The Justice League and Bat-family are what make Batman a hero.
Bruce Wayne becomes a hero through the expansion of his Bat-family and becoming a member of the Justice League. Those two connections to a group of people give him the ability to be a hero instead of a reactionary vigilante.
Its safe to say that most origins have Batman battling the mob and corruption in Gotham in his first couple of years. And from that, slowly his villains come into the story, some even from an action Batman himself took (Joker’s possible origin, Two-Face’s origin.) But before all that, I’d imagine that he takes on any big case that has the GCPD scratching their head. Murder is something that sadly must take some innocents lives so it can come to anyone’s attention. You think Bruce feels like a hero at all at this point? I don’t think so. Add that some villains are drawn to the city or him, that’s one more reason for him to feel less of a hero and more of cause to chaos. A necessary partner to dance that he elevated to another level.
Here comes Justice League into the picture. A group of individuals with unimaginable powers are together to save the world from tragedy and world ending catastrophes. Here he can use his intellect and not be held back by his own humanity. He can direct The Flash to save civilians while also directing Superman and Wonder Woman to something else he wouldn’t be able to do on his own. He can put himself in dangerous situations, trusting that his partners will be there to do the impossible so in turn he can do the impossible as well. His abilities are amplified by the League and in working with them. Maybe Batman won’t ever call himself a hero, but he is a hero through the League. They have the power for the most part prevent things in a way he could never do.
The Bat-family makes Bruce a hero in a different way. Its his relationships and the trust in them that makes him heroic. Bringing in the Robins, questionable decision on letting them be crime fighters young aside, he takes them in and gives them a life that they might not have. The Jason Todd tragedy* aside, his Robins would grow to be more optimistic people than himself. Bruce isn’t the father of the year, but his attempt makes an impact. Even in Rebirth Detective Comics, there are moments where you can see that he has this strange ability of bringing out the best around him. And they do the same. They keep him grounded.
Tim Drake finding out Batman’s identity and believing that Batman needs a Robin is an example of my point. With that rage unchecked, and multiplied with the loss of Jason, Batman is a path of towards self destruction. We like to think of Batman being this super-human who is in control. His past, his pain drives him but doesn’t steer him off. I’m sure depending on who is writing him, that’s what we have seen or read or even heard. But he is a man with a traumatic past. Who grew up not truly dealing with it. Who found a way to honor his parents but also channel that pain.
We are humans and we have moments of weakness and we fall. That shouldn’t define us or make us less heroic. How we stand up and act after falling is what speaks volumes. And Bruce Wayne accepting a family, a new partner is his way of coming back from that darkness. That’s what makes him a hero to his family and friends. That’s what makes the Dark Knight vigilante a hero.
Thank you for reading and I’m down to talk about it. This is just me thinking and sharing. What do you think?
*Jason Todd I truly believe would be optimistic with an edge. Closer to Bruce but not to his level. But his death, resurrection changed his course.
