Updated: October 10, 2025

Batman has been the lead in multiple comic book series, a founding member of the Justice League, the star of his own movies, TV series and video games, and has become one of the most iconic characters of modern mythology. So, how did this iconic character come into being and what has the past 80 years looked like for him?

Back in 1939, Superman was an incredibly successful character, thanks to his run in Action Comics. Seeing that he was so popular, National Allied Publications Inc wanted to capitalize on his success and come up with some new superheroes. Bob Kane and Bill Finger had what they thought was the next great superhero.

Batman made his first debut on the pages of Bob Kanes sketch books, looking dramatically different to what comics know today. A figure swinging on a rope, clad in red tights, and a suit almost like Supermans. Additionally, he also wore a small mask and had two stiff wings on his back. When Bill Finger saw the sketches he suggested adding a cowl instead of the mask, replacing the wings with a cape, giving the character some gloves and removing the red sections of the costume. Bill Finger also came up with the name Bruce Wayne.

Once Batman was published, he was still a different figure to the one fans are familiar with today. The colors were more or less the same, black and grey, but his cowl had long, pointy ears. He also wore purple gloves and a bullet proof vest. Throughout the years he changed and developed as a character, first carrying a gun and later deciding guns were not to be used. During the 40s and 50s, Batman went through some weird phases in the TV series Batman from 1943 to 1949, The Jungle Batman in 1952 and possibly the most memorable, Rainbow Batman in 1957.

It wasn’t until the 1960s that Batman started to look more like the man the world knows today. In the 60s, the yellow oval symbol with the black bat in the Centre was added to his chest. Now the 1960s couldn’t be talked about without mentioning one of the most endearing portrayals of the Dark Knight on television, the campy and comedic TV series, Batman ( 1966 to 1969 ). Adam West starred as the titular character and his alter ego Bruce Wayne, and brought a fun and quirky take on them both. The show would open with an incredibly iconic and unforgettable theme song and would dive right into whatever crazy antics Batman and Robin ( Played brilliantly by Burt Ward ) would get up to that week. Whether they were taking on the Joker ( Cesar Romero ), The Riddler ( Frank Gorshin ), The Penguin ( Burgess Meredith ) or Catwoman ( Julie Newmar ) 1966 to 67, ( Eartha Kitt ) 1967 to 68 the dynamic duo were keeping audiences entertained and on the edge of their seats.