[Narrator]: He is Gotham’s stoic protector.
Welcome to Watchmojo.com, and today we will explore the comic book origin of Batman.
[Batman]: I'm Batman.
[Carmine Falcone]: What the hell are you?
[GLASS SHATTERING]
[Batman]: I'm Batman!
[PUNCHING]
[Narrator]: Batman initially appeared in 1939's Detective Comics #27 as a full-fledged crime fighter.
Although we were made to know that his secret identity was Gotham billionaire Bruce Wayne,
we did not learn how he became Batman until issue #33 that same year.
As it turned out, the story of the Caped Crusader all began one faithful night
when Bruce and his parents were walking home from a movie.
Held up by a robber, the criminal proceeded to murder both of Bruce's parents in front of his eyes.
[SHOOTING]
[Narrator]: In the aftermath, Bruce swore an oath that he would spend the remainder of his life waging a war on
crime to avenge the deaths of his parents.
Bruce would spend the next several years preparing for his new career,
becoming a scientific criminal investigation expert, while training his body for the immense physical task.
Now mentally and physically prepared to take on the seedy criminal underbelly of Gotham,
Bruce determined that he needed a disguise in order to strike terror into the hearts of criminals.
At that exact moment, a bat flew through the open window, inspiring Bruce to make that his symbol.
[Batman]: The figure in the dark was my destiny,
I would use its image to strike terror into the hearts of those who did evil.
I would ensure what happened to me would never happen to anyone else again.
I would have my revenge.
[Narrator]: Over the years, Batman would come to team up with police commissioner James Gordon,
his loyal butler Alfred and would eventually take on his trustee sidekick Robin, another tragically orphaned youth.
[Dick Grayson]: You can't understand. Your family wasn't killed by a maniac.
[Bruce Wayne]: Yes, they were.
[Narrator]: In time, he eventually discovered that a small-time crime boss named Joe Chill was the one
who killed his parents.
Disguising himself as a seagull in the water to avoid being seen,
- seriously, we're not kidding -
Batman snuck aboard Chill's boat. Cornering Chill,
Bruce Wayne removed his mask to reveal that he was the boy that was left orphaned by the criminal.
Against killing himself, Bruce let Chill go but told him that he would be watching his every-move,
and when Chill eventually made a mistake, he would be there to arrest him.
A terrified Chill tried to get his fellow thugs to assist him,
but when he told them that he had killed Batman's parents, they murdered him, blaming him for creating Batman.
The death of Chill brought some closure for Bruce,
but he would continue to fight crime and to protect Gotham.
However, soon, a new breed of criminal and psychopath began appearing in Gotham,
including the Joker, who would become Batman's arch nemesis.
[Batman]: I'm going to kill you!
[Joker]: You IDIOT!
You made me.
[Narrator]: Batman would constantly save Gotham from the Joker and other villains like Ra's al Ghul,
Two-Face and the Riddler,
but would also suffer crushing defeats including having his back broken and the death of the second Robin.
[Batman]: Jeez!
[SAD MUSIC]
[Narrator]: Like all comic book heroes, Batman has gone through numerous re-imaginings,
one of the most famous is Frank Miller's 'Batman: Year One' story arch.
That origin story began with a 25-year-old Bruce returning home after 12 years abroad
following the death of his parents.
[Alfred]: Are you coming back to Gotham for long, sir?
[Batman]: As long as it takes.
I'm gonna show the people of Gotham their city doesn't belong to the criminals and the corrupt.
[Narrator]: Soon enough, Bruce got into a brawl with a sadistic pimp and was arrested,
but was able to break the handcuffs and return home to Wayne Manor, covered in blood.
Bruce then made his way to the chair where his father once sat, haunted by the image of his dead parents,
until a bat burst through the window.
It was at this moment that Bruce decided that he would need to take on an alter ego in order to save the city
from criminal scum.
[Alfred]: My god!
[Narrator]: Although Batman has no supernatural powers,
he possesses superior strength, fighting ability and detective skills
that allow him to hold his own against his massive rogues gallery.
Being exceedingly wealthy, he also has a seemingly endless array of gadgets and vehicles,
many of them bat-themed, that give him the tactical edge on his adversaries.
[SCREAMING]
[Joker]: Where does he get those wonderful toys?
[Narrator]: One of the most famous and popular comic book heroes,
Batman has appeared in various media, from live-action television to animated series
as well as films in both mediums.
Over the years and different incarnations, Batman has been portrayed by many actors
including the likes of Adam West, Michael Keaton, the voice of Kevin Conroy, Christian Bale
and, most recently, Ben Affleck in 2016's 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'.
[FIRING]
[Narrator]: Are you a fan of Batman?
[Joker]: You truly are incorruptible. Aren't you?
[Narrator]: For more comic book origins,
be sure to subscribe to Watchmojo.com.
[Jim Gordon]: I never said thank you.
[Batman]: And you'll never have to.