There may not have been a Bat-Signal in the sky, but the bat was still in the spotlight Saturday as a Saskatoon comic bookstore celebrated the legendary Dark Knight. Created in 2014 to mark Batman’s 75th anniversary, Batman Day is typically observed on the third Saturday in September. The day honours the pop culture icon known as the Caped Crusader. “He was first created in 1939,” said Jeff Kocur, owner of Amazing Stories. “That is now so many movies, TV shows, books, video games. He’s ingrained in culture.” Kocur said his store has celebrated Batman Day for years, and the event continues to grow in popularity. “Basically, just a lot of happy people coming and talking Batman,” Kocur said. “We get to share stories and what our favourite books are. It’s very fun, it’s very social.” Amazing Stories is marking the day with discounts on all Batman merchandise and some free comics. Some fans shared why Batman matters to them. Jocelyn Thiessen said one of her favourite things about the superhero is his diversity. “He can be dark and brooding, or the man who adopts kids to help them and turn them into Robins. There are so many wide varieties of stories you can read about him,” Thiessen said. She also pointed out that Batman played a key role in shaping DC comics’ identity when he debuted in Detective Comics, the series that inspired the company’s name. “So he deserves a day all to himself. And you know, I like that I get a discount on my comics,” Thiessen added. Meanwhile, Wyatt Pizzey said Batman is his favourite superhero among all the franchises. “He stands out from all other superheroes. He’s just a man, and that’s really inspiring to me,” Pizzey said. Jared Michael said he’s a fan of the entire DC Universe and is glad there’s a day to honour Batman. “It’s exciting to see some of your favourite characters in the limelight,” Michael said.
