Celebrating Batman’s 85th: How Batman Evolved Through Time
6 min read
Last Modified 18 September 2024 First Added 18 September 2024
As 2024 marks Batman’s 85th anniversary, it’s the perfect time to look back at how the Dark Knight has evolved into the iconic superhero we know today. From his comic book debut in 1939 by National Allied Publications Inc (later known as DC in 1946) to his portrayal on the big screen, Batman has transformed incredibly.
Over the decades, Batman has been reimagined through different eras – each with their own distinct costume designs, settings, and styles. Batman has been the star of multiple comic books, movies, TV series, video games and is a founding member of the Justice League.
Batman made his first appearance in Detective Comics #27 in 1939, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger as they imagined him as the next great superhero following Superman. Superman was greatly successful at the time and National Allied Publications Inc wanted to capitalise on that success by coming up with some new, equally loved, superheroes.
Early on, according to Bob Kane’s sketch book, Batman’s costume was simplistic and took inspiration from Superman, designed with red tights, a small mask and featured two stiff bat wings. Bill Finger suggested adding a black cowl instead of a mask, replaced the wings with a cape, added some gloves and replaced the red parts of his costume with grey and black. They then introduced the name of Bruce Wayne.
Once Batman was published, his costume was reworked into a cowl with pointy ears, a longer cape, purple gloves, and a bullet proof vest. Between the 1940’s and 1950’s, Batman transformed throughout the TV series “Batman” from 1943 to 1949, “The Jungle Batman” in 1952 and “Rainbow Batman” in 1957.
The 1960s embarked on new designs, moving away from the dark tone within comics and took a more colourful and comedic approach. This era introduced Batman’s yellow oval symbol with the black bat at the centre of his logo which remained as an iconic element in comics and films for decades. Between 1966 to 1969 the TV series “Batman”, starring Adam West, brought a fun and quirky perspective to the Batman saga. The show would begin with an unforgettable theme song and dive into the chaos of the episode. This iconic duo would take on the likes of the Joker (Cesar Romero), The Riddler (Frank Gorshin), The Penguin (Burgess Meredith) or Catwoman (Julie Newmar 1966-1967, Eartha Kitt 1967 – 1968). This era mainly focused on fun rather than the psychological depth we associate with the character today.
The 1980s brought Batman back to his dark roots with a new version of DC’s bat vigilante. Frank Miller wrote Batman as a gritty and emotionally tormented figure in “The Dark Knight Returns” (1986) and “Batman: Year One” (1987), focusing on a more tired and worn-down Batman who has worn the cowl for decades and is exhausted by the weight that comes with being a vigilante.
As the 80s was coming to an end, the direction of Batman needed a clean slate and fresh image. In 1989, director Tim Burton reimagined the superhero with his film “Batman”, starring Michael Keaton. Gotham was pictured as dark and grim and the film was given a more serious tone with Michael Keaton portraying Batman as intimidating, stoic, and reserved. Batman completely transformed as a character who works in the dark dressed in a suit that is now all black, except for the yellow and black symbol on his chest and yellow belt. This film set the tone of Batman future and went on to win an Academy Award for Best Art Direction. The 1990’s also brought in a new generation of fans with several TV series such as “Batman: The Animated Series”, and spin offs like “Superman” and “The Justice League”. Joel Schumacher went on to takeover the Batman franchise with “Batman Forever” (1995) and “Batman & Robin” (1997).
Christopher Nolan grounds Batman in realism, focusing more on an emotional and psychological story with the release of Nolan’s trilogy of films: “Batman Begins” (2005), “The Dark Knight” (2008) and “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012). These films focused more of Bruce Wayne as a character and his struggle becoming the Dark Knight which is filled with intense and multi-layered narratives. Gotham became less stylised and portrayed the likes of real-life cities such as Chicago, while Batman was designed in an advanced tactical suit propped with military grade materials.
“The Dark Knight” became one of the most critically acclaimed superhero films of all time with characters such as Heath Ledger’s Joker remaining as a culture touchstone within the film industry.
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In 2016, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) introduced a new Batman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, portrayed by Ben Affleck. This version of Batman was older and jaded, taking influence from Frank Millers, “The Dark Knight Returns” (1986). Batman was displayed as a seasoned warrior versus a young and idealistic hero with a bulky, armour-clad suit designed for high-action combat.
The most recent film came in 2022, “The Batman”, directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson. This version took a detective approach to Batman which hadn’t been explored deeply in previous films.
Pattinson’s Batman is in the early years of his vigilante career with his suit being more tactical featuring a handmade aesthetic (still armoured but less refined). “The Batman” represents a new chapter in this superheroes evolution as the character comes full circle to his detective roots while also exploring his psychological state with a focus on Batman’s flawed humanity.
Over the past 85 years, Batman has transformed multiple times, each reflecting the culture and style of its time. Batman remains as one of the most adaptable and enduring characters in film with an iconic journey from comic books to complex cinematic styles. Despite all the changes, Batman core remains the same, a hero who, in his many forms, continues to fight for justice in the shadows. Discover a wide range of DC Comic toys and Imaginext DC toys that make for the perfect gift or for something a little more cuddly, explore our Fuggler X DC range for any Batman fan.
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