Announcing via an official press release in their official website, DC has laid out their plans for Batman’s 75th Anniversary celebration. Chief among these is announcing various comics highlighting the occasion, including the recently released “Detective Comics #27” anniversary issue and the upcoming new “Batman: Eternal” weekly series. Also being promoted is this fall’s final entry to the Batman Arkham video game series by Rocksteady Studios – Batman: Arkham Knight, as well as the upcoming DC Universe Animated Original Movie entries “Son of Batman” and “Assault on Arkham”, which both spotlight The Dark Knight and his stories adapted from the comics.
The character recently underwent a renaissance in cinema as well, thanks to Christopher Nolan’s vision with the highly acclaimed “Dark Knight Trilogy” of films starring Christian Bale in the titular role. 2014 also commemorates two gems in the Caped Crusader’s media legacy - namely the 25th Anniversary of Tim Burton’s seminal 1989 “Batman” movie, and the long-awaited release of the Adam West Batman ’66 TV Series in DVD format for the very first time. Warner Bros. Animation is also producing two new Batman animated shorts with producer Bruce Timm and Darwyn Cooke, as is Warner Bros. Television developing a new “Gotham” TV Series for FOX exploring the adventures of a rookie cop James Gordon and a young Bruce Wayne. Finally, the company is also gearing for The Dark Knight’s inevitable clash with the Man of Steel in cinema with the as-of-yet untitled “Batman Vs Superman” movie for 2016.
First appearing in the pages of Detective Comics #27 released on March 30, 1939, the character then known as “The Bat-Man” was mysterious vigilante who fought criminals by wearing a cape and cowl and using gadgetry to dispatch his foes. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger following the popularity of Superman, this caped crusading hero was secretly billionaire Bruce Wayne, who lost his parents at a young age to a petty criminal with a gun. Dedicating his life to perfecting his body and mind, Bruce traveled the world and honed his body to its utmost limits. Returning to his hometown of Gotham City, he adopted the symbol of a Bat, and hunted the cowardly and superstitious who preyed on the innocent.
Batman proved very popular among readers, and soon spotlighted Detective Comics and got his own ongoing series with his name on it. For many years the Dark Knight has fought a one-man war against crime, using his mastery of martial arts, detective skills, and an arsenal of non-lethal weapons to combat an army of supercriminals such as The Joker, Scarecrow, and Mr. Freeze. He soon found allies to his cause however, and forged strong partnerships with the likes of Robin The Boy Wonder, Commissioner Gordon, Batgirl, and Nightwing. Batman’s crusade also paired him with other superheroes, and he soon became a founding member of the Justice League, fighting alongside the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Green Lantern.
When DC Comics relaunched their comic book line in 2011 with The New 52, Batman was among the few heroes to retain most portions of his character history. However, he soon had many adventures that saw new concepts to his background and origin established, particularly in the current “Zero Year” storyline by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. Adding to the 75th Anniversary milestone, DC Comics has also announced that July 23 will be “Batman Day”, with retail and comic book stores globally celebrating the Caped Crusader’s day by offering a special Batman comic absolutely free.
With new comics and media on the horizon, it truly is the “Year of the Bat”, and with an everlasting symbol and legacy that’s mostly recognizable worldwide, The Dark Knight has many more adventures to come even after all is said and done. — TJD, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
