Batman: 80 Greatest Ever Moments
32. The Black Mirror - Detective Comics #971
Before Scott Snyder took to the main Batman series with the New 52, he worked on a little old book called Detective Comics. In 2011, Snyder was in the midst of writing American Vampire, but this was his first stab at the Dark Knight.
Arguably his greatest work on the character, Snyder was joined by artists Jock and Francesco Francavilla to tell Dick Grayson's definitive Batman story. It sees him reconcile his identity as Gotham's Caped Crusader, features a terrifying thriller-like set-up with James Gordon's estranged son, and introduces a genius concept - an underground auction house that deals only the most decrepit artefacts in the DCU.
Dick infiltrates the Mirror House and comes across a grisly discovery - the bloodied crowbar Joker used to beat Jason Todd to a pulp. It signalled Snyder's intent to highlight the more horrific elements of Batman's world, and with it the coming of a bold new era for the character.
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31. Did Robin Die Tonight? - Batman #408
Jason Todd might not be everyone's favourite Robin, but there's no denying his revamped origin after Crisis on Infinite Earths turned the character into a memorable one.
Coming in Batman #408, this issue transformed Todd into a street orphan who first encountered Batman when he tried lifting the wheels off the Batmobile. It also saw Dick Grayson retire from crime as Robin to become Nightwing further down the line, making it a pivotal - if not overlooked - moment in the Dark Knight's history.
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