The Legacy of Batman: The Beginning

Batman has been one of the biggest pop culture icons for decades. From Comic Books, Television, Movies, Video Games, Merchandise, Batman continues to be loved by generations of fans. But do you know the complete story of how Batman became the cultural juggernaut that he is? In this new series we are going to walk you through the complete history of Batman. From his inception in Detective Comics through the Michael Keaton Era, Animated Series, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and Robert Pattinson. This will be the definitive timeline of Batman from inception to present day.
#batman #michaelkeaton #nerdstalgic
Written by Dave Baker
Edited by Brian Nappi

[@MithDragon]

Had to pause for a minute. The whole "ask kids what they would do if they had super powers" idea and then making comics out of that is beyond brilliant. You can't beat a kid's imagination!

[@Nerdstalgic]

Mort Wiesinger was a trip man. He also was abusive to the freelancers and made them literally DANCE for their paychecks. It sounds like a joke, but it's not.

[@cormano64]

@@Nerdstalgic Sounds like a silver age Batman villain to me.

[@raxadian]

Go to read Axe Cop then.

[@sdgkh09]

The ones who kept their creativity from childhood alive during adolescence and adulthood might; Hayao Miyazaki, Walt Disney, J. K. Rowling, J. R. R. Tolkien, Doctor Seuss and the creators of many superheroes; like Batman.

[@GEMINIEARTHWALKER]

Doctor Who Fans would disagree with you there, see the NuWho Season 2 Episode 10 episode, Love and Monsters. The monster in the episode called the Absorbaloft, was created by a kid who I believe won a contest, it also features Moaning Myrtle from HP who becomes a disembodied face, and it's strongly implied that she regularly engages in fellatio with her boyfriend. . But I don't think the latter was created by a kid, at least I hope not.

[@raxadian]

"Sometimes worked for him as a ghost writer" is hugely underselling it. Milton Finger did almost all of the work and not only for Batman but for the first Green Lantern. Without him Batman would have been generic, forgettable and badly designed.

[@davidwestonsmith1305]

You're not wrong, however you obviously got caught up in your own comment to actually listen to the sentences following which pretty much credits him with designing the entire character. It also says that he had been a ghostwriter on other projects...not Batman.

[@maccamachine]

@@davidwestonsmith1305 virgin af

[@jamcalx]

I like how you named BILL FINGER first.

[@DuchessofPangu]

Came here to say this, too. Glad someone else beat me to it.

[@nobodyfamousX]

In a way the Adam west batman having so many ridiculous gadgets and such vast random knowledge kind of laid the foundation for the "batman can beat anyone with enough prep time" idea XD

[@stevolution7833]

I would love to have seen what Sam Raimi would have done with the films if he'd been given the nod instead of Joel Schumacher.

[@joshdunne8792]

Oh my god yes. I've had that exact same thought. Raimis Spiderman is the gold standard for superhero movies in my opinion, Raimi would be perfect for Batman

[@brandongaribaldi8365]

Nah bro Tim Burton all the way. He should have continued his series

[@joshdunne8792]

@@brandongaribaldi8365 Tim Burton had Batman stick dynamite to a goon and straight up merc multiple people. Batman does not kill.

[@brandongaribaldi8365]

@@joshdunne8792 still better than Joel Schumacher's take on Batman. Batman killed in his first appearance in comics you know

[@shinobi-no-bueno]

@@joshdunne8792 some batmen don't kill

[@isaiahvoss]

Batman 66 also gave Quentin Tarantino inspiration for the famous dance scene in Pulp Fiction.

[@Spider-Complexion]

I did not know that at all but for all it’s campiness the 60’s show had. It played onto it with serious actors that the show was written by a genius. Kids got a fun superhero show while adults get that and a good comedy

[@Thespeedrap]

I thought Tarantino don't like Batman.

[@Mark-pl3bv]

"Batman had lost his way in the comics" Had he? Knightfall is still one of the best Batman story arcs out there, sold well, and No Man's Land afterwards is also iconic!

[@mathieuleader8601]

great retrospective that teen made a deal of lifetime credited as a producer for every Batman film

[@ramaarmandoyusran9216]

Man, the smartest decision ever

[@gameon71]

I've got nothing but love for Batman and Robin, it was my first Batman movie and as a kid it was the best way to introduce me to Batman. Sure it was a bit cheesy but honestly I always look back at it as one of my favorite Batman films.

[@sonjaimmonen6610]

I loved Batman and Robin as a kid. It was so cheesy and fantastical, that a kid can enjoy it. I remember watching the animated series when I was like 4 or 5 and we had Heart of Ice as a read along book in daycare or at a friend's house (can't remember), but the Shumacher films really cemented my love for Batman at the age of 9 or 10. I did like Batman returns, because the very gothic aesthetic really captured me. Batman 1989 wasn't as easy to take in at that age, so it was never my favourite back then.

[@kevin10001]

It’s not as bad as people make it out to be but is not a perfect movie either but when I go back and watch a Batman movie it’s either the Adam west Batman movie or one of the Burton/Schumacher movies cause feel for Batman at 5 years old during the marking campaign for the 89 Batman movie watching Adam west’s Batman television series that family channel would air and now the channel is known as freeform

[@GEMINIEARTHWALKER]

​@@kevin10001I'm still hoping for the Schumacher cut of Batman Forever, recent internal WB leaks suggest that the studio is actively working on the edit.

[@samuelmeguerditchian6200]

Bill Finger revolutionised Batman and I’m disappointed that he hasn’t been given enough credit.

[@ChrisPTenders]

This video should be a PSA for the Batman fan community. They hate the killer vigilante angle, they hate the dark and brooding angle, they hate the camp angle. They just don't know their history. I'd love a 40 minute documentary style version of this Part 1 that goes into way more detail. I'm excited for Part 2, I love crash course pieces on pop culture history.

[@kevin10001]

Me to cause it’s all the self proclaimed experts of Batman but have never read a comic one and just know the movie and tv that do all they types of hate u described

[@shinobi-no-bueno]

@@kevin10001 "batman never uses guns!" Really? I could have sworn that he carried a pistol on his original utility belt

[@sxeptomaniac]

It should also be a PSA to execs. Many different iterations of Batman can and have worked, but it has to be clear to audiences what to expect, and execs should be paying attention to the time. Schumacher's camp was out of touch with the era and what audiences were led to expect by Burton's movies. However, Lego Batman leaned into the comedy, even directly referencing the camp, to great success. The DCEU Batman could have worked, but he never had interesting characters to play off of (Cavill's Superman should have been, but was wasted and written like a Batman with superpowers). Batman is a flexible character, but that flex needs to learn from the era, not mindlessly ape some arbitrary past one.

[@GEMINIEARTHWALKER]

​@@sxeptomaniacI would say that Schumacher's follow up fits that description of too much camp for the time period. But the cut of Batman Forever is much different than Schumacher's original vision, apparently the studio may be getting close to announcing the release of Batman Forever The Schumacher Cut. Which from some of the deleted scenes that have been available for years, gives the film a darker, less campy edge, focusing on the psychology of Bruce, IDK if you've seen the production still where Val Kilmer is facing the camera with a gigantic animatronic bat looming over him, but it looks cool. . Schumacher wanted to adapt Batman Year One for his follow up, but the studios demanded it to be more "Toyetic" and instructed him to make it more campy. . I wish that the studio had let him make what he wanted, he made some great films, when he was allowed to.

[@bandhanjha8563]

Very well-researched and underrated video. Definitely deserves more views.

[@ethansoderstrom8287]

Last I recall, “The new Batman adventures” wasn’t a reboot but rather season 4. It’s still takes place in the same universe, and is labeled season 4 in sets like the Blue Ray edition.

[@Rensei001]

Thank you for saying it; them calling it a reboot messed with me. I guess it's because season 4 was my favorite season.

[@slystone4892]

Love it from the very first minute, look forward for part two. Although it should have been a complete documentary.

[@urieldelacruz1182]

This is one of the best rundown "documentary" type oI've ever watched

[@ak_hoops]

Nerdstalgic literally produces some of the best videos on KZbin. Man this is good. So much I didn't know. Eager to watch the rest. Do hope that a similar series is done for Superman!

[@Nerdstalgic]

Appreciate this! Superman over Iron Man?

[@ak_hoops]

@@Nerdstalgic if you ask my, definitely! 1. Iron Man wasn’t famous til the movies 2. Superman is the most famous super hero 3. DC > Marvel (personally 😂)

[@rubendiaz9444]

This is awesome! Love all the content, but I'm so happy you're taking on this retrospective. Can't wait for the next!

[@RumpledRegina]

Batman Returns is my favorite Batman film, even to this day. It's still the best in my opinion.

[@Thespeedrap]

It's very underrated compared to how dark superhero films have become.

[@Comicbroe405]

Oh wow.. This is a really great video! Excited for Pt. 2 & and I would love videos like this for other pop culture characters.

[@ryuichiokutani]

Love this kind of content from this channel - hope this is the start of a recurring series covering various franchises/IPs

[@Elvirabg]

wow this was REALLY good! Looking forward to part 2!

[@k31than]

Never felt more eager to see the next video you upload. Ooh, the anticipation!

[@parkerpshebnisky1051]

As a Batman fan I loved your video!

[@n_a_m_e]

I’m loving the format of the series, glad I found Nerdstalgic all those years ago

[@foxisreal9994]

Great video about one of my favorite childhood superheroes. Can't wait for the next one!

[@Nerdstalgic]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@waynevanjaarsveld8454]

Dude this was very very well made. Great Job

[@avace917]

You made a slight mistake. The reboot series of Batman The Animated Series was called The New Batman Adventures. The Adventures of Batman and Robin was the renaming of the series for it's last season before ending in 1995

[@DarkFlubbr]

Love this new content. Nice work!

[@Thomas-py9gl]

I'm surprised you didn't cover "The Batman" cartoon, developed by Michael Goguen and Duane Capizzi. It used to air on KidsWB in the early 2000s. The art style was unique and really pulled out the persona of each character onto their physical body.

[@kevin10001]

This is just part one of the series he hasn’t gotten there yet that series didn’t come out until 2004 he isn’t there yet

[@Thomas-py9gl]

@@kevin10001 thats fair. I thought the Dark knight released in 2005, that's why I'm a bit confused.

[@garrhettm7209]

Thank you for mentioning Bill Finger!

[@skipadbutton7526]

Awesome series. Can’t wait for the next episode

[@JerichotheSplendid]

Great series. One correction - WB didn't follow on the success of the 80s films with merchandise. They went hard on merchandise before the movie was even released. Best marketing strategy ever.

[@Chaosic]

Good video man,some of the stuff I knew some I did not,I got into Batman thanks to Batman tas,then saw all the Batman 1989 to 1997 films,Batman 89,Dark Knignt,Mask of Phantasm,Return of Joker are my favorite films.

[@N13J]

Oh shit, this channel is damn amazing. As a kid I really enjoy Mr. Freeze so much I consider Batman & Robin my favorite batman, never know that the public thought it’s crap.

[@brycevo]

This is a great retrospective

[@dashingdreww1185]

Great video !

[@nightwing9637]

I always loved the purple gloves and purple under tone on the cape on some versions

[@mikevanhorn73]

Great content

[@rhen4short]

0:53 Whoever put Bill Finger's name first in the script of this video deserves a raise.

[@maxgraivier2024]

Nerdstalgic pulling up with VO #3

[@ceno10101]

We getting another narrator? I remember when there was just one person who made this site's videos.

[@Shawnz7]

Was mentioned awhile back the original creator was expanding into a bigger team and would feature different narrators. There's other voices on more recent videos too. I'd link the video where the OC cites this but I don't recall the title of the vid.

[@bahaablast5525]

Excellent

[@shortie9103]

Damn I needed the golden era piece the most

[@bash3997]

this is quality content

[@Nerdstalgic]

Thanks! We worked hard on this one

[@goodson91]

I just can't believe you skipped the legendary *Batman: The Long Halloween* comic ! + Other 90s Batman comics

[@_neon-xeon_3966]

Jesus Christ this video bombed

[@nathanthesubzeromangold4615]

It's been 80 years in the making of Batman and the tell the stories on a Silver Screen I'm very excited for the Batman films came so far to inspire the world the greatest fan base show runner for a lifetime now you could own a movies forever it has been a great journey for out 80 years of our history about Batman thank you Bob Kane and Bill finger and all the writers who done a great work what a amazing journey writing about this character in throughout the lifespan of Batman's 80 years of Journey what a legacy and impact the world I'm very happy where the movies are going now we're all excited for more Batman projects next year it's going to be a great journey. And I am very proud of becoming a big Batman fan since when I hardly remember when I was very young he's one of my favorite superheroes what inspired the world. With the best actors who have played Batman over the years outstanding performance from everybody a perfect way to show a perfect show just sit down and buckle up to enjoy the ride of the Journey of Bob Kane's Legacy. And I wish he was still here. Bob kane credit the best wonderful character of all time best Cinema masterpiece Movie experience. What a ride Batman history and that is forever.

[@mew10521]

I'm glad he included Bill Finger

[@mindflayer55]

yes another upload

[@kevin10001]

I feel for Batman during the marketing campaign for Batman in 1989 watching the Adam west series I didn’t see Batman until hbo got Batman but my first batmovie I saw in theaters at 8 years old was Batman return and I have seen every Batman movie in theaters since I have seen both the 1943 & 1949 serials in there entity when they got released to dvd but I had seen parts of them as a child cause I had found a vhs tape at a drugstore that had some of them on it and over the years I have become more of a fan of Batman in general more then just a fan of one version of him and I appreciate all versions of Batman even if the writing doesn’t fully land with me

[@blickyru]

We need pt 2 asap

[@Nerdstalgic]

Coming soon…

[@shreddhead23]

Nice💯🙏😎

[@andrewhuntsberry920]

Just in time for my lunch break :)

[@Teeny733]

Has anyone ever told you that your voice sounds like Steve Blum's? Very smooth and easy to listen to!

[@TedEvansVO]

thanks so much! Love Steve Blum - I do a pretty good Zeb impression :)

[@uzitay815]

Imma need part 2 asap

[@Nerdstalgic]

Coming VERY Soon!

[@Nebuchadezr]

Yo the captions on this video are for a video about the Arkham game series. Reading them while watching this will make your brain skip

[@sxeptomaniac]

It really does highlight how the "best" Batman is the one who reflects his era. The worst Batman versions reflected hollow attempts to parrot past versions, without reflecting on what audiences resonated with (Schumacher's camp and Snyder's Randian cloning of every superhero strike me as particularly big examples)

[@R3DJoel]

17:43 I just Noticed that kid in Batman Begins is Joffrey

[@MrEtai]

What song plays in the intro around 0:28?

[@raindropsonthewindowsill5170]

Comment for the bloody algorithm!

[@dominicwaghorn6459]

Just realised that I’m wearing a Batman tshirt under my work shirt lol

[@prosperotorres7965]

Let’s not forget that the Filmation Batman shows of the 60s & 70s and the Superfriends shows of the 70s & 80s cemented the campy Batman to the public too when the comics got more serious

[@Petersonmgee]

Batman Returns is the BEST Batman film ever made

[@Why_It]

Just letting you know that the captions are completely wrong. Think it 's to go for a future video with the 2008+ movies. Although gotta say it was hilarious to see Batterson beat the shit out of those punks with the Heath Ledger magic trick scene captions.

[@DivineLBest]

very slick@ 6:05..... V E R Y.

[@Iroquois2688]

8:53 I know the pronunciation of Ra's was popularized by the Nolan films but the correct way to say it is "Reysh" according to creator Danny O'neil.

[@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl]

That is not the correct Arabic was to say it really

[@jesseolsen108]

Yay

[@Hains22]

The Batman cereal. 🙏🏾

[@joe94c]

Oft, the first lines you played of the first batman film...

[@jakethesnake941]

I think you've uploaded the wrong subtitle file

[@ilikenothingtoo]

Nice Job putting Bill Finger before Bob Kane.

[@ramengirll]

Who is this video voiced by? Jon Bailey? (I'm still midway through the video)

[@TedEvansVO]

It's actually me! Ted Evans - I did work on the Wes Anderson movies Honest Trailer, but Jon is very talented, so thank you!

[@ramengirll]

@@TedEvansVO oh wow! Thanks for replying 😮😊

[@rohan34]

The subtitles are delayed by quite a few seconds. Wish it was immediate. Need to fix that.

[@boorgiesman]

You really know about Batman. Not like other peoplewho thinks he was created by Nolan or Miller

[@ethanielclyne5810]

1:48 a kid named finger

[@theswan1852]

There's a colourized 1943 Batman?

[@idiotninja]

Ok great content. Sure. But am I the only person that was like "Who is this person talking?" The new voice is differnt lol

[@Vivi_9]

12:27 dem jiggle physics

[@bigmanliam]

we should have another fun and zany batman with a bunch of jokes and crap that would be fun

[@MatterMadeMoot]

Tim Burton's costume for Catwoman actually wasn't latex at all, similar as it looks. Stitched patent leather.

[@paulrazvan230]

If the 43 serial was made at the end of the war we would have seen Batman dropping BatNukes over Dr. Daka.

[@hansolowe19]

I'm thinking you mean apotheosis instead of apothesis. 👍

[@tallaajao7894]

Micheal Urslan did not fumble the bag 💯💯

[@DemzWon1]

Should've made Schwarzenegger Bane or a bigger character

[@carlosalbertolealrodriguez5529]

11:00 After watching "Beetlejuice", I am convinced that Michael Keaton should have played the role of The Joker, instead of Bruce Wayne.

[@ther3aper561]

Can we get a Superman version now?

[@jakedunn5827]

🤙🤙🤙

[@themarvelousdonohues9153]

still think Mike Keaton was the best B-Man... Christian Bale wasn't bad and Adam West was a 'campy' rendition. I think if the 60's Batman had actually played it straight like the 60's Britt Reed 'Green Hornet' character, West might've been more dominant.. not sure what else DC can do with the character --unless he has bat kids, wife or brings back batgirl/robin--good video

[@lilpincone7010]

Bro wtf is there a nerdstalgic 3 bro his voice is completely different again💀

[@jamergamer0076]

Batman returns is really good, I don't know why it gets the hate it does.

[@jonathanbhatty8592]

Because the film is too campy compared to modern Batman films.

[@ViperineHero]

pog

[@mrray477]

Gotta change the title and thumbnail or this video won't take off

[@tefweebz]

Bill Murray as Batman and Eddie Murphy as Robin was actually an idea some people thought was brilliant, based off of nothing outside both being hot at the time, and both being comedic actors. I love even the campiest and silliest of Batman adaptions, but I would have been disgusted by this project.

[@Muhammadaain]

Is the narrator different

[@SilverSpoonRiche]

Batman 89 and Batman The Animated Series (RIP Kevin Conroy) have shaped what I know to be Batman and I refuse anything that strays too far from that ideal. I never once picked up a DC comic. I even enjoyed Batman Forever and still love Tommy's Two Face and Jim's Riddler. The next one, not so much. HUGE fan of the Dark Knight Trilogy and the latest The Batman.

[@isaiahyinko7182]

That's your opinion and our childhood is way different than yours and depends on what year you were born.

[@SilverSpoonRiche]

@@isaiahyinko7182 It very much is my opinion. You get a gold star for being able to discern opinion from fact. That's RARE in this day and age.

[@isaiahyinko7182]

​@SilverSpoonRiche yeah. I'm guessing your first batman is michael keatons batman and batman the animated series.

[@SilverSpoonRiche]

@@isaiahyinko7182 so, all you do is state the obvious? Or was I too vague somehow?

[@isaiahyinko7182]

@SilverSpoonRiche it's a simple question dude. I wasn't mean or anything.

[@larryshields2302]

Better voice 🙏

[@TedEvansVO]

thank you! :)

[@sfkeepay]

Fun video, with great production values. Note: Ubiquitous means everywhere. So when you say “…so ubiquitous…” you sound ignorant. You can’t say “becoming so everywhere”. Something is either ubiquitous…or it isn’t.

[@banthaboss6390]

Adam or kanye.....

[@nimrod4996]

kid named finger created batman

[@F_L_A_S_H22]

Id actually argue Batman Returns is better than Batman 89.