When one thinks of superheroes, likely Batman will be the first or second character that will come to mind and rightly so. Thanks to the creative genius of Bob Kane and Bill Finger, Batman made his debut in Detective Comics #27 in 1939. He was orphaned as a young boy when his parents were murdered before his eyes, and the seed was planted for the eventual appearance of Batman, who was also known as the Dark Knight and the Caped Crusader. Vengeance and justice weighed on his heart when he donned his bat-inspired outfit to fit crime on the streets of his city: Gotham City.
From the comics to the silver screen, over the eighty intervening years, we have come to know Batman, who lives in the shadows of his alter-ego, the millionaire Bruce Wayne. His internal struggles and his sense of good have resonated for us, especially when darkness descends and we seek a beacon of light in the chaos. Here at Fanbase Press, where we celebrate fandoms, we have dug into our archives and pulled some of our favorite Batman content for you to enjoy. Also, please check out new essays from our contributors Erica McCrystal and Janet Joyce Holden! And, check out Travis Lakata’s article from the Geeky Parent Guide, too!
Janet Joyce Holden: ‘Batman’ 80th Anniversary: Batman, The Dark Descending
Travis Lakata: Geeky Parent Guide: Capturing Greatness in 80 Years of Batman
Fanbase Press’ Batman Video Playlist – Including interviews with Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series), Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series), Jason O’Mara (Justice League Dark), Jody Houser (Mother Panic), Ray Wise (Batman: The Killing Joke), and more!
The Arkham Sessions Podcast – Since early 2014, Dr. Andrea Letamendi and Brian Ward have revisited Batman: The Animated Series through the analytical eyes of a clinical psychologist. Heralded as one of the greatest storytelling vehicles of all time, the television show’s tone, subject matter, and depth in storytelling and character development are exemplary and undergo the psychological analysis it deserves in The Arkham Sessions. Each week, the co-hosts watch the series, in production order, with a keen eye toward revealing the very real psychology behind its characters and then put Batman and his “Rogues Gallery” on the couch for a fun, insightful weekly session.
Fanbase Feature: 10th Anniversary Retrospective on The Dark Knight – In this Fanbase Feature, the Fanbase Press staff and contributors participate in a thorough retrospective discussion regarding The Dark Knight (2008) in light of the film’s 10th anniversary, with topics including the impact of the film on the cinematic superhero landscape, the masterful performance by Heath Ledger as The Joker, the political context of the film’s values and themes, and more!
Fundamental Comics: ‘Batman: The Long Halloween’ and the Price of Justice
Fundamental Comics: ‘Batman: The Dark Knight Returns’ and the Lasting Legends
#BatmanDay 2016: Behind The Bat – A Look Into Batman’s Alter Ego, Bruce Wayne
#BatmanDay 2016: Villainous Male Desire and the Batman ‘Arkham’ Games
#BatmanDay 2016: What is Gotham City? The Evolution and Variety of Batman’s Hometown
