Why Do People Like Batman So Much?

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Evil Smurf

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OP are you dense? Are you retarded or something? HE'S THE GODDAMN BATMAN!

On a serious note, because people like good movies and superman movies are shit.
 

CrazyGirl17

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...Because he's a badass superheroe despite having no superpowers whatsoever? I can't help but think he's a bit overused though...
 

Karoshi

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This is pretty spot-on, since I was lately asking myself the same question. Then I started playing Batman: Arkham City and suddenly warmed up for him.

I like the fact that he keeps to non-lethal methods, despite however fucked up the situation and however overpowered his enemies are. Nevertheless, he is rather intimidating and in many cases brutal which gives an interesting contrast. Hard and unrelenting justice combined with mercy of not killing. It impressed me.

The beginning of Batman: Arkham City was very well chosen as well. It gives away his vulnerability, the fact that he is just a human, just as well his determination and impressive skill in combat. The game would have been much weaker if he was Batman from the very beginning, because it would have left out an important layer of his personality.

Besides, that guy has style. Sometimes it's ridiculous, sometimes it's over the top and sometimes you grin smugly when a criminal whispers "It's Batman!" and you can hear everybody shitting their pants.
 

Namehere

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My exposure to comics is exceptionally limited, it always was. One of the few comic book characters that caught my eye, ever, was Batman. To a child his dark visage is frightening. The Joker, as a counter point, is bright, colorful like a clown, all things juvenile frankly, right down to his reasoning and behavior. Where as Batman is something else entirely. And those are just two counter points between him and his villains. I think he taps something primordial in children.

I recall the first comic I saw with him in it just a crappy little three part series that came with an audio tape. Like I said, I'm not a huge comic fan and never got much exposure to them. He goes into this bar, first thing, and to my surprise isn't angry that some 'snitch' he's after threatened him with a gun. He's disgusted. "Really? Really?" And then he beat this guy. I mean plays with him, in public, just slapping him around like the ***** he was. That's when I fell in love and I've never looked back.
 

Odbarc

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Drago-Morph said:
I mean, seriously. Why? He's such a . . . boring character. The Punisher does "conflicted terror-bringing vigilante" better and then you've got the issue the Robin issue which completely destroys this "dark and gritty" tone.

Sorry, I don't mean to rant. I mean, yeah, OK, I dislike the character. I'm biased. But I honestly, truly do not see the appeal of the character. I'm completely lost as to why he's so popular. I'm looking to understand why people like him beyond "he's a badass" or "because he's Batman". A bit of a dissection would be lovely.
I think it was once (and accurately) clarified that it isn't Batman that's interested about the Batman comics, but the villains.
In the same note, I find Superman is boring even more so and his villains consist of one of two things;
They are a physical match for him (or variety of powers which rival his own) or they have kryptonite.
DC has a lot of iconic characters but I find the general feel of the universe(s) too goody-goody.

In this, Batman has the darker feel and easily fits into more serious stories without adding magic powers or unusual plot devices to be 'good'. Particularly with the Dark Knight trilogy.
 

immortalfrieza

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Drago-Morph said:
I mean, seriously. Why? He's such a . . . boring character. The Punisher does "conflicted terror-bringing vigilante" better and then you've got the issue the Robin issue which completely destroys this "dark and gritty" tone.

Sorry, I don't mean to rant. I mean, yeah, OK, I dislike the character. I'm biased. But I honestly, truly do not see the appeal of the character. I'm completely lost as to why he's so popular. I'm looking to understand why people like him beyond "he's a badass" or "because he's Batman". A bit of a dissection would be lovely.
It's a combination of factors really. Probably the most important one is the fact that (most of the time) Batman is written to be very human and realistic, nothing Batman can do is completely beyond the realm of possibly in real life. Batman is also not a completely psychotic mass murdering a****** like the Punisher is, (still a great character BTW) which makes more relatable. Fiction is ultimately about wish fulfillment, and having a very realistic and relatable character helps with that.

However, when Batman is part of super hero team ups or otherwise goes up against superpowered opponents, both writers and fans have had this annoying tendency to make Batman this insanely prepared for everything Mary Sue character that can beat everyone or even just hope to survive against people he wouldn't stand the slightest chance against on his best day if they actually wrote him as being on the level he's actually supposed to be. Superman Vs. Batman? Who wins? According to the fans and writers, BATMAN! Darkside Vs. Batman? BATMAN! Galactus Vs Batman? BATMAN! As to why he always wins? BECAUSE HE'S THE GODDAMN BATMAN!!! In other words, no reason.

I think you kind of miss the point of Robin though, he's not there to destroy the "dark and gritty" tone, but to check that tone. Without somebody like Robin around the darkness of Batman fiction has nothing to balance it, it would build up to the point that audiences just care anymore whether Batman succeeds or not, because there's no sign that anything will ever get better. As usual, there's a trope for that: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DarknessInducedAudienceApathy

The other important factor is the villains. Whether it be the Joker, Penguin, Poison Ivy, etc. all of them manage to be threatening while also being so over the top that they often come off as hilarious. It actually pretty difficult to put into words what's so great about them really, they either work for you or they don't.
 

conmag9

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I'm not much into comics, so I have a less bias than your average proper fan (and far less knowledge on the subject). I like Batman. The more I try to analyze that, the less it makes sense. Is it the villains? I like a few of his rogues gallery, but most of them lack superpowers and that's usually what I enjoy in villains. Is it his backstory? Not really, I wouldn't mind if Bruce Wayne's parents were still alive and happy and he found some other reason to dress up as a bat and kick the tar out of people. It might be the setting, which entertains me quite a bit.

But honestly, I don't know why. I can't point to a single thing or even a group of things and say "that's why I like Batman". I just sorta do. Maybe DC Comics has access to mind control tech?


CAPTCHA: Box of Chocolates

No Captcha, I don't think that's their method, though it would be nice of them.
 

bluepilot

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Because Batman goes from gritty "I will not be able to sleep for weeks" gothic darkness to creepy "I will not be able to sleep for months" gothic camp. It is, was, and will always be, beautiful.
 

HigherTomorrow

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Drago-Morph said:
The Punisher does "conflicted terror-bringing vigilante" better
....troll thread?

No, but seriously, my favorite Batman moments have always been the ones of a lighter tone. Especially in TAS, though Batman was a grim, serious character, there were always a few moments of levity that put the character into a new perspective. One example that comes to mind is the Christmas episode. Something about The Dark Knight watching It's A Wonderful Life with his boy ward is hilarious to me. The character was so dark and angsty and full of self-doubt and conflict but there were these moments of joy and levity that I always liked (his relationships with the other heroes, Diana especially, were fun in the Justice League cartoon).

There's also the fact that he's a major badass, the smartest goddamned man on the planet, and the world's greatest detective. Do you know how awesome detectives are? Awesome.


As someone else said, I also like the different versions of Batman. There are so many and while most are consistent, there are some wild ones (the most obvious being Adam West's, my absolute favorite for the sheer amount of cheese) that change the character, yet all of them seemed to tie together. It's just always been fun to see the wild variations of Bats.

This probably doesn't seem very coherent but I just woke up and saw this on the front page, so oh well.
 

Sparrow

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There's a lot of reasons to like Batman, so I'll try and list the top three off of my head.

1) He's a top notch tragic figure. Batman's tragedy isn't just steeped in his back story, as his countless portrayals have proven. Although he is defined by the events of his past, the events of his present are barely any better. Not only has he had three of his proteges murdered, suffered severe debilitations (one example being Bane breaking his back) and has a terrible love life but he's also a tragic martyr for his own cause. Whenever something bad happens, Bruce only blames himself - which in the comic books isn't far from wrong as most of his villains only exist due to the Batman's existence. He is burdened to take on too much to handle, and as a result always blames himself when things eventually go wrong.

2) Batman is a regular guy in a world of people who shoot lasers out of their eyes and shapeshift into tigers. In short, it's natural to root for Batman because he's the easiest character for readers to project themselves onto in the DC universe. Whilst most readers probably won't be able to relate to his riches or his mentality towards certain things, when a fight breaks out it's kind of hard not to root for Batman. He's the underdog in a lot of ways, regardless of how popular and skilled he is. Comic books have been playing off of Batman's mortality in the face of literal gods for years. Popular examples of this are Tower of Babel storyline (where Batman's designs to take down every member of the Justice League nearly defeat every member of the team, including him) and the extremely popular Dark Knight Returns (in which Batman almost single-handedly beats the ever living shit out of Superman). Even the recent DC videogame Injustice: Gods Among Us deals with this idea, with Batman pretty much going up against most of the super-powered heroes and villains of the DC universe almost by himself.

3) Part of liking Batman isn't just about liking Batman himself. Batman has spawned several other different creations in the DC universe, all of which would be impossible without Batman's existence. There are the obvious examples, such as Gotham City itself - a city designed in the DC universe primarily as a plot device to serve Batman's quest. You also have the Robins, who have gone on to be extremely popular in their own right and have resulted in a bunch of successful spin-off titles such as Nightwing, Red Robin, Red Hood and Batgirl. And then there's the rouge gallery, with dozens of the DC's top villains who came into existence just to battle Batman. The Joker, Bane, The Riddler, Scarecrow, Ra's Al Ghul, Calender Man, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy and god knows how many others. No other villain in the DC universe, can boast such a wide and varied rouge gallery - not even Superman. Hell, Batman's rouge gallery might just be the best one in comic book history. The only other contender would be Spider-Man, but that's a different argument for another day.
 

Nerdstar

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Jack the Potato said:
Frank Miller is a hack. Also, Green Arrow and Robin helped him win that fight. And Superman was definitely not going all-out, whereas Batman had to pull out all the stops.

But some of my favorite DC stories are when Superman and Batman team up. There is a reason they are best friends. They each make the other better: Superman giving Batman an example of what being truly good is, and Batman showing Superman the best qualities of humanity so he doesn't forget them. Most importantly they have a deep mutual understanding and respect for each other. It's a good dynamic.
omega 616 said:
hazabaza1 said:
omega 616 said:
hazabaza1 said:
Usually from what I've seen when they do fight, Batmans's whole advantage is that he's prepared for basically anything. So... kryptonite something or other probably. Again, not sure about if or when they fight, but from what I hear there's been a situation at some point where Batman's been Kryptonit-ing Superman and Supes fights back all he can but Batman wins because of his preparation.
The only reason Batman wins is 'cos Batman is fan favorite. Superman has a suit that stop kryptonite from working, it can rip but that can hardly be a factor.

Lets see ... bullets bounce of superman, so what is batman going to do that does more damage than a gun but isn't a gun 'cos batman doesn't use guns?

Superman has superhuman speed, so not only can he dodge every one of batman's attacks he could hit batman before he could blink.

Superman has superhuman strength, so he could punch through batman with a jab.

Superman has superhuman hearing and sight, so it's not like batman could sneak up on him.

Superman process information like a super computer and he battles the smartest guy in comics (Lex Luthor) so he has to be at least smart himself, so he might not be able to outwit batman but he isn't stupid.

So what's that? Lets be generous and say superman 4, batman 1? Lets be honest, the fight wouldn't go on long enough for wit or intelligence to be a factor ... it would start like any fighting game "ready? Fight" superman would fly across the room, falcon punch batman and batmans head would explode as his eye lids were only half closed.

But no, in comics superman is a tank made out of Papier-mâché (slow and weak but looks intimidating) and batman has to win 'cos everybody loves batman. Batman will have like 12 people helping him, kryponite out the ass and superman will walk headlong into a trap, totally oblivious to everything.
Man, I don't fucking know. I didn't even know Superman had an anti-kryptonite suit, I'm just going off the admittedly little that I know.
Haha, sorry. I just got most of what I know from the Smallville series and from a youtube video about Batman VS superman. In case you want to learn a little more ...

sigh was going to stay out of this... promised myself i wouldint jump into a supes V.S bats fight becsue when i go batman fanboy i go batman fanboy hard. but then you had to being the angry joe video into this, dont get me wrong i love joe but he made some bad points on in there and i made an account just to comment on them(been lurking there forever without really commeting on any vids but this was the straw that broke the camles back so to speak)


1. Batman admits that superman COULD win, not that he WOULD win, and i agree that they shouldn't be fighting each other (that stchik got old awhile ago)(fun fact: canonically supes has killed, he executed a parallel dimension zod gang with kryptonite after genocide on an alternate earth)

2.if superman were pushed past his limit and in a berserker rage he would not be thinking clearly AT ALL, true his limits would be removed and he be at his stogest he would blunder into batmans traps even easier since his mind would be clouded by rage and grief dare i say it hed be even weaker,as for batman being scared i don't buy it not one bit,batman has faced death many many time before hell hes even died once just like every cape worth his salt,here's a mortal man that gos out every night and fights things that would give you and me nightmares and still he shows little to no fear,compared to what someone like the joker would do to bats on a normal Tuesday a pissed off superman is a blessing(quicker,cleaner death and less chance of necrophilia/corpse mutilation ;P)

3.about Superman's resurrection that was with outside help from the eradicator who took superman's body back to the fortress of solitude and placed it into a krytion regeneration chamber(it would be like letting robin put bruce's body into a lazarus pit, but that's something no one wants to deal with), so superman cant comeback to life on his own he needs someone to put his lifeless body in the chamber to do it in other words when supes is dead hes dead for good

4.you also have to admit that any threat level big enough requires batman and sometimes the JLAs help as its even a bigger challenge tan superman can handle,however i prefer to think of this one as batman's just using the tools at his disposal (in the case of supergirl it was supes wonde and barda) as for the instilling fear and hope and the frontmansship bits batman inspires fear in CRIMINALS but hope in the people(that's one of the reasons i contend that he hasn't ended the jokers life but that's a debate for another day)one comic captures the point perfectly when Bruce took 3 kids out camping and they told batman stories and in the end he tried to scare them as batman for shits and giggles but they just laughed it off proving that he inspires hope the the people but fear in criminals, as for the frontman thing you and i both know that's a marketing thing as well as a personalty thing Batman's in the shadows while Superman's in the spotlight hell even there costumes reflect this.ad for "the single darkseid punch" bit hes done that before from things punching at or beyond spues power(heck you even played the clip of it happing debunking your own argument)

5.your approaching this from the wrong angle joe your think that Bruce is just going to come to this fight with batarangs knockout gas and shark repellent, its hardly inconceivable that bruce would not reverse engineer most if not all the alien tech he finds to use in his war on crime(hell he even has a boom tube kicking abound in the cave somewhere and i remember reading a superman story where he was narrowly defeated and the only way he escaped was because MR.miracle the greatest escape artist in the mutlivers was there to help him and even then it was close) most of the tech that Clarke would bring to the fight can be conceivable countered in one way or another cowl can see past the hologram(think arkham asylum) the radiation suit can be ripped of circumvented(like i said boom tube) and while the phantom zone projector has the very real possibility of ending the fight in an instant he still has to HIT batman with the damn thing.all that being said if it comes to a fight batman's going to make him run the gauntlet like he would a super villain robot mooks lasers deathtraps the whole shebang(will theses kill Clark? in all likelihood no but that's not the point the point is to weaken him so barman can beat him in the time and or place of his choosing with all of his advantages

6.yes superman is the stronger of the 2 no ones in there right mind even the most die hard batfanboy would debate this so course hes going to need help from gadgets kryptonite, magic yada,yada, that's just part of the batman package. is batman the better fighter? yes Hes mastered 127 styles of martial arts,is that going to help in in a fight with superman tho? not really

7.Beating Lex Luthor doesn't make you smarter than him. And Lex has his own weaknesses. such as aggence and the like. also Cunning, cunning my good man. while i can admit Batman's pretty arrogant,he's not SO arrogant that he doesn't think other people could ever outdo him. And while I don't think Superman's lacking in that trait himself,he cant hold a candle to batman in that respect (you got to be pretty damn smart/cunning if you go toe to toe with gods on a weekly basis) simply put Batman will almost always be the more cunning one.also lets not forget about the joker who is the basically the evil equivalent of batman (who as another poster pointed out has defeated superman twice, i even remember one of them which was on the animated series/movie)so i wouldn't be talking bad about Mr.j. knowing something and knowing how to use it effectivley are 2 different things entirely so while yes superman can read ALL the books (which i believe hes done)he still wouldn't be as good at it because he doesn't have to rely on it, where as batman had to rely on it or else hes toast not to mention form and experience, which Superman doesn't have. And even then there's the instinct of a fighter. in other words while its another tool in superman's arsenal,its batman's bread and butter and as others have pointed out Superman has enhanced hearing, Enhanced sight, and senses, You don't think Batman could exploit that and cause Superman crippling pain with a well-timed sonic bombardment? and again when it comes down to brass tacks those are great tools but there great weakness as well. funny enough that you also metion 5-d beings as batman has to contend with his own,batmite and there are other cosmic beings that batman has had to fight and win, more so than supes as he cant fallback on his superpowers

8.ah! the kryptonite deale here it is, as we have all established is all over the place but even if you don't think the ring could do much its not beyond the possibility that batman can supercharge the krptonie to make it more potent in effect "enriching" much like uranium plus lets keep in mind batman's not going to go running at supes with a huck of kryptonite enriched or not hes going to get creative with that shit and rest assured with is rescures hes going to have a lot at his disposal and in every color that gives him an advantage(like a rainbow of death)as to that one moment is all batman needs for the killing blow

9.first got to start this one off by saying not cool on misquoting doom(bats said the JLA was his plan).as others have pointed out batman holds back as well(see tower of Babel) if we wanted to make them lealth he would but he doesnt....for the most part.your right plans don't always go according to plan batman's had a few that have blown up in his face(wargames was one of those)but hes a mater at impozition and can bounce back as for the others plans the solution is simple...MAKE MORE PLANS!!!while they know about those plans do you really think he would stop at one plan? no he keeps making them this is the kind of paranoid nut who beats up criminals at night only to come home during the day and make plans on how to beat everyone up, but seriously batman only needs his one plan against superman to work in this case. hes the chess master to superman's cheackerplayer you can be the best damn checkers player in the universe but play against the chess master and odds are it will be gg in 8 moves.superman can have the prep time the problem is batman knows this and will counter supes preptime(as lets face it if superman gets prep time odds are hes going to make a bulwark against his weakness such as the rad suit or find a way to debuff batman in some way)

10.as for the batman never beating him in canon i'm going to have to call shennagins on that one the higher ups at DC dosn't want superman to lose hell in the Marvel/DC crossover they had supes fighting Thor and Thor lost let me put that into perspective an ACCTULE GOD WITH A MAGIC HAMMER lost to superman(i later found out that DC would not even do the crossover unless they let superman win...that is all)that's why all Batman's DESISVE (because hes had many close ones or ones that weren't fight against superman but battles of wits or just keeping supes on his toes.)were elseworlds stories

in short superman may be OP but batman is the nerfbat

OT:for me the reason why i like him is simple hes the atheist hero, he represents what man can do at his finest, he stands shoulder to shoulder with gods as equals, hes basically the Odysseus to supermans hercules he uses his brain to win fights, hes got style, his mythos is cool he has the best villians in the DC universe(the flash runs a close seconed, see what i did there) those are some of the basic reasons why i like him
 

omega 616

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Nerdstar said:
OT:for me the reason why i like him is simple hes the atheist hero, he represents what man can do at his finest, he stands shoulder to shoulder with gods as equals, hes basicly the odyisis to supermans hercules he uses his brain to win fights, hes got style, his mythos is cool he has the best villians in the DC universe(the flash runs a close seconed, see what i did there) those are some of the basic reasons why i like him
Can you do me a favor? Correct those spelling mistakes please, at one point you call batman "barman" ...

You just wrote a small story about how Batman would try to be superman, none of it sounds even remotely plausible!

Living Solar Battery
Superhuman Strength
Invulnerability
Healing Factor
X-Ray Vision
Eidetic Memory
Heat Vision
Superhuman Breath
Superhuman Hearing
Superhuman Vision
Superhuman Olfaction(smell)
Master Combatant....."has also learned more advanced martial arts techniques from Batman".

You can read more accurately on the wiki about superman.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers_and_abilities_of_Superman

Batmans powers seem to be the ability to learn at super human speed, he is how old? Say less than 50 and you claim he knows 127 fighting styles? Then there is all the other shit he has learned as well.

Even if Batman shot a bullet made of the strongest kryptonite at superman, while he was distracted by some horrible event ... superman would still dodge the bullet!

He could hear the firing mechanism go off, feel himself weakening as the bullet drew closer and be out of there.

All I ever read from Batman supporters are references to canon, how about instead just looking at there abilities and skill set? Batman is just a man, 5 of supermans abilities are SUPERhuman ... if superman wanted to he could just play the rabbit as batman played the dog, just run away till batman got too tired.

Batman vs superman would like batman trying to knock down a house with a foam hammer ... the only reason it isn't, is 'cos "superman sucks and batman is teh best!".

The fight could be batman vs every other person in comic book history at the same time and batman would still win ... batmans greatest power is the fans, who would ***** and moan if he ever lost.
 

Nerdstar

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omega 616 said:
Nerdstar said:
OT:for me the reason why i like him is simple hes the atheist hero, he represents what man can do at his finest, he stands shoulder to shoulder with gods as equals, hes basically the Odysseus to superman's Hercules he uses his brain to win fights, hes got style, his mythos is cool he has the best villians in the DC universe(the flash runs a close second, see what i did there) those are some of the basic reasons why i like him
Can you do me a favor? Correct those spelling mistakes please, at one point you call batman "barman" ...

You just wrote a small story about how Batman would try to be superman, none of it sounds even remotely plausible!

Living Solar Battery
Superhuman Strength
Invulnerability
Healing Factor
X-Ray Vision
Eidetic Memory
Heat Vision
Superhuman Breath
Superhuman Hearing
Superhuman Vision
Superhuman Olfaction(smell)
Master Combatant....."has also learned more advanced martial arts techniques from Batman".

You can read more accurately on the wiki about superman.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers_and_abilities_of_Superman

Batmans powers seem to be the ability to learn at super human speed, he is how old? Say less than 50 and you claim he knows 127 fighting styles? Then there is all the other shit he has learned as well.

Even if Batman shot a bullet made of the strongest kryptonite at superman, while he was distracted by some horrible event ... superman would still dodge the bullet!

He could hear the firing mechanism go off, feel himself weakening as the bullet drew closer and be out of there.

All I ever read from Batman supporters are references to canon, how about instead just looking at there abilities and skill set? Batman is just a man, 5 of supermans abilities are SUPERhuman ... if superman wanted to he could just play the rabbit as batman played the dog, just run away till batman got too tired.

Batman vs superman would like batman trying to knock down a house with a foam hammer ... the only reason it isn't, is 'cos "superman sucks and batman is teh best!".

The fight could be batman vs every other person in comic book history at the same time and batman would still win ... batmans greatest power is the fans, who would ***** and moan if he ever lost.


First off, sorry about the spelling mistakes and i apologize for any more i make, feeling a bit under the weather here so my spelling tends to take a nose dive when that happens.

Second, no i didn't write a small story about how Batman would try to beat superman(granted there are a few ways he could attempt to do it a few more...complicated then others) what i wrote was a counterpoint response to angry joe's video(...at 3 in the morning, really need to stop doing that)

no batman's powers isn't the ability to learn at superhuman speed
Abilities

Indomitable Will: He has no known superhuman powers, but he does have an extreme, almost superhuman "force of will".

Intimidation: It is widely known that Batman has the ability to instill fear in others, even the people that know him best are intimidated by him. Even those who aren't afraid of the likes of Superman fear Batman.

Expert Inquisitor: Batman is adept in the use of interrogation techniques, employing anything from law enforcement methods to outright torture.

Peak Human Conditioning: Through intense training, specialized diet, and biofeedback treatments, The Batman represented the pinnacle of human physical prowess. His physical attributes exceeded that of any Olympic level athlete that has ever competed. His strength, speed, stamina, agility, reflexes, and coordination are at the peak of human potential. Batman began his physical and mental conditioning when he was 11 and then intense physical training and weight lifting at age 12. He had mastered full body control by the time he was 18. Wayne abstains entirely from drinking alcohol, though he presented Bruce Wayne, his alter ego, as a borderline alcoholic (he created this illusion by drinking ginger ale and pretending it was champagne). Batman's refusal to drink was directly linked to keeping his body in its absolute best. Bruce Wayne, since the age of 15, has created a strict diet to enable his body to develop and operate at its most proficient, along with biofeedback treatments (using portable/non portable machines to stimulate muscles to contraction). Batman has performed amazing physical feats due to his superior physique. He engaged in an intensive regular regimen of rigorous exercise (including aerobics, weight lifting, gymnastics, and simulated combat) to keep himself in peak condition, and has often defeated opponents whose size, strength, or other powers greatly exceeded his own. He has spent his entire life in pursuit of physical perfection and has attained it through constant intensive training and determination.

Peak Human Strength: He can break steel chains and cuffs, support a ceiling that weighed over 1000lbs, bent steel metal bars with his hands. Batman even punched a SWAT officer through a brick wall. He utilizes his strength/power so effectively, that a near-meta such as Deathstroke comments that Batman "hits harder than most beings with superhuman strength." During his exercise regimes, Batman regularly bench-presses at least 1000Ibs.

Peak Human Reflexes: Batman's reflexes are practically superhuman.

Peak Human Speed: He can run at speeds comparable to the finest competing athletes.

Peak Human Endurance: His endurance was comparable to that of the finest Olympic Decathlon participant. His lung capacity is so great that he can hold his breath underwater for 3 minutes and 15 seconds.

Peak Human Agility: His agility is greater than that of a Chinese acrobat and an Olympic gold medalist gymnast. His main phase of movement is Parkour which he learned in France and uses it to scale the cities rooftops in an acrobatic manner. He is capable of completing a triple somersault.

Expert Acrobat: Proficient in gymnastics and acrobatics, to the peak of human ability.

Master Martial Artist: Batman is one of the finest human combatants Earth has ever known. He trained in the US for various martial arts for 10 years. He has mastered 127 styles of martial arts including Muay Thai, Escrima, Krav Maga, Capoeira, Savate, Yawyan, Taekwondo, Judo, Jujitsu, Ninjitsu, Kendo, Fencing, Kenjutsu, Kali, Bojutsu, Francombat, Boxing, Kickboxing, Hapkido, Wing Chun, Parkour, Shorin Ryu, Silat, Chin Na, Hokuto Shinken, Kyudo, Aikido, Varma Ati, Jeet Kune Do, Shaolin, Ba Gua, Hung Gar, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Kenpo, and Karate. His primary form of combat is an idiosyncratic admixture of Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Boxing, Jujitsu, and Ninjitsu.

Weapon Master: Through his martial arts training, he has become an expert on virtually all types of weaponry. He is an exceptional swordsman as evident in his fight with Ra's al Ghul, his proficiency in Jui Jitsu can proclaim his swordsmanship skill. Proficient with most melee weapons due to his mastery of Okinawan Kobudo. He was trained and became proficient in all arms. He soon learned expanded melee weapon techniques and he has learned expanded weapon/device sciences. He still practices during his combat sessions to keep his skills intact, though he prefers unarmed combat.

Master of Stealth: His Ninjutsu training has made him a master at stealth capable of breaching high security facilities with ease and without being detected.

Expert Marksman: Due in part to his training in Ninjitsu, Batman almost never misses his targets, 9/10 times he's successful.

Genius Intellect: (Batman's IQ is possibly well over 200) Batman is a brilliant, virtually peerless, detective, strategist, scientist, tactician, and commander; he is widely regarded as one of the keenest analytical minds on the planet. Given his lack of superpowers, he often uses cunning and planning to outwit his foes, rather than simply "out-fighting" them.

Polymath: He has studied Biology, Technology, Mathematics, Physics, Mythology, Geography, & History. Gained degrees in Criminal Science, Forensics, Computer Science, Chemistry and Engineering by the time he was 21. He has mastered Diverse Environmental Training, Security Systems, and illusion/sleight of hand by the time he was 23. He gained even more degrees in Biology, Physics, Advanced Chemistry, and Technology by the time he was 25. He has learned Forensic, Medical Sciences, Expanded Computer and Engineering Sciences, and Expanded Device Pool use of personal powered armor and system, database creation on underworld crime bosses, rogue's gallery foes and other supers; improved material sciences for body armor and micro-machinery by the time he was 26. Has also learned Advanced New Development in Forensic and Medical Sciences.

Master Detective: He is widely considered as the World's Greatest Detective, capable of observation, forensic investigation, and inductive and deductive reasoning of the highest caliber. Human intuition is an unlearnable trait and one of Batman's most effective tools. Given any mystery, he can arrive at any conclusions with a fraction of the data.

Multi-Lingual: He is able to speak Spanish, French, Latin, German, Japanese, English, Russian, Cantonese, Mandarin, and possibly more.

Master Strategist: He commonly utilizes cunning tactics to outwit his foes. He is an excellent leader and at times commands the Justice League and the Outsiders.

Escapologist: He has been described as second only to Mister Miracle as an escape artist. He has been seen escaping from a posey straitjacket in less than 52 seconds, and remarked afterwards that the time was way too slow for him.

Crack Pilot: Has been seen flying the various versions of the Batplanes with ease and flying a helicopter.

Expert Tracker: Trained in hunting techniques by African Bushmen (the Ghost Tribes of the Ten-eyed Brotherhood, among others).

Master of Disguise: Has mastered the art of disguise by the time he was 23. Has further learned Expanded Disguise techniques by the time he was 26. Batman has many aliases he uses to infiltrate the underworld or just to go undercover in public situations. His current aliases are: Matches Malone, Thomas Quigley, Ragman, Detective Hawke, Sir Hemingford Grey,Lester Krutz, Frank Dixon, Gordon Selkirk, and Mr. Fledermaus.

Expert Mechanic and Driver: Batman is proficient at combat driving. He has also pioneered improved vehicle designs. In addition, he has been trained and is proficient in basic vehicular operations.

Strength Level

Peak Human Strength: Batman engages in an intensive exercise regimen, and because of this his strength, like all other physical attributes are at the peak of human perfection. He can press/lift close to 1000 lbs, and has demonstrated enough strength in some cases to rip steel bars from their moorings, and snap high-strength handcuffs with ease.

add to that his tech as well

taken from the batman wiki http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Batman_(Bruce_Wayne)
as for batman's age, as with all comics all the retcons,reboots,and universe altering events batman is generally agreed to be at about either 37 or 40 years old.

your assuming that batman would limit himself to one plan of attack or only doing one thing, he wouldn't. he would hit supes with everything at the same time multiple angles of attack,take the dark knight returns even if you discount that it still shows his thought process on what he would and again you assume that Bruce would let Clark play the rabbit as he plays the dog he wouldn't if anything it would be the opposite whit batman as the rabbit and superman as the dog

your right superman has the edge in just about all physical attributes your right hes SUPERman,and your right Batman is just a man,but that's what i like about him, that's why i find him so inspiring that as i said before, a MAN can stand shoulder to shoulder with gods as equals. to me at least he represents what we can be if we work hard enough.is he invincible is he perfect in every way? hell no!! he gets his ass handed to him a lot and get bruised broken and beaten a lot, but that another thing i like about him, once again hes human he stumbles, he falls but he gets right back up to do it all again(one of the good things that batman begins got right in attitude was the "why do we fall?" bit in the beginning)

ill give you that in a straight up brawl good odds are that superman would win,i'm not so rabid a fanboy as to deny that,but that's not how batman fights against foes like superman, he runs them through the gauntlet,he wears them down waiting for the right time to strike.

CAPTCHA: question everything...always the detective eh captcha
 

Dagda Mor

New member
Jun 23, 2011
218
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0
I like the idea of Batman, but I find that there are very few incarnations of him that I actually root for. I like the villains a lot better.
 

xaszatm

That Voice in Your Head
Sep 4, 2010
1,146
0
0
Nerdstar said:
Abilities

Indomitable Will: He has no known superhuman powers, but he does have an extreme, almost superhuman "force of will".

Intimidation: It is widely known that Batman has the ability to instill fear in others, even the people that know him best are intimidated by him. Even those who aren't afraid of the likes of Superman fear Batman.

Expert Inquisitor: Batman is adept in the use of interrogation techniques, employing anything from law enforcement methods to outright torture.

Peak Human Conditioning: Through intense training, specialized diet, and biofeedback treatments, The Batman represented the pinnacle of human physical prowess. His physical attributes exceeded that of any Olympic level athlete that has ever competed. His strength, speed, stamina, agility, reflexes, and coordination are at the peak of human potential. Batman began his physical and mental conditioning when he was 11 and then intense physical training and weight lifting at age 12. He had mastered full body control by the time he was 18. Wayne abstains entirely from drinking alcohol, though he presented Bruce Wayne, his alter ego, as a borderline alcoholic (he created this illusion by drinking ginger ale and pretending it was champagne). Batman's refusal to drink was directly linked to keeping his body in its absolute best. Bruce Wayne, since the age of 15, has created a strict diet to enable his body to develop and operate at its most proficient, along with biofeedback treatments (using portable/non portable machines to stimulate muscles to contraction). Batman has performed amazing physical feats due to his superior physique. He engaged in an intensive regular regimen of rigorous exercise (including aerobics, weight lifting, gymnastics, and simulated combat) to keep himself in peak condition, and has often defeated opponents whose size, strength, or other powers greatly exceeded his own. He has spent his entire life in pursuit of physical perfection and has attained it through constant intensive training and determination.

Peak Human Strength: He can break steel chains and cuffs, support a ceiling that weighed over 1000lbs, bent steel metal bars with his hands. Batman even punched a SWAT officer through a brick wall. He utilizes his strength/power so effectively, that a near-meta such as Deathstroke comments that Batman "hits harder than most beings with superhuman strength." During his exercise regimes, Batman regularly bench-presses at least 1000Ibs.

Peak Human Reflexes: Batman's reflexes are practically superhuman.

Peak Human Speed: He can run at speeds comparable to the finest competing athletes.

Peak Human Endurance: His endurance was comparable to that of the finest Olympic Decathlon participant. His lung capacity is so great that he can hold his breath underwater for 3 minutes and 15 seconds.

Peak Human Agility: His agility is greater than that of a Chinese acrobat and an Olympic gold medalist gymnast. His main phase of movement is Parkour which he learned in France and uses it to scale the cities rooftops in an acrobatic manner. He is capable of completing a triple somersault.

Expert Acrobat: Proficient in gymnastics and acrobatics, to the peak of human ability.

Master Martial Artist: Batman is one of the finest human combatants Earth has ever known. He trained in the US for various martial arts for 10 years. He has mastered 127 styles of martial arts including Muay Thai, Escrima, Krav Maga, Capoeira, Savate, Yawyan, Taekwondo, Judo, Jujitsu, Ninjitsu, Kendo, Fencing, Kenjutsu, Kali, Bojutsu, Francombat, Boxing, Kickboxing, Hapkido, Wing Chun, Parkour, Shorin Ryu, Silat, Chin Na, Hokuto Shinken, Kyudo, Aikido, Varma Ati, Jeet Kune Do, Shaolin, Ba Gua, Hung Gar, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Kenpo, and Karate. His primary form of combat is an idiosyncratic admixture of Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Boxing, Jujitsu, and Ninjitsu.

Weapon Master: Through his martial arts training, he has become an expert on virtually all types of weaponry. He is an exceptional swordsman as evident in his fight with Ra's al Ghul, his proficiency in Jui Jitsu can proclaim his swordsmanship skill. Proficient with most melee weapons due to his mastery of Okinawan Kobudo. He was trained and became proficient in all arms. He soon learned expanded melee weapon techniques and he has learned expanded weapon/device sciences. He still practices during his combat sessions to keep his skills intact, though he prefers unarmed combat.

Master of Stealth: His Ninjutsu training has made him a master at stealth capable of breaching high security facilities with ease and without being detected.

Expert Marksman: Due in part to his training in Ninjitsu, Batman almost never misses his targets, 9/10 times he's successful.

Genius Intellect: (Batman's IQ is possibly well over 200) Batman is a brilliant, virtually peerless, detective, strategist, scientist, tactician, and commander; he is widely regarded as one of the keenest analytical minds on the planet. Given his lack of superpowers, he often uses cunning and planning to outwit his foes, rather than simply "out-fighting" them.

Polymath: He has studied Biology, Technology, Mathematics, Physics, Mythology, Geography, & History. Gained degrees in Criminal Science, Forensics, Computer Science, Chemistry and Engineering by the time he was 21. He has mastered Diverse Environmental Training, Security Systems, and illusion/sleight of hand by the time he was 23. He gained even more degrees in Biology, Physics, Advanced Chemistry, and Technology by the time he was 25. He has learned Forensic, Medical Sciences, Expanded Computer and Engineering Sciences, and Expanded Device Pool use of personal powered armor and system, database creation on underworld crime bosses, rogue's gallery foes and other supers; improved material sciences for body armor and micro-machinery by the time he was 26. Has also learned Advanced New Development in Forensic and Medical Sciences.

Master Detective: He is widely considered as the World's Greatest Detective, capable of observation, forensic investigation, and inductive and deductive reasoning of the highest caliber. Human intuition is an unlearnable trait and one of Batman's most effective tools. Given any mystery, he can arrive at any conclusions with a fraction of the data.

Multi-Lingual: He is able to speak Spanish, French, Latin, German, Japanese, English, Russian, Cantonese, Mandarin, and possibly more.

Master Strategist: He commonly utilizes cunning tactics to outwit his foes. He is an excellent leader and at times commands the Justice League and the Outsiders.

Escapologist: He has been described as second only to Mister Miracle as an escape artist. He has been seen escaping from a posey straitjacket in less than 52 seconds, and remarked afterwards that the time was way too slow for him.

Crack Pilot: Has been seen flying the various versions of the Batplanes with ease and flying a helicopter.

Expert Tracker: Trained in hunting techniques by African Bushmen (the Ghost Tribes of the Ten-eyed Brotherhood, among others).

Master of Disguise: Has mastered the art of disguise by the time he was 23. Has further learned Expanded Disguise techniques by the time he was 26. Batman has many aliases he uses to infiltrate the underworld or just to go undercover in public situations. His current aliases are: Matches Malone, Thomas Quigley, Ragman, Detective Hawke, Sir Hemingford Grey,Lester Krutz, Frank Dixon, Gordon Selkirk, and Mr. Fledermaus.

Expert Mechanic and Driver: Batman is proficient at combat driving. He has also pioneered improved vehicle designs. In addition, he has been trained and is proficient in basic vehicular operations.

Strength Level

Peak Human Strength: Batman engages in an intensive exercise regimen, and because of this his strength, like all other physical attributes are at the peak of human perfection. He can press/lift close to 1000 lbs, and has demonstrated enough strength in some cases to rip steel bars from their moorings, and snap high-strength handcuffs with ease.

add to that his tech as well

taken from the batman wiki http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Batman_(Bruce_Wayne)
Actually, right here you kind of displayed WHY calling Batman human pushes thing way too far for disbelief. I mean, read that again, you are telling me a normal human found the time for that? That's not even going to into the costs of such things. Even giving the fact that Batman apparently has enough money to outright BUY the world, you expect me to believe that a man had the time to master multiple martial arts (martial arts which should take LIFETIMES to master), get PHD's in every subject, master everything, become the God of Trivial Pursuit, all before the age of 30? (I think comics wise he is 40 now and about 10 years have based in the nDCU) And I'm supposed to think that the krypton alien is more unbelievable?

OT: To be honest, I never like Batman comics which make him into a Mary Sue. He SHOULDN'T be able to outsmart everyone nor should he be allowed the I can defeat everyone card. That makes him into a boring superhero. You can't tell me he can go toe to toe with Superman and then have trouble beating up Joker's goons. His main super power (besides money, gadets, having every hero on speed dial, Mary-Sue intelligence, Mary-Sue Fighting Ability) is his willpower. His conviction to seeing something through to the end is his main super power.

My favorite Batman comics are the one where he is struggling. The ones where he takes a brutal beating but keeps working towards his goal. And when he finally comes to the person he is after, even after all the crap pulled in his face, his version of justice doesn't make him a true vigilante. He still believes in the concept of justice. THAT is the Batman that I like, even if it seems he is dissapearing for a Mary Sue.
 

Raikas

New member
Sep 4, 2012
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I've never been particularly a fan of the Batman character in comics (but then I was never interested in the DCU in general outside of Hitman and Starman back in the 90s and the new books with the Wildstorm characters now), but I think as a franchise he's really solid. The movie/TV/games have been steady and even the clothing items - from kids shoes to women?s t-shirts - somehow manage to stay reasonably stylish (or at least less generally tacky than most of that kind of thing).

Whoever handles the licensing has done a really solid job on that.

Saladfork said:
I think Batman would be much better if DC didn't feel the need to put all their superheroes in one universe, because if you put him next to superman, green lantern or the flash, he's kind of useless unless you got the bat-god route (which of course they did) in a vain attempt to make him more "even" with the rest.
Yeah, I think this is why the character works so well on screen and in games (and that's clearly the answer to why people like him - there are plenty of entertaining versions of his story), but I find the comics context to be bizarre. I like seeing team books where there's some level of power differential between the characters (I think various writers on The Authority used to play with that idea pretty well), but the god-level vs. normal human is just too much in that context.
 

Nerdstar

New member
Apr 29, 2011
316
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0
xaszatm said:
Nerdstar said:
Abilities

Indomitable Will: He has no known superhuman powers, but he does have an extreme, almost superhuman "force of will".

Intimidation: It is widely known that Batman has the ability to instill fear in others, even the people that know him best are intimidated by him. Even those who aren't afraid of the likes of Superman fear Batman.

Expert Inquisitor: Batman is adept in the use of interrogation techniques, employing anything from law enforcement methods to outright torture.

Peak Human Conditioning: Through intense training, specialized diet, and biofeedback treatments, The Batman represented the pinnacle of human physical prowess. His physical attributes exceeded that of any Olympic level athlete that has ever competed. His strength, speed, stamina, agility, reflexes, and coordination are at the peak of human potential. Batman began his physical and mental conditioning when he was 11 and then intense physical training and weight lifting at age 12. He had mastered full body control by the time he was 18. Wayne abstains entirely from drinking alcohol, though he presented Bruce Wayne, his alter ego, as a borderline alcoholic (he created this illusion by drinking ginger ale and pretending it was champagne). Batman's refusal to drink was directly linked to keeping his body in its absolute best. Bruce Wayne, since the age of 15, has created a strict diet to enable his body to develop and operate at its most proficient, along with biofeedback treatments (using portable/non portable machines to stimulate muscles to contraction). Batman has performed amazing physical feats due to his superior physique. He engaged in an intensive regular regimen of rigorous exercise (including aerobics, weight lifting, gymnastics, and simulated combat) to keep himself in peak condition, and has often defeated opponents whose size, strength, or other powers greatly exceeded his own. He has spent his entire life in pursuit of physical perfection and has attained it through constant intensive training and determination.

Peak Human Strength: He can break steel chains and cuffs, support a ceiling that weighed over 1000lbs, bent steel metal bars with his hands. Batman even punched a SWAT officer through a brick wall. He utilizes his strength/power so effectively, that a near-meta such as Deathstroke comments that Batman "hits harder than most beings with superhuman strength." During his exercise regimes, Batman regularly bench-presses at least 1000Ibs.

Peak Human Reflexes: Batman's reflexes are practically superhuman.

Peak Human Speed: He can run at speeds comparable to the finest competing athletes.

Peak Human Endurance: His endurance was comparable to that of the finest Olympic Decathlon participant. His lung capacity is so great that he can hold his breath underwater for 3 minutes and 15 seconds.

Peak Human Agility: His agility is greater than that of a Chinese acrobat and an Olympic gold medalist gymnast. His main phase of movement is Parkour which he learned in France and uses it to scale the cities rooftops in an acrobatic manner. He is capable of completing a triple somersault.

Expert Acrobat: Proficient in gymnastics and acrobatics, to the peak of human ability.

Master Martial Artist: Batman is one of the finest human combatants Earth has ever known. He trained in the US for various martial arts for 10 years. He has mastered 127 styles of martial arts including Muay Thai, Escrima, Krav Maga, Capoeira, Savate, Yawyan, Taekwondo, Judo, Jujitsu, Ninjitsu, Kendo, Fencing, Kenjutsu, Kali, Bojutsu, Francombat, Boxing, Kickboxing, Hapkido, Wing Chun, Parkour, Shorin Ryu, Silat, Chin Na, Hokuto Shinken, Kyudo, Aikido, Varma Ati, Jeet Kune Do, Shaolin, Ba Gua, Hung Gar, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Kenpo, and Karate. His primary form of combat is an idiosyncratic admixture of Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Boxing, Jujitsu, and Ninjitsu.

Weapon Master: Through his martial arts training, he has become an expert on virtually all types of weaponry. He is an exceptional swordsman as evident in his fight with Ra's al Ghul, his proficiency in Jui Jitsu can proclaim his swordsmanship skill. Proficient with most melee weapons due to his mastery of Okinawan Kobudo. He was trained and became proficient in all arms. He soon learned expanded melee weapon techniques and he has learned expanded weapon/device sciences. He still practices during his combat sessions to keep his skills intact, though he prefers unarmed combat.

Master of Stealth: His Ninjutsu training has made him a master at stealth capable of breaching high security facilities with ease and without being detected.

Expert Marksman: Due in part to his training in Ninjitsu, Batman almost never misses his targets, 9/10 times he's successful.

Genius Intellect: (Batman's IQ is possibly well over 200) Batman is a brilliant, virtually peerless, detective, strategist, scientist, tactician, and commander; he is widely regarded as one of the keenest analytical minds on the planet. Given his lack of superpowers, he often uses cunning and planning to outwit his foes, rather than simply "out-fighting" them.

Polymath: He has studied Biology, Technology, Mathematics, Physics, Mythology, Geography, & History. Gained degrees in Criminal Science, Forensics, Computer Science, Chemistry and Engineering by the time he was 21. He has mastered Diverse Environmental Training, Security Systems, and illusion/sleight of hand by the time he was 23. He gained even more degrees in Biology, Physics, Advanced Chemistry, and Technology by the time he was 25. He has learned Forensic, Medical Sciences, Expanded Computer and Engineering Sciences, and Expanded Device Pool use of personal powered armor and system, database creation on underworld crime bosses, rogue's gallery foes and other supers; improved material sciences for body armor and micro-machinery by the time he was 26. Has also learned Advanced New Development in Forensic and Medical Sciences.

Master Detective: He is widely considered as the World's Greatest Detective, capable of observation, forensic investigation, and inductive and deductive reasoning of the highest caliber. Human intuition is an unlearnable trait and one of Batman's most effective tools. Given any mystery, he can arrive at any conclusions with a fraction of the data.

Multi-Lingual: He is able to speak Spanish, French, Latin, German, Japanese, English, Russian, Cantonese, Mandarin, and possibly more.

Master Strategist: He commonly utilizes cunning tactics to outwit his foes. He is an excellent leader and at times commands the Justice League and the Outsiders.

Escapologist: He has been described as second only to Mister Miracle as an escape artist. He has been seen escaping from a posey straitjacket in less than 52 seconds, and remarked afterwards that the time was way too slow for him.

Crack Pilot: Has been seen flying the various versions of the Batplanes with ease and flying a helicopter.

Expert Tracker: Trained in hunting techniques by African Bushmen (the Ghost Tribes of the Ten-eyed Brotherhood, among others).

Master of Disguise: Has mastered the art of disguise by the time he was 23. Has further learned Expanded Disguise techniques by the time he was 26. Batman has many aliases he uses to infiltrate the underworld or just to go undercover in public situations. His current aliases are: Matches Malone, Thomas Quigley, Ragman, Detective Hawke, Sir Hemingford Grey,Lester Krutz, Frank Dixon, Gordon Selkirk, and Mr. Fledermaus.

Expert Mechanic and Driver: Batman is proficient at combat driving. He has also pioneered improved vehicle designs. In addition, he has been trained and is proficient in basic vehicular operations.

Strength Level

Peak Human Strength: Batman engages in an intensive exercise regimen, and because of this his strength, like all other physical attributes are at the peak of human perfection. He can press/lift close to 1000 lbs, and has demonstrated enough strength in some cases to rip steel bars from their moorings, and snap high-strength handcuffs with ease.

add to that his tech as well

taken from the batman wiki http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Batman_(Bruce_Wayne)
Actually, right here you kind of displayed WHY calling Batman human pushes thing way too far for disbelief. I mean, read that again, you are telling me a normal human found the time for that? That's not even going to into the costs of such things. Even giving the fact that Batman apparently has enough money to outright BUY the world, you expect me to believe that a man had the time to master multiple martial arts (martial arts which should take LIFETIMES to master), get PHD's in every subject, master everything, become the God of Trivial Pursuit, all before the age of 30? (I think comics wise he is 40 now and about 10 years have based in the nDCU) And I'm supposed to think that the krypton alien is more unbelievable?

OT: To be honest, I never like Batman comics which make him into a Mary Sue. He SHOULDN'T be able to outsmart everyone nor should he be allowed the I can defeat everyone card. That makes him into a boring superhero. You can't tell me he can go toe to toe with Superman and then have trouble beating up Joker's goons. His main super power (besides money, gadets, having every hero on speed dial, Mary-Sue intelligence, Mary-Sue Fighting Ability) is his willpower. His conviction to seeing something through to the end is his main super power.

My favorite Batman comics are the one where he is struggling. The ones where he takes a brutal beating but keeps working towards his goal. And when he finally comes to the person he is after, even after all the crap pulled in his face, his version of justice doesn't make him a true vigilante. He still believes in the concept of justice. THAT is the Batman that I like, even if it seems he is dissapearing for a Mary Sue.
dos a normal human have time and resources for that? no. but dos a man who lost everything,have access to bill gates level resources(hes rich but hes not buy out the world rich), and pretty much dedicates every second of every moment of his life to being the best and improving himself in what can be best described as insanity? maybe,maybe not,i cant speak for you or anyone else but i feel that in a world of jet powered apes,batman's training regime is one of the more believable things in a unbelievable world. Do i think he should be the batgod and get a "beat up anyone card" no like i said as well i like the stories where he stumbles fails and makes mistakes(tower of Babel was a good example but for different reasons)
 

Edl01

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Apr 11, 2012
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I don't know I just do, I mean he isn't my favorite DC character(that goes to Hal Jordan and Aquaman).
Batman is just really cool and he has a lot of god stories behind him. I also disagree with the whole "Robin ruining the tone" thing since for the last few years Robin has been pretty dark, I mean Damien(although gone now) had no problem just straight up murdering criminals if he couldn't take them down the normal way.
 

Drago-Morph

New member
Mar 28, 2010
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matthew_lane said:
Drago-Morph said:
I mean, seriously. Why? He's such a . . . boring character. The Punisher does "conflicted terror-bringing vigilante" better and then you've got the issue the Robin issue which completely destroys this "dark and gritty" tone.
Ah yes Punisher: A thug with a gun, people mistake for some kind of hero, because he goes round killing people who don't conform with his idea of morality... Thats such an American idea. The american obsession with guns & just killing people who don't agree with your world view.

Talk about the epitome of the boring character: He lacks nuance, personality, or motivation. Punisher is this character who needs to ocme to a permanent, nasty end... I suggest being shot in the head by a 9 year old kid following the Punishers own example, just for the sake of irony.
Agreed. I dislike both characters; I was simply pointing out that the Punisher is more effective at striking fear into hearts than Batman.

Personally, I like the classic "good guy". Superman, to me, is at his best when he's just being a super nice dude because he's a super nice dude. When he meets a guy, and that guy insults him and screams at him and does nasty things to him, and then his life is in danger and Superman jumps in to save him with a smile on his face. When he's happy to save the dude, not just doing it because he has to. But that depiction of a hero isn't very popular anymore, unfortunately.
 

Little Woodsman

New member
Nov 11, 2012
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Well as an ancient comic book geek I have to weigh in a little bit here....

Stephen King, in the preface for some Batman compilation actually touched on the subject of Batman's popularity in a universe where beings with godlike powers should overshadow everything he does. Mr. King drew the following comparison:
(Quoting from memory so please forgive any inaccuracies)"As a kid reading a story about a villain who was planning to launch missiles at a city, I was whole-heartedly more invested in Batman than Superman. In the Superman story, he might discover the villain and take the villain out before the missiles were launched, or he might fail to prevent the launch
and have to stop or divert the missiles before they hit the city. Batman never had the second option. There was more on the line with Batman, because his lack of super powers limited his options."

Back in the day when I read lots of comics (read very few now) Batman was always pointing out a simple paradigm about the metahuman people he worked with and against. "All that power makes them sloppy." He frequently won against super-powered foes, or found solutions that his super-powered comrades overlooked because he *had* to think things through, utilizing the greatest power any of the characters really had--human intelligence.

Do you know what the original resolution to the Joe Chill story-line was in the comics?
Years after Batman was established as a crime-fighter, Joe Chill was still a career criminal. Chill was taking advantage of a program that smuggled criminals out of the country to avoid capture/prosecution. The criminals were hidden in secret compartments in cargo trucks. By chance, Batman & Robin were driving in the Batmobile behind the truck Joe Chill was hidden in. The truck driver saw Batman behind him on the road and panicked, crashing the truck. Batman & Robin rush to the cab of the truck to see if they can help the driver. As they are looking in to the cab, Chill emerges from his hidden compartment, and sees Batman unaware of his presence. Chill draws his gun and prepares to shoot Batman--and a passing motorcycle patrolman sees the whole scene, fast draws his gun and shoots Chill dead.
Batman put forth all that effort, did so much--and the criminal he was really after would have killed him too, except for the actions of a *regular law enforcement officer*.
It's a freakin' morality play.