The Comic Book Art of The Dark Knight

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It’s a comic! A movie! A cartoon and a live-action TV series! Batman has undergone a series of iterations since its debut almost 60 years ago. And as the Dark Knight opens today as the star of another major motion picture, it’s worthwhile to look back at how the comic and the character have been portrayed over the years.

1939

Batman first appeared in Detective Comics No. 27 in May 1939 as an attempt to capitalize on the success of Superman, who’d made his first appearance in 1938. Artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger created the Bat-Man, the alter ego of millionaire Bruce Wayne. A bitter loner, Wayne became the Bat-Man as a result of witnessing the murder of his parents as a child.

Although the illustrations have altered–a lot–over the years, Finger and Kane gave the character his most notable attributes in those first few issues. The pointy-eared mask, utility belt, the batarang, winged cape and dark costume were created that first year.

Those first comics were influenced by the pulps and film noir; the caped crusader was a pitiless avenger who showed no qualms about killing foes. But by the character’s second year, he became a kinder, gentler superhero, taking in the orphaned teenager Dick Grayson, who fought crime alongside Batman as Robin, the Boy Wonder.

1940s
Catwoman and the Joker made their debut in 1942. The bat cave was introduced in Batman’s first foray into the cinema, a 15-chapter serial released in 1943 by Columbia Pictures starring Lewis Wilson. The comic book writers liked the idea so much they adopted it themselves, not the first time other media would contribute changes to the look and feel of the comic book.

By the end of World War II, though, Batman stopps killing his enemies, instead he and Robin work with police to bring characters to justice. The tone of the illustrations lightened with the story line, with brighter colors.

1950s

Batman is among those comic singled out by psychiatrist Fredric Wertham in his book, Seduction of the Innocent, which claims a link between comic books and juvenile delinquency. But while the other comics might lead to an up tick in hubcap thefts, Wertham finds homosexual overtones in the relationship between Batman and his protege.

The Wertham book leads to Congressional hearings, spurring the comic book industry to create its own ratings system, the Comics Code Authority. Comics with the CCA stamp on their upper right corner are censored for violence and sexual content. Batman becomes blander. Bat-Girl makes her debut in 1961, which many see as another sop to the censors and a way to counter Wertham’s concerns about the dynamic duo’s relationship.

1960s

Batman goes camp in the mid-1960s thanks to the Adam West TV series, which runs from 1966-1968.

The show was originally planned as a straightforward adventure show for Saturday mornings. But as it passes from hand to hand, the series morphs: One producer envisions a primetime series with a hint of irony for the proto-hipsters who were then flocking to performances of the original series. Eventually it lands in the hands of William Dozier, who is not a fan of the comic.

Dozier turns the cheeky into the tongue-in-cheek. In the series, pop art bubbles appear when Batman and Robin engage in a fight, Alfred leaves and Aunt Harriet moves in and a voiceover provides a goofy running narration. The series is an instant hit. Naturally, the comics follow suit and the camp approach works for them too–for a time: Sales soar until the show is canceled.

1970s

The seventies sees a Batman dichotomy. On one had, the dynamic duo joins forces with Superman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman–among others–in the Justice League of America comics. The books inspire Super Friends, a Saturday morning cartoon show, which first airs in 1972.

At the same time, various artists and writers led by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams, attempt to take the oroginal Batman series back to its dark roots.

Unfortunately, the first move is a hit while the second is popular only with aficionados of the comic.

1980s

Frank Miller’s 1985-86 four-part series, “The Dark Knight Returns” reinvigorates Batman.

This Batman is a bitter, middle-aged man, obsessed with cleansing the streets of crime. After a brilliant success, Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli create the Year One, a storyline that retells the character’s origins.

Miller’s Batman is not for kids–one comic has the Joker torture Commissioner Gordon after crippling his daughter Barbara. But it is a hit. It goes on to inspire Tim Burton’s 1989 movie, “Batman.”

1990s

“Batman Returns,” Burton’s second Batman movie continues to explore the character’s dark side.

The comics do, too. The character’s history is explored and new storylines are introduced. “Knightfall” sees Batman paralyzed by the villain Bane and Azrael takes over the role. The storylines split in two directions: Once follows Azrael/Batman while the other follows Bruce Wayne’s quest to become Batman again. In “KnightsEnd”, Azrael, who has become increasingly violent, is defeated by a healed Bruce Wayne.

The TV series “Batman: The Animated Series” maintains both the new grim tone of the comics and Burton’s Art Deco take on Gotham City.

Then the movies slide back into camp, with director Joel Schumacher’s “Batman Forever,” starring Val Kilmer and the truly awful “Batman and Robin,” starring George Clooney.

The 21st Century

“Batman Begins,” starring Christian Bale, retells the caped crusader’s origins once again. This time around, the comics and the movies are in sync. Both envision a brooding main character inhabiting a dark world.

This week, “The Dark Knight”, premieres. The Christian Bale-starring film will cover the same territory as the 1989 hit. And it looks to be as dark.

The comic “Batman R.I.P.” sees a very different Bruce Wayne. And the outlook for the future doesn’t look good. What’s to become of him?

Batman’s mysterious adversary has won. All is lost for the Dark Knight. Bruce Wayne is now deranged and dissociated, wandering homeless in the alleys of Gotham City. Is there a chance that Bruce can rebuild his Batman identity from scratch, or is this truly the end for one of the world’s finest heroes?

Only time will tell. But I wouldn’t count Batman out just yet.

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