The Dark Knight is 85! A huge milestone. Batman has become a huge presence in the comic book community, pop culture, and even every day life. Nearly everything about the character is known by the most novice of fans. It speaks greatly of the character and the team that writes him and especially the ones who created him. With hard work from creative teams and passion from fans, Batman has come to the same level and has arguably passed some of the most famous literary characters. And from that has become one of the most beloved characters that people still enjoy watching, reading, and playing. Batman has made his way into the hearts (and disdain) to many while he has made a huge impact on the comic book genre. And there’s many reasons to why.
Batman is a rare character that has been around a few decades that has a generational presence. For most of his existence, Batman has had someone bring him to life. Adam West was the one who really punched Batman into new grounds. That Batman was able to enter peoples’ lives weekly. With the classic aesthetic and memorable performances, this was Batman’s truly first success in evolving from the page to the screens. Fast forward several years, and Michael Keaton brought a different edge to the character. In that version there was a gothic aura to him and the world he was in. He had that stoic and calm intimidation that Batman has been synonymous with. When Kevin Conroy came around, his voice gave Batman a new type of life. Conroy gave Batman that anger, that rage, that edge. But at times, he was able to give Batman some vulnerability, and some sorrow and empathy. Conroy was able to set the foundation in Batman: The Animated Series then carry that to Justice League and Justice League: Unlimited and to the Arkham series. His voice become the one everyone heard. Then when Christian Bale dawned the cowl, he was able to pull off that duality of Bruce Wayne and Batman. Showed the bitter training and toll it takes to become the Dark Knight. And he also had some balance of the physicality, detective skills, and gadget usage that Batman loves to have in his arsenal. Affleck was the Batman that finally tipped his boots in the more supernatural world that Batman could easily enter. And Pattison stepped into a darker, grittier, more grounded style of detective noir storytelling, a side of Batman fans wanted to see more of. That’s about 60 years of Batman that exists outside of the comic books. That’s about 60 years of Batman interweaving into everyday life.
Those different versions of Batman reveal another crucial thing that has helped Batman endure and that’s his versality. He could operate on the opposite ends of the spectrum; the whimsical side or the moody side. Adam West’s Batman, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and The Lego Batman Movie has proved not only can Batman succeed on that side but fans enjoy watching him. Then with The Dark Knight and The Batman, it brings Batman to the world a lot of fans love, the dark side of his nature. And of course, in the comic books, Batman is at home taking down crime bosses or fighting alongside Superman to defeat Darkseid. None of those battles seem out of character for Batman. One story he could be solving the mysteries of some murders the next, trying to stop a mystical cult from taking over the world. Of course, it’s normal to see him in his classic black and gray suit and just as normal to see him in a super suit forged in the fires of Apokolips. This is the versatility that keeps Batman alive, keeps him going. It allows for any story to revolve around him and makes it easy for a Batman story to take off and be taken in by fans. Batman is just built for everyone. He fits pretty well in a lot of genres. And that welcomes all types of fans.
His villains are an extension of his versatility. Batman’s rouge gallery is the most recognizable and most famous in comic books. Each of them brings their own flare and because of that Batman is forced to try different tactics. Bane and Ra’s al Ghul force Batman to rely on his fighting skills and battle strategy. The Joker and The Riddler force Batman to rely on his intellect. Man Bat and Poison Ivy have him thinking of scientific ways to bring them down. And Clayface and Mr. Freeze have Batman use specially made tech to take them down. The villains are just an extension of Batman and many of them have their own fanbase. When a story comes out that revolves around Batman, it’s a safe bet that the villain in it will deliver. Some have been used multiple times so fans are interested to see how each incarnation will be different from the last. Other villains don’t get used a lot so it could be refreshing to see them be utilized. Seeing Batman and The Joker is classic and draws fans in to see how it could stand on its own. But just as exciting to see Batman take on Ghostmaker. Regardless, it’s Batman doing Batman things to take on villains.
And that leads to the core of his character. He is the only member of the Justice League who has no power. And holds the banner for the non-powered characters across all of superhero comic books. But that’s perhaps the biggest reason why he’s so loved. He is outmatched, outpowered and outmanned but always keeps himself in the fight. Gets knock down and continues to press on. Always adapts. Always finding and creating ways to put himself on top. He has a drive that other heroes come close to matching but come short. Batman is the unconquerable human spirit. He embodies all that. Unlike some of his colleagues, Batman worked to get what he has (minus the wealth of course). But he worked extremely hard to master his fighting, detective, intellectual, engineering, and scientific skills. These weren’t naturally given or given by mistake. Batman is the product of hard work. That drive has him feared and respected among the most powerful in the DC universe even though he’s a mortal man with no enhanced biology. He does extreme extras to get to the level of Superman, Wonder Woman, Darkseid then goes out and achieves it in style! It makes others respect him and among fans, give him a layer of depth not seen in a lot of places.
Batman has made an impact among many fans be it their first introduction to the comic book genre, serving as a face that others can identify with or maturing with fans as their get older. It’s an understatement that Batman has made his way into the hearts of many. He has also made huge impact on the actual comic book genre. The Dark Knight Returns was on the first, successful, graphic novels that turned the tone darker. It has other publishers thinking the same thing and followed suit. The Dark Knight had a similar effect with films. With its darker tone, a few movies went darker and even some physical comic books did the same. Batman’s presence is forever felt. He offers so much for many even those who would choose other characters over him in a heartbeat. Whether fans love him for being perfect or hate him for being perfect, the main thing is; he is talked about. That is a product of how much he means to people.
