Batman/Characters/And Bat Family: Difference between revisions

 

== '''Batman''' (Bruce Wayne) ==

{{quote|''"[[The Mafia|Ladies. Gentlemen.]] You have eaten well. You've eaten Gotham's wealth. Its spirit. Your feast is nearly over. [[Batman: Year One|From this moment on]] -- none of you are safe."''}}

 

Bruce Wayne was a carefree child born into the humongously wealthy and prominent Wayne family, but one night, after seeing a movie (usually something to do with Zorro - if you know the background of Zorro, you'll know why that's important), he and his loving parents took a shortcut through a dark alleyway, inevitably leading to a mugger (usually named Joe Chill in most versions) shooting both of them dead.

 

Note that while Bruce Wayne is the most famous and most shown Batman, he is by no means the only one. Various other characters have taken up the mantle. But make no mistake: he is THE Batman. If anyone ever just refers to "Batman", they're referring to Bruce. [[Batman Beyond|Terry]], [[Nineties Anti-Hero|Azrael]], and [[Legacy Character|Dick]] typically need an addendum to the name if you're talking about them.

 

* [[The Ace]]/[[Broken Ace]]: While Bruce stands head and shoulders above the greater majority of heroes in the DCU, it's fairly obvious that in doing so he's not the most well-adjusted or emotionally mature individual, has great difficulty forming close relationships, and frequently experiences friction with people whom he is close to. This is also occasionally [[Lampshade Hanging|acknowledged]] by Bruce himself; in one instance, Nightwing laments over the belief that he can never match up to Bruce, who assures him that despite living a very similar life in the same line of work Dick hadn't allowed it to mess him up as much, having a much more positive personality and maintaining a good relationship with just about every fellow hero he knows, and as such [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|was already better than him]].

* [[Adult Child]]: A rather subtle version, believe it or not. Never mind the fact that dressing up as a giant bat and swearing to exterminate crime seems like a rather childish thing to do, it could be argued that Bruce's emotional development was stunted the moment his parents died. Add to the fact that he seems to relate to young people (re: the Robins and Batgirls) better then he does adults and many stories also make note of the fact that while all criminals fear Batman, [[Friend to All Children|children do not]].

* [[All Girls Want Bad Boys|All Guys Want Bad Girls]]: Bats likes his women tough, dangerous and morally ambiguous. Hence his clear preference for villainesses such as Talia Al Ghul (whom he got over) and Catwoman (whom he likes ''much'' more than he would ever admit). He actually used this to figure out that someone was actually a villainess.

* [[Anti-Hero]]: Generally a [[Sliding Scale of Anti-Heroes|Type II or III.]] In his earliest days, he was a Type IV and actually willfully ''killed'' criminals, a stark contrast to his [[Thou Shalt Not Kill]] attitude in modern times.

* [[Astonishingly Appropriate Appearance]]: Most of his major rogues.

* [[Badass]]: This is a given. [[The Dark Knight Returns|No other normal human has ever given Superman such an ass-kicking as Batman]].

** [[Lex Luthor|Almost no other human.]]

* [[Belligerent Sexual Tension]] / [[Unresolved Sexual Tension]]: With Catwoman, mostly. And, even though he hates to admit it, he thoroughly ''enjoys'' it. So does she.

* [[Berserk Button]]: Don't hurt [[Papa Wolf|his sidekicks. Or any children]] in front of him.

* [[Bomb-Throwing Anarchists]]: In ''[[Superman: Red Son]]''. [[Informed Attribute|Also, he's been described as an "idealist anarchist" (of all things)]] by Frank Miller. [[Christian Bale|So did one of the actors who played him.]]

* [[Captain Ersatz]]: On his first appearance, he was basically [[The Shadow]] in a bat costume. There's also quite a bit of [[Zorro]] in his DNA, which has been acknowledged in most recent versions by establishing that it was a Zorro movie he and his parents went to see on the fatal night.

* [[Characterization Marches On]]: To be expected with over 70 years of comics. It may be particularly jarring for some readers though, upon seeing some of his earlier incarnations. The 60's version with [[Camp]] springs to mind, but even further back, in his first published adventures, Batman ''killed'' people, and had no problems whatsoever using a gun. While it is understandable, given both the time period, as well as that this was just the first incarnation of the character, it's still a far cry from the Batman known by most people today.

* [[The Chessmaster]]: One of the most intelligent superheroes and an utterly brilliant tactician. If you don't have a superpower then improve your smarts instead.

* [[The Comically Serious]]: Especially in storylines featuring the JLA.

* [[Covered with Scars]]: His body is often shown to be covered in scars from his multiple fights.

* [[Creepy Good]]: Some interpretations of [[Batman]]'s membership in the [[Justice League]] are portrayed this way. Everyone has their seat at the table, and Batman's off in a corner being quiet (if you notice him at all).

* [[Dating Catwoman]]: With the obvious, but also with Jezebel Jet, Lady Shiva (well, maybe that was more UST), Talia Al Ghul and a few others. He's well aware of his penchant for this trope and it's actually an important plot point in ''R.I.P.''

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Sometimes. For example, from his DCAU iteration:

{{quote|'''Batman:''' ''[on dating within the Justice League]'' One: dating within the team always leads to disaster. Two: you're a princess from a society of immortal warriors; I'm a rich kid with issues... lots of issues.}}

* [[Depending on the Writer]]: Having a seventy-year history will result in ''massive'' amounts of this.

* [[Doesn't Like Guns]]: Post [[Golden Age]]. Missiles, lasers, and other things, particularly weapons systems mounted on his vehicles, seem to be fair game, as long as they don't resemble pistols. {{spoiler|He'll also pick up a gun under extremely dire circumstances, such as shooting Darkseid in order to save the universe.}}

* [[The Dreaded]]: Is feared even by many superpowered criminals and those who don't fear [[Superman]].

* [[Elseworlds]]: Batman has had quite a few Elseworld stories about him, but the one that was most memorable (and actually influenced the mainstream Batman and the comics medium in general) was [[The Dark Knight Returns]]. That besides, he may be the single most popular subject of Elseworlds tales.

* [[Fate Worse Than Death]]: {{spoiler|In ''[[Final Crisis]]'', Darkseid blasted Batman with the Omega Sanction and puts Bruce in a loop of horrible lives.}}

* [[Foe Yay]]: He has this with most of his Rogues Gallery. But no one else gets as much as the Joker does.

* [[Genius Bruiser]]: One of the most intelligent heroes in comics and can stand toe-to-toe with many superpowered characters.

* [[Genre Savvy]]: Part of what makes him such an excellent tactician.

* [[Honest Corporate Executive]]: His Bruce persona is generally portrayed this way.

* [[Identity Impersonator]]: He's probably done it as much as [[Superman]]!

* [[It's Not You, It's My Enemies]]: Has been forced to give up many a love interest because of this.

* [[Jack of All Trades]]: Among the members of the Bat-Family, Bruce is this in terms of overall ability (at least when writers aren't going full-on 'Bat-God' mode). He isn't the natural acrobat or leader Dick Grayson is, he doesn't have the level of [[Magical Database|computer and intel-gathering skills]] Oracle has, he lacks Cassandra Cain's [[Charles Atlas Superpower|incredible martial arts ability]], and even admitted to himself that Tim Drake would eventually surpass him as the World's Greatest Detective. But the fact that he is still very good in all such fields allow him to more then pull his own weight whatever the circumstance. Fairly reasonable, considering the [[Game Breaker|implications]] that would result in him actually being the best at everything.

** Nevertheless, he still outdoes them as a [[The Strategist|strategist]] and [[Batman Gambit|tactician]].

* [[Jerkass]]: Four words - [[Frank Miller|I'm the Goddamn Batman!]]

** [[Jerkass Facade]]/[[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]]: ... though he is most consistently portrayed as this.

* [[Latex Perfection]]: He's ripped off masks to reveal his entire costume underneath, ears and all.

* [[Lethal Chef]]: He even screws up ''tuna sandwiches''.

* [[My Greatest Failure]]: Bruce has had a few, although he believes that every failure he encounters is his fault. The top five that stick out most though are (in chronological order): The "creation" of [[The Joker]], [[The Long Halloween|the descent of Harvey Dent to Two-Face]], Jason Todd and his death, losing control of Gotham's gangs during ''War Games'' that lead to the torture of Stephanie Brown and forced her to flee, and allowing his suspicions of his fellow supers to overcome him and building Brother Eye, which then hi-jacked by Max Lord and led to the death of [[Blue Beetle|Ted Kord]].

* [[Nineties Anti-Hero]]: Ever wonder why Azrael (AKA Batman [[II/Az Bats|Az Bats]]) was brought in? It was due to Bats demonstrating way too much of this trope in the eighties (''[[The Killing Joke]]'' is a prime example).

* [[Obfuscating Stupidity]]: His guise as Bruce Wayne pretty much demands it.

** [[Depending on the Writer]], Bruce Wayne is still a well-respected philanthropist and (occasionally) scientist. It's just he's also an international playboy.

* [[Overprotective Dad]]: According to fandom, he's this.

** Pretty much canon when Batgirl III was dating Superboy.

** After Booster Gold goes back in time to save Blue Beetle and has to allow him to die to repair the timeline Batman offers sympathy to Booster and tells him he is there to listen if Booster ever needs to talk.

** There was once a story in which Batman was protecting a baby where he risked his identity being known so the baby would have a normal life with their parents.

** [[Friend to All Children]]: Don't hurt kids, period.

** Hurt his actual, biological son? He'll water board you. With acid.

* [[Parental Abandonment]]: HIS PARENTS ARE <s>DEAD</s> ''[[Memetic Mutation|DEEAAAAAAAD!!!]]''

* [[Rich Idiot With No Day Job]]: Bruce Wayne is the poster boy, though the trope was recognizable in pulp before him.

* [[Roof Hopping]]: One of his many specialties.

* [[Rogues Gallery]]: One of the most recognizable in all of comics.

* [[Shadow Archetype]]: Of [[Superman]]. Most of his rogues are ones of himself.

* [[The Smart Guy]]: When he's with the Justice League. Not so much on his home turf, where everyone he hangs out with is ''also'' a genius.

** Though [[Fridge Logic]] sets in when Superman is supposed to be super-intelligent. Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern have a lot more experience with aliens, Wonder Woman's been on earth the longest, The Flash is a scientist and Aquaman has a comprehensive knowledge of everything water-related. Probably he's the only one who'll 1) look into actual criminology and 2) remember to think things through.

** There's also that Bruce Wayne is simply one of the smartest people on Earth. His only real intellectual peers outside of his own family of geniuses seem to be Lex Luthor and Mr. Terrific, who are themselves perhaps the first and second most intelligent human beings alive.

* [[Sobriquet]]: The Batman has been known by the following nicknames: The Caped Crusader, the Masked Manhunther, the Darknight Detective which would evolve into his most distinctive title - the Dark Knight.

* [[Socially Awkward Hero]]: Social skills isn't one of his strong points. He doesn't seem to know how to behave like a [[Rich Idiot With No Day Job]] as Bruce Wayne.

* [[The Strategist]]: He has no peer as a combat strategist and plan-maker in [[The DCU]]. Quite simply, if Batman cooks up a plan, it's probably the BEST plan.

* [[Super Reflexes]]: Acquired through training.

* [[The Team Normal]]: In superhero ensembles.

* [[Thou Shalt Not Kill]]: Nearly every version has this, a notable exception being the Burton movies. Of course, [[What Measure Is a Non-Human?]] is in full effect.

** Other exceptions include anyone who is truly immortal, such as Solomon Grundy or Clayface. Lethal force is necessary against them, but they can come back from even the worst of blows. And when Batman does have to exchange blows with Darkseid, you can damn well bet that Batman is doing is absolute best to hurt the bastard.

* [[Underwear of Power]]: Just like [[Superman]]. Attempts to "update" his look hold better than those done to Superman (as emphasizing the utility belt can serve their artistic function of breaking up his body) though haven't stayed around that long.

* [[Unstoppable Rage]]: He might not show much emotion, but his attack on the Joker in ''Hush'' is one of the few times that he does. And it's not pretty to look at (the art itself was gorgeous, though).

* [[Weapon of Choice]]: [[Battle Boomerang|Batarangs]] are his signature weapons.

* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: He ''does'' say it. It's just that he only says it when you've been ''perfect''.