As a kid I loved the 1960's TV show reruns. To me it was the most serious of shows ever. Batman and Robin would go out and defend Gotham City and the world from the likes of the Joker, The Riddler, Catwoman, The Penguin and more nefarious rogues than you can throw a batarang at. 

 

Then there was the legacy of Super Powers animated shows, from the Super-Friends to Super Powers Galactic Guardians. Loved watching my hero in action.

Then something happened in 1989. Tim Burtons BATMAN film came out and my mind exploded. Why was Batman all in black? Where was Robin? This was the coolest thing I could ever have witnessed. I could not get over the visuals. Mind you, I never even saw it in theaters. I had to put the story together from the trading cards I would buy from the ice cream man. I spent enough money on them my parents should have just took me to the theater. Regardless I finally watched it on video tape when it was released in the fall of 1989. I knew everything that was about to happen, but it was beautiful. I still feel the excitement.

 

All these year's later, I still love the idea of Batman.

 

The determination. The code of ethics. The gadgets. The crazy mythology that surrounds him. 

 

Bruce Wayne at the age of eight, witnesses his parents mugging and murder right before his eyes. He then swears to avenge their deaths and do all he can so that this never happens to anyone else. 

 

That's the basic premise. Throw in the billion dollar inheritance, and you have a lot of time and resources to start your own war on crime.

 

Batman has the reputation as a loner at times, but he really is not. He makes up for his loss of biological family, with inherited family. As much as Alfred is his loyal butler, he is more akin to an adoptive father.  Similar to that is his relationship with Commissioner Jim Gordon. ( who I think knows Batman is Bruce Wayne, but never let's on that he in in the know ) Then you have the Robin's. The first he took in because similar tragedy fell upon young Dick Grayson. He became Bruce Wayne's ward and later adopted son. As he outgrew the Robin mantle, he became Nightwing. The second Robin was Jason Todd. He was killed by the Joker. Third Robin, Tim Drake, who is arguably the most popular and first to not have to wear the elf suit (it was a circus uniform) was also adopted by Bruce Wayne as both his parents were taken from him. There is a scene in a comic where Tim Drake ponders if that is the rite of passage of truly becoming Robin. There was a fourth Robin, Stephanie Brown the first female, for a moment when the Tim Drake was "fired" for a bit. She is now Batgirl. Speaking of Batgirl, Jim Gordons daughter was the first Batgir. She was taken out of that role when the Joker ( he is always involved ) shoots her in the spine, crippling her. She is now an information broker called the Oracle. A second Batgirl came on scene. Cassandra Cain was highly skilled and trained by some who trained Bruce Wayne on his path to becoming Batman. She struggled with the no killing code that Batman has put in place, eventually her moral code lined up. Though she resigned. That brings you back to Stephanie Brown. There is a Batwoman, but she bores me.

 

In addition to the Bat-family, there are the associated teams Batman belongs to. First off the Justice League of America. This is for the best of the best. Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, The Martian Manhunter...if you have a sweet logo emblazoned upon your chest, you belong. There is also the Outsiders, which he led for a bit when stepping down from the JLA. 

 

All of that means nothing to some of you, as your only aware of what you have seen in film. As special as Batman from 1989 is, it's not the best of the Batman films. 1992's BATMAN RETURNS was excellent visually, but as  Batman story not quite up to par. BATMAN FOREVER got a bit too bright for my tastes, with over acting by Jim Carrey and a terrible version of Two-Face by Tommy Lee Jones. We won't talk about BATMAN & ROBIN.

Now 2005 Christopher Nolan's BATMAN BEGINS got it right. That film is epic, just like Batman deserves. Follow that up with the masterpiece of THE DARK KNIGHT, you have some great renditions on film to pull from. They work so well because the filmmakers respected the source material. There are so many elements pulled from the comics, that you can't lose. You have to keep Batman who he is. That is where the old series of films missed it. A third installment is coming in 2012.

 

 

Batman's has over 70 years of history and many more to come.  Here are some stories you should check out if your interested.