On Batman, Is he the most unrealistic hero?

Having studied his character it's hard for me not come to the conclusion that he's maybe the most realistic and at the same time unrealistic of all heroes. Of course it's all fantasy but it's based in part upon realism or tries to realistic to the viewer.

The Realistic Part

Now here is a question, if you decided to be a superhero and fight crime as a vigilante, but you had no powers then how could you do it. Well obviously you would need heavy training and he has that. As a matter of fact he's literally one of the world's best fighters, plus he has acrobatic and reflexive skills. The next thing you would need is advanced weapons, and training. The more knowledge in weapons and science the better. But ultimately you would need money, so either you better have your own bank account, or be getting some real good donations. Batman fits the criteria perfectly, so now you throw in a little fantasy and you say okay maybe there could be a Batman.

The Unrealistic Part

How do you run a corporation and fight crime so much? Not only in Gotham, but with teams like the JLA. How can you fool people at parties that much when Bruce Wayne disappears? It's questionable. How does a guy with no powers, successfully swing from buildings, so frequently without getting hurt? But most importantly how does he fight with the JLA and Superman the way he does considering the massive power of both of these forces? The JLA may be the most powerful team ever assembled in comics period and this guy is fighting in the field with these power house heroes. He has technology but rarely uses heavy technology when he's on the field with them. Just his bat belt non sense for the mostly powerless but psychotic gotham villains. Then his cape is ridiculousy long and he's not as hard as a mountain. I just think to myself here's an example of popularity gone wild, because if he wasn't popular he wouldn't be on that team. Even Bendis questioned it once.

There shouldn't be any misunderstanding I love what he does for the team but his existence there is questionable. It's like putting a light weight in a heavy weight fight, or sending Allen Iverson to the NFL to play and not coach or be the water boy.

I love the guy but sometimes I wonder if he really has Bat powers and DC just won't say it.

What is Bill Gates daily schedual like? He does run Microsoft, but I wonder what his workday is like. Does Bill do any of the actual WORK in the company anymore, or is he more of a figurehead for a company that is really run by an army of underlings?

Bill Gates also has a foundation named after him. This organization is responsible for more growth in the area of world health than the World Health Organization. He also has a family life.

The thing that most people forget about Batman is that he literally IS Batman first and Bruce Wayne second. He doesn't have the trappings of family and I am sure he like Bill Gates has an army of underlings making many of the day to day business decisions.

Batman can hold his own in an epic battle with Gods because he realizes he ISNT a God. Batman may be a fighter and an acrobat, but he is also an engineer and a dective, both world class. Batman has a keenly sharp mind, and THAT, not his body, is his 'superpower'. Batman's will is what makes him Batman and not a spoiled rich guy on "The Bachelor: Gotham."

Some thing I wrote recently about Batman Vs the Punisher and also DC comics.

You may or may not agree with this and some fans will find this anti -batman post offensive and want to attack back.

'Batman is not 80 years old now is he even if his comics been around that long, Captain America can get away with that though?

But I think he has a lingering silver age and TV serious persona about him still.
Like he can never be beaten mentality and he is super quick and knows the moves. Problem is the movies show no sign of him actually are a martial arts expert in anyway, just kicks and punches that supposedly work out in his favour.

Batman is too un super hero like too and very normal and lacks abilities, people today if they wanted could be like him he is not that much fantasy compared to reality apart from the mask and cape and Gotham. Robin Hood was like Batman see it’s not that impossible to pull off but impossible to sustain it.

Unlike the Punisher he gets into trouble or beaten and Marvel is not afraid to show the weak sides of characters that make them a little more human.

Batman fans seems uneasy to accept Batman can lose and the comic book writers are afraid to show that in reality he would lose too. He is not superhuman and more a gadgets man.

The punisher also not super human is in a way an above reality from Batman as for being remotely real; there are people like him in the world now I bet the vigilante types.
The other argument is Spiderman or Daredevil is super Human and makes them that much more fantasy but interesting as escapism to read.

But a step up from that there is Superman, he is so unbreakable its hard for the fans to accept he can be defeated if he can be and hence if someone who can pose a threat to him from the Marvel universe creates denial.

But again on another scale Marvel has Thor and the Silversurfer one is cosmic and one is Godly, so the fantasy level is raised above Superman in some ways but is far more accepted for being in that realm.

The Problem is Batman is not super and he is made out to be unbeatable, Superman is over super earth bound being who is too powerful for his own story telling good.

Maybe Batman could beat the Punisher because no one wants to accept a non-superhero like Batman losing and it along with Superman. Most of the heroes like Batman would have been killed if they spent this long doing their jobs, in reality they would only last for 10 years as a hero if they decide to retire.

One thing that Marvel did was make it either half real or complete fantasy and DC over the years has buckled under its weight as to where its stands in the credibility realm.

Characters showing off their abilities founded DC and Marvel was founded on characters being freaks of nature.

DC would lose if they applied the Marvel characters in their universe and Marvel would lose if they accept DC universe characters in their realm as they are too hyped. It depends on ones philosophy too and don't give comic book writers all the realistic credit on who wins if its a close call I see them make a lot of mistakes in comics and sometimes'.

reply to post by The time lord


I agree. Superman is too powerful and bland.

Robin Hood is also fictional...

This thread is way too old.

the only thing that bothers me about Batman is How in the Hell does Everyone not know that he is Bruce Wayne? I mean the gadgets and Autos everything. I mean it is all top tier and obviously very costly.

With that said you could rule the Gotham PD out. Not only due to financial shortcomings, but also the fact that they are corrupt as can be would make a secret like that impossible to be kept within their ranks.

Its not the Govt. or some for of Military and even through feeble attempts to be framed as such he is not a gangster or one looking to take over Gothams seedy underbelly.

With the final piece in my logic being that if Gotham is so #e or on a decline of such magnitude who from outside the city would risk their hide to come in and save it. (Even if this was a power play to do it for so long without finally moving to conquer is just ludicrous).

With all of that being sad it must be the Billionaire in town who has all the resources and no doubt the cash and the sad childhood to mix up such a force as the Batman and make him come to life.

So for these reasons I believe he is very unrealistic.

Also If you just want to cop out like my friends do and go "Well I guess everyone in Gotham is pretty dumb" (sans the ones who know). Wouldn't that eventually leave Bruce who is so smart to think why he is protecting them?

i think the OP is applying his perceived limitation of what it means to be human

remember that he started out with a simple costume, and almost gave up crime-fighting after his first case[crooks had no fear of him], but received a gift and a "message from the Universe" in the form of a bat. what the scarecrow does with chemicals/drugs/externals, The Batman manifests as an aspect of his spiritual power.

and he is a Superman in the Nietzscheian sense, having overcome the generally perceived, and self imposed limitations of mankind, becoming something more than human,in many ways The Batman is something of a Shaman/Force of Nature

Batman does well against JLA level beings because they are not all Superman durability, a good example of this would be Black Manta.

If you watched the latest Superman:Apocalips video, you'd see that Bruce pretty much stands down when he confronts Darkseid, which to me is very realistic as Bruce simply cannot beat a character of that scale(at least not without preparation )

reply to post by NeoQuest

The Unrealistic Part

How do you run a corporation and fight crime so much? Not only in Gotham, but with teams like the JLA.

Simple, people run it for you, you're just the major shareholder and rake in the dough.

How can you fool people at parties that much when Bruce Wayne disappears? It's questionable.

That silly playboy...probably ducked out to do some blow with Charlie Sheen and a few porn stars. Bruce plays up the playboy image as a cover.

How does a guy with no powers, successfully swing from buildings, so frequently without getting hurt?

I can remember Alfred handling his wounds...just that those parts aren't exactly exciting for the reader or viewer, just assumed.

But most importantly how does he fight with the JLA and Superman the way he does considering the massive power of both of these forces? The JLA may be the most powerful team ever assembled in comics period and this guy is fighting in the field with these power house heroes.

Once you start involving the JLA, you've gone out of reality altogether. Superman, for example, is a God, and Batman simply isn't in the same "League" to pardon the pun.

He has technology but rarely uses heavy technology when he's on the field with them. Just his bat belt non sense for the mostly powerless but psychotic gotham villains. Then his cape is ridiculousy long and he's not as hard as a mountain. I just think to myself here's an example of popularity gone wild, because if he wasn't popular he wouldn't be on that team. Even Bendis questioned it once.

Of course you're right, but such is life. He's one of the best-known superheroes of all time, so of course he's going to be on the team.

I think they had Batman there for one purpose he was different and different perspectives are needed to optimize situations.

Kind of like Togusa in Ghost in the Shell. Early on in the Movie he questions Major Kusinagi as to why they brought him into Section 9 as they're all cyberneticaly enhanced badasses and he is still human (brain communication augmentation aside.) She points out his strengths smart, not corrupt, intelligent,. family man and then gives him the real reason You're near human. She goes on to tell him that his diversity and shortcomings are what makes him unique and if they were all the same that it would impair the Unit." Overspecialize and you breed in weakness. It's slow death" are her final words to him.

reply to post by NeoQuest

Batman is really unrealistic and weird, a bit like BENO comics.

He does tend to get rather emotional of small things. I mean, just bash the joker over the head and bring him in.

Yes Batman is the most unrealistic Superhero. He has no damn superpowers but I read in a comic that he can beat up anyone. He needs a sidekick when he can beat up anybody. He has another weapon with Godlike powers every week but no scientific background that I know of. And on the TV show I can't think of one damn time that he had the weapon built like he does on the movies.

Also, he is unbeatable but has no #ing powers. How the hell is he unbeatable. This is crazy.

Lucius, his friend, actually runs Wayne Corp. Bats is a little too busy for that stuff with villians to dispatch and the such. You have to remember and understand how he came to be......His parents were brutally murdered in front of his very eyes. At that moment Bruce Wayne died as well. 'What does mean by that?'....He went insane. I remember reading him say about the difference between him and Superman...."Deep down Clark is a good guy, and deep down, I'm not."

Criminals actually fear this guy. Imagine that I had the word fear underlined. Once he has their fear he has already won. Criminals aren't privy to his private thoughts like we are in comics; they really think he would kill them. Heck, most are not even sure if he is even human. Back in his early comics, he DID kill people. Once he wrapped a rope around a criminal's neck and threw him from a freakin helicopter.

He has a keen intellect, is stubborn as hell (you need his permission to crime fight in Gotham), is a master martial artist and tactician...Oh and he's 6'3'' dressed like the grim reaper.

What makes Bats so bad is his determination and his insanity that won't allow him to quit, compromise or be beaten. I'd take him over that wuss superman any day of the week. Insanity can be a disadvantage or an advantage, depending on how you use it. Bats is the man!

PS - He keeps a piece of kryptonite, just in case he ever has to put Sups in his place; and guess what? Sups knows. Badass!

reply to post by intelligenthoodlum33


Well said.

Bats has superpowers. he has ungodly money to let him do what he does.

reply to post by NeoQuest

Having studied his character it's hard for me not come to the conclusion that he's maybe the most realistic and at the same time unrealistic of all heroes. Of course it's all fantasy but it's based in part upon realism or tries to realistic to the viewer.

I see your point exactly, friend. I have always admired Batman, simply because unlike other Superheroes, Batman had no supernatural powers, he was just a man. He was very rich, and very intelligent, and he had a lot of cute toys to help him out. I would say Batman is the most realistic of the TV heroes.

But, if left to choice, I say we really need Superman right now.

The fact that the Batman has no superpowers, has him clearly punching above his weight in the DC Universe. However, this allows his writers a bigger remit to develop aspects of Bruce Wayne's personality and character. Batman wins, not from superpowers, but because he is . . . well, the Batman. We know he's going to prevail, because he is the Batman. That's not what's important. What's important is how he wins. He wins, because he sees every nuance, every dynamic of the fight, every option, from a uniquely human perspective, and that human perspective, despite it's obvious flaws is very often what is lacking in the traditional Superhero.

The traditional Superhero builds a perspective unique to their particular powers. Were it not for these "gifts" how many of them would have risen above their normal lives of obscurity? What use is Clark Kent to the World without his powers? None. Or Peter Parker? Between the pair of them, they could probably make one decent Journalist. (And we already have Spider Jerusalem)

But Bruce Wayne has built his persona of the Batman around an already successful and remarkable man. TheBatman is Bruce Wayne's dark side. How easy would it have been for Batman to have killed the other members of Gotham's flourishing Psycho Villains over the years? Make it seem like an accident even, no-one would blame him. Those guys are insanely focused on their love/hate Batcrushes. The Penguin for instance. He's a comedy trope. But a powerful Crimelord,? Nah. But this is Gotham. Some very crazy dynamic is at work.

Wayne seems to use the Arkham outpatients department as a kind of ongoing therapy group. Each of those cracked, broken vessels is vital if he is to continue to keep the Batman under control. Without the crazy chaos of The poor, mad Joker, Bruce Wayne would not be addressing the Batman's "issues" at all. "There, but for the grace of God" thinks Bruce.Wayne. And you know what? He's probably right.

And The Scarecrow? Bruce Wayne looks at Dr Crane, and sees the flawed genius inside, and thinks
"If only he were to use his genius in less "sociopathic" pursuits, what a towering force of good he would be"
He identifies strongly with Scarecrow because they both hammered their basic personas on the same dynamic. Fear.

But in Crane, the servant has become the master. Fear rides Crane like a bitch. So Crane becomes the Scarecrow in response. A living embodiment of fear.

Fear powers the Batman too, but he rides it. He sublimates his Fear, and turns it outwards. Gotham's underworld Fears The Batman.
Not because he might whack them. (He won't) or because of some feud or history. You'd think they'd just laugh at his non super, vigilante character, crippled by it's "non lethal" policies.

"A guy, right, who dresses up like a WHAT? A Bat? You have to be #tin' me, right?" They are afraid of him. All of them. The Fear Bruce Wayne uses to keep the Batman frosty, is the fear that if he lets his rigid ethical framework start to compromise, then he may as well join them all in Arkham's dark, fecund womb of madness.

The Batman? How is he any different to all those other costumed freaks? Superman? Green Lantern?
Or even the Joker? You might think, because Batman fights for good. But it's no longer so simple.. Golden age Batman might have rode that to work every day, but it's not going to cut it today. We have had a while now to get used to the magnitude of Bruce Wayne's psychotic Dark Other. Of how psychosis drives the Batman, the same as it drives Venom. Or Joker.

Batman is different, Rather than just being a vehicle for Wayne's descent into madness, he is BW's therapy technique. An utterly independent, functioning schizoid personality, with the same tortured subconscious as BW. The same body, and routines. But when the Bat is in residence, BW is no more than an onlooker. A moral conscience, maybe?

Absolutely. If BW became Batman only by demolishing the BW bit, then there would be no moral compass for the Batman.

Batman doesn't question whether he's doing the right thing. Bruce Wayne does all that. Every motivation he examines with the unforgiving scrutiny of the clinically obsessive. BW deals with the psychological fallout. Batman acts.

Batman is pure action, and thus, a thing of Karma. A force that reacts to every other force it encounters. Encompasses it with an equal and opposite response. He isn't thinking of victory, or right when he acts, just that he must act.

So, we know he's going to win. But the process of howhe wins, is what makes him so special. That's why we empathise with him so readily. Even though it's premise as a title at all is pretty ludicrous, and it's provenance, more than a little shaky here and there, ((:lol i
The human aspect is never given a back seat with Batman just to allow some Superhero dynamic have it's head.

BW doesn't occasionally fail, because of his humanity. Rather, Batman continues to succeed, despite it.