Today is the day before the San Diego Comic-Con, but it is also Batman Day, marking the 75th anniversary of the world’s favorite caped crusader. Batman is also one of the most lucrative properties in the world, a cash “bat” that DC Comics and Warner Bros. have been raking in dough from for decades. So what does the future hold for Bruce Wayne’s alter ego?
Comic book stores across the country are handing out free copies of Detective Comics No. 27, the issue that the Dark Knight made his debut appearance in. The new issue also features Brad Meltzer’s retelling of the story. The character was created by Bob Kane according to the credits, but Bill Finger is largely credited by comic book fans as also shaping the character.
According to The Los Angeles Times, DC is also discounting 750 Batman digital books. The selection includes everything from The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One to The Long Halloween and No Man’s Land.
“The cool thing about Batman is that it just doesn’t magically stop being Batman Day after this year. He’s our perennial favorite character,” DC Comics co-publisher Jim Lee told Entertainment Weekly. “ So I just think this more of a celebration of the success he’s had for the past 75 years and the dominance in the pop culture landscape. We fully expect it to continue and grow.”
In addition to new comic series, there’s also the highly anticipated Gotham, which will debut on Sept. 22 on Fox. The series is a prequel to Batman, centering on Jim Gordon’s efforts to clean Gotham City up before Bruce Wayne comes of age and dons the cape and cowl.
The other big ticket item to look forward to before the end of the year is the Blu-ray release of the 1960’s Batman series with Adam West. The series has been stuck in legal limbo for decades and has never seen a home video release until now.
Oh, and there’s Ben Affleck’s debut as Batman in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice to look forward to in 2016.
image of Ben Affleck courtesy of INFphoto.com