Batman


 * Batman**

**Creation:** The first time Batman ever printed was as a small unimportant character in DC comic (detective comics) series, but Batman was such a hit with the readers he then received his own comic book line. Batman, as he is more commonly known, has many different titles: The Dark-Night, The Dark night Crusader, and the Dark Detective. The creation of Batman can be attributed to many different people. The original creators were Bob Kane and Bill Finger. But over the years many others began working on the Bat Man chronicles. People like Neal Adams (artist), Dick Giordona (artist), Frank Miller (writer/artist), Dennis O’neil (writer), Jerry Robinson (artist), and Dick Sparg (artist) were the main contributors. The Batman chronicles have been running for several decades, since the early forties with his first comic appearances till recent years with the movie The Dark Knight. **Contents:**
 * ** Storyline **
 * ** Through the ages **
 * ** 40’s **
 * ** 50’s **
 * ** 60’s **
 * ** 70’s&80’s **
 * ** 90’s-present **
 * ** Analysis **

**Story line:** To truly understand who Batman is and how he influenced America you must look at his storyline. Batman story begins when his parents were killed by two muggers. He was then placed into the custodial care of his older brother; it was because of these events he decided to become the Dark crusader and fight crime everywhere. He began by focusing on his academics and becoming smarter and excelling in school. Also, he traveled the world to study martial arts with various teachers. After absorbing all of these new skills he began to utilize the skills by becoming a vigilante. This new occupation did not go as planned. He thought he would be able to overcome a few thugs but that was wrong. He then decided that the villains and thugs of the city must fear him for them to be stopped. After pondering this and viewing a large black bat he then came up with the idea of becoming Batman. He travelled down to the caves beneath his manor to begin building his many gadgets and weapons. He had the money and resources for all of this because he was a very wealthy and respected businessman. He soon became known to the city and caught the attention of the corrupt police department who wanted him gone. But there was one good cop, a Mister James Gordon. Batman and James soon became professional buddies fighting evil. Batman has a number of enemies; some are the Joker, Cat Women, the Riddeler, Penguin and Poison Ivy. But he was not alone. He had a side kick through most of his adventures: Robin. There are three different Robin’s the original Robin was Dick Grayson an acrobat from the circus; he was batman’s side kick until he eventually left for college. But he was soon replaced by a fellow by the name of Jason Todd a boy off the streets whose parents were killed by one of batman’s enemies. He eventually would be killed by the Joker sending Batman into a depression of some sort, secluding himself away and focusing on his crime fighting. Until another boy by the name of Time Drake pulls him out and unwittingly becomes the third and final Robin.

**40’s:** He first appeared when he was battling/ investigating a Japanese spy, this is actually the basic plotline for most of the comics during the decade. Since we were at war with Japan at the time, this is also the time of pearl harbor and the atomic bomb. Comics seem to revolve around things like spies and such. Another intereasting thing is that Batman drove a Cadillac instead of the bat mobile.

**50’s:** Batman began to start having many additions, there was Batgirl and Batdog and other additions. His outfit also changed from black to blue. **60’s:** This is around the time where Batman begins to become involved in the justice league, and many other super heroes become united like superman. This is also when the first Batman tv showed air. It was meant to be comedic and not really serious. **70’s&80’s:** Batman became very much commercialized with cereals, dolls, Cartoon TV shows, and shirts. 90’s-present: This is when the first serious Batman movie came out Batman began to be portrayed as serious dark brooding man, he was brought back to his dark roots of the 40’s. My analysis Batman is simple: he was a mirror of the American subconscious. To truly see how Batman reflected America’s needs we must first look into his background. **40’s:** One thing that stood out is that he had weapons, no powers he was just an ordinary man. He used his own brains and money to achieve his goals. I believe he was written this way because during the forties America was in its second world war. They needed a hero that was relatively realistic. They needed real hope from a real man. He was rich, powerful everything a young man at that time wanted to be during a time of war. But it wasn’t just his personality that reflected America it was also the things he had. America was in war wallets were empty and yet Batman was wealthy with a butler and a good education he even drove a Cadillac, the ideal car of that time. Even the first appearance reflected the 40’s! He was depicting him going after a Japanese spy, a direct tie with the war going on. **50’s:** During the fifties Batman became a little less brooding and turned into the average man. It was during this time that there was a Batdog and a Batgirl. In the fifties many men had just gotten back from war and were starting families and settling down. They did not want the same masked avenger because he related to a part of them they’d rather not dwell on. They wanted a man who signified the new life and prosperity they had gained. There was a great influx of people applying to colleges which is exactly why the first robin left to: to go to college. **60’s:** Batman started to get friends during this decade. This was the decade of love, change and happiness. with many civil rights and femenist movements. The justice league was founded during this time wide assortments of different heroes were grouped into this organization. But more importantly was the great influx of female super heroes. There was Batwomen and Superwomen. Batman now had himself a female counterpart. I believe this is a direct connection to the feminist movement of the 60’s. **70&80’s:** You do not exactly see a change in the characters but more of how they are portrayed. The Batman cartoons of the sixties become bigger during the 70’s and 80’s and the comic distribution of Batman is bigger than ever. But now it is not only being seen in the comics and on TV but in cereals, toys, action figures and other commercial items. This coincides mainly with the 80’s me generation, the makers of Batman had many consumers willing to pay for Batman video games and action figures; filling their need for more and more material positions. **90’s-present:** In the nineties the first serious Batman movie came out. Batman was depicted more to his original virgin, being a dark avenger. Then the Dark Knight came out portraying a very disturbed Joker. During this time we had experienced 9/11 the first and second Gulf war. We needed our original savior back. We needed a hero we could believe in. We needed Batman.
 * Analysis: **

In conclusion I believe Batman has done a remarkable job of reflecting America through the ages. During times of war he became our masked avenger who’d come down and save us all from the problems of the day. During times of prosperity he showed us what we were and dreamed off a family with a dog and kid. And when we needed something to blow our money on he was there too, in a variety of ways. Batman did and still does what a good superhero should do: show us who are and what we wish to be.

Works Cited

"Comic Creator: Bob Kane." Lambiek.Net Comics+art. Web. 19 May 2011. .

Moshier, Christopher. "DC Comics Chronology: The Platinum Age." Comic Book Bin. Web. 19 May 2011. .

"The Unofficial Batman Chronology." The Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe. Web. 19 May 2011. . "BATMAN-ON-FILM.COM - History of The Batman." BATMAN-ON-FILM.COM, "The Dark Knight Fansite!" (Est. 1998). Web. 02 June 2011. .