Comic Title: Batman #404
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: February 1987
On Sale Date: November 13, 1986 Newsstand Date November 13, 1986
Source: DC Releases, #33

Newsstand Date November 13, 1986
Source: Amazing Heroes, #103

Shipping Date October 21, 1986
Source: DC Releases, #33

Shipping Date October 21, 1986
Source: Amazing Heroes, #103

Shipping Date October 21, 1986
Source: Comics Journal, #111

Copyright Date October 21, 1986
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1986
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Cover Price: $0.75
Page Count: 32
Editor: Dennis J. O'Neil

Title: "Who I Am How I Came to Be"
Pages: 22

Feature(s):
Batman (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: David Mazzucchelli
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Richmond Lewis

Reprinted In:
Batman:Year One HC (1988)
Batman:Year One TPB (1988)
Complete Frank Miller Batman HC (1990)
Batman:Year One HC (2005)
Batman:Year One TPB (2007)
DC Comics Essentials – Batman:Year One Special Edition #1 (2015)
Absolute Batman:Year One HC (2017)
Batman (Facsimile Edition) #404 (2024)
Batman (Facsimile Edition) #404 [Variant] (2024)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (as Bruce Wayne age 25; last appearance in Legends of the Dark Knight #1; next appearance in Legends of the Dark Knight #1)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lt. James Gordon (as a police lieutenant; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Batman #405)
• Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in Detective Comics #614; next appearance in Legends of the Dark Knight #1)

Villain(s)

• Gillian B. Loeb (Gotham City Police Commissioner; next appearance in Batman #405)
• Arnold Flass (Gordon's partner; first name revealed in Batman #407; next appearance in Batman #405)
• Stan (Holly's pimp; name revealed in Batman #406; first appearance; last appearance in Catwoman #1; next appearance in Catwoman #1)
• Wilson, Stannsen, and Renny (corrupt police officers; no further appearances)
• Joe Chill (in flashback; next appearance in Detective Comics #576)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Selina Kyle (last appearance in Catwoman #1; next appearance in Catwoman #1)
• Holly Robinson (Selina's friend; last name not revealed in this story; first appearance; last appearance in Catwoman #1; next appearance in Catwoman #1)

Other Character(s)

• Steve and his friends (no further appearances)
• Thomas Wayne (in flashback to his death; first post-Crisis appearance; last appearance in Batman #430; no further appearances)
• Martha Wayne (in flashback to her death; first post-Crisis appearance; last appearance in Batman #430; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Bruce Wayne (during his parents' murder; last appearance in Batman #430; next appearance in Detective Comics #574)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Harvey Dent (in a news report)

Comments:
"Year One" Part 1

This story occurs between January 4th and March 11th, while Bruce Wayne is 25 years old.

This story continues in Batman #405.

Synopsis:
James Gordon arrives in Gotham City where he joins a corrupt police force. At the same time, Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham after twelve years abroad. Gordon soon earns a reputation as a troublemaker among the corrupt police, so his partner Flass arranges for him to be beaten by his fellow cops. That same night Bruce goes to the East End in disguise and gets into a fight with a local pimp. He knocks out the pimp and has a brief encounter with Selina Kyle before being shot by police. After his beating, Gordon finds Flass and gives him a beating of his own. Bruce escapes from police and barely makes it home alive. While bleeding from his gunshot wound, Bruce sees a bat crash through the window. He decides to use the bat to inspire fear in his enemies. He then summons Alfred for medical help.