"In 1939, DC Comics was looking for a new superhero—a character who could build on the wild success of their earlier comic book phenomenon, Superman. Editor Vin Sullivan turned to what then appeared to be an unlikely creative source, gag cartoonist Bob Kane, and asked him to design a new hero. Bob Kane along with writer Bill Finger would go on to conceive one of the most popular and enduring characters of the twentieth century—the Batman.

Since his debut, Batman has transcended the realm of comics to become one of the most popular and enduring characters in all of entertainment. He’s graced the large screen and small numerous times, in movies, TV, animation and video games....He’s inspired toys—from free fast food giveaways to high-end collectibles—and has shown up on nearly every product imaginable. Batman’s been the subject of documentary films, college studies and art shows. He’s inspired memes, comedy sketches and parodies... Batman’s transcended his role of a superhero. He’s now part of our shared culture and awareness. People know who Batman is, no matter their age and interests, and regardless of whether or not they follow comics or super-powered heroes." - DC Comics.com

My connection to Batman runs deep. He was the first superhero I became aware of, and, brother, we bonded! As a 5-year old kid, I had a Batman T-shirt that I wore practically every day - until it literally fell apart. I also had a number of Batman toys that, had they survived, would probably be worth enough to pay for a comfy retirement - or at least a nice vacation. Oh, well - I'll just have to settle for creating my own toys.