Batman HQ | An Examination of the Dark Knight

Key Facts

• Batman is a fictional character.
• Batman has also been referred to as the Dark Knight and the Caped Crusader.
• Is the brain child of Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist).
• The first appearance of Batman was in Detective Comics, version number twenty seven, in the year nineteen thirty nine.
• Bruce Wayne is the secret identity of Batman.
• As well as being a fictional character, Batman resides and fights in the fictional city of Gotham.
• Batman's main allies are his butler Alfred Pennyworth, and James Gordon, the police commissioner for Gotham City.
• Batman has been assisted by Batgirl, Nightwing and Robin in some stories, Robin has been credited as his sidekick.
• Whilst being credited as a 'Superhero', Batman does not possess any super powers.
• Batman is instead aided by a range of resources, including a cape, utility belt, Batmobile, Batwing, Batcave and a Batsignal.
• The main enemies of Batman include the Joker, the Riddler, the Penguin, Catwomen, Poison Ivy and Two-Face.

A history of adaptations in the media

Comics

• The first story Batman appeared in was 'The Case of the Chemical Syndicate'.
• This story was printed in version number twenty seven of Detective Comics (nineteen thirty nine).
• Within a year, the majority of the key elements of Batman were developed, such as his utility belt and plane.
• The first 'Batman' comic was created in nineteen forty.
• In the same year, Robin was introduced as Batman's sidekick, enabling Batman to express his feelings.
• However, Bob Kane and many fans preferred a solo Batman, believing Robin to have softened the main character.
• As the nineteen forties progressed, Batman became a more lighthearted comic strip.
• By the nineteen fifties the popularity of the comic had waned, forcing DC comics into a collaboration of Superman and Batman.
• The alleged homosexual overtone between Batman and Robin resulted in new characters such as Batgirl.
• This again resulted in an even lighter tone for the comics, which resulted in further declines in sales by the nineteen sixties.
• In nineteen sixty four, DC comic considered axing the character altogether.
• Luckily the success of the TV series in nineteen sixty six, produced a renaissance in sales and circulation of the comic.
• However, fans of a gritty Batman were to be disappointed, the comics took on the same camp characteristics of the TV series.
• When the shows was canceled in nineteen sixty eight, Batman was returned to the original roots of Kane and Finger.
• The Batman of the nineteen seventies had a darker theme, but sales still declined, although the influence of O'Neil and Adams is held in high esteem.
• Sales in nineteen eighty five hit a new low, but heralded Frank Miller's acclaimed limited series, 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns', a year later. A second resurgence occurred, which was a catalyst for the movie in 1989.
• Further contributions by Lee, Miller, Morrison, Dixon and Grant has enabled Batman to remain a prominent comic to the present day. Cross over themes with the DC universe became more common place, such as Batman's reentry into the Justice Squad.
• The supposed death of Bruce Wayne in 2009, and Dick Grayson (Robin) becoming the new Batman, is perhaps the biggest development in the storyline of the comic.

Movies

• The first movie starring Batman, was in 1966, with Adam West taking the leading role. The film was a spin off from the popular TV series, and was directed by Leslie H. Martinson.
• Tim Burton directed the next movie in 1989. A seminal event in the history of Batman, it catapulted the character back into the consciousness of the public. Featuring a dark and grimy cinematography, it was acclaimed by critics.
• The follow-up film by Tim Burton was in 1992. Batman Returns was not quite as successful as Burton's first movie, but is still respected by fans and critics of the genre.
• Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was the first animated Batman movie. A spin off from the animated TV series, it was generally well received and is still respected by fans.
• Joel Schumacher's entrance into the movie franchise is best forgotten. Whilst being a success at the box office, Batman Forever was panned by critics and is largely overlooked by present day fans.
• Batman & Robin was little more than a disaster. Chris O'Donnell and Alicia Silverstone as Robin and Batgirl never endeared themselves to fans. Many movie goers predicted this to be the final Batman movie. Gone was the dark atmosphere of the Burton films.
• Eight years later, with the painful memories of Batman & Robin fading, Batman was repackaged anew by Christopher Nolan. A return to dark emotions of Batman, long gone were the silly sidekicks and enemies. Rated as the best Batman movie so far by imdb members.
• The sequel by Christopher Nolan in 2008 was a blockbusting success. Rarely has a film been received better than it's predecessor. The power house acting display by Heath Ledger as the the Joker, may go down in cinema history as amongst the greatest.

Television

• Batman's first television appearance was in nineteen sixty six. Adam West starred as Batman. Shown on ABC, it ran for two years, a total of one hundred and twenty episodes, and is renowned in popular culture for it's camp costumes and humour.
• Batman's first animated television series was in nineteen sixty nine. Titled, 'Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder' it lasted for nine years. It was aired on ABC.
• Batman was also a part of the Super Friends animated series, which began in nineteen seventy three and lasted for thirteen years. Again this was aired on ABC.
• The next time Batman appeared in a animated series was in nineteen ninety two. A new look was produced, which complimented the gothic feel of Tim Burton's movies. Revisions of this animated series have been released in two thousand and four and eight.

Video Games

• Batman Returns, released in 1992 for the Snes, Sega Genesis, and Windows 98.
• Batman Vengeance, released in 2002 for the Gamecube, Xbox and PS2.
• Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu, released in 2003 for the Xbox and PS2.
• Batman: Dark Tomorrow, released in 2003 for the Gamecube, Xbox and PS2.
• Batman Begins, released in 2005 for the Xbox, Gamecube and PS2.
• LEGO Batman: The Videogame, released in 2008 for the Xbox 360, DS, Wii and PS3.
• Batman: Arkham Asylum, released in 2009 for the Xbox 360 and PS3.