Michael E. Uslan will discuss his journey from blue-collar central Jersey kid to owner of the rights to Batman and creator of one of the greatest film franchises in history at a special event at Centenary University.

Uslan will discuss his journey as part of the Gates Ferry Distinguished Visiting Lecture series at Centenary University during a virtual presentation called “The Boy Who Loved Batman” on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m.

Uslan was an avid comic book collector as a boy and was dismayed by the campy portrayal of Batman in the 1960s television series. While attending Indiana University—Bloomington, he attempted to break into the film industry, earning national fame for his creation of a popular course at the University initially called The Comic Book in Society. Publicity surrounding the course—which was the first accredited college course on comic books—eventually led to a job offer from DC Comics, owner of the Batman franchise.

Uslan eventually purchased the rights to Batman from DC Comics. Originator and executive producer of all the modern Batman movies, beginning in 1989 and continuing to “Joker” and the imminent release of “The Batman,” Uslan also was involved in the production of such films as “The Lego Movie,” Constantine” and “National Treasure.” He won a Daytime Emmy for Best Animated Series for the children’s television program, “Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?”

He is currently overseeing The Stan Lee Universe and legacy of characters for Genius Brands. Uslan is also an author, including comic books, graphic novels, and two memoirs, “Batman’s Batman” set for publication on March 1 and “The Boy Who Loved Batman,: which is being adapted by the Nederlander Organization into a Broadway play called “Darknights and Daydreams.”