We did sort of dismiss the Christopher Nolan films back there, but that's only in comparison to the Adam West movie. It doesn't mean they're bad, they just can't quite reach the titanic heights of Bat Shark Repellent. In fact the Dark Knight trilogy did quite the opposite, bringing Batman back down to Earth and trying to make him work in a more realistic setting. Now the trilogy is complete it's a perfect opportunity to see how the films work together as a piece, and we can't think of a better excuse than today. Plus then you can do Bane impressions for al your friends, which we guarantee they will love.
69. Visit Melbourne
If you've ever found yourself in the Australian capital (that's right, it isn't Sydney, pub quiz fans!) then you might've been confused by the sheer number of streets, parks and principalities that appear to be named after the Dark Knight. In fact they all get their monikers from one John Batman, an entrepreneur in the 1800s who brought settlers to the Yarra River and negotiated the buying of land from aboriginal tribes. A vital part of Australian history, yes, but also his name was Batman, which is amazing. If you can stay in a hotel on Batman Avenue, or spend the day hanging out in Batman Park reading comics, even better.
68. But Possibly Not Turkey
Whilst Melbourne locals are probably a little tired about all the Caped Crusader jokes, they've yet to take anybody to court over them. You're probably still safe to visit and act a little like a jackass. Far less forgiving are the people of Batman, the Turkish city, whose local government sued Warner Bros. for not seeking permission to use their hometown's name in their films. We don't think they won, and they certainly wouldn't want to be reminded of that. So: stay out of Turkey today.
67. Recall The Time Batman Teamed Up With Sherlock Holmes
Batman's last big milestone - his 50th anniversary, back in 1989 - saw the self-proclaimed World's Greatest Detective teaming up with who is generally considered to be the true greatest detective in living history. Who is also fictional, of course. Sherlock Holmes turns up to help Batman and Robin stop the descendant of his old foe Moriarty from murdering the Queen. Wait, so Moriarty's long dead, but Holmes is alive and, like, several hundred years old? Apparently it's all down to "a proper diet, a certain distillation of royal jelly, and the rarefied atmosphere of Tibet". So swap your Olay out for that, guys!
66. Build A Batcave
The labyrinthine home base of Bruce Wayne was built thanks to the masked vigilante's huge personal fortune, but you don't need to be a billionaire to recreate the Bat Cave in your own home. You definitely need a lot of money, time and space, but it's still possible. Fan Chris Weir spent a cool $120,000 converting his basement to house his insane collection of Batman merch - including a suit from the Nolan films - and a home theatre. Oh and you get in by pushing a button hidden in a bust of Shakespeare.
65. Start Reading Grayson
DC have been mixing things up a little recently in the Batman comic books, having just announced a bunch of new titles including Arkham Manor (focussing on the inmates of Asylum) and Gotham Academy (about a boarding school on the city grounds with a mysterious past). The biggest change in the Dark Knight's city, however, has been the "death" of Dick Grayson. The original Robin had grown up and graduated to becoming Nightwing, a vigilante in his own right, but he recently faked his demise and has become an undercover spy in his own solo title, Grayson. Issue one came out last month, and was pretty good, so we'd recommend getting on board early. Like, say, today? On Batman day? No?
64. Learn Some History
The real life creation of the Caped Crusader could take up a whole article, and we've already written like ten entries in this one, so we're not changing now. One of the most interesting aspects of the origin story is co-creator Bill Finger's admission that Bruce Wayne gets his name from two historical figures: Robert The Bruce, Scottish patriot, and Mad Anthony Wayne, American general during the Revolutionary War. Maybe learning more about these people will reveal something interesting about your favourite comic book character? We mean, there's every chance you might not, but you'll definitely feel smarter for hitting a history book every once in a while.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
