Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Entertainment have announced their plans for Batman’s 75th anniversary as well as the commemorative logo, which you can view above. Check out the press release below!
To mark the milestone 75th anniversary of DC Comics Batman, Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Entertainment have revealed plans for a year-long celebration befitting the worlds most popular Super Hero. Highlights of the anniversary program, which starts today, include a new commemorative 75th anniversary Batman logo and an exclusive Cape/Cowl/Create art exhibit, featuring 20 contemporary artists interpretation of The Dark Knights iconic cowl headpiece and cape from the upcoming Batman: Arkham Knight videogame. There will also be 75th anniversary-related activities across all of Warner Bros. Entertainment throughout the year.
First appearing in the comic book Detective Comics #27, which hit newsstands on March 30, 1939, featuring artwork by Bob Kane and a script by Bill Finger, Batman emerged from the shadows to become the worlds most popular Super Hero and dominate all media. In feature films, TV shows, radio, video games, publishing and merchandise, this most human of Super Heroes has battled some of fictions greatest villains using his intellect, cunning and an arsenal of gadgets to further his quest for justice.
Batman is an incredibly important property with multi-generational appeal across all of the Studios businesses, and were proud to celebrate this milestone anniversary, said Kevin Tsujihara, Chief Executive Officer, Warner Bros. Entertainment. From billion-dollar blockbuster films to TV, home entertainment, video games and consumer products, The Dark Knight continues to resonate with audiences worldwide and rightfully deserves his place as a global pop culture icon for the ages.
Batman is the single most successful Super Hero film franchise in history and there have been more theatrical movies released based on Batman than any other comic book character. In video games, the Batman Arkham franchise is also the most successful Super Hero game concept ever. Batman consistently breaks records in every incarnation of his character and remains the gold standard by which all other comic book sales are measured.
Batman is one of the greatest characters ever created, in comics or elsewhere, and even after 75 years he continues to wildly fascinate fans. He is an integral part of pop culture and has successfully captured the imagination of the entire world, said Diane Nelson, President of DC Entertainment and President & Chief Content Officer, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The origin of Batman, Bruce Wayne and the famous citizens of Gotham are legendary and likely a story you know inside out, even if youve never picked up a comic book in your life, and that speaks volumes to the characters immense popularity and the constructs of the original mythology.
The first published adventure of The Bat-Man (as he was then known) was in the May 1939 issue of Detective Comics #27, conceived of and drawn by a 22-year-old Kane with his frequent collaborator, Bill Finger, scripting the story. The character was so successful, that one year later the first comic book devoted exclusively to the Caped Crusaders adventures, Batman #1, hit newsstands. In that issue, Batman battled The Joker and Catwoman for the first time.
Now, DC Entertainment and the Studios various divisions, including Pictures, Television, Animation, Interactive Entertainment, Home Entertainment and Consumer Products, will mark this extraordinary 75th anniversary with a range of highly anticipated events and products.
The new commemorative logo, also released today across social media and websites, takes its cue from the famed Bat symbol, and features block-style lettering of 75 Years. The mark will be rolled out on Batman-related promotions, products and initiatives.
Key activities planned for the Batman 75th anniversary celebration include:
DC Entertainment DC Entertainment has an action-packed year filled with new Batman titles, commemorative issues and variant covers, including the recently released special edition of Detective Comics #27 commemorating Batmans first appearance in the book in 1939, the new weekly series Batman Eternal launching April 9, and upcoming exclusive Batman variant covers planned for San Diego Comic-Con International in July.
Batman Day DC Entertainment is also partnering with thousands of comic retailers, book stores and libraries for Batman Day on Wednesday, July 23. Each location will host a Batman 75th anniversary celebration and offer fans a free, special edition Batman comic.
Interactive Entertainment Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has invited celebrated fashion designer Asher Levine to create a cape and cowl based on the Batsuit of the recently announced Batman: Arkham Knight videogame developed by Rocksteady Studios. Favorite contemporary artists will have the opportunity to use the replicas as a blank canvas to produce their own, original interpretations of Batmans iconic attire for an all new Cape/Cowl/Create art exhibit that will be showcased at San Diego Comic-Con International in July.
Home Entertainment Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will bring fans an array of new Batman titles throughout the year, including the highly anticipated release of the Batman 66 TV series for the first time ever. Other new releases include animated films Son of Batman (May 6) and Assault on Arkham (summer 2014). Additionally, a 25th Anniversary Edition of Tim Burtons Batman feature film will be released in the fall.
Animation Warner Bros. Animation has created two all-new Batman animated shorts set for debut in April, with fan-favorite producers Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series) and Darwyn Cooke (Batman Beyond) each presenting a unique and familiar take on the Batman animated universe. In addition, Timm will participate in a Batman 75th all-star panel at WonderCon in Anaheim on Saturday, April 19, which will also feature an exclusive premiere of Cookes animated short based upon Batman Beyond.
Television Warner Bros. Television is in production on the pilot episode of the highly anticipated Gotham, a new one-hour drama for FOX which explores the origin stories of eventual police commissioner James Gordon and the villains that made Gotham City famous. In Gotham, Detective Gordon (Ben McKenzie Southland) will encounter a familiar cast of characters including a young Bruce Wayne as he fights to keep the city safe. Executive producer Bruce Heller (The Mentalist, Rome) wrote the pilot, which is being directed by executive producer Danny Cannon (CSI series, Nikita).
Pictures As Batmans 75th anniversary is celebrated in 2014, Warner Bros. Pictures will begin production of Zack Snyders untitled Superman/Batman film starring Henry Cavill, who reprises his role as Superman/Clark Kent, and Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne. The film, slated for release summer 2016, will bring the two most iconic Super Heroes of all time together for the first time on the big screen.
Consumer Products Warner Bros. Consumer Products has partnered with an array of licensees to celebrate Batmans 75th Anniversary through special edition and limited-release products. From the classic 1960s TV series to modern day comics, Batmans presence will be larger than ever in celebration of his legacy through everything from toys to t-shirts.
DCComics.com For the latest information and exclusive content celebrating Batmans 75th anniversary, visit Batman75.com. The dedicated section on DC Comics website launches today with the Batman 75 Sweepstakes which offers one lucky fan a one-of-a-kind prize package.
