Bat-Signal

Bat-Signal
Commissioner Gordon with the Bat-Signal. Cover of Gotham Central #1; art by Alex Ross.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Detective Comics #60 (February 1942)
In story information
Type	Signal
Element of stories featuring	Batman

The Bat-Signal is a distress signal device appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, as a means to call for the superhero Batman. It is a specially modified searchlight with a stylized emblem of a bat affixed to the light, allowing it to project a large Bat symbol onto the sky or buildings of Gotham City. In the stories, the signal is used by the Gotham City Police Department as a method of contacting and summoning Batman to their assistance in the event of a serious crisis and as a weapon of psychological intimidation to the numerous villains of Gotham City.

The Bat-Signal first appeared in Detective Comics #60 (February 1942). The signal has several different origins in comics featuring post-Crisis continuity. It is introduced as a new tool after the Batman's first encounter with the Joker in Batman: The Man Who Laughs, and also during the "Prey" storyline in Legends of the Dark Knight.

In Batman and the Mad Monk, Gordon initially uses a pager to contact Batman, but during a meeting with the superhero Gordon throws it away, saying he prefers a more public means of contacting him.

In the 1989 Batman film, Batman gives the signal to the Gotham police force, enabling them to call him when the city was in danger. In 2005's Batman Begins, then-lieutenant James Gordon installs the Bat signal on the roof of the police department himself. The film suggests Gordon was inspired to create the signal after Batman left mobster Carmine Falcone chained across a spotlight, his silhouette vaguely resembling a bat. On Batman: The Animated Series, the signal is introduced in the episode "The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy", though a makeshift signal was used earlier in "Joker's Favor". On The Batman, Gordon invents it to summon Batman in "Night in the City", although the signal is also alluded to in an earlier episode.