Why Do We Love Batman?

Why do we love Batman?A good question right? The link above leads to an article from IGN which writes about why America loves Batman so much. I definitely recommend that you read the article, it's really a great summary of what it is about Batman that captivates a whole nation. However, even before I read the article I had my own ideas about why Batman was so popular, most of which were listed. So, here are my reasons why Batman is so popular in America.

1.) Besides Superman, Batman is the original superhero. Before Marvel comics even existed, Batman was fighting crime, trying to keep Gotham City safe from the evil that lead to his parent's deaths. In fact, Batman only was first published a year after Superman was, first appearing in Detective Comics #27, all the way back in 1939. Marvel started publishing their first comics in the same year, but their superheroes never really made any impact until Stan Lee started writing for them in the 1960s. Batman has been there from the very beginning, delighting comic readers all over America since the 1930s.

2.) Batman has an amazing code of "no killing, no matter what the circumstances are." No matter the villain, no matter the crime, the Bats refuses to kill anyone. While this was not true when Batman was first published (he killed the criminal he was chasing after in his very first appearance), the Batman that everyone knows today is often associated with his "no killing" policy. This gives him a sense of ultimate heroism. He is a hero that anyone can look up to.

3.) He's versatile. Batman can be written is so many different ways, fit into any type of comic be it Detective, Horror, or even Supernatural. He can appeal to any number of readers because of the sheer number of genres he has been written into. While Batman is strictly a genius human, he has gone on Supernatural adventures, traveled back in time, and dealt with alien creatures. Nothing is out of a writer's grasp for this hero.

4.) As mentioned above, Batman is completely and 100% human. His alter ego, Bruce Wayne, is an average man (minus the whole billionaire thing). He has no superpowers, like the Flash who is human but gained super speed, or the Green Lantern who acquires powers from an alien ring. Batman relies solely on gadgets that he invents himself, his butler, Alfred Pennyworth, and one of his dozen sidekicks, whether it be Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl etc. In fact, in the original Justice League, he was the only one to be completely human and have no powers or enhancements. This captivates audiences to see a normal man go through things that Superman has trouble with.

5.) On that note, he can go toe to toe with Superman. And I don't care what anyone says, he would win. Batman ALWAYS has kryptonite on him. Always.

6.) His franchise has always been escalated further than any other superheroes' has. Adam West's portrayal of Batman started it all, and the obsession with Batman and Hollywood has always been a big thing in America. With the Tim Burton movies, the Bruce Timm animated series, and now the Christopher Nolan trilogy, Batman has never been more popular for audiences to view on the television. Not to mention the multiple shows that have aired on TV over the last decade.

7.) The first reason given in the article from IGN is that Batman is and always will be, a complete badass. While not a completely in depth reason, it is perhaps one of the greatest reasons. Batman is able to overcome anything that stands in his way, and has always been at the crux of the defeat of one villain or another. Usually, when a huge crisis is presented, Batman is the one to be a critical part of bringing that crisis to an end.

I could probably go on for a while, but I thought that these were the best reasons why people love Batman so much. Have any reasons of your own? Everyone has their own personal reasons to love Batman. The list is never ending.