Many of us have read comic books as children, and in doing so we identify heroes like Superman, Batman, or Spiderman as the good guys who fight against evil. DC Comics (known officially as DC Entertainment) and Kia Motors are working off of this connection that we’ve made as children to create a charity campaign for the hunger epidemic in Africa. In the Horn of Africa, reports of 8 million people are in urgent need of food and assistance.

The “We Can Be Heroes” campaign, is a truly unique way to get people interested in helping support this charity. In an effort to bring awareness and aid to this famished group, DC Entertainment has enlisted their Justice League to help spread the message.

Ever since 1939, Batman has been the caped crusader who has always had a sense of justice and has been committed to defending the innocent from Gotham City’s frightening villains. This is the reason DC Entertainment partnered with RIDES magazine, and Kia Motors, to give the Optima SX Limited sedan the full Batmobile treatment.

This idea was created in a sketchbook by artist Jim Lee, and the Batman-themed Kia Optima SX Limited mirrors the shadowy character and near-hunting attitude of the superhero inspiration. Now accented with a body kit, a matte and piano black paint scheme covers the sedan. For a more aggressive profile, the car’s ride height has been lowered by a coil-over suspension system. Other modifications like Ksport performance brakes, custom 20-inch black wheels, and a performance-tuned exhaust, make a relatively mild mannered Kia Optima SX limited a potentially elusive presence when daylight drops. With bright yellow exterioer LED lighting along the lower surface, this Dark Knight version Kia sedan brings illumination to the night, along with the bat signal projected in the headlamps.

A custom interior featuring black leather and suede with yellow stitching shapes the seating adorned with the bat signal has this car carry on the superhero persona. Video screens have been installed in the front seat headrests for back seat passengers to view an intentional message from the Justice League creators. A special video presentation has been created for these screens that highlights the African hunger crisis provoking the We Can Be Heroes campaign. Other Batman touches that will be included in this car consist of throwing stars that will be installed in the center console, and a full Bat suit in the trunk.

The Batman-inspired Optima SX Limited sedan will be the first of eight Kia brand vehicles that will be involved in the We Can Be Heroes initiative. While raising money through www.WeCanBeHeroes.org DC Entertainment has agreed to match the donations raised.