Batman and Other DC Classics #1 is a one-shot published in 1989.
Synopsis for "The Origin of the Batman"
This story is reprinted from Batman #47.
On their way back to Wayne Manor, Batman and Robin find a truck that crashed over the side of a ridge. They find the driver killed on impact, but as they move around the back of the truck a secret door opens, and a man steps out. Surprised at Batman's and Robin's presence, he knocks out Robin with his pistol and takes aim at Batman, but is shot by officers just in time. The officers tell Batman that he was a criminal trying to secretly cross state lines.
Upon investigating the trucking company, Batman finds that it was recently purchased by Joe Chill, the man responsible for the death of his parents. Batman remembers Chill shooting his father, his mother dying of shock, and the promise he made at their grave to fight crime. He decides to take the case, alone.
His first attempt to get at Chill is to pose as a driver looking for work, but Chill refuses to hire him. Batman decides to set a trap for Chill. He boards a gambling showboat and points it into state waters so police can make legal arrests. The boat owner makes a quick getaway as soon as police show up, and goes to Chill in order to get smuggled out of the state.
As a precaution, Chill checks a secret camera in his office and sees Batman has followed the boat owner. He shoots the boat owner for letting Batman follow, and when Batman enters the room, lies about shooting in self-defense. Without any evidence to the contrary, Batman reveals his identity to Chill and promises him that he will always be watching, waiting for Chill to make a mistake.
Terrified, Chill runs into a room with some of his men and explains that Batman is after him for killing his father. Chill's men are angry that Chill "created" the Batman, and shoot him before he can tell them Batman's identity. Batman hurries into the room and dispatches the men, and watches as Chill succumbs to the bullet wounds. The case of Thomas Wayne's murder is closed.
Appearing in "The Origin of the Batman"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Gotham City Police Department
- Thomas Wayne (Dies in flashback)
- Martha Wayne (Dies in flashback)
Antagonists:
- Joe Chill (Dies) (Flashback and main story)
- "Feets" Borgam (Single appearance; dies)
- Monty Julep (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Bats
Locations:
- Gotham City
- GCPD Headquarters
- Gotham Cemetery (First appearance)
- Crime Alley (Flashback only)
- Wayne Manor
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Past and Future King!"
This story is reprinted from Camelot 3000 #1.
London, England in the year 3000 is being invaded by aliens. A man flees to a historical dig site. The aliens pursue him. Inside, the man opens the crypt of King Arthur Pendragon, who rises and kills the aliens. Arthur offers to take on the man as his squire. The man agrees. The two kill aliens outside the dig site and take their spacecraft. In North America, the aliens are attacking as well. Arthur and his squire reach Stonehenge. Once there, Arthur calls forth Merlin. The Lady of the Lake throws the sword Excalibur to Arthur, but in midair it disappears. At the United Nations, a rock thrusts up from the floor of the assembly room. Stuck in the rock is Excalibur.
Appearing in "The Past and Future King!"
Featured Characters:
- King Arthur (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Merlin (First appearance)
- The Lady of the Lake (First appearance) (Cameo)
- Thomas Prentice (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Aliens
Other Characters:
- Commander Acton (First appearance)
- Jules Futrelle (First appearance)
- Nyneve (First appearance) (Cameo) (Flashback only)
- Modred (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Items:
- Excalibur (Cameo)
Vehicles:
- Spaceship
Concepts:
Synopsis for "Gray Life, Gray Dreams"
This story is reprinted from Justice League #5.
Gray Man has been assigned by the Lords of Order to retrieve remaining dream energy from the deceased and return it to the Lords. Tiring of his job, he begins stealing it from the living and using it for his own purposes. He begins in Stone Ridge, Vermont and this draws the attention of Dr. Fate, who pursues him, but he is captured and immobilized as the Gray Man recounts his history.
Long ago, he was a sorcerer whose magic allowed him to glimpse the Lords of Order and they chose him for this task, which he has done without rest for centuries. He is allowed the ability to create doppelgangers of himself whose role is to siphon off the dream energy but he has grown resentful and believes that he can become more powerful than the Lords of Order and finally destroy them. But first, he wants to set his other selves free from their bondage and allow them to steal the dreams and wishes of the living.
Meanwhile, Jack Ryder finishes his show Hot Seat with a rant about the Justice League when a coworker tells him that Dr. Fate has been spotted in Stone Ridge. Ryder calls for a camera crew to meet him there.
At the Secret Sanctuary, Batman and Guy Gardner get into another heated argument about who should be leader. Fed up, Guy removes his power ring and attacks Batman, but Batman knocks Guy out to the delight of the entire team... with one punch.
Oberon tells the League that the monitor is speaking. Dr. Fate is communicating through the device, asking the League to come to his aid. A transmission to their computers explains that millions of invisible Grey Men have become alive. Captain Marvel flies ahead as the rest (sans Guy) follow in the Blue Beetle's Bug. Marvel finds an injured camera crewman and flies him into the city. The rest of the League arrive and encounter The Creeper, who is delighted to show them that the town has been transformed into a bizarre, surreal version of itself.
Appearing in "Gray Life, Gray Dreams"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Gray Man (Flashback and main story)
Other Characters:
- Chauncey (Mentioned only)
- Lords of Order (Flashback only) (Cameo)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Concepts:
- One Punch (First appearance)
Synopsis for "Crossroads"
This story is reprinted from New Teen Titans #39.
Acting on information provided by Bethany Snow, the Teen Titans invade an Alaskan way station of Brother Blood's cult, and find proof of his political backing of certain senators and congressmen, which they turn over to the authorities. Terra secretly reports the Titans' activities to the Terminator, and she and the Terminator fight a mock battle to test each other's powers. At the next Titans meeting, Kid Flash appears in civilian garb as Wally West and formally announces that he is leaving the team. After goodbyes are said, Robin unexpectedly announces that he too is giving up his costumed identity—not because he is retiring, as Kid Flash is, but because he intends to take on a new guise, as yet undecided, which will identify him more as the Titans' leader than as the Batman's junior partner. Unknown to the Titans, all of this information is being relayed to the Terminator by Terra, so that he too now knows Robin and Kid Flash's true identities.
Appearing in "Crossroads"
Featured Characters:
- Teen Titans
- Changeling
- Cyborg
- Kid Flash (Quits team)
- Raven
- Robin (Quits team)
- Starfire
- Terra
- Wonder Girl
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Adeline Wilson (In a photograph only)
- Frances Kane
- Batman (As an illusion only)
- Grant Wilson (In a photograph only)
- Joseph Wilson (In a photograph only)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- This was a one-shot issue with pages copied from the original origin of Batman, Camelot 3000, the Justice League and The New Teen Titans.
- The issue also had a four page guide to collecting comic books.
- There were no ads in this issue, other than for some of the graphic novels and current issues that were in publication in 1989.