The Weaving Chronicle: Batman Around the World

My last post announced my interest in studying comic book history and a piece of my paper on Batman during the Second World War. In this post I would like to explore some of the ways other cultures portrayed the Dynamic Duo.

As America entered World War II, Batman became a national figure. He chased villains across state lines, combated crime in all regions of the country. [1] As Batman gained popularity in America he gained international popularity as well. In the 1948, some young Spaniards essentially copied the American Batman comics and sold them as their own. This did not last too long as these entrepreneurs began putting their own spin on Batman and Robin. First, they made by Robin the main character and changing his tunic from red to yellow. The also had Robin and Murcielago (Bat) use guns and grenades against their foes. [3] [4]

Of all the places mentioned in this blog, The Philippines probably has the most to offer. At least seven Batman related films have come from this country and they are worth looking into. The earliest was made in 1965 called Alyas Batman at Robin and bewilderingly the latest was called Alyas Batman en Robin made in 1991. However, my favorite is James Batman, where James Bond and Batman and Robin team up to take down an evil syndicate bent on world domination. [5-9]

Batman the television series brought a campy portrayal of the Caped Crusader in 1966 but by 1968 the show was wrapping up. Apparently not so in Mexico, as another Caped Crusader defended the beaches of Mexico, in a Bikini? Yes! A movie was made about a Bat-woman who saved the day wearing a cowl, cape and a two piece bathing suit.

There was a Turkish film made in 1973,Yarasa Adam: Bedman. This version is more than a little different than the American rendition. In this version Batman smokes, uses a gun and, visits strip clubs. [2] The film itself has several moments of nudity as may be spotted in the film poster. I had to double check to make sure this was not a porn parody. I am pretty certain it is not but then again….

The most famous and probably the most main stream international version of Batman comes from Manga legend Jiro Kuwata. During the mid-1960s DC comics commissioned Kuwata to produce a Manga based on Batman for Japanese audiences.