Created by Bob Kane (who worked in the Eisner-Iger shop), the Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (cover dated May, 1939) and soon grew to worldwide success becoming one of the most recognized comic book characters of the 20th Century.

Like The Spirit, Batman shares the following:

• both do not possess super powers

• both have a colourful and fascinating rogues gallery

• both have younger assistants to help on their adventures

• both are friends of their cities police commissioner

Although the characters have never met in a story, they have appeared together twice in 1989!

The cover to Amazing Heroes #157 (cover dated 15 January, 1989) shows the two characters as drawn by Will Eisner

As you can see above, in this cover Eisner does not show the eyes of Batman.

The second meeting took place in the pages of Detective Comics #600 (cover dated May, 1989).

The back pages of the issue featured tributes to the character of Batman from various creators and talent including Berni Wrightson, Neal Adams, Adam West, Dick Sprang, Stan Lee, and of course Will Eisner.

As can be seen, in this illustration Batman's eyes are visible.

With much of Will Eisner's work being kept in print by DC Comics and The Spirit series now being published in DC's Archive series, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the two characters might meet...

If anyone knows of any other meeting of The Spirit with other characters, apart from Cerebus and Superman, please email me.