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The Beginning: The Golden Age of Comics
Prior to 1929, comics had been the "funnies" in newspapers, but the comic-strip changed dramatically when the first adventure comics were published. As America was dealing with the Great Depression, these new comics offered superheroes who gave people a fictional way to fight real-world problems. The Golden Age of Comics would begin slightly later in 1935 when DC Comics would begin to develop all of the original superheroes we know today. -
Batman Emerges
DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment, introduced Batman in Detective Comics #27 “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate.” The character of Batman is said to be based on the 1921 film "The Mask of Zorro," the 1931 crime-thriller "The Bat Whispers," the Dick Tracy detective comic, and Sherlock Holmes. -
Batman's Backstory
It wasn't until six issues after the first publication that Batman's past was revealed. As a child, Bruce Wayne watched as his parents were mugged and murdered, and this traumatic experience led him to develop the alter-ego of Batman to fight crime and avenge his parents. -
Introducing the Boy Wonder!
Robin is Bruce Wayne's ward, Dick Grayson, who offers a light counterpoint to Batman’s dark presence, thus making the series more accessible to a younger audience. Before Robin's debut, Batman had been depicted as carrying guns, but afterwards the gun violence lessened and comic sales increased. -
Lewis G. Wilson: The first live-action Batman
Lewis G. Wilson as Batman Lewis G. Wilson starred as the first live action Batman in a 15-episode series in 1943 at age 23. Wilson's Batman was criticized for its costume, physique, voice, accent, and low-budget action sequences. The 1943 Batman Serial was Wilson's only stint as the Caped Crusader. -
Dr. Daka: WWII Concerns Come to Light
Adapted from the Dr. Deker character in the comic series, Dr. Daka was a Japanese evil mastermind who would capture and brainwash Americans, merging the Batman story with real wartime concerns. Dr. Daka appeared in the Batman serial. Dr. Daka -
Batman Joins the War Effort in WWII
Classic WWII cover with Batman & Robin flying on the back of a bald eagle. Both Batman & Robin have a text bubble that states ” Keep the American Eagle Flying! Buy War Bonds and Stamps!” Subsequent episodes would find Batman and Robin Fighting the Axis of Power and helping out on the front lines. -
Robert Lowery
Robert Lowery as Batman Robert Lowery portrayed Batman in 1949's "Batman And Robin", the follow-up film to the original series. -
The Silver Age of Comics
Between the 1950s and early 1970s, teachers, parents, and librarians wanted children to read educational novels. The violent and innaproriate themes in certain comics led to the Silver Age of Comics, in which Batman became a more lighthearted character. -
Comics Magazine Association of America (CMAA) creates the Comics Code
The Comics Code was created by the Comics Magazine Association of America in order to cut back on sex and violence, while making comics cleaner and more conventional. This action is believed to be motivated in part by the scrutiny Batman received in response to Fredic Wertham’s book 'Seduction of the Innocent.' -
Batman in the 1950s: Postwar Attitudes
After WWII, American society shited away from a focus on serious concerns in favor of more joyful, fanciful subject matter. The Batman creators responded in kind, conforming the characters and storylines to new social norms of conformity and cooperation. Batman became less of a vigilante, working within the law, He also became more of a mentor and father figure to Robin, portrayed as a helpful neighbor and accomplished student. The villains transformed from homicidal killers to goofy menaces. -
Batman the Family Man
Amid specualtion of Batman's possible homosexuality in the 1950s, Batwoman is created as a partner and female counterpart to Batman. A perfect female copy of Batman, Batwoman was a wealthy heiress who admired Batman's vigilantism and decides to pick up crime-fighting in her spare time. Batgirl (Batwoman's niece) joined the family in 1961. -
Batman meets Pop Art
In the spirit of the popular Pop Art movement of the 1950s and 60s, Batman director William Dozier adopta over-the-top colors, sounds, and effects for the series. The shift toward a more light-hearted portrayal of the Caped Crusader can be credited to the social atmosphere of the 1960s and 70s in which love, freedom, and peace were of great importance. -
"Holy Smokes Batman!": Adam West Goes Campy
Adam West as Batman Adam West is best known for his campy version of Batman in the "Batman" television series and subsequent movie spin-off. West played Batman until 1968. At first the show was a hit, but after it fell out of favor, fans voiced their distate for Batman's happy-go-lucky attitude and Robin's bad puns. -
Poison Ivy
When Batgirl joined the crimefighting family, a teenager from Batgirl's high school, Paula Isley became her arch rival, Poison Ivy. Due to Paula's interest in biology and botany, Poison Ivy used her evil powers to "protect" the natural environment from dirty industries in Gotham City. By making plants either poisonous or carnivorous, the villainess attemps to counter America's lack of responsibility for the environment. -
The Adventures of Batman: An Animated Series
Following the success of The 1968 Batman television series, Filmation and DC Comics release an animated version of the Batman character, voiced by Olan Soule, along with fellow DC Superhero Suuperman in the 'Batman Superman Hour.' The colorful design, outrageous characters, and dramatic music paralleled the preceding live-action series with success. Casey Kasum, who ater became a famous radio personality, played the voice od Robin. <a href=''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1567nChk5Y' ' >The A -
The Bronze Age of Comics
Lasting from the 1970s to the mid 1980s, the Bronze Age of Comics moved away from the conventional codes of the 1950s and began to deal more with urban issues, such as racism, poverty, and illegal drug use. The Bronze Age set the stage for the more complex societal issues that would develop with the Modern Age in 1986 with Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. -
Ra's Al Ghul
In response to the campy Batman of the 1960s, Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams developed a villan who would be Batman's intellectual equal. Unlike the Joker, Ra's Al Ghul would rival Batman in the way that Moriarty countered Sherlock Holmes. Ra's Al Ghul is portrayed as a Muslim fond of genocide and biological weapons, and these isues become more prevelant in later Batman movies after the attack on the Twin Towers during 9/11/01. -
Superfriends: Batman's Circle of Friends
In 1973 Hanna Barbara's Superfriends joined the Saturday morning cartoon lineup. Batman, along with Superman, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman, fought crime and solved mysteries. The series looked outside the original DC Comics'villains to include mad scientists and even aliens. The Superfriende series underwent several alterations and added new superheroes in the years between its debut and its end in 1985.
Superfriends -
Batman Returns to His Dark Roots in Cold War Era
Batman reprieved his volatile, brutal nature in the 1980s. World powers were at odds during the Cold War, with the possibility of nuclear war bubbling just below the surface. At the same time, drug use and violent crime saw sharpe increases. Batman was the epitome of 80s ambition and justice, as wealthy, powerful playboy Bruce Wayne by day and ruthless, violent vigilante at night.
"I'm Batman" -
Batman in the Age of Materialism
'http://www.yourememberthat.com/media/15815/Batman_Diet_Coke_Commercial_from_the_VHS_of_Batman_1989/#.VOrJUy40xaY' >Batman Diet Coke Commercial</a>America in the 1980s saw an upswing in wealth under the Reagan administration, and materialism and excess became the ideal. The Batman franchise of the 1980s was hugely successful, taking advantage of new venues in technology, marketing, and entertainment for profit in the spirit of Reagan-era capitalism. The first Batman action figures were released in 1984, adding to an array of other popular memorobilia including pajamas and lunchboxes. -
Dark Knight Returns with the Beginning of the Modern Age
From February to June in 1986, DC Comcics published a four part series by Frank Miller known as Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. This publication marked the beginning of the Modern Age of Comics (also known as the Iron Age or the Diamond Age). Following the Bronze Age, this next era has come to be characterized by more complex characters and artistically challenging comic designs. The level of depth given to the characters allowed artists more of an opportunity to wrestle with real world issues. -
Tim Burton's Batman
1989 saw Tim Burton's interpretation of Batman. Michael Keaton starred as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Jack Nicholson his arch-nemesis, The Joker. It was based on the graphic novels of writers like Frank Miller which had a darker tone. Burton's take on Batman was a critical and financial success and spawned the successful Batman: The Animated Series. -
Batman Returns
Michael Keaton returned as Batman in Batman Returns, which was also directed by Tim Burton. Batman's adversary and love interest Catwoman was played by Michelle Pfeiffer, while Danny DeVito took on the role of The Penguin. Though it was a another critical and financial success, it was controversial for its violence and sexual references. -
Batman in the 1990s: The Curse of Camp
The tone of Batman took another detour into the realm of camp and punny humor in the 1990s. With little attention paid to social issues that was employed by previous incarnations of the Batman enterprise, the 1990s Batman was criticized for turning toward a more comical family-friendly and merchandise-oriented version of the Caped Crusader and his over-the-top nemeses.
Mr. Freeze Puns -
Batman Forever
Batman Forever saw the departure of Keaton from the film series. Burton stayed on to produce the film, while Joel Schumacher directed. The role of Batman was given to Val Kilmer. The film had a more family-friendly tone and introduced of Robin, played by Chris O’Donnell, into the franchise. Batman and Robin would face off against Two-Face played by Tommy Lee Jones and The Riddler played by Jim Carrey. -
Batman: The Ultimate Evil (a novel)
Andrew Vachss, author and child abuse attorney, created a one of the darkest criminal underworlds for Batman, centered around protecting children and juvenile justice. -
Batman & Robin
The Batman and Robin film saw many changes. Neither Kilmer or Burton returned to take part in the film. The role of Batman was passed on to George Clooney and the film introduced Batgirl, played by Alicia Silverstone to the franchise. The villains they faced were Poison Ivy played by Uma Thurman and Mr. Freeze played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Though it was a box office success, it made less than previous Batman films in and was critically panned for being too family friendly. -
Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins
After an eight year hiatus, the Batman franchise was rebooted under the direction of Christopher Nolan. Batman Begins gave an in-depth look into the Batman origin story and it starred Christian Bale as Batman. Nolan’s franchise returned to its dark tone and incorporated realism as well. Batman would do battle against his intellectual equal, Ra’s Al Ghul played by Liam Neeson and Scarecrow played by Cillian Murphy. The film would go on to be a critical and financial success. -
The Contemporary Superhero: 2000 and beyond
After the turn of the 21st century, Batman's humanity takes center stage. The story puts more focus on the events and sentiments that make Batman who he is, the violent death of his parents, and Bruce Wayne's raw emotional drive for vengeance. Once again, the storylines run parallel with real events, making a commentary on the social and political state of the country, most notably the Occupy Movement and growing income inequality fueled by corporate greed and irresponsible financial practices. -
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight saw the return of two of Batman’s greatest antagonists in Nolan’s cinematic universe. The Joker played by the late Heath Ledger and Harvey Dent/Two-Face who was played by Aaron Eckhart were reintroduced into the film series in a much darker fashion than seen in the previous Batman films. The film would go on to make over $1 Billion worldwide and it earned Ledger a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. -
The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight Rises brought Nolan’s Dark Knight series to a conclusion. Christian Bale returned for the last time to reprise his role as Batman. Nolan brought back Catwoman played by Anne Hathaway to fight alongside Batman as they took on the brute mercenary Bane played by Tom Hardy and Talia Al Ghul, the daughter of Ra’s Al Ghul, played by Marion Cotillard. Both a critical and financial success, the film ended the trilogy on a high note and grossed over $1 Billion worldwide once again. -
Test Your Batman IQ
Now that you've brushed up on Batman history, put your knowledge to the test with this Batman quiz!
https://www.onlineassessmenttool.com/i-m-batman-the-evolution-of-a-superhero/assessment-17610
