1- Batman's name comes from two historical freedom fighters
Co-creator Bill Finger used two historical figures
to name Batman’s alter ego. The first was Robert
the Bruce, or King Bruce I of Scotland, the man who led the
Scots against the British in the Wars of Scottish Independence, and who
succeeded William Wallace (think Braveheart) as Guardian of
Scotland in 1298. For the surname, Finger borrowed from Anthony “Mad Anthony”
Wayne, a brigadier general and hero of the American Revolutionary War.
The name Anthony Wayne was also the original stage
name given to Marion Robert Morrison before the studios changed it to John Wayne.
2- Batman was inspired by da Vinci, movies and masked men
Kane and Finger drew from a variety of resources in
creating the original Batman character, including:
- radio
show character, The Shadow which inspired Batman’s cloak,dual
identity and
sleuthing abilities;
- the
1920 Douglas Fairbanks flick The Mask of
Zorro,
which inspired his wealthy alter ego;
- the
1930 film The Bat Whispers, which inspired his costume and bat
identity;
- a da
Vinci sketch for the “ornothopter” flying device, which inspired his
wings.
Additionally, pulp sleuth Doc Savage and lit figure
Sherlock Holmes helped Finger flesh out Batman’s science-based sleuthing
characteristics.
3- Batman's secret identity is not so secret
A total of 11 characters know (or have known) that
Batman and Bruce Wayne are the same person. They include:
- all
three Robins (Dick Grayson, Jason Peter Todd and Tim Drake);
- Batman's
butler, Alfred Pennyworth;
- mute
inventor, handyman and one-time Penguin henchman Harold;
- fellow
superhero Superman (and Wayne knows who’s behind Kent’s nerdy glasses);
- fellow
superhero Azrael;
- fellow
superhero Batgirl (a.k.a. Barbara Gordon, aka wheelchair-bound,
crime-fighting librarian Oracle);
- and
three enemies (Bane, Ra’s Al Ghul and Hugo Strange), although all three
learned the truth during the Crisis of Infinite Earth (a massive 1985 DC
Comics event) then conveniently forgot.
The question mark is Commissioner James Gordon; it
appears he’s had his suspicions over the years, but has been unable to confirm
them.
We continue our revelation of 5 things you didn't
know about Batman...
4- Batman is
perpetually 34 years old
Bruce Wayne may be
stuck at age 34, but at least he has a well-rounded history. Batman passed some
of his teen years at establishments like Cambridge and the Sorbonne; and his
20s began at the FBI, then
led him to Korea, Japan and China for martial arts training, including a lessons in stealth from some
friendly ninjas.
Beginning with his 1939 debut, Batman has worn a number of capes in the comics,
depending on the times. In the '40s he sold war bonds; in the '50s he taught criminology cources and experienced his own baby boom with Bathound, Batmite,
Batwoman, and Batgirl. In the '60s he entered the space race by fighting
aliens; in the '70s he developed a cocaine habit — just kidding, actually he
returned to his dark, comic-book roots and in the '80s Frank Miller revived him with anger and
vigilantism. The rough 'n' tumble '90s earned him a broken spine and a
wheelchair (from which he made a full recovery).
2.
“Batman” was created not just by Bob Kane, but also a partner, Bill Finger, who
was never credited for anything Batman related until recently. He is
responsible for the original ideas of the Batman’s persona, costume, Gotham,
characters, etc. – Source
3.
In 2011, two teenagers in Vancouver, Canada lured multiple pedophiles online by
posing as a 15 year old girl, only to show up at the meeting spot as Batman and
the Flash to record them. – Source
4.
The settlement that became Melbourne, Australia was founded by a guy named John
Batman. Places named after him include Batman’s Hill, Batman Bridge, and Batman
Park – Source
5.
Also, Melbourne was originally called Batmania and its founding document is
called “Batman’s Treaty”
6.
The backgrounds of Batman: The Animated Series were drawn on black paper instead of white to show a darker tone. – Source
7.
There was a planned sequel to the 1997 Batman & Robin, with radio talk show host Howard stern considered to play Scarecrow. – Source
8.
Batman creator Bob Kane said in a Cinescape interview that of all the actors to
have played Batman up to that point (before the series was rebooted in 2005),
he felt Val Kilmer had given the best
interpretation. –Source
9.
In 2008, the Mayor of Batman, Turkey, wanted to sue Warner Brothers and Nolan
for using the city’s name without permission. – Source
10.
In Batman Begins, Christian Bale
suffered from crippling headaches and severe claustrophobia due to the original
Batsuit. Later, a more flexible Batsuit was constructed from 200 pieces of
fiber glass, rubber, and nylon, so Bale could have more mobility.
11.
While filming Batman Begins, someone crashed into the Batmobile in a state of
panic thinking it was an invading alien spacecraft.
12.
In The Machinist, Bale was about 120lbs (54kg) before he began working on
Batman Begins. Nolan told him to be “as big as you could be” and after six
months, he was at 220, too large to play the Batman Nolan wanted. He then
dropped 20-30 lbs.
16. In a limited series crossover published by both DC and
Marvel comics, Batman and Wolverine were merged into one character called Dark
Claw.
17. Batman could exist in real life, but only for a few
years. This is due to the incredible physical demands being Batman requires.
18. There is another version of Batman where Bruce Wayne dies
and his father becomes Batman and his mother becomes the Joker. – Source
19. The Lamborghini driven by Bruce Wayne in Christopher
Nolan’s Batman trilogy is a MurciĆ©lago. MurciĆ©lago is Spanish for “bat.” – Source
20. Batman was created as a combination of Zorro, Dracula,
and the Shadow – Source
21. A man named Chris Weir built his own epic Batman-themed
mancave, completed with $150,000 and two-and-half years of hard work. He has 2K
comic books, a full batsuit, and a secret entrance to the “cave.” – Source
22. When Batman and Superman were rebooted in 2005 and 2006,
Superman Returns made more money globally than Batman Begins. – Source
23. Christopher Nolan offered Heath Ledger the part of Batman
in Batman Begins. Heath told him “I would never take part in a super hero
film.” – Source
24. It would cost over $300 million to be a real-life Batman.
– Source
25. There was a unit of mass named batman, equal to roughly
16lbs. It was later divided into two units, the ‘great batman’ and the ‘lesser
batman’.
14.
In 2011, two guys from the UK changed their names to Emperor Spiderman Gandalf
Wolverine Skywalker Optimus Prime Goku Sonic Xavier Ryu Cloud Superman HeMan
Batman Thrash – Source
15.
The infamous Batman’s growl in The Dark Knight is not Bale’s fault but Nolan’s.
The real voice during filming was more
toned down and then heightened to a rougher, grittier vibe during
post-production under the decision of director Christopher Nolan. – Source
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