Limited Edition: The Untold Legend of the Batman #1

The Untold Legend of the Batman, published in 1980, holds the distinction of being the first limited series ever released by DC Comics. Conceived during a time when comic book companies were beginning to experiment with longer-form storytelling outside of their standard monthly anthologies, the series was designed to provide a cohesive, updated origin story for Batman, synthesizing his decades of fragmented history into a single narrative arc for new readers.

The series was written by Len Wein and featured art by John Byrne and Jim Aparo, two of the most respected creators of the era. Byrne’s cover and interior contributions, combined with Aparo’s iconic penciling, were intended to bridge the gap between the character's Golden Age roots and the more grounded, modern sensibility of the late 1970s. The issue was well-received by fans as a definitive primer, setting a commercial and structural precedent that helped pave the way for the industry's subsequent shift toward the limited series format.