Batman through the years
Credit: AP
Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne, left, and Michael Caine as Alfred in "The Dark Knight Rises."
Credit: AP
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake, left, and Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon in "The Dark Knight Rises."
Credit: Ron Phillips
GARY OLDMAN as Commissioner Gordon in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' action thriller "THE DARK KNIGHT RISES," a Warner Bros. Pictures release. TM & � DC Comics
Credit: AP
Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne and Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle in "The Dark Knight Rises."
Credit: AP
Tom Hardy as Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises."
Credit: AP
Christian Bale as Batman in “The Dark Knight Rises."
Credit: Handout
Christian Bale as Batman in "The Dark Knight Rises."
Credit: AP
Director Christopher Nolan on the set of "The Dark Knight Rises."
Credit: AP
"The Dark Knight Rises" cast, from left, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and director Christopher Nolan, at the film's world premiere in New York pn July 16, 2012.
Credit: Handout
Christian Bale as Batman in "The Dark Knight Rises."
Credit: Handout
A Sunday cartoon strip starring Batman by Long Island cartoonist Joe Giella of East Meadow. (circa 1968)
Credit: DC Comics
A DC Comics rendering of Batman
Credit: AP
This DC Comics image shows t he cover of "Batman and Robin" No. 16. In this edition, Batman's alter ego, Bruce Wayne, is going public about his role behind the Dark Knight.
Credit: AP
Adam West, star of the television series "Batman," stands beside the Batmobile and shows off his "Bat Radio," on the Hollywood set for the series during filming of an episode. (March 18, 1966)
Credit: Handout
Adam West as "Batman" circa 1966
Credit: PR NEWSWIRE
Batman and Robin are pictured with the Bat Phone in this undated photo from the Batman Classic TV Series.
Credit: AP
Batman issue No. 428, the third installment of the four-part “A Death in the Family." (Oct. 26, 1988)
Credit: Warner Bros. Studios.
Val Kilmer stars as Batman in 1995's "Batman Forver," also starring Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, and Chris O'Donnell.
Credit: AP
George Clooney, left, and Chris O'Donnell are shown in this undated photo in the roles of Batman and Robin in a scene from "Batman and Robin."
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes holding Jack Gleeson as Little Boy in "Batman Begins " (2005) directed by Christopher Nolan.
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Batman on his Bat-Pod in "The Dark Knight," starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Morgan Freeman.
Credit: Handout
Christian Bale as the title character in 2005's "Batman Begins."
Credit: AP
The late Heath Ledger starring as The Joker, with Christian Bale, starring as Batman in "The Dark Knight"
Credit: Newsday/Daryl Thomen
Batman and Joker toys are displayed at New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. The show floor hosts the latest in geek culture, from movies and comics to television shows, games and toys. (Oct. 13, 2011) Photo by Daryl Thomen
Credit: AP
Christian Bale portrays Batman in a scene from "The Dark Knight Rises," set for release on July 20, 2012.
