History Main / BatSignal

* In ''{{Thundercats}}'' and ''{{Thundercats 2011}}'', one of the Sword of Omens' powers was to beam a Thundercats logo into the sky, to tell the other Thundercats that Lion-O was in trouble and summon them all for today's big showdown.

* In the {{Thundercats}}, one of the Sword of Omens' powers was to beam a Thundercats logo into the sky, to tell the other Thundercats that Lion-O was in trouble and summon them all for today's big showdown.

** Unfortunately, this article [[http://lawandthemultiverse.com/2010/11/30/is-batman-a-state-actor/ this]] explains why that arraingment ''still'' doesn't work.

** Unfortunately, this still doesn't work because; Stacy, the civilian attache and operator of the signal, still works for and recieves her pay from the city, which therefore makes her a State Actor, which means that, legally speaking, the GCPD ''is'' operating with Batman. A more detailed explanation can be found in [[http://lawandthemultiverse.com/2010/11/30/is-batman-a-state-actor/ this]] article.

** In ''BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', Robin gets his own Robin-signal, after he's moved to a different city.

--> '''Comissioner Gordon''': "Oh, this thing is great. I just turn it on, and he shows up with the bad guys!"

* What happens when dirt gets on the BatSignal? OzyAndMillie discuss the idea [[http://www.ozyandmillie.org/d/20000828.html here]]...

* Parodied in ''TheSimpsons'', when Homer stands in front of a lighthouse.

-->'''Lisa:''' Either that, or Batman's really let himself go.

* In ''Film/{{Batman}}'', 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 thing to not like ''BatmanAndRobin'' with, one of Robins complaints is that he doest have a "Robin Signal;" in ''Batman Forever'' it was treated with a sense of trust and importance, here it was part of their "cred" and merchandise.

[[Film/{{Batman}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bat-signal.jpg]]
[[caption-width:350: [[FridgeLogic Good thing it's always cloudy in Gotham]].]]

->''"The Bat-Signal is not a beeper."''
-->'''Batman''', ''Batman Forever''

->'''[[AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]]''': ''"I saw the Nostalgia signal in the sky!"''
->'''TheNostalgiaCritic''': ''"Why did I install that?"''
-->The two reviewers, plus [[TheSpoonyExperiment Spoony]], about to review ''AloneInTheDark''

---> '''Spider-Man:''' You like it? I can rent it to you if you want.
--->'''Detective:''' Really? It would be great, thanks. We would put it on the roof every time we would want you to show up. And then kick your butt.
--->'''Spider-Man:''' Yeah, right, you and some [[TheMightyThor god of thunder]].

--->'''Cop:''' He hasn't shown up?
--->'''Gordon:''' He often doesn't. But I like reminding everybody that he's out there.

--> '''Kick Ass''': How do I get a hold of you.
--> '''Hit Girl''': You just contact the mayor's office, he has a special signal he shines in the sky. It's in the shape of a giant cock.

* Before pagers became sufficiently cheap and reliable, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and some volunteer firefighting organisations would use a signal rocket to summon their personnel from their day jobs in the event of an emergency call.
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<<|ComicBookTropes|>>

* In Batman:ArkhamAsylum, Batman uses these to defeat the Scarecrow.

* [[GaoGaiGar Cyborg Guy]] had one of these built into his [=GaoBrace=] for summoning Galeon. More often, though, the two would simply be dispatched at the same time, foregoing the need for its use.

--> '''Spider-Man:''' You like it? I can rent it to you if you want.
-->'''Detective:''' Really? It would be great, thanks. We would put it on the roof every time we would want you to show up. And then kick your butt.
-->'''Spider-Man:''' Yeah, right, you and some [[TheMightyThor god of thunder]].

->'''NostalgiaCritic''': ''"Why did I install that?"''

->'''[[AtopTheForthWall Linkara]]''': ''"I saw the Nostalgia signal in the sky!"''

* Comicbook/{{Batman}} has used many different forms of this over the years. In addition to its signaling function, it's sometimes used by Batman himself as part of the whole "strike terror in the hearts of criminals" program.
** Interestingly, despite the SilverAge feel of the device, the '60s ''{{Batman}}'' series almost never used it, preferring the "Bat-Hotline".
*** Probably because all the action took place during the DAY.
** In ''BatmanTheMovie'', the signal is used to lure criminals into thinking Batman and Robin would be off to police headquarters and wouldn't be able to thwart their plans.
** In ''TheDarkKnight'', Commissioner Gordon mentions that turning it on strikes terror into the hearts of criminals, even if Batman himself doesn't show up to answer it.
--->'''Cop:''' He hasn't shown up?
--->'''Gordon:''' He often doesn't. But I like reminding everybody that he's out there.
*** Later on in the movie, it is used to call Batman for a chat, notably by Harvey Dent, and by the rest of the GCPD after [[spoiler:Gordon's apparent death]]. He shows up for the first, but not for the second, prompting the line, "He doesn't want to talk to us. [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique God help whoever he does wanna talk to.]]"
*** Gordon said something similar to the above quote in the comic ''TheDarkKnightReturns'', but in response to the question of why use the BatSignal instead of something else.
** In ''BatmanBeyond'', Paxton Powers uses a makeshift one to summon Batman, who answers but breaks the signal light and tells him facetiously to use email.
** Just one additional thing to not like ''BatmanAndRobin'' with, one of Robins complaints is that he doesn't have a "Robin Signal." In ''Batman Forever'' it was treated with a sense of trust and importance, here it was part of their "cred" and merchandise.
** Sadly, averted in the case of Bat-Family character Stephanie Brown: there is no "Spoiler Alert."
*** I love you.
*** [[MadeOfWin Ditto.]]

** Sadly, averted in the case of Bat-Family character Stephanie Brown: there is no Spoiler Alert.

* In the {{Thundercats}}, one of the Sword of Omens' powers was to beam a Thundercats logo into the sky, to tell the other Thundercats that Lion-O was in trouble and summon them all for this week's big showdown.

--> '''Hit Girl''': Just call the mayor. He has a special light he shines in the sky. It's in the shape of a giant cock.

* The NostalgiaCritic apparently has a Nostalgia Signal, which alerted [[AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] when the Critic was mocking the ''AloneInTheDark'' film. The Critic isn't even sure why he installed the thing.

[[caption-width:350: [[FridgeLogic Good thing it's always cloudy in Gotham]]]]