Batman 1980s

Illustration of the character Batman in blue, grey and yellow

Batman is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics world. He first appeared in 1939 as part of Detective Comics #27 written by Bill Finger and illustrated by Bob Kane. He gained his own comic book title, Batman, shortly after in 1940. The character is referred to by several names including "the Caped Crusader," "the Dark Knight," and "the World's Greatest Detective." 

Unlike most superheroes, Batman does not have any super powers. He is an American billionaire and philanthropist, who having witnessed the murder of his parents as a child, serves as a vigilante to the fictional town of Gotham. Rather than supernatural skill, he relies on his intellect, martial arts skills, physical prowess, detective skills, technology, and wealth to fight crime.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Batman sales reached an all-time low which resulted in the 1986 revamp of Batman in Frank Miller's limited series The Dark Knight Returns.