Why do you like Batman?

[Nighthawk1963]

For me, what makes an idea exciting, in fiction, is it's probability. Ghost stories are exciting because we have possible evidence that things like that do happen. So, for me, Batman is my favorite due to the fact that he is a possible character. With todays technology it is feasible to become that style of crime fighter. We have electro-static cloth, we have D3o, a silicone/rubber material that hardens into a plastic armor with a sharp impact, we have bullet proof material, night vision, everything needed to become the Bat. (except the money part, not too much of that). And as much as I think humans suck, on a general level, I do believe everyone, given the right motivation, has the ability to help others and do what's needed for the greater good.
In a nutshell, Batman is my favorite because he is the most realistic.

 

[The Guard]

I could care less about the "realism" behind it or any plausibility. I just think the concept is amazing. The idea that someone with that kind of drive to change things could make a difference, or even better, spend his life fighting a battle he can't hope to win. All the true elements of heroism are present right there.

Here's a man burdened with his own pain, burdened with his own mistakes and a descent into violence and darkness, who nevertheless is, at heart, compassionate enough to sacrifice much of the good in his own life to help strangers. Though I don't think our world "needs" a Batman, I just wish people could come close to being that noble and selfless.

 

[RobC]

Because he can never win, but he fights anyway.

 

[Spider-Bat]

Batman's just the coolest superhero out there.

 

[Edward Nigma]

pretty much what everyone else said. he is one of the darkest and disturbed heros out there. he has a reason to be out there everyday, his story is personal and people can identify with it, its not your typical "dude was born with or otherwise got some sort of power and decided to use it for good", to him it's a personal thing.

i also LOVE the fact that he is human, no powers, yet he can still kick ass just as much, if not more, than almost every other super hero. and most the time it's not really even just kicking ass, he's also a thinker. not just rush in with superhuman strength and invulnerability and destroy everyone, he uses brain more often than muscle.

and of course, you gotta love all his wonderful toys. batarangs smoke bombs, acid pellets, i'd take those of heat vision or a golden lasso of truth any day.

 

[jediknight273]

The reason I love not like but love Batman is because he's a superhero for an older age group. The darkness and drive of his character can only be understood by mature reading minds. Also the complex points that are built upon in his mind, his tormented thoughts are sometimes as bad if not worse than the very villains he fights, except that instead of using it for evil he uses it as a driving force against evil. Also he’s human so it is much easier to relate to him. The fact that he can bring down anyone with his sheer will and intelligence is amazing. He has even been able to bring superman to his knees. Batman is the pinnacle of human perfection both physically and mentally.

Plus Bruce Wayne is such a bad ass pimp it’s not even funny.

 

[The Professor]

Adam West.

No, I kid. I don't know, when I was younger I always thought the idea of a superhero not having any true superpowers and a ton of money was pretty impressive.

It reminds me of all the "WHO WOULD WIN IN A FIGHT BATMAN OR SPIDERMAN" elementary school sort of fights. I think I probably voted for Spiderman.

 

[Banquet]

I actually began enjoying Batman for the villains and the tone of Gotham City, because in earlier renditions Batman was just an icon without a whole lot of personality (a little too much lone mystery I guess). I think I really started liking Batman as a character in the Justice League (comic and cartoon) where he had a variety of other characters to play off of:

Superman: "I knew he was coming, though. Super-hearing."
Batman: "So did I. I spotted his footsteps in the grass. Deductive reasoning."

and my favorite...

"Batman: [while falling through the air after having to abandon his plane] I could use a little air support seeing as I can't fly... at all.
[continues to fall]
Batman: Now would be a good time."

And of course, there is that cape.

 

[Superhobo]

I love the deepness of the character; and mostly what everyone else has said sums it up nice for me. But the deepness is also another aspect. Here is this driven man, who, every night, dresses up like a bat and goes out to defend his city.

What's fascinating is what's been done with the 'obsession' aspect, and I love stories that don't mind portraying him as a little bit insane (which isn't always a bad thing), like Frank Miller's stuff.

I think that's why I like the concept of Batman just wearing tights (or, something to that effect - spandex, d3o, and so on), instead of the rubber-jet propeller-in-boots suit of Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee fame. I've got no problems with 'armor,' or with the suit having updated technology, but to the extent that Loeb took it? Insane!


Jet propellers in the boots...pssh.

 

[Mladen]

Of all of the reasons I could think of, very simply, I generally find that Batman stories are usually written and illustrated at a much higher standard. The stories are just BETTER, and I don't feel thats a contentious claim. Of course the vast majority of batman stories are just fluffy typical superhero stories (like most other titles), but the character has the potential for writers to explore a lot of things, because at his core his obsession is emotional, and as a person he is both physically and mentally vulnerable.

I think that BECAUSE he can't save the world, there's a chance to explore what makes him and his villains tick since all of the great batman adventures were generally small stories with strong emotional/psychological content. Its more about the characters in a Batman story than it is about doomsday scenarios and superhero punch-ups, which to me just makes his stories more interesting, and more REAL on a personal level.

I don't think he's any more relatable, etc, than other heroes, especially since the man is a billionaire (I don't buy the idea that ANYBODY could become Batman if they tried hard enough or whatever... without the billions of dollars to spend on yourself and wallowing in your own ego and trauma, THERE COULD BE NO BATMAN).

 

[RobC]

^ That's true, there's a lot more potential for scope in Batman stories, the writers can explore more because Batman is more 'real'.