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The DC Comics character Batman has been adapted into various media including film, radio, television, and video games, as well as numerous merchandising items. The Batman franchise has become one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
A number of Batman theatrical films have been made. There have also been several attempted projects during the hiatus between Batman & Robin and Batman Begins .
In 1966, a Batman feature film based on the contemporaneous Batman television series was released. It starred Adam West as Batman, Burt Ward as Robin, Cesar Romero as the Joker, Burgess Meredith as the Penguin, Frank Gorshin as the Riddler, and Lee Meriwether as Catwoman.
Films | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Batman | Batman Returns | Batman Forever | Batman & Robin | |
1989 | 1992 | 1995 | 1997 | |
Director | Tim Burton | Joel Schumacher | ||
Producer(s) | Jon Peters Peter Guber | Denise Di Novi Tim Burton | Tim Burton Peter MacGregor-Scott | Peter MacGregor-Scott |
Screenwriter(s) | Warren Skaaren Sam Hamm | Daniel Waters | Lee Batchler Janet Scott Batchler Akiva Goldsman | Akiva Goldsman |
Story by | Sam Hamm | Daniel Waters Sam Hamm | Lee Batchler Janet Scott Batchler | |
Cinematographer | Roger Pratt | Stefan Czapsky | Stephen Goldblatt | |
Composer | Danny Elfman | Elliot Goldenthal | ||
Editor(s) | Ray Lovejoy | Chris Lebenzon | Dennis Virkler | Dennis Virkler Mark Stevens |
Batman actor | Michael Keaton | Val Kilmer | George Clooney |
Occupation | Films | ||
---|---|---|---|
Batman Begins | The Dark Knight | The Dark Knight Rises | |
2005 | 2008 | 2012 | |
Director | Christopher Nolan | ||
Producers | Charles Roven Emma Thomas Larry Franco | Emma Thomas Charles Roven Christopher Nolan | |
Screenwriter(s) | Christopher Nolan David S. Goyer | Jonathan Nolan Christopher Nolan | |
Story by | David S. Goyer | Christopher Nolan David S. Goyer | |
Composer(s) | Hans Zimmer James Newton Howard | Hans Zimmer | |
Cinematographer | Wally Pfister | ||
Editor(s) | Lee Smith | ||
Batman actor | Christian Bale |
Occupation | DCEU films | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | Suicide Squad | Justice League | Zack Snyder's Justice League | The Flash | |
2016 | 2016 | 2017 | 2021 | 2023 | |
Director | Zack Snyder | David Ayer | Zack Snyder (Original) Joss Whedon (Reshoots) | Zack Snyder | Andy Muschietti |
Producers | Charles Roven Deborah Snyder | Charles Roven Richard Suckle | Charles Roven Deborah Snyder Jon Berg Geoff Johns | Charles Roven Deborah Snyder | Michael Disco |
Screenwriter(s) | Chris Terrio David S. Goyer | David Ayer | Chris Terrio Joss Whedon | Chris Terrio | Christina Hodson |
Story by | Chris Terrio and Zack Snyder | John Francis Daley Jonathan Goldstein Joby Harold | |||
Composer(s) | Hans Zimmer Junkie XL | Steven Price | Danny Elfman | Junkie XL | Benjamin Wallfisch [1] |
Cinematographer | Larry Fong | Roman Vasyanov | Fabian Wagner | Henry Braham | |
Editor(s) | David Brenner | John Gilroy | David Brenner Richard Pearson Martin Walsh | David Brenner | Paul Machliss |
Batman actor | Ben Affleck | Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, George Clooney |
Occupation | Films | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Batman | The Batman – Part II | |||||
2022 | 2026 | |||||
Director | Matt Reeves | |||||
Producers | Dylan Clark Matt Reeves | |||||
Screenwriter(s) | Peter Craig Matt Reeves | Matt Reeves Mattson Tomlin | ||||
Story by | ||||||
Composer(s) | Michael Giacchino | |||||
Cinematographer | Greig Fraser | |||||
Editor(s) | William Hoy Tyler Nelson | |||||
Batman actor | Robert Pattinson |
The series premiered January 12, 1966, on ABC and ended March 14, 1968, starring Adam West as Bruce Wayne / Batman and Burt Ward as Dick Grayson / Robin. The two would later reprise their roles in Legends of the Superheroes .
The series premiered on October 29, 2002, and used footage of Michael Keaton as Batman and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, from Tim Burton's Batman Returns in the initial trailers for the series and its opening montage. [47] [48] The series focuses on the couple's daughter, Helena Kyle / Huntress.
Pennyworth, marketed as Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman's Butler for its third season, is a television series that serves as a prequel to Gotham and stars Jack Bannon as Alfred Pennyworth. Ben Aldridge, Hainsley Lloyd Bennett, Ryan Fletcher, Dorothy Atkinson, Emma Paetz, Paloma Faith, Polly Walker, James Purefoy, and Jason Flemyng also star.
The series premiered September 22, 2014, on Fox and ended April 25, 2019, starring David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne. The series depicts young Bruce Wayne following the death of his parents. Bruce is 12 years old when his parents die, unlike his traditional age being 7 or 8 years old. When the series reached its finale, stunt performer Mikhail Mudrik served as the physical actor for Wayne as Mazouz still was not 6 foot 4, the showrunners height preference for their Batman [49] Mazouz was able wear the Batsuit in the final shot with the help of forced perspective. He lent his voice to all Batman speaking scenes in the last episode.
Batman is mentioned several times in the series. He was shown from behind in the episode "Origins" and was voiced by an uncredited actor. Batman appears in the first season finale in a dream sequence created by Trigon where he started killing his enemies causing Dick Grayson to end Batman's life. Stunt doubles Alain Moussi and Maxim Savarias portray Batman in that appearance.
Batman's alter ego Bruce makes his full appearance in the second season, portrayed by Iain Glen. Bruce is visited by Dick after the defeat of Trigon, allowing Dick to restart the Titans on the condition that Jason Todd be a member. In his self-titled episode, Bruce appears in Dick's hallucinations about the guilt he felt following a disastrous fight with Deathstroke. In the episode "E.L._.O.", Bruce lures Koriand'r / Starfire, Rachel Roth / Raven, Donna Troy, and Dawn Granger / Dove are lured to the Elko Diner in an effort to reunite the team after Dick was incarcerated at Kane County Correctional Facility. In the episode "Nightwing", Bruce attends Donna's funeral at Titans Tower. When Kory thanks Bruce for bringing them together, Bruce had no knowledge of going to Elko and claimed that they confused him with someone else.
In the third season, Bruce becomes distraught after the Joker kills Jason, prompting him to murder the latter in Arkham Asylum. He then tasks Dick with the duty of protecting Gotham, while he retreats elsewhere. At a secluded mansion, Bruce writes his will, then attempts to commit suicide by having the mansion burn down with him inside. He is however saved by a resurrected Donna. At the end of the season, Bruce returns to Gotham and reconciles with Jason, who has since been resurrected and gone on rampage as Red Hood, but converted by the Titans to stop Jonathan Crane. While he does not appear in the fourth season, Bruce is mentioned as having provided the team with new equipment.
Bruce Wayne appears briefly on a magazine cover in The CW's Batwoman season one finale, portrayed by Warren Christie. The character Thomas Elliot masquerades as Wayne in the second season premiere before being discovered and forcibly unmasked by Ryan Wilder. In the episode "Armed and Dangerous", a subconscious manifestation of Bruce Wayne appeared before Luke Fox after he was shot by Russell Tavaroff in the previous episode which landed Luke in a coma. Bruce gave Luke the choice of living or dying. After being purged of "Circe" in the season two finale, Kate leaves Gotham City with plans to find Bruce.
Kevin Conroy portrays an alternate universe version of Bruce Wayne in the crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths . [50]
David Miller portrayed Bruce Wayne in the pilot episode of Gotham Knights . [51] [52]
Beginning in March 1945, Batman and Robin made regular appearances on the radio drama The Adventures of Superman on the Mutual Broadcasting System, including solo stories when series star Bud Collyer had time off. Batman was voiced by Matt Crowley, Stacy Harris and Gary Merrill, with Ronald Liss as Robin.
Efforts were later made to launch a Batman radio series in 1943 and again in 1950, but neither came to fruition. The 1943 pilot "The Case of the Drowning Seal" was scripted with Scott Douglas as Batman; if the script was recorded, no copy survives. The September 1950 pilot for The Batman Mystery Club was recorded with Richard Devon as Batman and Ronald Liss as Robin. [72]
In 1989, an original radio drama, Batman: The Lazarus Syndrome , was produced by Dirk Maggs for BBC Radio 4. Bob Sessions was the voice of Batman.
A second Maggs production aired on BBC Radio 1 in 1994, this time adapting the comic book storyline Batman: Knightfall . It was adapted, produced and directed by Maggs—with music composed by Mark Russell—who had also made Superman: Doomsday & Beyond on BBC Radio 5. This show, however, was not commissioned of its own, but rather to be three-minute episodes on the Mark Goodier Show. This meant it was written with a sense of immediacy, having to make an instant effect, and each three-minute segment contains a major plot development or sound effect stunt and ends on a cliffhanger. DC acknowledged the effort in an issue, Shadow of the Bat, by having villains jump past a sign reading "Dirk Maggs Radio". Michael Gough reprised the role of Alfred Pennyworth from the Burton/Schumacher film series.
From 1943 to 1946, Batman and Robin appeared in a syndicated daily newspaper comic strip produced by the McClure Syndicate. Other versions appeared in 1953, 1966, and 1989. The original run is collected in the book Batman: The Dailies. One more comic strip series ran briefly after the success of the 1989 film.
Batman appears in a novel by cyberpunk/horror novelist John Shirley, titled Batman: Dead White, from Del Rey. Many other novels and short story collections featuring Batman have been published over the years, including novelizations of each of the recent movies (such as Batman and The Dark Knight Rises ) and many of the comic book arcs.
There are also several more scholarly works, aimed at either Batman's history or art, such as Les Daniels' Batman: The Complete History, Will Brooker's Batman Unmasked: Analysing a Cultural Icon and compilations such as Batman: Cover to Cover: The Greatest Comic Book Covers of the Dark Knight. In 2004, The Batman Handbook: The Ultimate Training Manual, written by Scott Beatty was published by Quirk Books ( ISBN 1-59474-023-2). Written in the same style as The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series, the book explained the basics on how to be Batman. Amongst the skills included in the book are "How to Train a Sidekick", "How to Execute a Backflip", "How to Throw a Grappling Hook", and "How to Survive a Poison Gas Attack". Finally, there are of course countless sticker, coloring, activity, and other children's books featuring the Dark Knight. [73]
Several musical singles featuring cast members of the television show singing in-character were released in 1966: Burgess Meredith as the Penguin in "The Capture" and "The Escape", Frank Gorshin as the Riddler in "The Riddler", and Adam West as Batman in "Miranda". In 1976 West performed a pair of novelty songs, "The Story of Batman" and "Batman and Robin", for Target Records. All six of these recordings (sans the b-sides to Gorshin and West's singles) were later included on the 1997 compilation, Batmania: Songs Inspired by Batman TV Series.
In 1966, Burt Ward also recorded a limited "disc jokey only" release with Frank Zappa called "Boy Wonder, I Love You".
Also in 1966, British novelty group The Scaffold produced a single called "Goodbat Nightman" (lyrics by Roger McGough, who "has written several poems" about Batman and Robin). [74]
Following the popularity of the Adam West television series, a pair of LPs were released in 1966 on MGM's "Leo the Lion" label with Jack Curtis portraying Batman and Ron Liss as Robin. The recordings proved popular due to their combination of dramatization and the Batman television theme music. More than 100,000 copies were shipped soon after the first LP was released. [75] Each album contained three dramatizations, including stories adapted from Batman comic books:
Throughout the 1970s Batman was the subject of a number of Power Records Book-and-record sets, as well as records unaccompanied by books: [76]
45 rpm book and record sets:
7" 331⁄3 rpm records (no comic):
331⁄3 rpm 12 book and record sets:
The 1980 mini-series, The Untold Legend of the Batman was available in a special "MPI Audio Edition." Each of the three issues were accompanied by an audio cassette containing a performance of the text of the issue, with musical cues.
As part of its DC Superheroes collection, in 1982 Fisher-Price released Batman: The Case of the Laughing Sphinx, an audio cassette accompanied by a hard back illustrated book.
In 2007, the audiobook publisher GraphicAudio licensed DC Comics properties to adapt as audiodramas. They have produced three adaptations of Batman novels: Batman: Dead White by John Shirley, Batman: Inferno by Alex Irvine, and Alan Grant's Batman: The Stone King. Batman also appears as a supporting cast member in the GraphicAudio's adaptations of Crisis on Infinite Earths , Infinite Crisis and JLA: Exterminators.
In 2020, it was announced that David Goyer had signed a deal to create an audio drama podcast for Spotify called Batman Unburied . [77] The 2022 series stars Winston Duke as Bruce Wayne and Jason Isaacs as Alfred. [78] The supporting cast includes Hasan Minhaj, Gina Rodriguez, Sam Witwer, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Jessica Marie Garcia, Jim Pirri, Lance Reddick, Toks Olagundoye, John Rhys-Davies and Ashly Burch. [79]
Batman: The Audio Adventures is a comedic radio drama podcast series featuring the DC Comics character Batman. The 2021 show, DC's first scripted podcast, [80] is produced by DC Entertainment, Blue Ribbon Content and HBO Max. The series is meant to be an homage to the original 1966 Batman TV series as well as the 1990s Batman: The Animated Series . It is directed and written by Dennis McNicholas, a writer for Saturday Night Live . [81] Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of Insurrection Media and WarnerMedia. [82] The series was executive produced by Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, Deborah Henderson, and Jon Berg. [83]
Harley Quinn and The Joker: Sound Mind is the second podcast released under the partnership between Spotify and Warner Bros. Released in early 2023, it features Christina Ricci as Harley Quinn and Billy Magnussen as The Joker. Justin Hartley also appears voicing Bruce Wayne. [84] [85] In late 2023, the third Spotify–Warner Batman podcast, The Riddler: Secrets in the Dark, is scheduled for release. The podcast features an odd-couple team-up between Batman and The Riddler and stars Hasan Minhaj reprising his role from Batman Unburied, [86] and Colman Domingo replacing Winston Duke as Batman. [87]
Video games featuring Batman include:
Batman appears in the Batman: Arkham series. He is voiced initially by Kevin Conroy and later by Roger Craig Smith, and by Max Mitchell as a child. [2] [4] [90] [91]
Batman appears in LittleBigPlanet 2 (2011) and LittleBigPlanet PS Vita (2012), voiced by Gary Martin. [2]
In 1966, Adam West and Frank Gorshin went on a tour as Batman and the Riddler to promote the new Batman movie and the series. They were usually accompanied by several bands before the featured event that saw Batman and the Riddler exchange corny jokes as well as a song performed by West. The tour most famously stopped at Shea Stadium in New York on June 25, 1966 [103] and City Park in New Orleans on November 26, 1966. [104]
While a parody of a Batman musical was featured in one of the most recent series' comics, in 2002, Jim Steinman, David Ives, and Tim Burton had worked on a theatre production called Batman: The Musical although it was ultimately cancelled. Steinman has revealed five songs from the musical. The first is the opening theme for "Gotham City" and the entry of Batman with his tortured solo "The Graveyard Shift"; followed by "The Joker's Song (Where Does He Get All Those Wonderful Toys?)", "The Catwoman's Song (I Need All The Love I Can Get)", "We're Still The Children We Once Were" (the climactic sequence) and "In The Land Of The Pig The Butcher Is King", sung by the corrupt blood-suckers ruling Gotham, covered on the Meat Loaf album Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose . These songs can be heard at the Batman: The Musical memorial site, Dark Knight of the Soul.
A Batman musical is also parodied in the animated series Batman Beyond . The episode "Out of the Past" (first aired October 21, 2000) opens with Bruce Wayne and Terry McGinnis attending a performance of (a fictional) Batman: The Musical, featuring caricatures of prominent members of the Rogues Gallery (the Joker, the Penguin, Two-Face, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn). Series creator Paul Dini, who wrote the episode in question, also wrote a song for the fictitious musical entitled Superstitious and Cowardly Lot.
An episode of the sketch comedy show MADtv also featured a Batman: The Musical parody called Batman V: Out of the Cave which starred Tommy Tune as Batman, and Ben Vereen as Robin.
A live stage show was also created, called Batman Live: World Tour . The show is a unique fusion of live-action theatre, magic, stunts, digital projection and music from an 85-piece orchestra and choir. The tour began at Manchester, England, in Summer 2011 and visited arenas throughout the UK and Europe before arriving in North America in Summer 2012. Another stage play by the name of Batman Ninja the Show opened in Japan in November of 2021, it adapts the Batman ninja film.
In 2012, the Internet theatre troupe StarKid Productions created a musical titled Holy Musical B@man! , which went on YouTube on April 13. It was performed in Chicago from March 16–25, and because of copyright laws, tickets were free. Batman is portrayed by Joseph (Joe) Walker.
The album Knightfall by multinational Swedish band Silent Images, is based on the Batman: Knightfall story arc, with Batman serving as a central character, the "Nightly Priest". The album explores the underlying sociopolitical themes in the Batman universe, and his struggle against "The Venomous One", which is the album's interpretation of Bane. [105] [106] [107]
Starting with the Pop Art period, and on a continuing basis, since the 1960s, the character of Batman has been "appropriated" by multiple visual artists and incorporated into contemporary artwork, most notably by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Mel Ramos, Dulce Pinzon, Mr. Brainwash, Raymond Pettibon, Peter Saul, and others. [108] [109] [110] [111] [112] [113] [114]
Hundreds of Batman action figures, die-cast models, and other items have been released. Many companies have acquired the rights to make Batman merchandise, including:
Batman has appeared as a HeroClix figure, along with other Batman characters, in the following HeroClix sets:
For April 2006, Lego introduced a Batman line which also includes characters such as the Joker and Two-Face, at American International Toy Fair.
In 2015, Looney Labs in partnership with Cryptozoic Entertainment released a Batman-themed version of its card game Fluxx with art by Derek Ring based on The New Batman Adventures. [115]
In 2006, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a DC Comics Superheroes pane of 20 stamps which included a stamp of Batman. [116]
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Batman, USPS released a limited edition stamp series on October 9, 2014. [117] Four versions of the superhero were depicted from the four eras of comic book history: Golden, Silver, Bronze and Modern. In addition, it included four versions of the Bat-Signal.
Several Six Flags theme parks, formerly owned by Warner Bros., opened live-action "Batman Stunt Shows" as the movies increased in popularity. The now closed Six Flags Astroworld in Houston, Texas was home to a standing roller coaster known as Batman: The Escape. Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas is home to two roller coasters called Mr. Freeze, and Batman: The Ride. Six Flags México in Mexico City, Mexico has also a looping, suspended roller coaster named Batman: The Ride (Six Flags St. Louis has the same ride, as does Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois) as well as twin roller coasters named Batman and Robin: The Chiller. On the latter attraction, riders may ride on either the Batman or Robin versions of the coaster. But unfortunately in the 2007 off-season, the ride was removed after a long history of technical difficulties and occasionally breaking down. Six Flags Over Georgia contains a Gotham City area that contains the same Batman: The Ride and also features a looping coaster called The Mindbender that was adapted to fit the color tone of the Riddler after Batman Forever came out to fit the Gotham City section of the park it shares with Batman: The Ride. Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California has two Batman-themed coasters, the suspended coaster Batman: The Ride, and The Riddler's Revenge, a stand-up type roller coaster. This Six Flags park also features an entire themed area called "Gotham City" complete with architecture to match that of the fictional Gotham City. Warner Bros. Movie World in the Gold Coast, Australia, also has two Batman-themed rides. Batman Adventure – The Ride, revamped in 2001, is a motion simulator style simulator ride while Batwing Spaceshot is a vertical free-fall ride.
In 2008, The Dark Knight Coaster opened in Six Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags Great America. Based on The Dark Knight film, they are Wild Mouse roller coasters, indoors, heavily themed, and give riders a feeling that they are being stalked by the Joker. Six Flags New England was originally going to receive this roller coaster; however, due to problems with building permits, the park scratched the project and then sent the coaster to Six Flags México.
This article is missing information about actors and their portrayal years.(February 2023) |
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in portrayals by actors in Batman media. Characters are listed chronologically by first portrayal.
Character | Live-action film | Radio | Live-action television | Live performance | Records | Animated television | Animated film | Video games | Web series | Podcasts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bruce Wayne | Lewis Wilson (1943) Robert Lowery (1949) Adam West (1966, 2023) A Michael Keaton (1989, 1992, 2023) Charles Roskilly (1989) Y Val Kilmer (1995) Ramsey Ellis (1995) Y George Clooney (1997, 2023) Eric Lloyd (1997) Y Christian Bale (2005, 2008, 2012) Gus Lewis (2005, 2012) Y A Ben Affleck (2016, 2017, 2021, 2023) Brandon Spink (2016) Y Dante Pereira-Olson (2019) Robert Pattinson (2022, 2026) Oscar Novak (2022) Y | Scott Douglas (1943) V Stacy Harris (1945) V Matt Crowley V Gary Merrill V Richard Devon (1950) V Bob Sessions (1989–1994) V Shelley Thompson (1989) V Y | Adam West (1966–1968, 1979) Bruce Thomas (2000–2002) David Mazouz (2014–2019) Alain Moussi (2018) Iain Glen (2019–2022) Warren Christie (2019–2022) Mikhail Mudrik (2019) Kevin Conroy (2019) | Adam West (1966) Sam Heughan (2011–2012) Erin Anna Jameson (2011–2012) Y | Adam West (1966, 1976) V Jack Curtis (1966) V Paul Ehlers (1989) V Michael Keaton (1989) V A | Olan Soule (1968, 1969) V Adam West (1977–2015) V Kevin Conroy (1992–2018) V Rino Romano (2004–2008) V Zachary Gordon (2008–2011) V Y Mikey Kelley (2008–2011) V Y Dee Bradley Baker (2008–2011) V Y Anthony Ruivivar (2013, 2014) V Troy Baker V Tara Strong (2017) V Y Will Arnett (2019) V Diedrich Bader (2019–2023) V | Kevin Conroy (1993–2019) V Rino Romano (2005, 2007) V Hynden Walch (2008) V Y Rino Romano (2005, 2007) V Bruce Greenwood V Benjamin McKenzie V Peter Weller V Troy Baker V Jason O'Mara V Roger Craig Smith V Will Arnett (2014–2019) V Adam West (2015, 2017) V [a] Keith Ferguson V Jimmy Kimmel V | Kevin Conroy (1994–2024) V [a] Christian Bale (2005) V Gary Martin (2011, 2012) V Troy Baker (2012–2018) V Roger Craig Smith (2013) V Adam West (2014, 2016) V Will Arnett (2015) V A Kōichi Yamadera (2017) V Michael Antonakos (2022) V | Michael Dobson (2008–2009) V | Jeffrey Wright (2021–2022) V Winston Duke (2022) V Tharen Todd Jr.(2022) V Y Justin Hartley (2023) V Colman Domingo (2023) V |
Richard John "Dick" Grayson | Douglas Croft (1943) Johnny Duncan (1949) Burt Ward (1966) Chris O'Donnell (1995, 1997) Joseph Gordon-Levitt (2012) [b] | Ronald Liss (1945–1949) V Kerry Shale (1989) V James Goode (1994) V | Burt Ward (1966–1968, 1979, 2019) Brenton Thwaites (2018–2022) | Kamran Darabi-Ford (2011–2012) Michael Pickering (2011, 2012) | Burt Ward (1966) V Ronald Liss (1966) V | Casey Kasem (1968–1985) V Burt Ward (1977) V Loren Lester (1992–1999) V Evan Sabara (2007–2008) V Crawford Wilson (2008–2011) V Jesse McCartney (2010–2022) V Scott Menville (2003–2023) V Keith Ferguson (2019–2021) V Harvey Guillén (2021–2022) V AJ Hudson (2022–2023) V Zachary Gordon (2024) V | Loren Lester (1998–2017) V Burt Ward (2015, 2017) V Michael Cera V Scott Menville (2018) V [c] Sean Maher V | Loren Lester (1994–2016) V Scott Menville (2005) V Christopher Sean (2022) V | Melissa Villaseñor (2021–2022) V | |
Alfred Pennyworth | William Austin (1943) U Eric Wilton (1949) U Alan Napier (1966) Michael Gough (1989, 1992, 1995, 1997) Jon Simmons (1997) Y Michael Caine (2005–2012) Jeremy Irons (2016–2021) Douglas Hodge (2019) Andy Serkis (2022, 2026) | Michael Gough (1989, 1994) V | Alan Napier (1966–1968) Ian Abercrombie (1997–2003) Michael Gough (2000–2002) Sean Pertwee (2014–2019) Jack Bannon (2019–2022) | John Conroy (2011–2012) | Clive Revill (1992) V Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (1992–2004) V | Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (1993–2003) V Steven Weber V David McCallum V Brian George V Jim Piddock V Jeff Bennett V Robin Atkin Downes V Anthony Head V Michael Jackson V Ralph Fiennes (2017) V David Kaye V | Michael Caine (2005) V Martin Jarvis (2013) V Gildart Jackson (2022) V | Michael Dobson (2008–2009) V | Alan Tudyk (2021–2022) V Jason Isaacs (2022–2023) V | |
Vicki Vale | Jane Adams (1949) Kim Basinger (1989) | Brooke Burns (2001) | Kim Basinger (1989) V A | Gabrielle Carteris (2011) V | Tara Strong (2005) V Andrea Romano (2010) V Grey DeLisle (2011) V | Grey DeLisle (2009–2014) V Lorrie Singer (2011) V Anna Vocino (2012) V Jules de Jongh (2016) V Erin Yvette (2016) V | Ashly Burch (2022–2023) V | |||
James "Jim" Gordon | Lyle Talbot (1949) Neil Hamilton (1966) Pat Hingle (1989, 1992, 1995, 1997) Gary Oldman (2005, 2008, 2012) J. K. Simmons (2017, 2021) Jeffrey Wright (2022) | Paul Maxwell (1989, 1994) V | Neil Hamilton (1966–1968) Ben McKenzie (2014–2019) | Alex Giannini (2011, 2012) | Lennie Weinrib (1977) V Bob Hastings (1992–2003) V | Bob Hastings (1993–2003) V Jim Ward V Jim Meskimen V Ray Wise V Bryan Cranston V Gary Cole V U David Selby V Bruce Thomas V Chris Cox V Richard Epcar V Scott Patterson V Billy Burke V Héctor Elizondo V | Bob Hastings (1994–2003) V Gavin Hammon (2005) V Tom Kane (2009) V Michael Jonathan Gough (2012, 2013) V | Bob Hastings (2000–2002) V John Fitzgerald (2008–2009) V | Kenan Thompson (2021, 2022) V | |
Joker | Cesar Romero (1966) Jack Nicholson (1989) Hugo E. Blick (1989) Y David U. Hodges (1995) Y [c] Heath Ledger (2008) [a] Jared Leto (2016, 2021) Joaquin Phoenix (2019, 2024) [d] Barry Keoghan (2022) | Kerry Shale (1989) V | Cesar Romero (1966–1968) Roger Stoneburner (2002–2003) Mark Hamill (2002) V Cameron Monaghan (2014–2019) [d] Nathan Dashwood (2019–2022) Nick Creegan (2022) | Mark Frost (2011, 2012) | Caesar Romero (1966) V | Larry Storch (1968–1972) V Lennie Weinrib (1977) V Mark Hamill (1992–2018) V | Mark Hamill (1993–2016) V John DiMaggio V Zach Galifianakis V Jeff Bergman (2016) V | Mark Hamill (1994–2022) V Troy Baker (2013) V | Michael Dobson (2008–2009) V | Brent Spiner (2021, 2022) V Billy Magnussen (2023) V |
Penguin | Burgess Meredith (1966) Danny DeVito (1992) Colin Farrel (2022) | Burgess Meredith (1966–1968) Robin Lord Taylor (2014–2019) Colin Farrel (2024) | Alex Giannini (2011, 2012) | Burgess Meredith (1966) V | Lennie Weinrib (1977) V | David Ogden Stiers V Tom Kenny V Nolan North V Steven Blum V John Venzon V | Nolan North (2012, 2013) V Elias Toufexis (2022) V | Bobby Moynihan (2021, 2022) V | ||
Riddler | Frank Gorshin (1966) Jim Carrey (1995) Paul Dano (2022) | Stuart Milligan (1994) V | Frank Gorshin (1966, 1968, 1979) John Astin (1967) Cory Michael Smith (2014–2019) | Frank Gorshin (1966) Christopher Price (2011, 2012) | Frank Gorshin (1966) V | Frank Gorshin (1976) V Michael Bell (1978) V | Bruce Timm (2010) V Matthew Gray Gubler V Geoffrey Arend V Rob Paulsen V Conan O'Brien V | Wally Wingert (2013) V | John Leguizamo (2021–2022) V Hasan Minhaj (2022–2023) V | |
Catwoman | Lee Meriweather (1966) Michelle Pfeiffer (1992) Halle Berry (2004) [d] Anne Hathaway (2012) Zoe Kravitz (2022) | Lorelei King (1989, 1994) V | Julie Newmar (1966–1967) [d] Eartha Kitt (1967–1968) [d] Casey Elizabeth Easlick (2002–2003) Camren Bicondova (2014–2019) Lili Simmons (2014–2019) | Emma Clifford (2011–2012) | Unknown (1976) V | Melendy Britt (1977) V | Eliza Dushku V Katherine Von Till V Tress MacNeille V Julie Newmar (2016, 2017) V [d] Zoe Kravitz (2017) V Cree Summer V | Grey DeLisle (2012) V | Adrienne Barbeau (2000–2002) V | Rosario Dawson (2021–2022) V |
Mr. Freeze | Arnold Schwarzenegger (1997) | George Sanders (1966) [d] Otto Preminger (1967) [d] Eli Wallach [d] Nathan Darrow (2014–2019) | George Sanders (1966) V | Lennie Weinrib (1977) V Michael Ansara V Jim Meskimen V | Oded Fehr V Eli Wallach V David Burrows V | Maurice LaMarche (2012, 2014) V Donald Chang (2022) V | ||||
Barbara Gordon | Alicia Silverstone (1997) [b] Hannah Gunn (2008) [c] | Shelley Thompson (1989, 1994) V | Yvonne Craig (1967–1972) Dina Meyer (2003, 2019 V ) Jeté Laurence (2019) Savannah Welch (2021–2022) | Jane Webb (1968) V Melendy Britt (1977) V Melissa Gilbert (1992–1995) V Tara Strong (1997–2023) V | Mary Kay Bergman (1998) V Tara Strong (2000–2016) V Sarah Hyland (2016) V Rosario Dawson (2017) V Alyson Stoner (2018, 2019) V Rachel Bloom (2019) V Peyton R. List (2019) V | Tara Strong (2001–2021) V Kimberly Brooks (2009, 2012) V Kelsey Lansdowne (2013) V Ashley Greene (2014) V America Young (2022) V | Tara Strong (2000–2002) V | Gina Rodriguez (2022–2023) V | ||
Scarecrow | Cillian Murphy (2005, 2008, 2012) | James Goode (1994) V | David W. Thompson (2018–2019) Rahul Kohli (2019) Vincent Kartheiser (2021) | Benos Noble (2011–2012) Ian Henderson (2011–2012) | Ted Knight (1968) V Don Messick (1978) V Andre Stojka (1985) V Henry Polic II (1992–1995) V Jeffrey Combs (1997–1999) V Charlie Tahan (2014–2018) V Dee Bradley Baker (2008–2011) V | Corey Burton (2008) V Christian Lanz (2014) V Michael Rosenbaum (2015) V Brian T. Delaney (2015) V John DiMaggio (2016) V Jason Mantzoukas (2017) V Jim Meskimen (2019) V Chris Cox (2019) V Dwight Schultz (2020) V Robin Atkin Downes (2021) V | Cillian Murphy (2005) V Robert Englund (2017) V | Bradley Whitford 2022) V | ||
Ra's al Ghul | Liam Neeson (2005, 2012) Josh Pence (2012) Y | Garrick Hagon (1989) V | Alexander Siddig (2014–2019) | David Warner (1992–2001) V | Jason Isaacs V Giancarlo Esposito V | Liam Neeson (2005) V | ||||
Talia al Ghul | Marion Cotillard (2012) Joey King (2012) Y | Lorelei King (1989) V | Lexa Doig (2017–2020) | Helen Slater (1992–1995) V Olivia Hussey (1996–2001) V | Morena Baccarin V Zehra Fazal V | |||||
Harvey Dent | Billy Dee Williams (1989) Tommy Lee Jones (1995) Aaron Eckhart (2008, 2012) A Harry Lawtey (2024) | Nicholas D'Agosto (2014–2019) Unknown (2018) A C Misha Collins (2023) | Garry Lake (2011–2012) Christopher D. Hunt (2011–2012) | Richard Moll (1992–2010) V Christopher McDonald (2013–2014) V | Billy Dee Williams (2017) Robin Atkin Downes V Wade Williams V Dave Boat V Gary Cole V Josh Duhamel V Troy Baker V William Shatner (2017) V Bruce Timm (2019) V Christian Lanz V | Troy Baker (2012) V | John Fitzgerald (2008–2009) V | Ike Barinholtz (2021–2022) V | ||
Poison Ivy | Uma Thurman (1997) | Clare Foley (2014–2016) [b] Maggie Geha (2017–2018) [b] Peyton List (2018–2019) [b] Bridget Regan (2021–2022) | Valerie Murzak (2011–2012) | Diane Pershing (1992–2003) V Lake Bell (2019-2023) V | Tara Strong V Riki Lindhome V Vanessa Marshall V Paget Brewster (2017) V | Vanessa Marshall (2008) V Cyndi Williams (2011) V Tasia Valenza (2009–2017) V Laura Bailey (2012) V Tara Strong (2014) V | Diane Pershing (2000–2002) V | Emmy Raver-Lampman (2022) V | ||
Harley Quinn | Margot Robbie (2016, 2020, 2021) Lady Gaga (2024) | Mia Sara (2003) Cassidy Alexa (Tara Strong V ) (2013) [c] Francesca Root-Dodson (2018–2019) [c] | Poppy Tierney (2011, 2012) | Arleen Sorkin (1992–2003) V Tara Strong V Kaley Cuoco (2019–2023) V | Arleen Sorkin (2000) V Tara Strong V Jenny Slate V Melissa Rauch (2017) V Sirena Irwin (2017) V | Arleen Sorkin (2009, 2011) V Tara Strong (2011–2023) V Kari Wahlgren (2022) V | Arleen Sorkin (2000–2002) V Tara Strong (2015) V | Gillian Jacobs (2021–2022) V Christina Ricci (2023) V | ||
Bane | Robert Swenson (1997) [d] Tom Hardy (2012) | Peter Marinker (1994) V | Shane West (2014–2019) [d] | Henry Silva V Joaquim de Almeida V Ron Perlman V Clancy Brown V Michael Dorn V Danny Trejo V Héctor Elizondo V Carlos Alazraqui V Jason Liebrecht V Steve Blum V JB Blanc V Doug Benson V James Adomian V | Doug Benson V | Fred Tatasciore (2009) V | ||||
Harley Quinn is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for Batman: The Animated Series as a henchwoman for the Joker, and debuted in its 22nd episode, "Joker's Favor", on September 11, 1992. While intended to appear in one episode, Quinn became a recurring character within the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) as the Joker's sidekick and love interest, and was adapted into DC Comics' canon seven years later, beginning with the one-shot Batman: Harley Quinn #1. Quinn's origin story features her as a former psychologist at Gotham City's Arkham Asylum who was manipulated by and fell in love with the Joker, her patient, eventually becoming his accomplice and lover. The character's alias is a play on the stock character Harlequin from the 16th-century Italian theater commedia dell'arte.
Kevin Conroy was an American actor. He appeared in a variety of stage performances, television series, and television films. Conroy earned fame for voicing the DC Comics superhero Batman in various animated media, beginning with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992. Conroy went on to voice the character for dozens of animated television series, feature films, and video games over the next three decades.
The Batman is an American animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. Developed by Michael Goguen and Duane Capizzi, and produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Comics for seasons 3–5, the series first aired on Kids' WB on September 11, 2004, then Cartoon Network on April 2, 2005. The show would become exclusive to the former network for its third, fourth, and fifth seasons in early 2006. The Batman won six Daytime Emmy Awards over the course of its run. Many elements from previous Batman storylines were borrowed and adapted, such as those from the comic books, film series and the animated shows like Batman: The Animated Series from the DC Animated Universe, but it remained strictly within its own distinct continuity. Jackie Chan Adventures artist Jeff Matsuda served as art director and provided the character designs. The production team altered the appearances of many of the comic books' supervillains for the show, such as the Joker, the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Bane, and the Riddler.
The DC Animated Universe is a shared universe centered on a group of animated television series based on characters by DC Comics and produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It retroactively began in 1992 with what came to be called Batman: The Animated Series and ended in 2006 with Justice League Unlimited. The associated media franchise also includes theatrical and direct-to-video feature films, as well as shorts, comic books, video games, and other multimedia adaptations.
The New Batman Adventures is an American animated superhero television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, which aired on Kids' WB from September 13, 1997 to January 16, 1999. Produced by Warner Bros. Television Animation, it is a continuation of Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995) and the third series in the DC Animated Universe. It was followed by Batman Beyond (1999–2001). The series was revamped from BTAS, replacing its art style with streamlined designs to allow for more consistent animation and maintain similarity with the simultaneously running Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000), with episodes airing on Kids' WB under the title The New Batman/Superman Adventures.
The American comic book character Superman, created in 1938, has appeared in many types of media since the 1940s. Superman has appeared in radio, television, movies, and video games each on multiple occasions, and his name, symbol, and image have appeared on products and merchandise.
Dr. Thomas Wayne, M.D. is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the father of Bruce Wayne (Batman), and husband of Martha Wayne as well as the paternal grandfather of Damian Wayne. Wayne was introduced in Detective Comics #33, the first exposition of Batman's origin story. A gifted surgeon and philanthropist to Gotham City, Wayne inherited the Wayne family fortune after Patrick Wayne. When Wayne and his wife are murdered in a street mugging, Bruce is inspired to fight crime in Gotham as the vigilante Batman.
Lego Batman is a discontinued theme and product range of the Lego building toy, introduced in 2006, based on the superhero character Batman, under license from DC Comics. The sets feature vehicles, characters and scenes from the comics and films. The inspirations for the design of these vary widely. For example, the Batmobile retains its basic sleek shape and prominent fins from the Tim Burton films, whereas the "Bat-Tank" seems to be based on the tank-like Batmobile in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. The theme was relaunched in early 2012 as part of the Lego DC Universe Superheroes line, which is a sub-theme of the Lego Super Heroes line. In total there were 17 sets, almost all of them including Batman.
In addition to DC Comics books, the superhero Robin also appears in other media, such as films, television and radio. Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, and Damian Wayne are examples of the characters who use the name Robin.
The Batman franchise, based on the fictional superhero Batman who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics, has seen the release of various films. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the character first starred in two serial films in the 1940s, Batman and Batman and Robin. The character also appeared in the 1966 film Batman, which was a feature film adaptation of the 1960s television series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, who also starred in the film. Toward the end of the 1980s, the Warner Bros. studio began producing a series of feature films starring Batman, beginning with 1989's Batman, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton. Burton and Keaton returned for the 1992 sequel Batman Returns, and in 1995, Joel Schumacher directed Batman Forever, with Val Kilmer as Batman. Schumacher also directed the 1997 sequel Batman & Robin, which starred George Clooney. Batman & Robin was poorly received by both critics and fans, leading to the cancellation of a sequel titled Batman Unchained.
The many incarnations of the DC Comics superhero Green Lantern have appeared in numerous media over the years.
Originally created in 1967, the fictional comic book character Barbara Gordon has been adapted into various other forms of media. The character has appeared in both live action and animated television series and films, as well as in video games in her alter-egos as both Batgirl and Oracle.
The Joker, a supervillain in DC Comics and archenemy of the superhero Batman, has appeared in various media. WorldCat records over 250 productions featuring the Joker as a subject, including films, television series, books, and video games. Live-action films featuring the character are typically the most successful.
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes is a 2012 Lego-themed action-adventure game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game is a sequel to Lego Batman: The Videogame and the second installment in the Lego Batman series. The main storyline follows Batman, Robin and later Superman as they attempt to foil the Joker and Lex Luthor's plans to have the latter become president of the United States, joining forces with the Justice League along the way. As a result, the game's cast is larger than its predecessor and includes characters outside of the Batman series.
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is a 2014 Lego-themed action-adventure platform video game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It is the third installment in the Lego Batman video game series and a sequel to Lego Batman: The Videogame and Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. Similarly to its predecessor, the game features voice acting and semi-open world environments, and focuses on a large cast of characters from the entire DC Universe rather than just Batman and Robin. In the game's story, Brainiac attacks the Earth, intending to shrink the planet and add it to his collection, which forces the Justice League and the Legion of Doom to form an unlikely alliance to stop him.
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout is a 2016 American animated superhero comedy film based on the Lego and DC Comics brands, which was released on June 21, 2016 in Digital HD and on July 12, 2016 on Blu-ray and DVD. It is the sixth Lego DC Comics film following Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite, Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered, Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League, Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Attack of the Legion of Doom and Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Cosmic Clash. Some actors from various DC properties reprise their respective roles, including Nolan North as Superman, Grey DeLisle as Wonder Woman and Troy Baker as Batman. The film received positive reviews, with praise for the action, although the consumerism was criticized.
Lois Lane is a fictional character first appearing in DC Comics Action Comics #1, an intrepid reporter commonly portrayed as the romantic interest of the superhero Superman and his alter-ego Clark Kent. Since her debut in comic books, she has appeared in various media adaptations, including radio, animations, films, television and video games. Actresses who have portrayed Lois Lane include Noel Neill, Phyllis Coates, Margot Kidder, Teri Hatcher, Erica Durance, Kate Bosworth, Amy Adams, and Elizabeth Tulloch.
The Riddler, a supervillain in DC Comics and an adversary of the superhero Batman, has been adapted into numerous forms of media, including feature films, television series, and video games. The character has been portrayed in live-action by Frank Gorshin and John Astin in the 1960s television series Batman, Jim Carrey in the 1995 film Batman Forever, Cory Michael Smith in the 2014 Fox series Gotham, and Paul Dano in the 2022 film The Batman. Actors who have voiced the Riddler include John Glover in the DC Animated Universe, Robert Englund in The Batman, and Wally Wingert in the Batman: Arkham video games.
The supervillain the Penguin, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, made his first appearance in Detective Comics #58. Since then, he has been adapted into other forms of media, including feature films, television series, and video games.
An animated series based on the acclaimed Batman comic storyline "No Man's Land" has been a popular premise, with multiple attempted made. The piece of artwork above, by character designer Coran Stone, is one of the more notable attempts. Stone said he was selected by producer James Tucker to do the character designs for a "No Man's Land"-based cartoon, but the project was ultimate scrapped since it was considered "too dark".
A second attempt to create an animated series based on the "No Man's Land" comics was attempted, this time with a CG-animation bent to it. Also stalled for the dark premise, James Tucker would have been producer for this mid/late 2000s series. The design artwork above does not have an artist listed.