DC Comics Celebrates Batman’s 75th Anniversary With Free Issue Of ‘Detective Comics #27!’

DC Comics will celebrate Batman's popularity with a free comic book for all fans. Get ready to meet the Dark Knight for the first time as Detective Comics #27 is revamped like you've never seen before.

According to Entertainment Weekly, DC Comics has more plans laid out for the Dark Knight's 75^th anniversary. Detective Comics #27 will be given away for free on the celebratory occasion. This won't actually be a collector's edition of the 1939 comic book, but a modern retelling of that introductory issue.

Comic book fans know Detective Comics #27 marks the first appearance of the Dark Knight. Created by writer/artist Bob Kane and artist Bill Finger, Batman had to solve the complex murder mystery titled "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate." Set in the 30s, the Caped Crusader had a hyphen in his name, which letterers later removed once the title character became popular. For the first time, readers met the costumed superhero in a hard-broiled police/crime drama.

The story begins with a boring conversation between the disinterested Bruce Wayne and police commissioner James Gordon. Suddenly Gordon is called away on duty when a dead body is discovered. A mob-hired killer is going after the wealthy partners of the Apex Chemical Corporation. Only the masked vigilante known as "The Bat-Man" can stop him before he strikes again.

Over the years, "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate" has been retold many times by different writers and artists. Robin, the Boy Wonder sidekick, even showed up in one of the recent updates as the timeline moved away from the 1930s. Now the original story will be modernized by best-selling author Brad Meltzer and artist Bryan Hitch. The special edition of the mega-sized New52 issue will be designed by Chip Kidd.

DC Comics will be giving away copies of Detective Comics #27 on July 23, aka Batman Day. This is one day you have to mark on your calendar and get to a comic book shop.