History Main / BatSignal

* In ''Film/Batman1989'', the film ends with the gift of the signal to the city in order to symbolize Batman's help and serve as a public notice. This is just one additional reason to not like ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'', with one of Robin's complaints being that he doesn't have a "Robin Signal"; in ''Film/BatmanForever'' it was treated with a sense of trust and importance, here it was part of their "cred" and merchandise. Incidentally, Robin does get his coveted "Robin Signal" late in the film deployed by [[TheVamp Poison Ivy]] to lure him into [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor a deadly trap]]. [[spoiler:[[BatmanGambit Which is just]] what [[JustBetweenYouAndMe Batman had in mind]].]]

* In ''Film/Batman1989'', the film ends with the gift of the signal to the city in order to symbolize Batman's help and serve as a public notice. This is just one additional reason to not like ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'', with one of Robin's complaints being that he doesn't have a "Robin Signal"; in ''Film/BatmanForever'' it was treated with a sense of trust and importance, here it was part of their "cred" and merchandise.
** Incidentally, Robin does get his coveted "Robin Signal" late in the film deployed by [[TheVamp Poison Ivy]] to lure him into [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor a deadly trap]]. [[spoiler:[[BatmanGambit Which is just]] what [[JustBetweenYouAndMe Batman had in mind]].]]

** In ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', Commissioner Gordon mentions that turning it on is more a reminder to Gotham, even if Batman himself does not show up to answer it "I like reminding everybody that he's out there." [[spoiler:As part of the police officially disowning Batman and hunting him down they symbolically smash the signal.]] In ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' [[spoiler:the first sign that Batman wasn't killed ferrying the nuke to safe territory was Gordon finding the signal repaired]].

* Parodied in the comic ''ComicBook/TopTen'', where a minor super-hero was arrested for using a flare-gun-type device to contact his partner, which is illegal (a "signal-device violation"). Considering that the setting of this comic is a city populated ''only'' by super-heroes, this is a reasonable legal restriction considering how many people might be flying overhead. (Not to mention redundant in the early 21st century, what with cell-phones being so cheap.)

* Inverted in the early days of ComicBook/SpiderMan, the Web-Slinger used to use a Spider Signal to introduce himself.
** Spidey still uses it from time to time, especially that it serves also as a lantern. In Creator/JMichaelStraczynski's run he used it to bring attention of a police officer, with this dialogue following:

'''Spider-Man:''' Yeah, right, you and some [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor god of Thunder]].
** In a crossover with Franchise/{{Batman}}, he uses it to spot ComicBook/TheJoker, who snaps at Spidey for stealing Batman's schtick.

** J. Jonah Jameson, as Mayor of New York City, put together a Spider-Signal for the Comicbook/SuperiorSpiderMan. Spider-Man promptly trashed it, [[{{Deconstruction}} noting how stupid it is to announce to the world where he is]].
** During Dan Slott's run on ''ComicBook/SheHulk'', the She-Hulk created a make-shift Spider-Signal with a hand-drawn spider on a spotlight, to attract Spider-Man's attention with an offer to sue J. Jonah Jameson for libel. Spider-Man's reaction, "I've seen better art under refrigerator magnets, Shulkie."

* Franchise/{{Batman}} has used many different forms of this over the years. In addition to its signaling function, it is sometimes used by Batman himself as part of the whole "strike terror in the hearts of criminals" program. Gordon gives a similar explanation in the comic ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' in response to the question of why use the Bat-Signal instead of something else. The series ''ComicBook/GothamCentral'' delves into the legality and operation of the signal, and what it implies for the relationship between Batman and the police. Legally, no employee of City Hall or the police can operate the signal, since that would qualify as an official endorsement of Batman and make the city government responsible for whatever actions Batman takes. As such, only Stacy, the secretary of the Major Crimes Unit who is technically a temp and not a city employee at all, is allowed to turn on the signal. The signal itself is eventually ''dismantled'' following the events of the "War Games" crossover (A BatFamilyCrossover from the mid-2000's) when the GCPD feels that Batman has broken the bonds of good faith between them.

* ''ComicBook/Batgirl2009'': After Stephanie Brown became ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} she would respond to the titular signal on numerous occasions, reasoning that it is the ''Bat''-signal, not Bat''man''-signal. In one situation, however, the signal was actually the bait for a trap the Gotham Police were laying, as [[MistakenForMurderer she was suspected of murder at the time]].

** Which also got used in ''ComicBook/TheBatmanAndRobinAdventures'' #6, where a Robin-wannabe who believed a tabloid claim that the original Robin had been fired used a flare gun to signal Batman. The flare hit an illuminated street sign. Batman smacked the kid and told a passing police officer to book him for reckless endangerment.

* In ''Comicbook/{{Hitman}}'', the title character creates the "Cat-Signal" to summon ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}, by throwing a dead cat on a searchlight.