Every generation since the 30s has had a version of the Caped Crusader to call their own and each has their own merits. Some prefer the dark feel of the original Detective Comics portrayal. Some prefer the campy television version that starred Burt Ward and Adam West. Newer generations saw Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, and George Clooney don the mask and cape, and more recently, Christian Bale has been handed the crime fighting torch in Batman Begins. Some even prefer the Warner Brothers cartoons which returned to the dark roots of the comic book depiction. But no matter how you like your Batman served up, there’s probably a version that suits you.

But when Batman was given his first foray into animated television, in 1968, it was assumed that he needed a little extra star power and so, he was paired up with another caped hero, the one-and-only Superman. Together, they shared crime-fighting duties on The Batman/Superman Hour. It was soon realized, however, that Batman had all the draw he needed and within a year, Superman was out of work and Batman was given his very own show, The Adventures of Batman and Robin. A little dose of Batgirl was thrown in for good measure to help draw a bigger crowd but that wasn't quite enough to ensure longevity for the animated and dynamic duo.

Unfortunately, the stories left just a bit to be desired and the show just didn’t live up to its lofty expectations. It would take until 1977, for TV execs to give the caped crusader another shot at an animated series, on The New Adventures of Batman. But, as history has proved, more Batman is always a good thing and there will likely be newer incarnations of the masked crime-fighter for decades to come.