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Exhibition Comic Art: 120 Years of Panels and Pages

Batman, no. 1. New York: Detective Comics, Spring 1940. Reproduction. Serial and Government Publications Division, Library of Congress (035.00.00) © DC Comics, used with permission.
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Super Villains

Where would superheroes be without super villains? If superheroes are the ultimate protagonists within comic books, villains serve as the all-important antagonists who bring complexity to the story narrative. The Joker, now known as Batman’s arch nemesis, made his first appearance in issue no. 1 of Batman’s eponymous series in 1940. He has become one of the most iconic comic book characters in contemporary pop culture.