Yeah, you absolutely just read that correctly … the “Batman” here being the small town of Batman, Turkey, and they are suing Christopher Nolan for using their name in the massive summer success, The Dark Knight.
Let’s clarify here — they’re not going to sue DC Comics, or the creator of the character decades ago, or Warner Bros. for making all the movies, or directors Tim Burton or Joel *gag* Schumacher for their former Batman movie contributions. Nope, they’re specifically suing Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight. Obviously this makes sense because all those other ones didn’t make nearly as much money (The Dark Knight is currently at $528 million domestic), so their using the name was welcomed back then. The town is suffering from all sorts of crime and suicides and economical hardships (because no one has those anymore!) and so you’ll see, this all makes perfect sense.
Here is the explanation from Hurriyet Daily News and the Mayor… of Batman, Hüseyin Kalkan:
“The royalty of the name “˜Batman’ belongs to us “¦ There is only one Batman in the world. The American producers used the name of our city without informing us,” [Mayor of Batman city, Hüseyin] Kalkan told the DoÄŸan news agency… Mayor Kalkan, speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News and the Economic Review, said last year foreign media picked up on Batman and the city’s increasing suicide rates among women. He said a columnist asked why Batman’s mayor did not sue the movie Batman for royalties while struggling with economic problems. “We found this criticism right and started to look for legal possibilities of a case like that,” he said.
Seriously, I don’t even know where to start.
I don’t want to ignite a war or anything here, but my-oh-my, Turkey (err, Batman?) is fucking retarded.
There’s so many countries all over this planet with a hell of a lot of issues and who are trying to deal with said issues. For one of them to seriously try and take advantage of the success of a movie because they aren’t smart enough to figure their own shit out… that makes me sick.
On top of the 100% pure, unfiltered idiocy of all of this and the time period for which it’s occurring (you would think you’d take action when the character’s name was created) — it turns out that Batman, Turkey, was established in 1955. That’s 16 years after Batman‘s first ever appearance in 1939.
Wow.
If they win, I’m freakin’ buying an island and naming it Superman.
Who’s coming with me?
[Source: Hurriyet Daily News via io9 ]
Jesus Hussein Christ. This sounds like an episode of Robot Chicken. What’s Turkey going to do for an encore? Sue the company that makes Butterball turkeys? This is even loonier than the time Spike Lee sued the Spike TV network and LOST!
Comment by BAADASSSSS! — November 9, 2008 @ 8:19 pm
Turkey doesn’t realize that “Batman” is really a Jewish surname being used by Bruce Wayne as paying tribute to his great great great maternal grandfather, Barnaby Batmann. I mean, come on, all the great superheroes of modern times are Jewish: Superman, Spiderman, Aquaman, etc. ;P
Comment by burning_chrome — November 9, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
That is messed up.
Just really insane.
Comment by Jerry — November 9, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
I think they don’t anticipate winning the case, but hope that the case will bring attention to their city, and perhaps it will then be a tourist destination for Batman fans.
Comment by Music — November 10, 2008 @ 1:37 am
Maybe Nolan and DC Comics should countersue for defamation of character (the character being Batman of course). If Nolan loses the court case maybe the judge will make him film the next movie in Batman Turkey as restitution.
Comment by Don Mann — November 10, 2008 @ 1:57 am
OMG, if Turkey has become lawsuit-happy, is Thanksgiving in danger?
Comment by Rabscuttle — November 10, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
This is ridiculous, and it could probably only happen in my country. But it does not justify calling a whole country, or the city of Batman “fucking retarded” because of the actions of one local politician.
Comment by Hmm — November 10, 2008 @ 6:57 pm
Wow, I thought I was really bored with my life. Obviously Turkey has got me beat. This is so ridiculously dumb. And people wonder why the world has gone to poop?
Comment by Fred [The Wolf] — November 10, 2008 @ 7:04 pm
I don’t see why you wouldn’t publish my comment, dear geeks of doom. Should I have said: “Yes, us Turks, we’re all fucking retarded”?
Comment by Hmm — November 10, 2008 @ 8:27 pm
Are we sure this isn’t Sacha Baron Cohen doing schtick?
Comment by middleman — November 11, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
Unreal….. Some people are fucking stupid. Anyone wanna take a poke at their town theme song? ::Cue the old 1960’s Batman theme song::
Comment by JoJo — November 11, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
This sounds interesting, but hey nowadays everyone is sueing everyone. so i don’t think He is any different than anyone else.
for example if a striper wants to sue the founder of girls gone wild for ruining her Reputation for 5 million. so can you blame the guy for trying. that is one thing america is good for right :-)
Comment by ash — November 13, 2008 @ 11:55 am
you are reading it here and its shocking you. imagine you are sipping scolding hot tea when you see it in the newspaper. my nostrils suffered A LOT but it was totally worth it.
But I’m with Hmm on this one. If we are labeled retarded for idiotic actions of a mayor what sould be the label of america with its former president one and only george w bush?
PS: if the mayor wins, I’m with you on that island thing but we should name the island optimus prime, we might make much more;)
Comment by Matt — December 6, 2008 @ 6:53 pm
Holy Idiots of Turkey, Batman!
Comment by Richie — December 9, 2008 @ 11:55 am