If any fictional superhero deserves a spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it’s most certainly Batman. After being in continuous publication since 1939 and lighting up the silver screen since 1943, few other masked crimefighters have proven to have the same staying power.
Though the date for the 2020 ceremony has yet to be revealed, you have to admit the Caped Crusader’s selection for the honor comes at an opportune time. For those keeping track, this weekend marks the 30th anniversary of Tim Burton’s Batman‘s theatrical release. And while I was six-years-old when that dropped, I can attest to how the hype surrounding the picture has never been reproduced – not even by a juggernaut such as Avengers: Endgame. Really, you couldn’t walk three feet in any direction in 1989 without seeing something Batman-related.
In addition to that milestone, it’s worth mentioning how this year marks the Dark Knight’s 80th anniversary of existence, as the celebration has been rolling on for the past few months. Suffice it to say, Detective Comics #1000 couldn’t have arrived at a better time. In fact, the anthology-style issue was quite the perfect tribute, so it’s no wonder this critic awarded it five stars.
Like I said earlier, what sets Batman apart from countless other superheroes is his ability to attract audiences, no matter what the era may be. Though we’ve had the likes of Iron Man, Black Panther and Captain Marvel become mega successes in recent years, that’s mostly due in part to their movies – and the real litmus test will arrive when the time comes for them to be played by other actors.
For Batman, however, he’s like the proverbial cockroach surviving a nuclear blast insofar that he’ll always bounce back from a Joel Schumacher-esque fiasco. And unlike those three heroes I mentioned, his comic books actually consistently sell. I’d put Superman and Spider-Man in the same category, too, so hopefully we get to discuss them on another day.
For now, stay tuned for more information regarding Batman‘s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as the situation develops. After all, it should be intriguing to see which celebrities are on hand for the festivities when the big day arrives.
