DC: Batman Is More Complex Than Given Credit For

When it comes to the greatest superheroes of all time, there are few who can stake claim to the title. DC has its trinity of heroes, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman. Marvel has Captain America, X-men, and Spider-man. However, there’s a growing divide between fans that pops up every now and then that says Batman/Bruce Wayne doesn’t even deserve to be on the list. After all, he is just a man. He has no superpowers. Where would he be if not for his money? While their opinion might be valid as a lot of his character is based on the gadgets and the technology that helps him overcome, Batman is more complex than given credit for.

The argument alone is paper thin. Superheroes such as Spider-man, Green Lantern, or the Flash were just mere boys/men before getting their powers. Who was Peter Parker before getting bit by a radioactive spider? Hal Jordan was a pilot before he got the ring. Where would Barry Allen be if never struck by lightning? The setup for these characters drew you in by the strength of their personal character before they received their powers. It was after they became heroes that their powers highlighted who they were deep down. We root for the hero for what they’ve overcome.

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So why doesn’t that apply to Bruce Wayne/Batman? Yes, at face value the character is just a man with money and fancy toys, but that’s not what makes Batman great. Bruce Wayne has had his share of things to overcome, and the Batman character is the personification of human perseverance. Having seen his parents gunned down in front of him was a tragedy, one that haunts him just as it would most people. But that’s where the appeal comes in.

People are right, Bruce Wayne doesn’t have any powers. He is just a man. After his parents’ death, he could have shut down but he didn’t he persevered. One of the greatest strengths of Batman is his ability to adapt. Batman is a man of intelligence. He started as a great detective and now his character has evolved into the hero who uses his brain to take down the biggest of foes. As an average man, Batman has been able to accomplish above-average things. They’ve broken his back, killed his sidekicks, and even killed his butler and he still got back up.

Yes, Bruce Wayne/Batman is just a man, but he’s a man who’s constantly adapting, persevering, and overcoming. One of the greatest qualities of a hero is their inability to ever give up fighting for justice. Every step of the way, Bruce Wayne has never given up. He evolved and stood toe-to-toe with gods with nothing more than fancy gadgets and preparation. At his very core, Batman is the personification of the human spirit to persevere and overcome. To most people, superheroes are only as good as the powers they’ve been given. However, most characters are based on personifications of human emotion and Bruce Wayne is no different. Just because he has no real power doesn’t take away from his heroism. No matter what he faces, Batman will never stay down or give up on justice, that’s why he deserves as much respect as any other hero.