Why do you like Batman?

[Billy Mays]

hey guys, i just want to know why people like batman. It's come to the point where all my friends call me Batman because they know i love the character. I like him because i believe him to be the "perfect" human. his moral decisions are practically flawless and he rarely lets emotions get in the way of what he believes right. we need someone like that in modern times (Batman for president!) so why does everyone like the B-man?

[GOGO]

He is as self made as you can get. Trained his body and mind to perfection and uses his skills for good, that whats put him just ahead of Superman in my opinion.

[Old_BenKenobi]

You like Batman because hes perfect? Thats gotta be a first.

I like Batman because hes grumpy.

[Billy Mays]

I'm pretty sure im not the only one who likes him for that reason. He's a human who can stand against super powered beings.

[batfan08]

I was exposed to two things as a child:Comic books and Westerns.Both tastes developed over time.Hondo and The Searchers became The Good,The Bad,and The Ugly and The Wild Bunch.As I've grown older.My taste in comics has shifted a bit as,a lot of the time,I prefer titles such as Y:The Last Man or 100 Bullets to titles such as JLA or JSA.Through it all though,my love of 2 characters has remained the same:Batman and Superman.Honestly,however,I think as we grow older,our perspectives change.When I was young,my obvious reason for liking the characters was because,let's face it,they're awesome!As I've grown older,I've started to like them for what they stand for.Superman.I do not look at him as The Ultimate Immigrant or some sort of metaphoric Messiah.I look at him as a symbol of hope.When I read a Superman comic,I don't want a gritty tale of how he cannot save everyone.If I wanted that,I could read a newspaper.No,I look at Superman as an escape from the dark grips of reality.I look at him for what he is,a symbol of

[Billy Mays]

Originally Posted by batfan08

I look at Superman as an escape from the dark grips of reality.I look at him for what he is,a symbol of

i respect superman in the same way. i hated superman growing up because he was the "goody good" hero and everyone liked him. i loved batman because he did things his way. but after i read the emperor joker comic, i believed in him. that he never gave up even against pretty much god.

[batfan08]

symbol of hope.And in these dark times,I think we all could use a little hope.

Now,Batman.I look at Batman as a Fun house mirror,there are many different perspectives and none of them are right.One way,I look at Batman is as the classic tragic hero.A person such as you or I thrust into a horrible situation and developing from there.I believe this makes for an incredibly interesting and multi-faceted character,but is only one part of my love for Batman.The other is beyond the tragedy,beyond the colorful assortment of rogues he has faced,and beyond the traumatized boy.To me,Batman represents a man utilizing his full potential.Many say "Oh,well...Bruce Wayne has millions of dollars and cool gadgets that help him."I don't believe this for a second,his gadgets didn't train him to perfection,they didn't develop his mind.He did all that himself,and I think that shows us that no matter how rich or poor we may be,we can all strive to meet our potential,and if we push hard enough,we can all meet it.

[Billy Mays]

Originally Posted by batfan08

I don't believe this for a second,his gadgets didn't train him to perfection,they didn't develop his mind.He did all that himself,and I think that shows us that no matter how rich or poor we may be,we can all strive to meet our potential,and if we push hard enough,we can all meet it.

exactly! when me and some friends get into a discussion about batman vs superman, i always throw in the kryptonite, as anyone should. but then they say thats cheating because thats his weakness. isnt that the point? thats batmans power: resourcefulness. thats like taking away supermans powers and saying who'll win between the two. but i dont believe theres one true winner, theyre both the greatest in their own way.

[DarkKnightReturns]

I like Batman for countless reasons. But I would have to say that one of the big ones is that, to me, he's one of the most unique characters to ever exist. This may sound confusing at first, because when you think about it, Batman may initially sound anything but unique these days; there's countless characters who imitate him, and those who have some story element involving revenge or their parents dying or both, etc. and also Bob Kane had many influences in creating him, including, but not limited to, Sherlock Holmes, Zorro, and horror movies of the 1930's. So why in the world would Batman be unique?

Well, I really don't know where to start. He's terrifying and utilizes the ultimate symbols of darkness and evil, yet he's one of the purest, most heroic and selfless protagonists out there. We know so much of him and yet know so little; everybody pretty much knows he's Bruce Wayne and about the Batcave and other basic facts of common knowledge, and yet he's so mysterious and unpredictable, with so many complex thoughts and emotions. He's completely human, yet utilizes mostly unconventional weaponry and poses a threat to most other characters in existence without practically ever using a single firearm. He comes off as a mystical, supernatural, otherwordly creature, yet is a man thriving purely off of logic, science and reason. He's a definite charmer of the ladies and a great friend for those he knows how it feels to go through their experiences, yet he's more alone in so many ways than most people will ever be. He's mean-spirited and cruel to his worst, most unforgivable enemies, yet as compassionate as can be to those in need, including tragic figures like Two-Face and Mr. Freeze. There's really too much to list all in one post. I know no other character who is so distinct and unique in the same manners as Batman. Those who attempt to emulate him, either shallow parodies like Catman of Nickelodeon's Fairly Oddparents and Tek-Knight of The Boys or serious attempts like Nite Owl from Watchmen ultimately end up falling short of everything that encompasses what and who he is.

[Old_BenKenobi]

Originally Posted by Billy Mays

I'm pretty sure im not the only one who likes him for that reason. He's a human who can stand against super powered beings.

So hes a perfect human, hes morally flawless, he always does whats right and despite having no powers he can somehow stand up to people who do. Sounds like a boring Gary Stu to me.

[Billy Mays]

Originally Posted by Old_BenKenobi

So hes a perfect human, hes morally flawless, he always does whats right and despite having no powers he can somehow stand up to people who do. Sounds like a boring Gary Stu to me.

are you saying batmans boring...cause thats who he is...

[Old_BenKenobi]

If hes characterized like that then yeah hes pretty boring.

[DarkKnightReturns]

I think the thing that detracts from that is that what Batman stands for is in the right, but the way he goes about it is often morally gray. Granted he'd never actually kill somebody, but he does some pretty awful things to people every now and again, even if they might deserve it.

Batman never struck me as a Gary Stu, just somebody really awesome. Gary Stus are annoying as all hell and impossible to like. Batman is pretty much the opposite of that.

[Old_BenKenobi]

Batman's come close to Gary Stu. When hes shown going toe-to-toe against superpowered enemies alongside the Justice League thats Gary Stu. Gary Stu's are improbably perfect. When thats applied to a character whos main line of work is kicking ass and being a grouch its hard to be annoyed by them because they're actually entertaining. A Gary Stu in, say, a comedy or romance is annoying because theres no thrill that comes from their perfection unlike action oriented works.

[The Hylden]

no character is perfect. Superman isn't perfect. Their flaws are what makes them relateable and not simply some placeholder for action.

Batman is great in a variety of portrayals. I think the versatility of the character in how he's been taken over the years, that he's still popular in all, or most, of those ways, is part of why he's great. I love the no-nonsense, gritty Batman, sure. Then, there's Adam West and Brave and the Bold, etc.

[Drazar]

Originally Posted by GOGO

He is as self made as you can get. Trained his body and mind to perfection and uses his skills for good, that whats put him just ahead of Superman in my opinion.

Why exactly? Even if Superman loses his powers as that can happen in a storyline or two, Supes never gives up as his motto is pretty much "theres always a way". Superman is a reporter and scientist, he can utilize those those aspects to his advtange. Then you have situations such as World's finest #178 (released 1968) story that was redone by Joe Kelly in 2008 with Superman|Batman Annual #2 where Supes' losing his powers goes with the Supernova identity. Using technology and training received from his friends Batman and Robin.

Really even tho Superman gains his powers thru the yellow sun, it doesn't mean he doesn't train or use his brains at all, one could argue that Bruce Wayne got help with his billions of money, thus we should put poor street vigilantes ahead of Batman such as the Question.

Originally Posted by Billy Mays

I'm pretty sure im not the only one who likes him for that reason. He's a human who can stand against super powered beings.

With the help of his JLA mates, yeah.

Originally Posted by Billy Mays

exactly! when me and some friends get into a discussion about batman vs superman, i always throw in the kryptonite, as anyone should. but then they say thats cheating because thats his weakness. isnt that the point? thats batmans power: resourcefulness. thats like taking away supermans powers and saying who'll win between the two. but i dont believe theres one true winner, theyre both the greatest in their own way.

But it's irrelevant in the end when Superman doesn't need to come anywhere near Batman and Batman simply isn't fast enough to avoid death if Superman ever wanted to take it from Batman. Superman vs. Batman debate is one of the most pointless debates there are, when people who know the limits of both characters, and know if Superman ever went truly evil, Batman would be one of the very first to die.

Originally Posted by DarkKnightReturns

Bob Kane had many influences in creating him, including

Bob Kane didn'tc reate Batman. It was purely Bill Finger. Bob Kane's a thief.

Originally Posted by Old_BenKenobi

Batman's come close to Gary Stu. When hes shown going toe-to-toe against superpowered enemies alongside the Justice League thats Gary Stu.

Depends always how the situation is written. Batman came off as Gary Stu alot of times in the JL/JLU cartoon because of Bruce Timm's fanboyism, but Grant Morrison kinda balanced him better by just having him use the brains all the time in his 90s JLA comic. Tho he did wrote that White Martian scene which is incredibly silly how the aliens just stood by and listen to Batman talk instead of shredding him to pieces.


Now why do i like Batman? I like the idea of a man who lost his parents and gave himself to his ideal, replaced his old family with a new one practically, and with a network of close friends. Barbara Gordon, James Gordon, Dick Grayson, Alfred Pennyworth, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash and so many other characters are there for this rich man who has an ideal and a goal to reach. He's a very effecting superhero in the DC universe who has inspired and effected the whole world compared to some other street hero such as Marvel's Daredevil whos influence doesn't reach much outside New York and Japan, but for example whenever Frank Miller writes Batman, he always has shown how that period of time not only effected Batman, but the whole world at the same time. Grant Morrison's run has shown how there have been many duplicate Batmen, heroes inspired by Batman, villains inspired to take on the Batman and so forth. Batman is a very global hero with powerful symbolism. I also love how much of a douché he can be especially seen in Batman: the Brave and the Bold show, and i always get fantasized when he gets to the strangest situations out there, but he is also a loving man who knows how to teach and take care of orphans, as seen with his sidekicks and others he has trained, latest example would be his portrayal in Young Justice where he complimates the team constantly and gives them their shine of the moment.

[airblitz7]

Originally Posted by Drazar

Why exactly? Even if Superman loses his powers as that can happen in a storyline or two, Supes never gives up as his motto is pretty much "theres always a way". Superman is a reporter and scientist, he can utilize those those aspects to his advtange. Then you have situations such as World's finest #178 (released 1968) story that was redone by Joe Kelly in 2008 with Superman|Batman Annual #2 where Supes' losing his powers goes with the Supernova identity. Using technology and training received from his friends Batman and Robin.

Really even tho Superman gains his powers thru the yellow sun, it doesn't mean he doesn't train or use his brains at all, one could argue that Bruce Wayne got help with his billions of money, thus we should put poor street vigilantes ahead of Batman such as the Question.



With the help of his JLA mates, yeah.



But it's irrelevant in the end when Superman doesn't need to come anywhere near Batman and Batman simply isn't fast enough to avoid death if Superman ever wanted to take it from Batman. Superman vs. Batman debate is one of the most pointless debates there are, when people who know the limits of both characters, and know if Superman ever went truly evil, Batman would be one of the very first to die.



Bob Kane didn'tc reate Batman. It was purely Bill Finger. Bob Kane's a thief.



Depends always how the situation is written. Batman came off as Gary Stu alot of times in the JL/JLU cartoon because of Bruce Timm's fanboyism, but Grant Morrison kinda balanced him better by just having him use the brains all the time in his 90s JLA comic. Tho he did wrote that White Martian scene which is incredibly silly how the aliens just stood by and listen to Batman talk instead of shredding him to pieces.


.

Would Superman losing his powers also disable his high intellect? I would say it was one of his super powers.

The statement about Batman being the first to die is EXTREMELY circumstantial. The main argument for Batman vs Superman is obviously preparation time. Apparently, Batman is prepared for any given situation. If Superman went evil in the vicinity, then I agree, Batman will be the first to die.

I also agree that Batman has to be extremely lucky to survive for long enough to prepare, and there's also the argument of superman covering himself in lead, and eliminating the ultimate threat. You don't need to talk Superman up that much, he is beatable.

That Bob Kane remark is a pretty big accusation, can you support that in any way?

[Drazar]

Originally Posted by airblitz7

Would Superman losing his powers also disable his high intellect? I would say it was one of his super powers.

His brain cells could be damaged if he loses his invulnerability. Thats why he has the perfect memory, but even then he is a genius level scientist like his father.

The statement about Batman being the first to die is EXTREMELY circumstantial.

How so? If Superman for whatever reason decides to go evil, he needs to take out the risks immediatly. Bruce Wayne and Richard Grayson can lead a superhero team againts him with great tactics, so he needs to take them out immediatly. Just use his lazor beams from the space and voilá. I mean why would he need to waste his time and get close and personal? He doesn't need to do that whatsoever in order to defeat the Batfamily.

The main argument for Batman vs Superman is obviously preparation time. Apparently, Batman is prepared for any given situation.

How can you prepare for the unstoppable? It's alot different for Batman to take on a brainwashed Superman whos fightning the corruption or a weakened Superman who doesn't even wish to fight. How do you fight againts someone who can never be stopped unless?

he is beatable.

In order to completely eliminate Superman is to ensure that nothing can ever free him from a prison, whenever magical or radiactive, you would need someone to guard him for the ends of time and you'd need to hope he doesn't grow immune to the magic/radiation.

That Bob Kane remark is a pretty big accusation, can you support that in any way?

Enjoy the read! Raise the FINGER!

[Billy Mays]

well im sure Batman can dodge some heat vision from space, at least for a little while. Darkseid stated he was the first to dodge his omega beams. Like stated above, with preparation Batman can pull through. Thats ONLY if he knows Superman is on the hunt for him though, cause if Superman called him for a sleepover that'd be too easy. It's debatable who wins because they both have their strengths and weaknesses, i guess it all comes down to the favorites.

[batfan08]

I'm curious,how is it that Kane swiped the Gordon image?While I 100% agree that Bill Finger should've been given credit for his integral part in the creation of Batman,is an artist not allowed to draw inspiration from another piece?I think that calling Kane a thief is a bit harsh,as even in the article it states that Finger generally kept quiet.Honestly,if he would've come forward,it might've been his name next to Kane's in today's books.I think it's very sad how things turned out for Finger though.I remember feeling bad when I bought the Batman Begins DVD when it was released.It came with a digest sized graphic novel which featured stories that inspired the film.Included,of course,was Batman's origin from the original Detective comics,and naturally Bob Kane's name was featured.However,in the very back of the book,on a tiny piece of card stock was a small note stating that Finger wrote the issue.I thought how horrible it must've been to have helped create such an iconic piece of history,and be completely...

[batfan08]

forgotten.It's especially heartbreaking when you look at how Finger's later life turned out.

[GOGO]

Originally Posted by Drazar

Why exactly? Even if Superman loses his powers as that can happen in a storyline or two, Supes never gives up as his motto is pretty much "theres always a way". Superman is a reporter and scientist, he can utilize those those aspects to his advtange. Then you have situations such as World's finest #178 (released 1968) story that was redone by Joe Kelly in 2008 with Superman|Batman Annual #2 where Supes' losing his powers goes with the Supernova identity. Using technology and training received from his friends Batman and Robin.

Really even tho Superman gains his powers thru the yellow sun, it doesn't mean he doesn't train or use his brains at all, one could argue that Bruce Wayne got help with his billions of money, thus we should put poor street vigilantes ahead of Batman such as the Question.

Sorry I typed it quickly before I had to go somewhere. I forgot to throw in the fact that there are more exceptional comics about Batman then there is about Superman, so I like him a little more due to that as well. Oh and the fact that Batman is just an ordinary human who has such determination that he fights god-like beings and survives. But I hope I didn't give anyone the impression that I don't like Superman, Superman is only jsut my second favourite and it was a very difficult call saying Batman was my favourite. Superman is one of the most inspiring characters ever created and actually motivates me to be the person I am. I hope that helps put what I said into perspective.

[The Hylden]

To the comment about Batman dodging Darkseid's Omega Beams, and possibly being able to dodge Superman's heat vision:

Piccolo after shooting his Special Beam Cannon at Radditz: "He dodged it! He's ... he's faster than the speed of light!"

lol, it seems about that silly. Gotta love those crazy writers, eh?

[Billy Mays]

yeah but in DBZ anythings possible XD if you see the spread on the special beam cannon and how long it takes to charge, even you can dodge it.

[Old_BenKenobi]

Originally Posted by batfan08

forgotten.It's especially heartbreaking when you look at how Finger's later life turned out.

This. Holy hell.