While Adam West is considered the first Batman on the silver screen, Michael Keaton gladly holds the mantle as the first modern Dark Knight in recent cinematic history. West's was in the 1960s, while Keaton donned the mask literally in the last year of the 80s. In terms of the modern-day Hollywood comic book superhero, Keaton was the first.
I was one of the very lucky few that attended the premiere of the said movie that year. I and a couple of my closest friends even put on Joker makeup just for the occasion. Which might make that particular premiere the first-ever in Hollywood history that fans went in cosplay (thought for this, I'm not sure). I remember it like it was yesterday. Some of the biggest stars at the time (some even to this day) attended the premiere: River Phoenix, Winona Ryder, Eddie Murphy, and more. I even spotted a young Robert Downey Jr. (before his own comic book hero superstardom) then, he was still with Sarah Jessica Parker at the time.
But of course, the best parts were meeting the cast. And what a cast it was: Michael Keaton as Batman, Jack Nicholson as the Joker, Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale, and more! Naturally, we were there not only to see them pose for cameras but also to get them to sign our movie posters. My buddies and I were lucky enough to get extra copies from the same theater that hosted the premiere. And I think going to the event looking like a couple of Jokers (pun intended) helped. All these megastars approached us and signed our posters. Each and every one signed!!
So for you crazy fans out there, don't let anybody shame you for cosplaying! You never know how handy it may come during the most unexpected and unbelievable circumstances.
Please note: Our inventory is limited as we may have only received a few posters in total. Most of our items are obtained from film premieres, studios, and from autographed hounds such as the one in the story above.
