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Monday 16 April 2012

Batman

On March 30, 1939, DC Comics published its second major superhero in Detective Comics #27; he was Batman, one of the most popular comic book superheroes of all time. He made his first appearance under the name "Bat-Man."

Detective Comics #27 (May 1939). The first appearance of Batman. Art by Bob Kane. Wikipedia

US cartoonist Bob Kane (1915-98) co-created Batman after being asked by his boss to produce a rival to Superman. he said he came up with the Caped Crusader in a single weekend, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, after coming across one of the artist’s pictures of "a flying machine with huge bat wings" when he was about 12. Kane said: "It looked like a bat man to me."

The other Batman co-creator, Bill Finger, created Batman's suit, arsenal of awesome gadgets, and secret identity. Finger died penniless while Kane did everything he could to suppress Finger’s involvement in creating the character.

Gotham City derives it's name from the village Gotham in Nottinghamshire, England, which according to local folklore is inhabited by fools.

Batman’s civilian alter ego, billionaire Bruce Wayne, was named after two historical figures — Robert the Bruce and U.S. War of Independence General ‘Mad Anthony’ Wayne. His birthday is February 19th, the date that Batman's creator Bob Kane first drew him.

Bruce Wayne's clock unlocks the secret door to the Batcave when the hands are set to the time that his parents were murdered, 10:47 P.M.

The first iteration of the Batmobile, introduced in 1941, was just a red Cord 812 convertible with a bat hood ornament.


The Joker was intended to be killed off in his second appearance after his debut in Batman #1 (1940). But the decision was hastily withdrawn and Joker went on to become one of the greatest comic book villains and a pop-culture icon.

Batman, a thirty-minute prime time, live-action television series based on the comic book character premiered on January 12, 1966. The series starred Adam West as the title character, while Burt Ward played his sidekick, Robin. 120 episodes aired on the ABC network for the three seasons it was shown until March 14, 1968.

Series stars Burt Ward (left) and Adam West

Adam West had his dentist add a little black Batman logo to one of his molars.

Alan Napier, a 6ft 5in (1.96 meters) actor from Birmingham, England, was best known for playing Bruce Wayne’s butler, Alfred, in the Batman TV series. In reality, he was very much upper-class and a cousin of prime minister Neville Chamberlain. When offered the role, he asked: "What is Batman?"

Napier as Alfred in Batman.

The Batmobile driven by Adam West was customized from a Lincoln (Ford) Futura concept car. The vehicle was built in 1954 for what was then a huge $250,000 and never intended for mass production. In spite of its impressive, ‘ futuristic’ appearance, it frequently broke down during filming.

The 17ft- long Batmobile  weighed 2½ tons — the equivalent of a female Indian elephant.

A normal person would have to train 15-18 years to be as physically skilled as Batman.

According to a 2015 estimate, it would cost about $79,237,480.98 to buy all of Batman's gear, mansion, and Batcaves.

Christian Bale, who has a British accent, did all of his promotional interviews for Batman Begins in an American accent because he felt Batman was "such an American character" and he did not want audiences asking "What the hell is going on? Why do we have an English Batman?"


George Harrison was a Batman fan, and used the theme song as the basis for "Taxman."

The University of Victoria in Canada has offered a course called "The Science of Batman."

There is a city called "Batman" in Turkey.

Source Daily Mail

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