If competition can be controlled and limited between the Batman and the Superman Brand (both belong to the same company: DC Comics), the fight between Batman and Spider-man is only beginning. Both have become the flagship brands of their mother company and the very similarities between the two characters that embody them have resulted in very close positionnings. Indeed, Bruce Wayne and Peter Parker are both Orphans whose family members have been murdered by low-life thieves and have since vowed to rid their city of violence and crime. They abide by a very strict moral code but they are so driven by guilt and demons that they are not without a dark side.

Both have tremendous strengh, agility and the ability to move from skycrapers to skycrapers (Batman through gliding, Spider-man through his spider-webs), but their powers are limited compared to superheroes like Superman or Thor which makes them appear more human and therefore more accessible to fans and customers. The darker, more dangerous universe in which the latest Batman movies and video games are based, can make it seem as if the brand appeals to an older audience than Spider-Man, but its wide range of products means it can hit most age targets in the male demographics. 

This year, both brands are scheduled to fight it out with the releases of the latest installment of their critically acclaimed movie franchises, The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises.

Two million copies of Batman: Arkham City were sold in its first week on sale, according to publisher Warner Bros.

The LA Times reports that the publisher shipped 4.6 million copies to retailers. Arkham City tops the UK chart this week, after doubling predecessor Arkham Asylum's launch sales.

Barely a week after it hit the stores, Batman Arkham City has already shipped 5 million units World Wide and achieved a 97% rating on Metacritics to become the most sucessful superhero video game of all time. This critical and commercial success confirms, if need be, the incredible potential of the brand and contributes to the image of Batman as a provider of high quality products.

It is a particularly impressive feat as video games based on Comic Book characters have proven to be as numerous as they have been disappointing.

With its dark, haunted tones and targeting of the same 18-35 male audience, Batman Arkham City, also continues to build momentum for the brand ahead of the highly anticipated release of The Dark Knight Rises in theater in Summer 2012 by keeping the Bat-community engaged and excited!

The product that runs the engine of Batman's Universe.

 #1 Focusing on the main Products of Batman universe

The most remarkable products of DC Comics - Batman universe, are comics, novels, movies and video games. There are also more products merchandised by DC Comics like, clothing, accessories, collectibles, jewelries and others.
But at this point we would like to focus most on the main products of Batman's universe.
To start we will present you the “main” product of Batman that runs the engine of his universe

Product overview - Batman Comics

Comics

Lets start with little history. The word “Comic” is from the greek word “κωμικός” (komikos) that means comedian, someone that pertaining to comedy. “Κωμικός” derives from the word “κώμο” (komo) which was a group of youths who were rollicking in Dionysian festivals in ancient times.

So how a piece of paper with illustrated images end it up with the word Comic?

-The comics are printed a sequence of cartoons that unite to tell a story.

Around 1900, the strips of pictures being printed in magazines and newspapers were all funny. At first newspaper comic strips were called "the funnies". The term "comics" came into common use in the United States and later the term became more popular. As Will Eisner(American comic writer) said “Comics are the arrangement of pictures or images and words to narrate a story or dramatize an idea”

Batman

A new hero was drawn...

All started with ink and a piece of paper, with a combination of words and pictures Bob Kane conceived “the Bat-Man” in the Detective Comics #27 in May 1939, garnering great popularity.

The debut of self-title comic book was in the March of 1940 which was decided by National Allied Publications that it was worthy of, and could support, his own self-title series, like “Superman” title.

Now that we have summarize little bit of history, lets focus more in the product(comic) details, specifically on the readers perspective.

Batman comics

Batman comics in compare of movies and novels, but not the video games, asks for much more interaction like every other comic. When you are reading a comic book you have to participate in the creation of sound, movement, width, depth and time, the experiences of the character on the page is shared with the you, the reader. The one variable depends on the other for the overall product satisfaction.

Batman comic book is a combination of a strip of illustrations and text, that narrate the mysterious story of the dark detective.It is a mature content comic book with a vengeful hero, not hesitant to kill when he saw it as a necessary sacrifice, so it is right to assume that the Batman's comic targeting purpose, is dedicated mature comic readers.

Batman comic book, is a product that you can find in local comic,magazine or book stores, and of course on the internet. The price varies from store to store, usually in stores you will find only brand new comics, on the internet you can find many online stores for buying new issues but are also able to find second handed comic issues, that is very useful if you like to have an older version-maybe for collectable purpose of the comic you are interested in.

In 2010 the Batman issue #1 was sold in an auction to an unidentified buyer for $55,269 !

 So you can notice that Batman comics are generating two types of value, the entertainment as a commodity, and the investment in collectable form.

Batman comic as product have gone through many changes all those years. In the 2011 you can find it in fine quality paper and colorful pictures with official price of $2.99 instead the $55,269 that the oldest issue cost to the lucky? buyer. Also you can consider that If you are thinking of buying the latest one you are pretty much going to buy the first one, as DC Comics relaunched Batman issue#1 in September 2011, written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Greg Capullo.

Batman comics are the driving force of Batman universe.

The Batman comics made a great material, for adapting moves, novels and furthermore video games and other products.We will be back with further details on the Batman products in “Product” section of strategicbatmanagement.blogspot.com