Batman® first appeared in a 1939 issue of Detective Comics – though the character was originally named the ‘Bat-Man’. Mostly fighting crime in his native Gotham City, the character, is often assisted by fellow super hero, Robin™ and his loyal butler and father figure, Alfred. The character immediately gained popularity and was given a self-titled comic book, Batman, in 1940.
Following the critical and financial triumph of the 1989 live-action movie, Batman, three successful sequels were released. In 2005 the Batman story was rebooted with Batman Begins, followed by The Dark Knight in 2008. In 2012 the trilogy was concluded with The Dark Knight Rises. In 2016, the character featured in the blockbuster movie, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This led to a 2017 follow-up titled, Justice League.
Since his debut in 1939, the Batman character has appeared on everything from clothing to artworks and, of course, action toys. The LEGO® DC Batman minifigure is still a popular gift for kids as well as adults, as young Batman fans have grown to become mature enthusiasts.