Today is Batman Day!

In case you havent noticed, DC Comics is making a big deal out of it.

No matter the medium, the birth of this legend continues to endlessly fascinate.

It also was crucial due to the time it was published in.

The same yearReturnswas published,Crisis on Infinite Earthswas wrapping up its massive housecleaning of the DC mythos.

Miller arguably sees Batman as the same thing, but he doesnt necessarily have a problem with it.

), nor can he accept another man as his equal.

The fact that they are sheep following his bark is inconsequential since they are willing to be subjugated.

Certainly, Batman and Supermans friendship still remains tenuous for many writers because of this totalitarian love letter.

Batman Beyond

When Warner Bros. With Terry McGinnis, Paul Dini and Bruce Timm finally found a worthy successor.

Terry McGinnis is essentially designed to be Peter Parker crossed with Bruce Wayne.

Somehow, the combination is successful in no small part due to Will Friedles voice acting talents.

Then came Epilogue, which aired for a completely different series.

This ending pulls from the ideas of Frank Miller: hes roped out of retirement because of social decay.

It could even be argued that Nolans depiction of Bane is far closer to Millers vision of Batman.

In this context, the far more traditionally heroic vision of Batman ends the most untraditionally.

Goodnight Batman

Which is again an oddity for a character designed for a series of unending adventures.

This is likely why so many are curious about imagining a final coda for the Batman.

Yet, all deal with aspects only teased in the original comics but never fulfilled.

Plus, the extreme differences of these successors highlight how diverse Batmans multiple interpretations can be.

In the end, any of these conclusions are justifiable, because there is no ending for Batman.

But Batman never really dies or ends.

His reward isnt Heaven or Hell.

Do you know the only reward you get for being Batman?

Martha Wayne asks her son.

He just gets reborn.

When you think about it…that may be the definitively final word on the character.

This article was first published on Sept. 23, 2014.