I am vengeance, I am the night, I am Batman… and also the subject of an ongoing row between DC Comics and a Spanish football club.

The dispute between the US publisher and Valencia CF appears to have resurfaced again following the club’s centenary celebrations .

Valencia’s crest has, since 1919, carried a symbol of a black bat. DC’s interests centre around it’s resemblance to the Batman logo, albeit created in 1939.

While the club’s additional 20 years of usage, plus the fact that the bat has been long associated with the regions of Valencia, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands since the 13th century, would appear to stand them in good stead, the debate is believed to centre on a new design released this month.

It is this centenary design which appears to have disgruntled DC Comics. The US company is understood to have submitted a complaint to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

A spokesperson for Valencia responded in a typically bullish manner, telling newspaper El Confidencial: “We are not going to stop using the bat because DC Comics says it, there is no commercial brand that has a worldwide exclusive on bats."

Batman: The Dark Knight - In pictures 24 show all Batman: The Dark Knight - In pictures 1/24 First look at Batman (2021) Batmobile starring Robert Pattinson Matt Reeves 2/24 Christian Bale as Batman in 'The Dark Knight' (2008) 3/24 Douglas Croft and Lewis Wilson in Batman (1943) 4/24 Burt Ward as Robin, Yvonne Craig as Batgirl and Adam West as Batman (circa 1966) Rex Features 5/24 Michael Keaton in Batman Returns (1992) 6/24 Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ben Affleck as Batman and Gal Gadot as Wonderman in Justice League (2017) 7/24 The Lego Batman Movie (2017) 8/24 Ben Affleck as Batman with Henry Cavill as Superman in Batman vs Superman (2016) 9/24 Batman: Arkham Origins computer game (2013) 10/24 Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) 11/24 The Dark Knight Rises (2012) 12/24 Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) 13/24 Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) image.net 14/24 Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight (2008) 15/24 Christian Bale as Batman in Batman Begins (2005) 16/24 Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl, George Clooney as Batman and Chris O'Donnell as Robin in Batman and Robin (1997) 17/24 David Jason (Del Boy) with Nicholas Lindhurst) as Batman and Robin in Only Fools and Horses Christmas Special (1996) BBC 18/24 Val Kilmer as Batman and Chris O'Donnell as Robin in Batman Forever (1995) 19/24 Michael Keaton in Batman Returns (1992) Warner Bros 20/24 Michael Keaton in Batman Returns (1992) 21/24 Michael Keaton as Batman (1989) Allstar 22/24 Adam West as Batman alongside co-star Burt Ward as Robin (circa 1966) 23/24 Adam West as Batman alongside co-star Burt Ward as Robin (circa 1966) 24/24 Detective Comics #27, with the first appearance of Batman. AP 1/24 First look at Batman (2021) Batmobile starring Robert Pattinson Matt Reeves 2/24 Christian Bale as Batman in 'The Dark Knight' (2008) 3/24 Douglas Croft and Lewis Wilson in Batman (1943) 4/24 Burt Ward as Robin, Yvonne Craig as Batgirl and Adam West as Batman (circa 1966) Rex Features 5/24 Michael Keaton in Batman Returns (1992) 6/24 Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ben Affleck as Batman and Gal Gadot as Wonderman in Justice League (2017) 7/24 The Lego Batman Movie (2017) 8/24 Ben Affleck as Batman with Henry Cavill as Superman in Batman vs Superman (2016) 9/24 Batman: Arkham Origins computer game (2013) 10/24 Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) 11/24 The Dark Knight Rises (2012) 12/24 Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) 13/24 Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) image.net 14/24 Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight (2008) 15/24 Christian Bale as Batman in Batman Begins (2005) 16/24 Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl, George Clooney as Batman and Chris O'Donnell as Robin in Batman and Robin (1997) 17/24 David Jason (Del Boy) with Nicholas Lindhurst) as Batman and Robin in Only Fools and Horses Christmas Special (1996) BBC 18/24 Val Kilmer as Batman and Chris O'Donnell as Robin in Batman Forever (1995) 19/24 Michael Keaton in Batman Returns (1992) Warner Bros 20/24 Michael Keaton in Batman Returns (1992) 21/24 Michael Keaton as Batman (1989) Allstar 22/24 Adam West as Batman alongside co-star Burt Ward as Robin (circa 1966) 23/24 Adam West as Batman alongside co-star Burt Ward as Robin (circa 1966) 24/24 Detective Comics #27, with the first appearance of Batman. AP

"When this club played with a bat in the chest, in the United States they were chasing bison."

These two have previous. In 2014, Valencia revealed that DC Comics ‘filed an objection’ to a trademark registration the club were pursuing but that no lawsuit or claim had been made against the club.