39 years ago today, Ben Melniker and I bought the rights to Batman and began our ten-year quest to bring a dark and serious Batman to the silver screen, revolutionizing how superheroes are portrayed and perceived in movies, animation, TV and video games.
It started as my own personal fanboy dream and ultimately became not just my career, but defined my life’s work.
Next year will be awesome: Our 40th anniversary of acquiring the Batman rights; the 30th anniversary of our ground-breaking BATMAN 1989 film; and the 80th anniversary of The Batman!
All accolades to be directed to Tim Burton, Anton Furst, Chris Nolan, Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Andrea Romano, Bill Finger & Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, and every DC editor, writer, artist, colorist, and letterer since 1939! – Michael Uslan
RELATED: From the Uslan Vault of DC History, Chapter 4 by Michael Uslan
Dr. Michael Uslan is a Professor of Practice at the Indiana University Media School. He is the Executive Producer of many award-winning movies, including Batman Vs Superman: Dawn Of Justice; The Lego Movie; and The Dark Knight Trilogy: Batman Begins; The Dark Knight & The Dark Knight Rises. He is also the Executive Producer of a wide range of TV movies, animated TV Series, and documentaries. He won an Emmy Award for “Best Animated Series” with his production of Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? ®
Dr. Uslan was the instructor of both the first accredited college course and correspondence course on comic books (Indiana University 1971), and the author of the first textbook on comics, The Comic Book In America. He has authored a wide range of books and graphic novels, including, America At War- A History Of War Comics; Mysteries In Space- A History Of Science Fiction Comics; Best Of Archie; The Comic Book Revolution, and his memoir, The Boy Who Loved Batman. He worked with his friend and mentor, Stan Lee, on many comic books, including their most recent initiative, Just Imagine.
He is the recipient of the World’s first Doctorate of Comic Books, Monmouth University 2012, and also has a JD from Indiana University School of Law; M.S, Urban Education, Indiana University School of Education; and BA, History from Indiana University.
