Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Entertainment have announced their plans for the 75th anniversary of Batman. In addition to the press release (below) the company also unveiled the commemorative logo for the event.
A
Super Hero For Every Generation
Warner
Bros. Entertainment and DC Entertainment Celebrate Batman’s
75thAnniversary
New
Batman 75th
Commemorative Logo Unveiled
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 world’s 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 Knight’s iconic cowl headpiece and cape from the upcoming
Batman:
Arkham Knight videogame.
There will also be 75thanniversary-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 world’s 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
fiction’s 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 Studio’s businesses, and we’re 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 you’ve never picked
up a comic book in your life, and that speaks volumes to the
character’s 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 Crusader’s adventures,Batman
#1,
hit newsstands. In that issue, Batman battled The Joker and Catwoman
for the first time.
Now,
DC Entertainment and the Studio’s 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 Batman’s first appearance in the book in 1939, the new weekly series Batman Eternal launching April 9, and upcoming exclusiveBatman 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 Batman’s 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 Burton’s 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 Cooke’s 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 Batman’s 75th anniversary is celebrated in 2014, Warner Bros. Pictures will begin production of Zack Snyder’s 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 Batman’s 75th Anniversary through special edition and limited-release products. From the classic 1960s TV series to modern day comics, Batman’s 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 Batman’s 75th anniversary, visit www.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.
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