you people a few times for this?"

It depends on the author as well. If Chuck Dixon is at the helm, you can be sure he'll get around to rewriting every Batman story he didn't create, whereas Grant Morrison has been reintroducing some pretty obscure details of Batman's history back into continuity (ie. The Club of Heroes). It also seems as if Thomas Wayne's past as "the first Bat-Man" is canonical once again as of Face the Face whereas this wouldn't have been the case a year ago.

There doesn't seem to be too much rhyme or reason as to what remains from his past though. The best indicator seems to be what can be glimpsed in the Bat-Cave's trophy room. I believe Denny O Neil stated shortly after Crisis that with the exception of those goofy stories from the 1950s/early 60s, most of Batman's past remained intact. However, I've even seen a picture of Fat-Man in Batman's trophy room and you have to figure that if he survived the Crisis...

[Chad]

One thing I noticed in the latest Batman is that Kathy Kane is cited as one of Bruce Wayne past girlfriends. At the same time she's been replanted into Batman's past, she's also being reintroduced as a totally new character in 52. It seems as if certain events can be both in and out of continuity at the same time.