Batman, a fictional comic book super hero, was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. His abilities are Genius level intellect, Expert detective skills, Peak human condition, utilizes high tech equipment, and he is a master in multiple styles of martial arts and hand to hand combat.
Trivia:
He first appeared in Detecive Comics #27 in March of 1939, but oddly "Batman Day" is celebrated in September.
He was originally named The Bat-Man.
Other names have included The Caped Crusader, The Dark Knight, and The Worlds Greatest Detective.
His secret identity Bruce Wayne derives from two real life hisorical heroes: Robert the Bruce of Scotland and Mad Anthony Wayne of the American Revolution
Though Darkseid is the be all end all villain in DC, Batman beat him single handed twice
There is a college course at The University of Victoria in Canada called The Science of Batman. The course description reads: "The extreme range of adaptability of the human body explored through the life of "The Caped Crusader."
At one point, one of Sinestros's Yellow Lanterns fell, the yellow lantern ring that latches onto elements of fear, naturally raced to it's closest target….a certain Batman on planet on Earth.
Though his no kill methods are widely known, in the early years of Batman, he was a gun toting murdering vigilante known for shooting people and leaving broken necks in his wake.
Andy Warhol, famed artist who created Pop Art, directed the first ever live action Batman movie. It was done unknown to DC and was titled Batman/Dracula…thought for a few copies in DC's vaults…..all other copies have been destroyed.
The creators of Batman were known to say that they created him combining Zorro, The Shadow, and Dracula.
Voice actor Kevin Conroy has played Batman more than any other person with 8 animated series, 13 animated movies, and 10 video games.
Bruce Wayne's net worth is $7 Billion Dollars
The Origin:
Though the gunman changes from time to time from the likes of Joe Chill to even The Joker, the origin of Batman is always the same.
As a child, Bruce was walking down a dark alley with his parents Dr. Thomas Wayne and his wife Martha. A gunman shoots them dead in the alley and leaves Bruce alive.
After that, Bruce swears vengeance and justice on crime in Gotham City.
He disappears for years. While gone, he trains in many forms of martial arts….now this varies as well.
Some origins have him train with The League of Shadows and Ra's Al Ghul and some origins have no mentions of who helps.
The Men Behind The Bat:
Lewis G Wilson - 1943 (15 episode Batman show)
Robert Lowery - 1949 ( Batman and Robin movie)
Adam West - 1960's - 1980's (Live action and voice acting)
Michael Keaton - 1989 and 1992 (Batman and Batman Returns)
Val Kilmer - 1995 (Batman Forever)
BatFact: After Keaton decided not to return for the third installment, actors Daniel-Day Lewis, Ralph Fiennes, William Baldwin, and even Johnny Depp turned down the part before Val Kilmer agreed to it.
George Clooney - 1997 (Batman and Robin)
Batfact: This has went down as the worst Batman movie ever. It also made a list for the top 100 worst movies of all time. George Clooney went on record and said this was a waste of money and he thought Joel Schumacher purposely added the less than stellar elements to hurt the movie. He even went on to tell a reporter one time that he heard Joel say that he thought Batman was gay.
Christian Bale - 2005/2008/2010 (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises)
BatFact: Before Christian Bale was selected, Christopher Nolan met with Billy Crudup, Jake Gyllenhaal, Joshua Jackson, Heath Ledger, and Cillian Murphey for the role.
Kevin Conroy, at C2E2 panel in 2010, was asked about Bale's Batman to which he laughed and said his voice is ridiculous.
Ben Affleck - 2016/2017 (Batman V Superman, Suicide Squad, and Justice League)
Ben's Batman was a push by Snyder to move away from the mainstream view of the character and more in the direction of Frank Miller's totalitarian take on the character.
Rob Pattenson - 2021 (The Batman)
The Voices Behind The Bat:
Kevin Conroy - 1992 to Present (Animated Series, Animated Movies, and Video Games)
Will Arnett - 2013 to Present (LEGO version of Batman)
Olan Soule - 60's and 70's (Animated and Radio)
Will Friedle ( Batman Beyond)
Rino Romano (The Batman)
Diedrich Bader (Batman The Brave and the Bold)
Jeremy Sisto (Justice League: A New Frontier)
Ben Makenzie (Batman Year One)
Bruce Greenwood (Young Justice, Gotham by Gaslight, and Under The Redhood) - one of my favs
Jason Omara (Justice League War, Batman:Hush, and pretty much when it isn't Conroy or Greenwood)
Bruce Thomas (OnStar commercials and TV series Birds of Prey)
The Batman Family:
Alfred
Robin - 7 Robins -
Nightwing
Batgirl
Batwoman
Catwoman
Jim Gordon
Lucius Fox