BATMANAMANIA!

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DC Entertainment has declared that July 23 will be “Batman Day” to celebrate the Caped Crusader’s 75th anniversary. 

Are you a fan?  If so, you’ll be happy to hear that  participating retailers are going to mark the occasion by providing customers a new, free version of the original "Detective Comics" #27 -- the character's first appearance, initially published in 1939.  It’s your chance to own a bit of Batman history.

Also unveiled as part of the Batman Day festivities is a new timeline poster highlighting various major events in Bat-history, including the 1966 debut of the live-action "Batman" TV series, the 1986 publication of Frank Miller and Klaus Janson's "The Dark Knight Returns" and the start of director Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight Trilogy" with 2005's "Batman Begins.

Aside from being the same day as Comic-Con International: San Diego's preview night, July 23 is also a Wednesday and New Comic Book Day -- with "Batman Day" coinciding with the launches of two new Bat-centric series, "Robin Rises: Omega" and "Grayson."

In May 1939, the Caped Crusader first appeared in DC Comics' Detective Comics No. 27, where he starred in "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate." The six-page story was written by Bill Finger and illustrated by Bob Kane. It also marked the debut of Bruce Wayne and Commissioner James Gordon.  At Digg you can watch a new 3-minute short from producer Bruce Timm features a lost tale from Batman's past where the Dark Knight tracks a strange giant to the mysterious lair of Dr. Hugo Strange.

For more history check out all the actors who played Batman including Lewis Wilson, Robert Lowrey, Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale and the latest Batman, Ben Affleck  who will be starring in the “Man of Steel” sequel.   Zack Snyder, the director for the sequel, released the first look at the new Batman. Check out more at his twitter feed.