Let me tell you a story about Batman—a tale that’s not just about a superhero, but about the man who brought him back from the brink of obscurity. Back in the day, about 30 years ago, Batman had become something of a punchline. The character was stuck in a loop of campiness thanks to the beloved but over-the-top Adam West TV series from the '60s. Enter Michael Uslan, a comics historian and writer who just knew deep down that Batman could be so much more. He saw potential where others only saw a joke. Uslan had a vision, and he wasn’t about to let it go. So, he did something extraordinary—he somehow managed to acquire the rights to Batman from DC Comics. But here’s the kicker: getting the rights was just the beginning. Convincing Hollywood to take him seriously? That was a whole other battle.
Michael Uslan opens up about his journey in the latest episode of CloserWeekly.com’s Classic TV & Film podcast, and it’s a wild ride. “I was shocked out of my senses,” he recalls. “Every single studio in Hollywood turned me down. They told me I was crazy, that you couldn’t make serious comic book movies. They said I was nuts—that dark superheroes just wouldn’t work. They thought I was out of my mind because you supposedly couldn’t make movies out of old TV series. And so, for ten long years, I fought for Batman. Ten years of sheer human endurance. Ten years of wondering where my next dollar would come from. Ten years of rejection after rejection, but I never gave up. I knew Batman could be more, and I was determined to prove it.”
(Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
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Fighting the Good Fight: Michael Uslan's Batman Battleground
Michael, the author of the memoir The Boy Who Loved Batman, reflects on the challenges he faced during those tough years. “When you’re told repeatedly that you’re wrong, it tests your resolve. It makes you question yourself. Am I being stubborn? Is everyone else right, and I’m wrong? But I dug deep. I considered myself Batman’s champion. I wasn’t just fighting for a movie; I was fighting for a legacy. I wasn’t going to let Batman become a caricature. I had to hang on by my fingertips, but I never lost sight of what Batman could be. It was personal. It was a mission.”
Michael’s story is more than just a tale of persistence—it’s a testament to the power of passion and belief. And there’s so much more to uncover. Michael dives deeper into his experiences in the podcast. If you want to hear the full story, you can subscribe to the Classic TV & Film podcast here.
