Batman Album #13
Batman Album #13 delivers the German-language debut of the climactic chapter of 'A Lonely Place of Dying,' the story that introduced Tim Drake as the third Robin — one of the most consequential character introductions in Batman's publishing history. Batman #442, reprinted here, is the specific issue in which Tim Drake first puts on the Robin costume and rescues Batman and Nightwing from Two-Face, cementing his place in the Bat-family. By bringing this watershed moment to German readers in 1991, Norbert Hethke Verlag ensured that the post-Jason Todd reinvention of Robin reached a significant European audience. The issue thus carries dual significance: it marks a landmark narrative turning point in the original DC continuity and stands as a key artifact of the internationalization of the Batman mythos during the late Bronze Age boom.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
Norbert Hethke Verlag, a German specialty publisher founded in 1977 and known primarily for reprints and collector editions, secured a DC Comics license in 1989 and launched four concurrent Batman reprint series — Batman, Batman Album, Batman Sonderband, and Batman Klassik — running through 1992. The Batman Album line, which ultimately reached 22 issues, reprinted recent American story arcs in prestige album format. Issue #13 is the third of a three-part serialization of 'A Lonely Place of Dying' (Batman #440–442, 1989), written by Marv Wolfman with co-plotting by George Pérez and art by Jim Aparo; the German editorial team, credited across the line as Norbert Hethke (editor-in-chief), Hajo F. Breuer, and Claus Bürvenich, translated and packaged the material with minimal lag behind the American originals.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Reprints Batman (DC, 1940 series) #442 — the final chapter of the 'A Lonely Place of Dying' crossover storyline.
- This is the issue in which Tim Drake first wears the Robin costume in-story, rescuing Batman and Nightwing from Two-Face.
- The German title is 'Jeder stirbt für sich allein, Teil 3' — Part 3 of a three-album serialization that began with Batman Album #11.
- Story written by Marv Wolfman (co-plotted with George Pérez); Batman issues penciled by Jim Aparo with inks by Mike DeCarlo.
- Characters featured: Batman (Bruce Wayne), Tim Drake (as Robin), Nightwing (Dick Grayson), Alfred Pennyworth, and Two-Face as the principal villain.
- Published by Norbert Hethke Verlag as part of the Batman Album series (22 issues total, 1989–1992), one of four simultaneous Batman reprint lines the publisher ran under its DC license.
- The Batman Album series was edited by Norbert Hethke (Chefredaktion), Hajo F. Breuer, and Claus Bürvenich.
- The source story, 'A Lonely Place of Dying,' was a crossover between the Batman ongoing series and New Titans (issues #440–442 and New Titans #60–61, 1989).