Sunday marks the 75th anniversary of Batman’s first appearance in DC Comics. Here is a timeline of important events in the evolution of the Caped Crusader from comic book hero to billion-dollar franchise:

1939 : Batman makes his first appearance in Detective Comics, which up until this point had focused primarily on the bureaucratic red tape plaguing Gotham’s city employees

: Batman makes his first appearance in Detective Comics, which up until this point had focused primarily on the bureaucratic red tape plaguing Gotham’s city employees 1941 : Batman and Commissioner Gordon kiss for the first time

: Batman and Commissioner Gordon kiss for the first time 1942 : Creator Bob Kane’s discovery of his girlfriend’s affair inspires the short-lived villain Anthony

: Creator Bob Kane’s discovery of his girlfriend’s affair inspires the short-lived villain Anthony 1953 : Batman takes it easy this year

: Batman takes it easy this year 1955 : Beginning of Batman’s 10-year run as face of Marlboro

: Beginning of Batman’s 10-year run as face of Marlboro 1985 : Fans clamor for 256-page special issue detailing Wayne Enterprises’ finances

: Fans clamor for 256-page special issue detailing Wayne Enterprises’ finances 1991 : Joel Schumacher directs Dying Young a cancer-themed romantic drama starring Julia Roberts and Campbell Scott. His aesthetic choices proved to Hollywood that Schumacher would make an excellent choice to revamp the Batman film franchise.

: Joel Schumacher directs Dying Young a cancer-themed romantic drama starring Julia Roberts and Campbell Scott. His aesthetic choices proved to Hollywood that Schumacher would make an excellent choice to revamp the Batman film franchise. 1997 : While scaling the side of a 30-story apartment building, Batman suffers a crippling anxiety attack after realizing that he doesn’t have any superpowers

: While scaling the side of a 30-story apartment building, Batman suffers a crippling anxiety attack after realizing that he doesn’t have any superpowers 2003 : Batman protects the Wayne fortune by intimidating a senator into blocking legislation increasing taxes on carried interest

: Batman protects the Wayne fortune by intimidating a senator into blocking legislation increasing taxes on carried interest 2005: Fans applaud Batman Begins for finally bringing gritty realism to a cartoon about a man who dresses up at night and fights a clown