Facts about Batman

Over the course of the first few Batman strips elements were added to the character and the artistic depiction of Batman evolved.

Batman and a team of superheroes destroy Brother Eye and the OMACs.

The success of the series increased sales throughout the comic book industry, and Batman reached a circulation of close to 900,000 copies.

Noteworthy among these changes is that the general populace and the criminal element now considers Batman an urban legend rather than a known force.

Subsequently Batman takes an even darker, often excessive approach to his crimefighting.

Batman's primary character traits can be summarized as "wealth, physical prowess, deductive abilities, and obsession.

At the time, I only had a small domino mask, like the one Robin later wore, on Batman's face.

The cave is also home to a large colony of bats which Batman can summon to a scene with a sonic device.

Batman becomes a founding member of the Justice League of America, appearing in its first story in 1960s Brave and the Bold #28.

By that time, National was the top-selling and most influential publisher in the industry; Batman and the company's other major hero, Superman, were the cornerstones of the company's success.

Batman keeps most of his field equipment in a utility belt.

Batman's secret identity is Bruce Wayne, a wealthy industrialist, playboy, and philanthropist.

The first Batman story, "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate," was published in Detective Comics #27 (May 1939).

The debut of the Batman television series in 1966 had a profound influence on the character.

Various creators worked to return the character to his dark roots, culminating in the 1986 miniseries Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by writer-artist Frank Miller.

Batman faces a variety of foes ranging from common criminals to outlandish supervillains.

Like Superman, the prominent persona of Batman's dual identities varies with time.

Following the success of this story, World's Finest Comics was revamped so it featured stories starring both heroes together, instead of the separate Batman and Superman features that had been running previously.

Batman has often been paired in adventure with his Justice League teammate Superman, notably as the co-stars of World's Finest and Superman/Batman series.

One was that the story took place during the day, and the second was that when Batman caught the villain, he pulled a gun on him.

Batman utilizes a large arsenal of specialized gadgets in his war against crime, the designs of which usually share a bat motif.

I must be a creature of the night, black, terrible…" As if responding to his desires, a bat suddenly flies through the window, inspiring Bruce to assume the persona of Batman.

The following year drew more attention to the character, due to the release of the feature 1989 film Batman.

Batman's origin is first presented in Detective Comics #33 in November 1939, and is later fleshed out in Batman #47.

Writers Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, and Alan Grant worked on the Batman titles during "Knightfall" and would also contribute to other Batman crossovers throughout the 1990s.

Batman spends the 1970s and early 1980s mainly working solo, with occasional team-ups with Robin and/or Batgirl.

Batman once again becomes a member of the Justice League during Grant Morrison's 1996 relaunch of the series, titled JLA.

The central fixed event in the Batman stories is the character's origin story.

Batman comics were among those criticized when the comic book industry came under scrutiny with the publication of psychologist Fredric Wertham's book Seduction of the Innocent, in 1954.

Commissioner James "Jim" Gordon, Batman's ally in the Gotham City police, debuted along with Batman in Detective Comics #27 and has been a consistent presence since then.

In Batman #1, Batman is depicted as using a gun, stating "Much as I hate to take human life, I'm afraid this time it's necessary."

Batman has been presented as wearing a black cape and cowl, as seen in the Tim Burton Batman movie series, whilst the 1960s television showed Batman in blue and grey, as have prose adventures.

Nevertheless, details of Batman's history were altered or expanded upon through the decades.

Frank Miller retold Batman's origin in the storyline Year One from Batman #404-407, which emphasizes a grittier tone in the character.

DC's 2005 limited series, Identity Crisis, reveals that JLA member Zatanna had edited Batman's memories, leading to his deep loss of trust in the rest of the superhero community.

After the end of "Knightfall," the storylines split in two directions, following both the Azrael-Batman's adventures, and Bruce Wayne's quest to become Batman once more.

The follow-up story arc in Batman, "Batman & Son," introduces Damian Wayne, who is Batman's son with Talia al Ghul.

Batman later creates the Brother I satellite surveillance system to watch over the other heroes.

Sales nearly doubled, despite Kane's preference for a solo Batman, and it sparked a proliferation of "kid sidekicks.

Wertham criticized Batman comics for their supposed homosexual overtones and argued that Batman and Robin were portrayed as lovers.

Additions include meetings with a future Superman during his youth, his upbringing by his uncle Philip Wayne (introduced in Batman #208, Jan./Feb.

In 1980, then-editor Paul Levitz commissioned the Untold Legend of the Batman limited series to thoroughly chronicle Batman's origin and history.

Batman was one of the few superhero characters to be continuously published as interest in the genre waned during the 1950s.

In Batman's first appearance in Detective Comics #27, he is already operating as a crime fighter.

The character's origin was revealed in #33 (Nov. 1939), unfolding in a two-page story that establishes the brooding persona of Batman, a character driven by the loss of his parents.

By 1942, the writers and artists behind the Batman comics had established most of the basic elements of the Batman mythos.

The Batcave is Batman's secret headquarters, consisting of a series of subterranean caves beneath his residence, Wayne Manor.

The late 1960s Batman television series utilized a camp aesthetic associated with the character for years after the show ended.

After the introduction of DC Comics' multiverse in the 1960s, it is retroactively established that stories from the Golden Age star the Earth-Two Batman, a character from a parallel world.

Batman's primary vehicle is the Batmobile, which is usually depicted as an imposing black car with large tailfins that suggest a bat's wings.

Frank Miller's 1986 limited series Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, which tells the story of a 50-year-old Batman coming out of retirement in a possible future, reinvigorated the character.

Batman became a popular character soon after his introduction, and eventually gained his own title, Batman.

Voters decided in favor of Jason's death by a narrow margin of 28 votes (see Batman: A Death in the Family).

The Batman comics garnered major attention in 1988, when DC Comics created a 900 number for readers to call to vote on whether Jason Todd, the second Robin, lived or died.

On The Batman (a newer animated series unrelated to the aforementioned one), Gordon invented it to summon Batman in "Night in the City" (somewhat similar to the 2005 film).

Intellectually, he is just as peerless; Batman is one of the world's greatest scientists, engineers, criminologists, and tacticians, as well as a master of disguise, often gathering information under the identity of Matches Malone.

Batman also has several little caches throughout the city, linked together through his computer, where he stores extra equipment.

The storyline "A Death in the Family" suggests that given Batman's grim nature, he is unlikely to have adopted the "bat" prefix on his own.

On Batman: the Animated Series, it was introduced in the episode "The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy."

Batman was featured in major roles in DC's 2005 company-wide crossover Identity Crisis and 2006's Infinite Crisis.

Batman's costume incorporates the imagery of a bat in order to frighten criminals.

Finger said, "Batman was originally written in the style of the pulps," and this influence was evident with Batman showing little remorse over killing or maiming criminals and was not above using firearms.

In 1988's "Batman: A Death in the Family" storyline from Batman #426-429 Jason Todd, the second Robin, is killed by the Joker.

Batman was conceptualized by Bill Finger and Bob Kane as having a black cape and cowl and grey suit, but conventions in coloring call for black to be highlighted with blue.

Following Infinite Crisis, Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Tim Drake retrace the steps Bruce had taken when he originally left Gotham City, to "rebuild Batman."

Batman's interactions with the characters around him, both heroes and villains, help to define the character.

Batman's history has undergone various revisions, both minor and major.

Batman is not significantly changed by the late 1950s for the continuity which would be later referred to as Earth-One.

Batman's characteristic utility belt was introduced in Detective Comics #29 (July 1939), followed by the boomerang-like batarang and the first bat-themed vehicle in #31 (Sept. 1939).

Starting in 2006, the regular writers on Batman and Detective Comics were Grant Morrison and Paul Dini, respectively.

Many Batman villains mirror aspects of the hero's character and development, often having tragic origin stories that lead them to a life of crime.

Batman has become a pop culture icon, recognized around the world.

Many of the major Batman storylines since the 1990s have been inter-title crossovers that run for a number of issues.

In both the comic Batman: Shadow of the Bat (issue #45) and the 2005 film Batman Begins, the cave is said to have been part of the Underground Railroad.

Lee's first regular comic book work in nearly a decade, the series became #1 on the Diamond Comic Distributors sales chart for the first time since Batman #500 (Oct. 1993).

Batman's erstwhile butler Alfred was killed and replaced with Aunt Harriet, who came to live with Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson.

Kane signed away ownership of the character in exchange for, among other compensation, a mandatory byline on all Batman comics.

In 1969, Dick Grayson attends college as part of DC Comics' effort to revise the Batman comics.

That show, together with the success of director Tim Burton's 1989 Batman motion picture helped reignite popular interest in the character.

Batman's relationship with the law thaws quickly, and he is made an honorary member of Gotham City's police department.

One outcome of this new approach was the "Year One" storyline in Batman #404-407 (Feb.-May 1987), where Frank Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli redefined the character's origins.

Batman is involved romantically with many women throughout his various incarnations.

Batman's gloves typically feature three scallops that protrude from the sides.

Batman is at times a member of superhero teams such as the Justice League of America and the Outsiders.

That year Dennis O'Neil took over as editor of the Batman titles and set the template for the portrayal of Batman following DC's status quo-altering miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Lee then teamed with Frank Miller on All-Star Batman and Robin, which debuted with the best-selling issue in 2005, as well as the highest sales in the industry since 2003.

A main component that defines Batman as a character is his origin story.

By 1964, sales on Batman titles had fallen drastically; Bob Kane noted that as a result " planning to kill Batman off altogether.

Robin was introduced based on Finger's suggestion Batman needed a "Watson" with whom Batman could talk.

Batman is often treated as a vigilante by other characters in his stories.

Batman's other vehicles include the Batplane (aka the Batwing), Batboat, Bat-Sub, and Batcycle.

The character's presence has extended beyond his comic book origins; events such as the release of the 1989 Batman film and its accompanying merchandizing "brought the Batman to the forefront of public consciousness.

The tendency towards a "sunnier Batman" in the postwar years intensified after the introduction of the Comics Code.

Batman, along with Superman and Wonder Woman, reforms the Justice League in the new Justice League of America series, and is leading the newest incarnation of the Outsiders.

Batman has adventures involving either odd transformations or dealing with bizarre space aliens.

Batman works solo until the decade's close, when Tim Drake becomes the new Robin.

Batman proved a hit character, and he received his own solo title in 1940, while continuing to star in Detective Comics.

The editor of Batman at this time, Whitney Ellsworth, found this distasteful and decreed that Batman would no longer be shown using a gun or taking human life.

Batman and Superman are usually depicted as close friends.

Batman's "most implacable foe" is the Joker, a clownlike criminal who as a "personification of the irrational" represents "everything Batman .

Later Batman editor Julius Schwartz, unaware of this rule, inadvertently allowed Batman to use a gun.

In 2003, writer Jeph Loeb and artist Jim Lee began a 12-issue run on Batman.

Robin was introduced based on Finger's suggestion Batman needed a "Watson" with whom Batman could talk.

Writers of both Batman and Superman stories have often compared the two within the context of various stories, to varying conclusions.

The 1960s television series Batman has an arsenal that includes such ridiculous, satirical "bat-" names as the bat-computer, bat-scanner, bat-radar, bat-cuffs, bat-pontoons, bat-drinking water dispenser, bat-camera with polarized bat-filter, bat-shark repellent bat-spray, and bat-rope.