September 23, 2004 - Beginning September 27th, 2004, a custom comic of DC Comics' new ongoing series BATMAN STRIKES comes free with the purchase of a Burger King Kids Meal at participating Burger King Restaurants. The BATMAN STRIKES comic book is based on the new WB show THE BATMAN, an innovative, all-new animated television series based on the famed DC Comics super hero Batman and produced by Warner Bros. Animation for Kids' WB! and Cartoon Network.
For this promotion, participating restaurants will distribute six million DC Comics custom comics (including two million copies of BATMAN STRIKES issue 1, as well as custom comic editions of LOONEY TUNES issues 1 and 2). The custom comic edition of BATMAN STRIKES contains content from the first two issues of the series, as well as a word search, coloring pages, and a reprint of a classic Batman adventure, "The Batman Nobody Knows!" written by Frank Robbins with art by Dick Giordano.
"It's important that DC Comics, as a publisher, continues to get comic books into the hands of young readers," said Paul Levitz, President and Publisher, DC Comics. "We are tremendously proud of The Batman animated series and the rave review that the series has received."
The Batman debuted on Sunday, September 11 and received glowing notices in the press:
- "The animation is superfluid, enhanced with naturalistic weather effects...'The Batman' is a handsome, classic cartoon." - New York Times
- "The artwork from Warner Bros. Animation is stellar." - Hollywood Reporter
- "A stylish, kid-friendly cartoon..." - TV Guide
- "The slashing movements suit this young vigilante." - Entertainment Weekly
- "...Very cool music by The Edge... this version will live up to the promise of the superhero created by Bob Kane 65 years ago." - Dallas Morning News
This series picks up Batman's story in year three: in his mid-twenties, just finding his way as protector, defender and Caped Crusader, while balancing his public persona as billionaire bachelor Bruce Wayne. Accentuating the original take on the series, The Edge from multi-Grammy Award-winning sensation U2 will perform the series' theme song.
"DC Comics has developed an excellent relationship with Burger King," said David McKillips, DC's Vice President of Advertising & Custom Publishing. "We have worked with them on promotions for both JLA and Batman Beyond and with all of the excitement for The Batman animated show, it was time to work with them again."
