2024 saw the release of several major Batman-related properties and while not all of them were successful, they did reveal an exciting truth about the Batman sub-franchise going forward. While it is difficult to image Batman as anything other than one of Warner Bros and DC’s most lucrative IPs nowadays, this only became the case somewhat recently. 1989’s Batman and 2008’s The Dark Knight cemented Batman as one of superhero fiction’s most popular and marketable characters, but 2024 proved that the Batman mythos have a surprising amount of potential outside of Batman movie adaptations.
Of course, there have been a plethora of successful Batman adaptations outside of the realm of live-action films. 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series and the first four Arkham video games are considered among the most successful superhero properties in the mediums of animation and video games, respectively. More recently, however, are Batman adaptations that do not focus on Batman himself, but rather his supporting characters and villains, with 2019’s Joker being one of the most notable examples.
2024 Saw Multiple Releases That Owe Everything To Batman
It’s A Great Time For Batman Fans Even Without The Dark Knight
In 2024, two of the biggest DC Comics screen adaptations were based on the Batman mythos but were not live-action films centering on Batman himself. In September, The Penguin – which spun off from Matt Reeves’s 2022 film The Batman – was released, serving as an interquel between the first film and the forthcoming The Batman – Part II. October saw the release of Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to 2019’s Joker. Both properties, notably, do not include any appearances by Batman himself. There was also a new addition to Tim Burton’s Batman timeline, thanks to Batman: Resurrection‘s release.
Batman Fandom Is Way Richer For Not Limiting Releases
Multiple Timelines & Diverse Projects Aren’t A Bad Thing
Notably, Joker: Folie à Deux and The Penguin did not earn the same reception among critics and viewers. While The Penguin was acclaimed for its characterization of the titular villain and its realistic portrayal of Gotham City’s underworld, Folie à Deux was divisive to the point of being considered by many to be a critical failure. Nevertheless, both properties have proven that the Batman franchise can go well beyond live-action Batman movie adaptations.
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2024 also saw the continued expansion of one Tim Burton Batman timeline, with the Batman ’89: Echoes comic series continuing and the release of John Jackson Miller’s Batman: Resurrection, which bridges the gap between the 1989 film and Batman Returns. The first season of Batman: Caped Crusader also debuted in 2024 and was met with a largely positive reception. With these releases – and the announcement of a Clayface film set in the new DC Universe – 2024 has shown how creatively malleable the Batman mythos truly is.
