Put this one under the “I did not know that” bin in the files inside my head. It might help explain why the DCEU is doomed to make a good film. Think there’s a coincidence here? I don’t. I now have the true answer to why DC comic films have not received positive reviews: Karma. Yup, Karma. In May 2013, DC Comics started a legal case against soccer club Valencia CF, claiming that the bat image contravened its trademark of the bat image related to Batman. The image, however, had been used on Valencia’s logo since 1919, with Batman first published 20 years later. And there’s more:
Valencia and the Balearic Islands were conquered by King James I of Aragon during the first half of the 13th century. After the conquest, the King gave them the status of independent kingdoms of whom he was also the king (but they were independent of Aragonese laws and institutions). The arms of Valencia show those of James I. The unique crowned letters “L” besides the shield were granted by King Peter the Ceremonious. The reason for the letters was that the city had been loyal twice to the King, hence twice a letter “L” and a crown for the king. There are several possible explanations for the bat; one is that bats are simply quite common in the area. The second theory is that on 9 October 1238, when James I was about to enter the city, re-conquering it from the Moors, a bat landed on the top of his flag, and he interpreted it as a good sign. As he conquered the city, the bat was added to the arms.
What year did Man of Steel come out? You guessed it. 2013. So not only did DC Comics do zero research on this bat logo, they very well may have stolen it themselves. As Mel Allen used to say in his broadcasting career, “How about that?”
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