Was there a pre-YEAR ONE telling of Batman's first adventure in costume?

[Buried Alien]

BATMAN: YEAR ONE has been the definitive story of Batman's first adventures in costume since the 1980s, but I wonder if the story of Batman's first adventure in the familiar costume was ever told Pre-YEAR ONE? DETECTIVE COMICS # 27 (1939) was the first appearance of Batman, but its featured story "Case of the Chemical Syndicate" clearly wasn't the character's first adventure (he was already established as a vigilante and the Gotham underworld and police already knew of him).

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[stk]

Probably covered in the 3-issue 'Untold Legend of the Batman' mini from 1980, although it's been decades since I've read it, so I can't say for sure.

I'm sure there must have been a Silver Age story, too, at some point.

[kevink31593]

Does "When Batman was Robin" from 1955's Detective Comics #226 count? That was his first adventure "in costume", however not as Batman. This story is reprinted in DC Comics Classics Library The Batman Annuals volume one, which I am currently working on reading.

[Mat001]

That was pretty much the only time Bruce wore a costume and did some form of crime fighting. But before "Year One" came about, I could be wrong, but I don't recall there being any one particular adventure shown where he made his first encounter with the criminal element. Like in the 89 film, Bruce had been operating for a while as Batman. "Year One" just gave us a timeline of events. "Untold Legend" showed the Robin costume years and then went to his time in college, before going to the night the bat came in his window and then he was just Batman.

[BatfanReborn]

Secret Origins#6 from 1986 tells the prequel story to Tec27. It's the origin of Earth 2 Batman even though he had been written out of continuity by COIE

[David Walton]

Secret Origins#6 from 1986 tells the prequel story to Tec27. It's the origin of Earth 2 Batman even though he had been written out of continuity by COIE

Is that the Denny O'Neil story "The Man Who Falls"?

[Tupiaz]

I can't confirm any of this but here is something to go for: http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Batman_Origins

[Coyote2010]

Probably covered in the 3-issue 'Untold Legend of the Batman' mini from 1980, although it's been decades since I've read it, so I can't say for sure.

I'm sure there must have been a Silver Age story, too, at some point.

I don't know for sure, but I think Untold Legend of Batman revealed Joe Chill's story and the idea that Thomas Wayne wore a Bat Suit. I LOVE that mini though. For years it might have been my favorite Bat story. I don't know if it has a year one premise to it. Wouldn't those early issues of Detective and Batman cover it? Oh read the whole post first... Sorry!

Actually, I read a Sgt. Rock Batman Brave and the Bold team up where it was revealed that Bruce Wayne fought in the French Underground? That was pre Bat Suit Batman.

[BatfanReborn]

Is that the Denny O'Neil story "The Man Who Falls"?

No. It's by Roy Thomas with art by Marshall Rogers.
I believe Man Who Falls is only available in the Secret origins trade (haven't read it) as the only original story among some other re-prints

[jgiannantoni05]

THIS is the answer:

http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Detective_Comics_Vol_1_265

[bat39]

Yeah, 'Tec # 265 told 'Batman's First Case'. The same story was adapted for Secret Origins # 6, along with 'The Case of the Chemical Syndicate' from 'Tec # 27 to tell the complete origin of the E2 Batman.

Untold Legend didn't exactly tell any 'Year One' stories...however during the Commissioner Gordon segment, it mentions how Batman initially clung to the shadows, leaving criminals tied up for the police and embarrassing the department by his superior track record at crime-fighting.

[The Greatest Hero]

Pretty sure Snyder is telling a story like that in Batman pretty soon. He did it for zero-issue month and it said it would continue in 2013. So... will have to wait and see.