Need Help for a Batman-Art-Project (Batman Eras)

[BareKnuckled]

Hey Guys and Girls,
My art-teacher gave us the Task of tinkering a Book of any kind. The Bats-fan I am, I decided to make a "Batman-Book". Though im still incredibly happy that I was allowed to do so, I'm now at a point where I need some help from you, fellow Batfans, concerning 2 Points:


The idea of the book is to compare the different ages or eras Batman has gone through over the years. Since I'll have to compare very different media like TV-shows, movies, comics etc. in this, I think that I should focus on the tone/atmosphere, general style and different characterizations of the main characters. As to everything, I'm open about this point, so if you have any suggestions, I'd be very grateful to read them

Please note that this project is just to give a very basic overview and is not directed at hardcore-fans but my art-teacher

But my first problems is : I'm not sure which "Ages" to pick. I'm only sure about the first and the last I don't even know how many are necessary to do justice to the immense changes the Bat has undergone over the years, though I don't think that I can do more than 4 - 5 time-wise ...
So here is my first, provisional selection:

1. "Golden Age"( Kane & Finger, 1939-1950 )

2. ABC Television Era (1966 - 1968 ) ??

3. Alan Moore & Frank Miller Era (1986 - 1988 ) ??

4. Chris Nolan Era ( 2005-2012 )

Do you think it's ok to leave Silver and Bronze Age, Tim Burton, The Animated Series or even Schumacher out or am I missing something really basic by omitting them ? The book shouldn't be for Batman geeks but for my Art-Teacher who knows close to nothing about Batman...

My second problem is: I'm only an apprentice learning,reading and watching as much of Batman (but) who doesn't know everything about him yet, so I don't really know how to characterize the particular Eras . So could you maybe help me with your ideas of what defines the particular Ages ?

As a new person to the community,I'm endlessly grateful for everybody reading this long text,contributing and helping me.

P.S: I'll keep you updated about the process with some pics of my Book - if you want :-)

[BatfanReborn]

I would say the following are important defining artists:
40s- Bob Kane
50s- Dick Sprang
60s- Carmine Infantino
70s- Neal Adams
70s/80s- Jim Aparo, Dick Giordano, Don Newton
80s- Norm Breyfogle
90s- not sure
00s- Tony Daniel, David Finch, Jim Lee

I know there are many other good and great artists who've worked on Batman but these are fairly definitive and iconic.

[Namtab]

Don't skip the '39, long-eared, short-gloved Batman.

[BareKnuckled]

@BatfanReborn

Thanks a lot mate !! Unfortunately - due to a lack of time- I won't be able to work them all into my project and I want to regard not only the comics but also the movies,tv-shows etc...

So do you think that Breyfogle was more influential than Moore & Miller ? In my opinion, "Year One","The Dark Knight Returns" or "The Killing Joke" are some of the most important pieces of Bat-fiction of all times... Tell me your opinion on that !

I think we all would agree on Bob Kane for the 40s - could you tell me what defines it for you, atmosphere- and tone-wise and how the following generations distinguished itself from this era ?

Thank you again, I am glad for anyone helping me

[BareKnuckled]

No, definitely not - I will make it the starting point of my book.
Still i struggle to find some catchy "summary" of what characterizes this age and all the others ...

[BatfanReborn]

So do you think that Breyfogle was more influential than Moore & Miller ? In my opinion, "Year One","The Dark Knight Returns" or "The Killing Joke" are some of the most important pieces of Bat-fiction of all times... Tell me your opinion on that !

I think we all would agree on Bob Kane for the 40s - could you tell me what defines it for you, atmosphere- and tone-wise and how the following generations distinguished itself from this era ?

You would certainly get no argument from me on the importance of Y1 TKJ and DKR. I was just thinking of the Batman/Detective issues of the late 80s which were drawn by Aparo and Breyfogle as opposed to the other 3 which were done by 'one off' artists. I didn't read much into the 90s ( and still haven't) so I couldn't really say how influential Breyfogle was but you are right Moore and Miller were moreso. His mad cape formations seemed to catch on though.

Bob Kane's stuff is gritty and stark. There is a grimness which seems to reflect the times- WW2, evil scientists and gangsters. I mentioned Dick Sprang because his work seems to reflect perfectly the change in Batman comics after the Comics Code came into effect. Catwoman was out, Batwoman was in. Campy Batman was born.

[Netherith]

One of the biggest artistic subjects that defined the eras was the presence of the large Typewriters and such on the rooves of buildings. These overly large props defined the golden age.

My advice is to focus on the appearance of Gotham City (it changes between the Overly Large Props - Gothic Style (Burton) - Neo (Batman Beyond) - Realistic (Nolan)), you can throw in the various art stylisms and such and your teacher will love it. Another is to focus on the Batsuit as it changes (tips to focus on is the yellow oval, the belt and the briefs).

Here's a page on the comicbook Batsuit http://casscain.wikia.com/wiki/Batma...rm_(New_Earth) , I recommend focusing on the appearance of Gotham City though as you can throw in various Art Style influences and such for your art teacher.

Some trivia:

*The appearance of Gotham in the Burton films influenced the appearance of Gotham in the comics. Various concept art for locations in the movie would be reused for locations in the comic book (eg, The Gotham City Police Department Headquarters, the Gotham Cathedral and Wayne Enterprises Tower).

[BareKnuckled]

Guys, I can't thank you enough !! You both helped me a lot already ! :)

Bob Kane's stuff is gritty and stark. There is a grimness which seems to reflect the times- WW2, evil scientists and gangsters. I mentioned Dick Sprang because his work seems to reflect perfectly the change in Batman comics after the Comics Code came into effect. Catwoman was out, Batwoman was in. Campy Batman was born.

That's great, exactly the stuff I'm looking for !! And the Comics Code - I wasn't aware of that, I thought people where simply tired of Violence and Fright after the war but this will really impress my teacher

One of the biggest artistic subjects that defined the eras was the presence of the large Typewriters and such on the rooves of buildings. These overly large props defined the golden age.

My advice is to focus on the appearance of Gotham City (it changes between the Overly Large Props - Gothic Style (Burton) - Neo (Batman Beyond) - Realistic (Nolan)), you can throw in the various art stylisms and such and your teacher will love it. Another is to focus on the Batsuit as it changes (tips to focus on is the yellow oval, the belt and the briefs).

That's a great Idea, especially because it's a very distinct and explicit stylistic aspect that everyone can see ... I will definitely work that into, I think Nolan's Batsuit might be a great example to proof the more realistic style of his Batman ( It's more an Armor than Adam West's Pyjamas etc. )

[Confuzzled Mutie]

That's great, exactly the stuff I'm looking for !! And the Comics Code - I wasn't aware of that, I thought people where simply tired of Violence and Fright after the war but this will really impress my teacher

Do not forget to mention how the Comics Code was brought about, thanks to the publishing of Seduction of the Innocent, a 1954 book by German-American psychiatrist Fredric Wertham, which made allegations about homosexual undertones in Batman and Robin's relationship. That was the reason Batwoman and the first Bat-Girl were introduced in the 1950s, to give the Dynamic Duo female love interests who were more wholesome (unlike Catwoman), and to dispel any suggestions of homosexual undertones. You can check up on the book and its impact on the comic book industry in the 50s and 60s online. Teachers are suckers for that kind of historic and socially relevant trivia.

[BareKnuckled]

Do not forget to mention how the Comics Code was brought about, thanks to the publishing of Seduction of the Innocent, a 1954 book by German-American psychiatrist Fredric Wertham, which made allegations about homosexual undertones in Batman and Robin's relationship. That was the reason Batwoman and the first Bat-Girl were introduced in the 1950s, to give the Dynamic Duo female love interests who were more wholesome (unlike Catwoman), and to dispel any suggestions of homosexual undertones. You can check up on the book and its impact on the comic book industry in the 50s and 60s online. Teachers are suckers for that kind of historic and socially relevant trivia.

Awesome, man ! Unfortunately, I started reading the Comics only 3 months ago and - though I try to get my hands on everything about the Bat - it's very hard to get informations like these ( or grasp the Robin/Nightwing/Someone Else donning his cape - stories ... But that's something for another thread, in another time ). But those chunks of Information are veeery valuable to me and for my project!

Now I can describe the Golden Age and how/why the transition to "Campy Batman" happened. I guess the ABC- TV - Show represents this right, doesn't it ? And as the name already says, i'd say it is Cheesy but light-hearted, with a lot of general, unmistakable morale-lessons - a typical show for children. What would you add to that ? And is there something in the show that reflects these aspects ? The Batsuit works a little - e.g. it is less an armor but a gymnast-suit because there is little direct violence in the show ... Do you have some Ideas ?

And how does this lead up to Moore and Miller establishing their dark,violent style 20 years later ?

Again, I can't thank all you guys contributing to this enough. You saved my good art-grade this year

[Confuzzled Mutie]

Awesome, man ! Unfortunately, I started reading the Comics only 3 months ago and - though I try to get my hands on everything about the Bat - it's very hard to get informations like these ( or grasp the Robin/Nightwing/Someone Else donning his cape - stories ... But that's something for another thread, in another time ). But those chunks of Information are veeery valuable to me and for my project!

Now I can describe the Golden Age and how/why the transition to "Campy Batman" happened. I guess the ABC- TV - Show represents this right, doesn't it ? And as the name already says, i'd say it is Cheesy but light-hearted, with a lot of general, unmistakable morale-lessons - a typical show for children. What would you add to that ? And is there something in the show that reflects these aspects ? The Batsuit works a little - e.g. it is less an armor but a gymnast-suit because there is little direct violence in the show ... Do you have some Ideas ?

And how does this lead up to Moore and Miller establishing their dark,violent style 20 years later ?

Again, I can't thank all you guys contributing to this enough. You saved my good art-grade this year

Hey don't mention it. I'm kinda enjoying this as well.

As for the shift to "Campy Batman", yes the tv show had a lot of influence on the comics, though the Comic Code of the 50s' had already made the Batman title more child friendly, lighter and "lesson of the day"-ish. Villains like the Joker who were actually sinister and murderous during the Bob Kane era became more bumbling and non-threatening post Comic Code. But the late 60s' and the show did have a particular influence on Batman in that it became more flamboyant and outlandish. The sex quotient was slightly upped again thanks to Julie Newmar's highly popular portrayal of Catwoman in the show, one of the first examples of empowered women on television following the Second Wave of Feminism in the late 60s'. The show also introduced a new Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, daughter of Commissioner Gordon, who was brought into the comics at the same time. This new Batgirl was a much more competent and independent heroine than Batwoman and the Bat-Girl who came before her, who could hardly function by themselves or without Batman and Robin saving them. Yet another instance of how the renewed feminist movement of the late 60s' was affecting even comics like Batman and the portrayal of women characters.

I don't exactly know how the camp gave way to the overtly dark and gritty tone of the 80s'. Probably because it was troubled times with the Cold War going on with Russia. Miller and Moore's reimagining of Batman and his world clicked instantly with 80s' comic readers, who by then, were already showing an affinity for darker and mature themed superheroes like the X-Men. So it made sense why DC would want to take titles like Batman in that direction and why the change was an overnight success. Two other influential books in the 80s' which helped establish the "dark" and violent tone for the comics were Grant Morrison's "Arkham Asylum: A Serious House On a Serious Earth" and the "Death in the Family" arc, which saw the death of the second Robin, Jason Todd, at the hands of the Joker. The outcome of this particular story, by the way, was determined via reader voting through telephone. DC had published two numbers in its comics- one which readers could call if they wanted Robin to survive, and another if they wanted to see him die. The result of the voting made comic book history.

[BareKnuckled]

Thank you oh, so much ! I was focussing on writing the characterizations for the main figures, that's why I stopped peppering you with questions these last days.

I am going to have to deliver the day after tomorrow, thursday the 20th. So if you could give me some last tips and answers for my questions, I could really go for the final rush....

I have some blank spaces left where i have to describe Miller & Moore's Era, Nolan's Films and the transition between them.

I feel like Nolans Films are just some kind of evolution of Miller & Moore's work - they're dark, deepening the characters and Nolan is extending the degree of realism everything is steeped in. What do you think ? How can they be characterized and how did one follow the other ?

Thank you to everyone he helped me this last week and everyone helping me on these final steps, I am really depending on you and owe you probably more than 50% of my grade on this

[Confuzzled Mutie]

Thank you oh, so much ! I was focussing on writing the characterizations for the main figures, that's why I stopped peppering you with questions these last days.

I am going to have to deliver the day after tomorrow, thursday the 20th. So if you could give me some last tips and answers for my questions, I could really go for the final rush....

I have some blank spaces left where i have to describe Miller & Moore's Era, Nolan's Films and the transition between them.

I feel like Nolans Films are just some kind of evolution of Miller & Moore's work - they're dark, deepening the characters and Nolan is extending the degree of realism everything is steeped in. What do you think ? How can they be characterized and how did one follow the other ?

Thank you to everyone he helped me this last week and everyone helping me on these final steps, I am really depending on you and owe you probably more than 50% of my grade on this

Hmm, if it isn't too late for your project, let me start by saying that Frank Miller really stylized the Batman mythos in an immensely dark and gritty manner, reminiscent of the noir films of the 40s. Since Batman was a product of the late 30s/early 40s, this was in an aesthetic sense, taking the character and his world back to his roots.

Moore followed up with "The Killing Joke", examining and analyzing the psychology of The Joker and exploring his faceted relationship with The Batman. Ditto for Morrison in "Arkham Asylum". These books became so popular in the 80s, that "overtly dark" became the accepted tone for Batman. Tim Burton's movies (Batman 1989 and Batman Returns) only solidified the "dark tone" of the series as the accepted norm, though his movies leaned more on the dark and whimsical side than dark and gritty.

Bruce Timm and Paul Dini's "Batman: The Animated Series" of 1992 did a great job of combining the more fantastical aspects of the Batman universe with a noir setting. The immense popularity of the series strengthened Batman's appeal as a "dark character". The horrible reception of Joel Schumacher's campy take on the character, particularly in "Batman and Robin" of 1997, showed that times had indeed changed and people were no longer interested in a campy or infantile take on The Dark Knight.

And that is how we come to Christopher Nolan. He took the character back to his roots (dark tone of the 40s, similar to Miller and Moore's takes). If "Batman: Year One" was an inspiration for "Batman Begins", then "The Killing Joke" and its portrayal of the relationship between Batman and the Joker had heavy influences on "The Dark Knight". So you are right about him expanding on Miller and Moore's work, steeping it in "heightened realism" and bringing it out on an epic scale on the big screen for modern audiences.