Today in Comics History, February 19: Happy Batday, Birthman!

This is a combined, expanded and updated version of posts originally published February 19, 2012 and February 19, 2013.

On this bright and clear February 19 afternoon...what nefarious plot d'you think Alfred and Commissioner Gordon are up to?


from "Surprise! Surprise!" in Batman Family #11 (DC, May 1977), script by Bob Rozakis, pencils by Carl Potts, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Bob LeRose
Why, on this day, (mumble mumble) years ago, Bruce Wayne was born! In other words, it's BATMAN'S BIRTHDAY! Why else do you think that Gordon and Alfred made that extended trip to Party City? Bruce loves Star Wars party supplies!






Luckily for Al 'n' Jim, when the birthday boy enters later on, he's not wearing his blue and black leotards, but rather a grey jacket and a two-toned turtleneck that would make Chuck Klosterman flee in terror. Hey, all his friends are there! Even...y'know...what's his name!


But wait a second, you ask..."How do we know that Batman is, like Aquaman, a Pisces?" (His horoscope: "Your parents will be killed in front of you, and a large winged mammal will fly through one of your windows, inspiring your career." Whoa, pretty darn accurate!)


Well, we know that because of Bob Rozakis, the DC Answer Man! Bob wrote the text of the essential-for-this-feature Super DC Calendar 1976, with many birthdays of the DC heroes and villains (Alfred: April 8; Shrinking Violet, June 3; Mitch Shelly: February 3, March 17, March 30, April 18, May 1, May 2...)



from Super DC Calendar 1976 (DC, 1975), lettering by Ben Oda
Bob also wrote the classic DC "Answer Man" column, where he answered important questions like "How many horsepower does the Jokermobile have?" (450 hp), "Whatever happened to Zook, the Martian Manhunter's alien sidekick?" (Zook was barbecued and eaten at the last Legion of Doom summer picnic), and "How much is Angel Love #2 worth?" (60¢ in good condition).


from "Ask the DC Answer Man!" in DC Comics cover-dated September 1981
It certainly wasn't the first Batman birthday story, though, and if I have my way, it won't be the last. Here's an early (1949) Bat-birthday tale!


from "A Birthday for Batman" in Star-Spangled Comics #91 (DC/National, April 1949), script by Bill Finger, pencils and inks by Jim Mooney, letters by Ira Schnapp
Robin can't think of what to give Bruce for his birthday (after all, what do you give the man who owns everything in Gotham?), so he plots a merry detective chase through the streets to challenge and puzzled the Dark Cheerful Knight.




Maybe it's not a good idea to say you're going on a boyhunt, Batman. Anyway, Robin even gets the last laugh! Ha!


Here's another tale from a bygone age of the fun-lovin' Batman, featuring the Caped Crusader sneakin' into his own birthday via grandfather clock. Pretty sneaky, Bruce!


from "The Secret of Batman's Butler" in Batman (1940 series) #110 (DC/National, September 1957), script by Bill Finger, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Stan Kaye, letters by Pat Gordon
Here, Batman gets stuck up to his utility belt in frosting so creamy, you could spread it with a paper knife! (But use a spoon, so you get every drop.)


from "Batman's Deadly Birthday" in Batman #130 (DC/National, March 1960), script by Bill Finger, pencils by Dick Sprang, inks by Stan Kaye, letters by Stan Starkman
Dig (if you will) a Batman, awarded a silver replica of my mom, stuffed with cash that he can't even keep. Geez, guys, maybe an iPod would have been more appropriate?


Then, there's a fireworks display that is supposed to portray images of Batman in action, but instead winds up looking pretty much like every other abstract fireworks display. Gotham City Exceptionalism, everyone!


No Batman story is complete without explaining the weird-ass image you saw on the splash page. Here's a giant cake that you can't eat is presented to Batman. Thanks so very much, citizens of Gotham. I suppose that picking up an actual Fudgie the Whale cake was a little too expensive for the guy who's saved the city umpty-umpt times, huh?


Oh! And there are also some criminals, who come to a...heh heh heh heh...sticky end! Bwah-ha-ha-ha!


Still, was this Batman's weirdest birthday? Oh, you know the answer to that. No, it was not. There was also the birthday where...okay, get this...Wonder Woman and Batgirl were both battling each other to give him the best presents and prove she loved him the most. Wait a minute, is that Batman's birthday or Hugh Hefner's birthday?!?


from The Brave and the Bold #78 (DC, June 1968), script by Bob Haney, pencils by Bob Brown, inks by Mike Esposito, letters by Milt Snapinn (?)
It's the catfight so extreme it tilts the panel into a Dutch angle! (Well, that's appropriate for a late-60s Batman book!


Babs bought Bats a new cape! Woo.


Diana bought that gold statue of himself that Batman had on his Amazon Wish List!



Then, apparently, they both go shopping at Spencer's Gifts for something subtle.


Then, it gets personal. (Wocka-cha-wocka-cha-wocka-cha-wocka!)


How does it all end? I have got no idea. I have the feeling that Batman will soon be calling up Archie Andrews for some hints on juggling two girlfriends. This whole situation is going to cause some problems at the next sock-hop at Gotham High, Batman!


So: Batman, being fought over by Lynda Carter and Yvonne Craig? Best birthday ever. Much better than the time where he couldn't decide which Princess Cruise he wanted to take. Bermuda or Alaska, Bruce?


from "The Lesson" in Batman: Gotham Knights #20 (DC, October 2001), script by Julius Schwartz and Dan Raspler, pencils and inks by Christian Alamy, letters by Kurt Hathaway
Did you send Batman a birthday card? It hardly matters; he won't have a chance to open them.


from "Die Small — Die Big!" in Detective Comics #385 (DC, March 1969), script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Bob Brown, inks by Joe Giella
So let's all raise a glass of cold refreshing milk and toast the birthday of the Caked Crusader! May his cape never wrinkle, and may he have many, many more birthdays! And buy him a present, Damian, you cheap-ass little punk.



from Super Friends (2008 series) #15 (DC, July 2009), script by Sholly Fisch, pencils and inks by J. Bone, colors by Heroic Age, letters by Travis Lanham
Please salute the man of the day, that wonderful Homme de Chauve Souris, Бэтмен, Μπάτμαν, Le Hombre Murciélago! Happy birthday, Batman! Any words at your party, Bruce?


from "Many Happy Returns" in Detective Comics #1027 (DC, November 2020); script by Matt Fraction; pencils, inks, and colors by Chip Zdarsky; letters by Aditya Bidikar