Batman's first villian?

[Xav]

A friend and I were wondering about the first villian batman faced. By villian we are talking someone with an identity, as opposed to unnamed street thugs. Someon told him it was the Joker, any help would be appreciated.


-X

[Gaz]

A friend and I were wondering about the first villian batman faced. By villian we are talking someone with an identity, as opposed to unnamed street thugs. Someon told him it was the Joker, any help would be appreciated.


-X
IIRC, it was Catwoman,albeit not in the same guise we know now.

[OverMaster]

In real world time, I think it was a guy named Dr. Death back in the early Golden Age. Then, IIRC, came Hugo Strange, the Joker, Catwoman and the first Clayface.

In Modern Age continuity, Catwoman was the first costumed enemy Batman faced.

[Gaz]

In real world time, I think it was a guy named Dr. Death back in the early Golden Age. Then, IIRC, came Hugo Strange, the Joker, Catwoman and the first Clayface.

In Modern Age continuity, Catwoman was the first costumed enemy Batman faced.
Strange, huh? I actually thought "The Cat" was the first costumed villain from the Golden Age too.

[spoon_jenkins]

Batman #1, where Joker and Catwoman (as the Cat) first appeared, is cover dated Spring 1940. So they were preceded by Doctor Death, who first appeared in Dectective Comics #29 (the third Batman story) in July 1939. The villains in the first two stories (I have the Archives) were a chemical company executive named Alfred Stryker and a gang of jewel thieves led by Frenchy Blake. Professor Hugo Strange first appeared in the February 1940 ish of Detective.

[Xav]

Thank you all for the quick replies!

[Patriot07]

Strange, huh? I actually thought "The Cat" was the first costumed villain from the Golden Age too.

I've read Batman #1 and the Joker story is the first story in it.

[IamtheRock3]

I thought in batman year one it was a guy with hook for hands.

[lead sharp]

That was the reaper from year two :) Post Crises in Year one the first costumed 'villian' was Catwoman. Hugo Strange was also an early one.

[Jeff O.]

Pre-Crisis, DETECTIVE COMICS # 265 revealed the previously unknown fact that the first criminal Batman ever captured was a man named Kyle. In DETECTIVE COMICS # 265, this Kyle wants to strike back at Batman for putting him in jail. Kyle becomes the costumed villain, The Clock (not to be confused with The Clock King, of course).

The story was written by Batman's original writer, Bill Finger. Although Kyle wasn't a costumed supervillain when Batman first encountered him, it is interesting that Kyle later felt the need to become one.

To see the full-size cover, go to

http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=fullsize&issue=24038627564%20265

For more info, go to

http://www.dcindexes.com/indexes/batman/det.htm?x=265

For the synopsis by Batman historian John Wells, go to

http://obscure.dcuguide.com/Board/BatmanChars1.htm

and page down to the post by Mikishawm dated June 25, 2000.

[prand_2002]

What abt the red hood?

[grendel824]

What abt the red hood?

What about him?

And I always thought The Monk was the first villain Batman faced... but I'm certainly no expert and don't have the issues (I think I have the reprint of Detective Comics #27, though, so I'll check it out).