Batman Day - September 21, 2024

What is Batman Day?

Batman Day is dedicated to celebrating the iconic hero's first appearance in mainstream media. Batman's first appearance was in DC comics #27, published in May 1939. Since its inception, Batman has become synonymous with the words hero and superhero as he is one of the most recognized fictional characters in the world. The first-ever Batman day was officially observed on July 23, 2014.

History of Batman Day

As I just mentioned, the reason for the existence of Batman Day is to celebrate the fictional hero Batman. The first official Batman Day was celebrated at Comic-Con on July 23, 2014. It was also Batman's 75th anniversary. 

Batman and the concept of Batman were first developed by the legendary writer and artist Bob Kane of DC Comics. He was heavily inspired by characters such as Sherlock Holmes, Leonardo da Vinci, and Zorro, the vigilante. Bob Kane got inspired by Dracula as well. In the movie The Bat, "man-bat" was featured in the opening credits, which also inspired the costume of the now iconic Batman. 

Bob Kane then partnered up with Bill Finger, a fellow writer. Finger felt that the original concept of Batman looked too similar to Superman. He thought the original Batman looked like Superman with a mask and bat wings. Finger suggested designing a cape inspired by Da-Vinci's creations. He also recommended replacing the colors of Batman's suit from red to grey.

Finger also suggested that Kane change the original Batman's domino mask with a cowl. He further suggested that the cowl should be hooded and have bat ears so that the final character would be more bat-like and distinguishable in the dark, even as a silhouette.

Later down the line, Gardner Fox worked on scripts in Finger's absence and introduced Kane to the idea of the now iconic utility belt, the Batarangs. When Finger finally returned, he worked with the rest of the team to create even more iconic weapons of Batman and some of his vehicles, like the Batmobile, and developed the concept of the Batcave. 

It is how the Batman we came to know and love started. And as time passed, various other elements of the Batman Universe or Batverse were developed. These elements include the iconic Gotham City, its citizens like James Gordon, Robins, and villains such as Joker, the Penguin, and the Riddler. It all eventually led to the 75th anniversary of the creation of Batman, on which Batman Day came to being.

How to Celebrate Batman Day?

Batman day is celebrated by comic book fans and Batman fans in general. Fans celebrate this day by:

1. Reading Comics

Re-reading previously read comics or new ones is a great way to celebrate these days. Comic book fans take great pride in their knowledge of comics and the knowledge they hold of their beloved characters. Comic book fans often buy and collect comics, read them in groups, and have discussions. These discussions often include things like trivia, group discussions, coming up with theories, and discussing scenarios.

2. Watching Movies/Cartoons

It is one of the most common ways of celebrating this day. Everyone has a favorite Batman movie or series, and hardcore fans tend to binge-watch these programs together on this day. To a fan, the level of excitement that exists in them never decreases. So they rewatch these shows and programs with the same enthusiasm they had when they watched them for the first time, regardless of how many times they have watched them.

3. Making Batman-Themed Food

It is not uncommon for people to recreate food mentioned in comic books and movies. Besides recreating food from fiction, people always find creative ways of presenting regular everyday food. For instance, they may design and decorate food in many ways, like making Batman-themed cakes, desserts, and snacks. People eat these together with friends and fellow fans of the masked crusader. They take pictures to show off their festivities and the effort they put into them with great pride.

4. Cosplaying

Cosplaying means dressing up in a costume along with accessories and makeup. It is pretty common in the US and the Eastern part of the world. People go to great lengths to recreate the costumes and accessories of their fictional characters, which include Batman. Batman fans cosplay not only Batman but also other characters from the Batverse. The Joker and Harley Quinn are also popular among cosplayers as they are on the same level in terms of popularity as Batman himself. 

5. Conventions

Conventions are held all over the country to celebrate Batman Day and other comic and fictional material. The popularity of Comic Cons has risen over the years as people are more comfortable expressing themselves. Comic cons fulfill fans' needs by giving them the means to celebrate and participate in activities related to their liking.

Countries That Observe Batman Day

Fans worldwide celebrate  Batman day, especially in the US, Canada, and Japan.

Some Interesting Facts About Batman Day

• Batman or Bruce Wayne was inspired by a real-life hero named Robert Bruce. He was a Scottish hero. Another person that influenced the creation of Batman was Mad Anthony Wayne. He fought as a Major General in the US Army in the Revolutionary War.
• Gotham is a name derived from an Old English term that means a place where goats are raised and kept.
• New York was nicknamed Gotham.
• The ornithopter originally inspired the cape of Batman. It was drawn and designed by Leonardo Da Vinci as a flying device.
• Fans voted to kill off Robin in the DC comics, and later like most characters in the comic book world, he was brought back!

Conclusion

Now that you have a better understanding of Batman day, I hope I was able to teach you a few new things that you previously didn't know. So if you are a Batman fan, then be ready to celebrate Batman Day this year and use some of the ideas I mentioned to improve your experience.