As DC Comics is well aware, “even the best stories can be made even better with Batman.” That’s why the comics publisher will be including a reprint of Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos’ “Citizen Wayne” storyline in their upcoming Pearl #1.

Announced on the DC blog earlier today, the debut issue of Pearl, the first book in Bendis’ Jinxworld line of creator-owned titles, will include the rare “Citizen Wayne,” a black-and-white Batman short story which was the very first work Bendis and Gaydos did for DC way back in 2000.

Bendis explained the decision to include the story in Pearl, saying it was a way to remind newer fans that his upcoming stint on Walmart’s giant-sized Batman title won’t actually be his first time writing for the character.

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Here’s Bendis’ statement in full:

Recently, DC announced that I’ll be writing some Batman [for the new Walmart 100-page giants]. It’s a big twelve-part Batman story with Nick Derington, and people were very excited about it. In fact, I was kind of overwhelmed by how lovely everyone was being about it. And in the conversations online, some of the older fans started laughing about how many people were saying, “Finally, Brian’s going to write Batman.”

The longtime fans were saying, “Brian has written Batman.”

Newer fans don’t know because it was a long time ago, but just before I signed with Marvel—just before I started Ultimate Spider-Man and Jessica Jones—Michael Gaydos and I were hired to write and draw a six-page Batman story. It was an Elseworlds Batman story called “Citizen Wayne.” It was Citizen Kane with Batman.

Genius, I know! You might want to sit down while you process how genius that was.

Not only was it not a genius idea, but it wasn’t even an original one! Mark Waid had done it six years before and no one had told us. But it is a lovely little curio. We love it, and we realized that it’s been twenty years and no one has seen it. Nor would they. It ran as a backup in Batman Chronicles #21.

So, I asked. I called up Dan DiDio and I said, “Hey, can we reprint that Batman story in the back of Pearl? People don’t know about it and it’s cute.”

Dan said yes, so our very first Batman story will be reprinted in the back of Pearl #1. People who have already ordered the issue are getting a bonus. This is on the house, as they say. For anyone else who wants a copy of it, pick up Pearl #1. You’re going to get a brand-new character from the creators of Jessica Jones and as a bonus, a pretty fun Batman story.

RELATED: Bendis Shares First Look at Nick Derington’s Art for 12-Part Batman Story

Pearl features the first original character from Bendis and Gaydos since the two created Jessica Jones together in 2001. The book, a “stylish crime thriller,” finds a tattoo artist forced to enter into “the world of professional assassination” while trying to maintain the relationships in her old life.

Pearl #1, by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos, will be available on Wednesday, Aug. 15.