It was 75 years ago that Batman first appeared on newsstands in “Detective Comics” No. 27, released May 30, 1939. Since then, the Caped Crusader has gone through numerous versions and reinventions, including a hugely popular campy TV series in the 1960s.
But the history of Batman hasn’t been all goofy one-liners and “Biffs!” In the character’s long run, there have been a number of controversial moments.
In honor of Batman’s three-quarters of a century, here are seven (and a half) bizarre, scandalous facts you may not know.
More than one person brought Batman to life
Bob Kane is credited with creating the superhero, once saying, “I am Batman.” But others probably had just as big a hand in Batman’s world, including writer Bill Finger and artist Jerry Robinson.
Kane was not known as a particularly adept artist, and often used assistants to draw under his name. When he did draw, he often swiped images and poses from other comics of the time, including Flash Gordon.
Batwoman’s origins revealed!
Legend has it that Batwoman was created in order to give Batman a romantic interest after the release of the now-discredited 1954 report by Dr. Fredric Wertham that blamed comic books for juvenile delinquency and suggested that Batman and Robin were homosexual. In the comics during the 1960s, butler Alfred was also replaced in Wayne Manor by Robin’s female aunt, to add more female characters.
“Batman” No. 84, published in June 1954, didn’t help the publisher’s case against Wertham’s charges. It depicted a single panel of Bruce Wayne and his young ward Dick Grayson (a.k.a Robin) sharing a bed.
Batman’s murderous past
In his earliest appearances, Batman carried a gun and wasn’t afraid to use it. He also wasn’t above killing criminals. In “Detective Comics” No. 27, he murders a villain by punching him into a vat of acid. It was only later in his publishing history that he took a vow to stop killing.
Red was never right for the Dark Knight
Kane originally designed Batman’s costume as a red bodysuit with black wings. Hardly scary.
1-900-kill off a sidekick
In 1988, DC Comics launched a controversial story line that allowed fans to vote via a 1-900 number about killing off Robin. Thousands of fans registered their opinion at 50 cents a call, and the Boy Wonder was murdered by the Joker.
The Caped Crusader never made it to a galaxy far, far away
In the late 1970s, Batman’s popularity had faded so much that CBS was actually considering making a movie called “Batman in Outer Space.” Luckily, DC Comics gave the film rights to others, according to Michael Uslan.
Batman and the big bladder problem
2010’s “Batman: The Widening Gyre” No. 6, written by film director Kevin Smith, presented a side of the Dark Knight fans thought they’d never see. Or, at least, hoped they’d never see. In the issue, Batman admits that while on an adventure, he once had a “bladder spasm.” Which is to say, he peed his pants.
And as a bonus bodily function tidbit, in the same comic, a character named Silver St. Cloud claims she calls Batman “Deedee,” standing for double digits, because that’s how many times he managed to have sex with her in one night.