Batman, the caped crusader created by Bob Kane collaborating with Bill Finger, made his successful debut in Detective Comics #27 on May 1, 1939. According to Jeff Rovin's The Encyclopedia of Super Heroes, his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, was a playboy philanthropist who utilized various tools and weapons including the batmobile, batplane, batcopter, jet pack and wings, utility belt and a four-story batcave with a garage, crime lab and computer. Batman's outfit consisted of a gray bodysuit, blue trunks, boots, gloves, a cape and the inimicable black bat symbol in the center of his chest.
This vigilante crime fighter was often called into action by Gotham's police commissioner James W. Gordon. As time passed, he acquired many helpers including his sidekick Robin, his butler Alfred Pennyworth, Batgirl, Batwoman and Bat-Hound. His story was put on the movie screen with a 1943 serial starring Lewis Wilson, a 1949 serial Batman and Robin starring Robert Lowery and the 1966 movie starring Adam West. West reprised that role in the television series Batman from 1966-1969 and was Batman's voice in the 1978 cartoon series. Batman proved to be a popular guest star on the Superman radio show; actors who spoke his lines during those years were Stacy Harris, Gary Merrill Matt Crowley and Bret Morrison.
The recent Batman movies provided enormous opportunities for composers Danny Elfman, Elliot Goldenthal and Hans Zimmer to explore the characters and surroundings with memorable melodies and themes. Mr. Elfman won a Grammy award for Tim Burton's Batman, Mr. Goldenthal received a Grammy award nominaition for his score of Batman Forever, and Hans Zimmer won a Grammy award for The Dark Knight.
A sedate version of Batman's music may be heard by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra in The Suite from Batman Forever.
