Batman-"the most realistic" superhero?

[Chris Wallace]

People have said this for decades, and i've come to realize how much I disagree. This argument is most likely based on his lack of superpowers. True, he has the physical limitations of an ordinary man, trained to the peak by hard work and discipline. BUt I'm afraid his realism pretty much ends there.
First off, let's look at the fact that he's a multi-billionaire. I know that such people exist, but I am not one of them nor is anyone with whom I'm personally acquainted. I doubt many comic fans can say otherwise. So this aspect makes him an intangible, unrelatable character in a sense. Then you look at his history: Parents are gunned down in an alley by a desperate mugger, who in turn leaves a living witness? Pretty unlikely. Then he's raised by Alfred. How the hell does the custody of the sole heir to a massive empire fall into the hands of the help? And how do you parent your boss? "You're grounded!" "You're fired!"
Then there's his tech; I won't talk about the vehicles other than to point out they're aerodynamically unsound. I SERIOUSLY doubt that a Batwing would fly, or that a Batmobile would pick up much speed. (Keaton's was said to actually be slower than a Honda Civic.)

The Batarang is another one. Boomerangs are designed a specific way, which enables them to fly in an arc and come back.

If you tamper with that design, altering its basic shape-making it look like a bat, for example,
IT WILL NOT WORK. Nevermind adding to its weight with the toys that he comes up with or attaching a line.
Then there's the glider cape; cool as it looks-can't be done. Closest thing they've got is those suits we saw in Transformers 3. Grapple guns have yet to be shrunk down to where you can carry one in your pocket. I could go on and on. Batman's tech is beautiful but we're years away from seeing that stuff in the real world. I honestly think he's the reason some ot fhat stuff has progressed as much as it has; science chasing science fiction.
Then there's his enemies: THis

is probably the LEAST likely result of facial scarring and a chemical bath. This guy

could probably survive his disfigurement but good luck understanding a word he says.
This

just doesn't happen. Same goes for Ivy, Bane, Croc, Man-Bat...
I'm not saying this because I have a problem with Batman in any way. I love the character and I've enjoyed him for years. I can PROMISE you I will have my butt in a theater SOMEWHERE when the next movie opens, probably wearing a Batman t-shirt. It's just that the truth is, he's no more grounded in reality than a guy getting bitten by a radioactive spider.

[spider13]

I think you might be on to somthing. but I think they mean that a guy like batman could exist.

[Godzilla2014]

I think that Batman is more toward the realistic end of the spectrum than most well known superheroes, like Superman, Spider-Man, or Captain America.

[Thundercrack85]

I never thought Batman was a realistic character, but then, is he supposed to be?

He doesn't have an extraordinary backstory like Superman (science fiction) or Wonder Woman (fantasy), but as a character he's not particularly realistic. Which is fine. It's fiction.

[The Joker]

Yes, out of the superheros around, he is the most realistic. You'll get a rich guy dressing up as a bat long before you get an alien from space, or a teenage nerd getting spider powers, or an astronaut getting a magic ring from space etc.

[Godzilla2014]

Originally Posted by The Joker

Yes, out of the superheros around, he is the most realistic. You'll get a rich guy dressing up as a bat long before you get an alien from space, or a teenage nerd getting spider powers, or an astronaut getting a magic ring from space etc.

Or toxic waste granting a kid super-senses, instead of just blinding him.

[Thundercrack85]

An alien raised by yokels fighting a crooked businessman sounds about as plausible as a multi-billionaire dressing up as a bat fighting a clown terrorist to me.

[Chris Wallace]

He may be closer to happening than any of those other ones, but we're still not there yet. Not by a long shot.

[Godzilla2014]

Originally Posted by Chris Wallace

He may be closer to happening than any of those other ones, but we're still not there yet. Not by a long shot.

They're working on it.

[Chris Wallace]

WHich part? I pointed out a lot of things that at present can't be done; the vehicles and Batarangs I think are just a lost cause.

[Godzilla2014]

Originally Posted by Chris Wallace

WHich part? I pointed out a lot of things that at present can't be done; the vehicles and Batarangs I think are just a lost cause.

Things like a grapnel gun that could be carried in one's pocket, the technology for the transforming cape, et cetera are in development by the Defense Advance Research Project Agency, better known as DARPA.

[Chris Wallace]

I know about this stuff, but last I heard they had a long way to go.
http://youtu.be/_BXPOENATC8
http://youtu.be/IDbhlRtjTCo
http://youtu.be/_elhgoSX5Qw
http://youtu.be/ZfmdcDOzx7g
http://youtu.be/jiyjbQHTWcg
http://youtu.be/rBgG5B3yBYg
And don't get me wrong; a Batman story without some sci-fi elements wouldn't be very interesting. I like that it stretches the boundaries and shows some imagination.

[The Joker]

Yeah, that's the tech Batman uses. Over the decades it's got more and more advanced as a sign of the changing times. But the concept of Batman himself is more realistic than most heroes.

[Godzilla2014]

Originally Posted by The Joker

Yeah, that's the tech Batman uses. Over the decades it's got more and more advanced as a sign of the changing times. But the concept of Batman himself is more realistic than most heroes.

Pretty much.

[Bathead]

IMO, overall, Batman is more realistic than Supes, but not realistic at all in the long run. He doesn't have to be, and I don't understnad why some fans insist the he is or should be.

[TruerToTheCore]

People have said this for decades, and i've come to realize how much I disagree. This argument is most likely based on his lack of superpowers. True, he has the physical limitations of an ordinary man, trained to the peak by hard work and discipline. BUt I'm afraid his realism pretty much ends there.

Batman is probably the most unrealistic superhero out there. Simply because he's supposed to be a normal human, so everything he does is just not possible.

If you take Spider-Man: the origin is of course unrealistic but the moment he actually has those powers the idea of him fighting crime kinda makes sense and would be possible.

In the end I don't get the fuzz, superheroes are daytime fantasies, nothing else.

First off, let's look at the fact that he's a multi-billionaire. I know that such people exist, but I am not one of them nor is anyone with whom I'm personally acquainted. I doubt many comic fans can say otherwise. So this aspect makes him an intangible, unrelatable character in a sense.

I've often mentioned this too. Batman is not that relatable.He's wishfulfillment, quite similar to Superman, although Superman at least has some real life aspects to him lots of people actually experience. But hardly anyone is a multimillionaire who lost his parents.

Then you look at his history: Parents are gunned down in an alley by a desperate mugger, who in turn leaves a living witness? Pretty unlikely. Then he's raised by Alfred. How the hell does the custody of the sole heir to a massive empire fall into the hands of the help? And how do you parent your boss? "You're grounded!" "You're fired!"

We must be honest here: This aspect is a big retcon! Originally Alfred became butler AFTER Batman's started his career, before he was raised by his uncle, Philip Wayne.

[Victarion]

Awe boy here it go.

Plausibility is the key word. If young Bruce had some psychological issues, saw his parents murdered and the cops doing nothing, its not hard to believe that he might try to do something.

Why?

Fear of losing what he has. He was only a child. His parents provided his rich upbringing. Then suddenly he's alone. He probably wouldn't know what to expect. His life could come crashing down around him. The injustice likely sickened him.

So what does he do?

Trains himself and decides to take things into his own hands. Hence he becomes Batman. That's plausible.

Realistic?

Mob gets tired of his **** and works together to get rid of him before resuming their petty disputes. Odds are they'd be successful.

[TruerToTheCore]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wooden Alligator

Awe boy here it go.

Plausibility is the key word. If young Bruce had some psychological issues, saw his parents murdered and the cops doing nothing, its not hard to believe that he might try to do something.

Why?

Fear of losing what he has. He was only a child. His parents provided his rich upbringing. Then suddenly he's alone. He probably wouldn't know what to expect. His life could come crashing down around him. The injustice likely sickened him.

So what does he do?

Trains himself and decides to take things into his own hands. Hence he becomes Batman. That's plausible.

Realistic?

Mob gets tired of his **** and works together to get rid of him before resuming their petty disputes. Odds are they'd be successful.

Bottom line: Batman has some sort of "realistic" also totally exaggerated origin. But of course his actions are as unrealistic as it gets.

Superman has an unrealistic origin, but him fighting criminals is actually not that far fetched.

[sSArkAngelSs]

You have some great points but I agree with ThunderCrack85. (The first comment)

[Troy_Parker]

When compared with other superheroes, yes.

I'm not talking about his villains, but if there was a guy who had an almost limitless supply of money, and had trained to the peak of human condition... we could have someone like Batman.

[Quasimod0]

id say captain america is just as realistic as batman in a way. man made strong by super steroids. Uses a bulletproof shield. sounds better than training to peak physical prowess in less than 20 years and dressing as a bat

[BattleCat]

I'd say (technology these days) Ironman, but their is a huge chance the government ends up taking the suit from him.

[hopefuldreamer]

I don't think he is realistic in every way.

But he is the MOST realistic. I mean, name a superhero who is more realistic!

I'd say the thread title is a bit off.

[November Rain]

superman is a far more realistic hero

outside of powers, the concept of a lone alien from another world wanting to protect his adopted homeland has a very resounding human quality to it.

and the notion of a member of that planet resenting them is also very realistic.

suiperman and lex luthor reflect far more human qualities and motivations than a batman and joker line up.

I suppose that's why even with all his powers, he still manages to be far more relatable than bats.

[hopefuldreamer]

You said 'outside of powers'...

But he has powers... sooooooo...