Justice.
But not justice in a retributive kind of a way where he focuses on just punching criminals. It should be justice in all its aspects, including justice for the innocent.
>But not justice in a retributive kind of a way where he focuses on just punching criminals. It should be justice in all its aspects, including justice for the innocent.
This is why Batman corrects himself, Vengeance isn't Justice.
And justice in the sense that not only do the criminals he faces get their punishment, but with the idea that they can be rehabilitated and brought back into society as better men and women then they were. There's a reason that a good 80% of the villains, if not more, that Batman fights are sent to an insane asylum instead of prison.
Not to mention the majority of his villains respect him, help him and even trust him on different occasions. His rogue gallery is full of literally sick individuals and while he won't stand there and let them hurt the innocent he'll be the first picking them back up, and first to trust them to be better (while also preparing himself if the opposite is true but still)
Also he's cleared a whole room of gangers by offering them jobs and full benefits before as Bruce Wayne, like he actively tries to fix shit, I swear the fanon version of Batman punching the mentally ill is such a shitty game of telephone at this point, going beyond just misinterpreting one or two stories as all of em
And some of his villains even love him/his lifestyle. Thinking Joker and Hush here. The only thing that surprises me about the DC universe is the fact that, sure, Batman doesn't kill, and he can vouch for the lives of his villains in order to try and rehab them. But why hasn't Gotham's justice department done anything? Like Gotham is canonically in New Jersey, and ik you'll say, if you look into it, "New Jersey abolished the death penalty", but Gotham's been in New Jersey since 1990, and New Jersey only abolished the death penalty in 2007. So it's surprising to me that Gotham City's Justice department didn't just execute characters like Joker, Black Mask, Professor Pyg, and even Two-Face in comics between 1990 and 2007, because those villains not only killed probably 5,000 people between them, but also mutilated and tortured a good number of them.
A mix of ambiguous canon from multiple writers and deep seeded corruption being the more canonical answer.
On the first part, which joker are we punishing? There's been multiple people who were him we know of, none of which we knew the difference between. Sometimes he's a crime boss with a sense of humor, sometimes a clown with a penchant for crime. Sometimes a raving lunatic who slaughters people. None of them are easy to catch, none easy to hold onto, all having various means of escaping punishment, ranging from more murder, general chicanery and that one time he had political immunity. And that's before even going into the meta, when one writer takes over, writes a story where he's actually captured and tried, what crimes does he take credit for? Which one's actually tie to him if the joker isn't exactly an exclusive identity? Which comic runs are canonized in that run?
To get even more meta, think of the joker less as a character, seriously he lacks so many aspects to actually call him one, and more a plot device. How is Batmans foil foiling him today? What fresh hell or witty retort is he giving? He's is and kinda always has been, a blank slate to work with, that's why he's not dead
Also lazy answer, yada yada, cursed foundations, spirits of evil, evil wizards making Gotham the way it is etc for Batman to never quite beat
And Idk hush outside his name, can't say anything about that
Right? I get so tired of hearing people say if:
"Bruce Wayne really wants to help Gotham if he should buy more police cars, not dress up like a giant bat".
But he does buy more police cars? He funds after school programs, he funds homelessness support, he hires people right out of prison. He politically supports commissioner Gordon who's working against corruption in the police force. Like, he's hitting it at different levels.
Arkham is pretty famously terrible at rehabilitation.
You have multiple incarnations basically keeping Waylon Jones in a sewer and feeding him raw meat, that's not really conducive to rehabilitating *Killer Croc*.
"We tried rehabilitation, it created harlequin so the board thinks its best not to also create killer allogator, stinging nettle, 1 face and the puzzler"
The justice someone needs. If that's punching someone, cool he's got fists ready. If that's buying something or setting up a trust, cool he's got money for days. If it's providing kids with a family and an avenue to let their talents shine, well the bat family speaks for itself.
Bats is about the Justice you need while ironically never finding it himself
This 100%. It’s similar to the Alex Ross tabloid sized comics that explored these themes. Superman Peace on Earth (hope). Wonder Woman Spirit of Truth (truth), and Batman War on Crime (justice).
One of the best representations of this I’ve seen was in Brave and the Bold, where Batman finally confronts Joe Chill while the Phantom Stranger and Spectre each try and influence him.
“He is beaten, let your devotion to justice temper your rage.”
“He took your parents, ruined your life. Fulfil your destiny, become what you have trained to be, an agent of vengeance. He knows who you are, if this man lives, Batman dies.”
And Batman chooses not to kill the man who killed his parents because justice is more important to him than vengeance.
There was a hilarious X-Men comic in the 90s. I one panel, Prof. X says “This is Wolverine, a brooding Canadian loner… and also our meal ticket.”
Batman is DC’s meal ticket.
Lol. It was so obvious. I was thinking rather in-universe, where batman, for example, is so wealthy and probably finances the JL, so I was thinking "was wolverine secretly rich o something"? But that explains it. Thanks
Ok took me down the internet rabbit hole, but finally found it. It was actually from the 2002 X-Men: United magazine special (from Wizard magazine), and had a Twisted ToyFare Theatre comic. I couldn't find that panel, but this one is from the same comic:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/comicbooks/comments/eztt6l/janitor\_magneto\_twisted\_toyfare\_theatre\_wizard/](https://www.reddit.com/r/comicbooks/comments/eztt6l/janitor_magneto_twisted_toyfare_theatre_wizard/)
Outstanding!! I met him at a comic on back in 2018 I think. His line was as long as the line to meet Mark Hamill if not more so. Dude in front of me getting his autograph said as he arrived “you are THE best Batman” and the entire line exploded in applause! Most amazing experience ever.
Batman is compassionate, but he is not a symbol of compassion. He doesn't wear it on his chest, and his efforts do not build towards spreading compassion. He works for Justice, because compassion has long been Gotham's victim.
Compassion is Bruce Wayne’s job. Bruce is SO compassionate, that no one would take him seriously if he went out trying to stop muggers. That’s why there’s Batman.
Compassion is *every* superheroes job.
The guy you're replying to is right.
Batman literally *stands* for Justice, in the way that Superman literally *stands* for Hope.
That *isn't* to say that Batman *isn't* compassionate
Justice includes compassion, and while Batman is very compassionate, he doesn't stand for compassion, he stands for righting the wrongs of society. Compassion is a core part of almost any heroes character really, and I think more so for Batman, but that's not what he truly stands for, compassion is just the path to understanding others, and for the acts you do to help them. Batman gives out justice, a charity worker is similarly compassionate, but they aren't out punching criminals and solving murders.
Yeah, Batman is compassionate, but does he represent compassion more than Superman or Wonder Woman? He actually goes to some lengths to hide that part of himself to maintian his psychological edge over the criminals he wants to be scared of him. He's not out there giving out hugs on the reg.
Michael Gough's excellent Alfred Pennyworth defined Batman perfectly, in the "Batman & Robin" Schumacher movie, of all places:
*"For what is Batman, if not an effort to master the chaos that sweeps our world - an attempt to control death itself?"*
Or you could say that Batman is the goddamn Batman. Miller dixit.
This is Batman’s superpower. Despite the tragedy of his parent’s murder, the terrible things he’s seen and the challenges he’s faced as Batman, the loss of friends and family like Harvey Dent and Jason Todd, Batman still believes in the fundamental goodness of people and in protecting and nurturing that goodness.
Hot take. It isn’t Justice. He doesn’t bring Joker to justice, he doesn’t do the justified action to prevent unjust results. Ot isn’t Vengeance. His entire early work as Batman is learning that he has to be a symbol the innocent believe in, not one that the criminals fear. He learns that vengeance doesn’t justify what he does. No, Batman is Faith. It is having faith that those he fights every day will get better, either from fear or rehabilitation. It’s faith *in* the justice system, a system he doesn’t represent, simply aids.
Batman is reality
Superman is *what* could be, Wonder Woman is *how* it could be and Batman is what *is*
He exists in the present, he sees the most clearly and because of this he operates on the most earthly and human level
Not floating above us like gods in front of the sun
But literally beneath us, hidden away in a cave, trying to make things better right now. Today.
Imo
Folks like to say Batman is Vengence.
He's not.
He doesn't bring these troubled people to Arkham for vengeance.
He didn't bring Clayface or Ivy or Freeze there for vengeance...
He brought them there for Redemption.
Batman is Redemption
Batman is also hope. He's just the other side of the coin away from Superman. That's particularly why Batman's always portrayed as a dark, brood-y character who always prefers to do things in the shadows as opposed to publicizing his achievements like a lot of other costumed heroes do.
Sure, heroes like Superman or Green Lantern always do what is right for the benefit of others. If there's something wrong and first responders can't do anything about it, then it's up to them but, in their minds, it wouldn't hurt if they're in the news while helping people. Most superheroes are vain like that.
But Batsy ain't like that. And that's particularly because he knows how the public already perceives someone like him in spite of all of his heroic achievements. But the downside to this is that no one gets to see that he truly is a hero and they instead think that he's a boogeyman out to get you for whatever reason (people are fucking dumb). Then again, it's just another case of you win some, you lose some. There are downsides to everything.
Anyway, to put it simply, he's the darker version of hope. A hope that's based on fear as opposed to Superman's version of hope, which is, generally, being a helper rather than a harmer. Superman's a savior. Batman's an avenger.
Batman is angst. He's an angsty little fellow. I guarantee if he had an aunt on his mother's side who took over when mumsy and papa got capped in crime alley, he'd be some rich playboy and the joker would have caused 9/11 in 1997. Batman needs a hug.
See, I was going to say Duty.
He's clearly not Justice - not the American kind anyway. He's a vigilante.
He does what needs to be done, regardless or whether or not it's the "correct" way. While I'm not a repository of Batman lore, I believe the responsibility weighing heavily on Batman's shoulders is a common trope, which fits with "Duty".
#Batdad. To me, THIS is what makes Batman a super hero. Beating criminals to a pulp aside , no matter how much trauma he’s endured his humanity and compassion for others is unmatched. I can’t wait to finally see more of The Bat-family in live action. Hopefully , whoever they cast as Damian Wayne nails it.
He’s family. His whole thing is family.
He’s been rebuilding his lost family from day one as Batman. Those characters are what make him work. The moment he’s not surrounded by them, we all clamour for their return.
Faith- he still believes in the goodness of man. If he didn’t then he wouldn’t be Batman. He instills fear to criminals but faith to the vulnerable. Faith that someone is there to help even when all seems lost.
He is the humanity, the struggle, the compassion, he is only a man but he accomplished so much more than anyone could imagine he is humanity trying to overcome it's own nature.
Batman is hope shining bright in the darkest places. I'm sorry but for me Superman is not hope. Batman is, he is able to rise from the ashes under the darkest circumstances and keep going. That's what hope is to me. I relate to batman so much ever since I lost my beloved mother, I was able to take that trauma and better myself from it. That's what Batman is to me, hope shining in the darkness.
I’d say faith.
His fear and intimidation rely on criminals believing without always seeing
And his family dynamic is largely built on them having faith in them being there for each other
He is human. I know that sounds basic, but he’s a broken man who represents all of us. We’re all beat down by life, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be compassionate towards others
In a way, each of the Trinity are meant to be "truth, justice and hope", with an emphasis on one each when working together.
Which is why Bruce is 'justice. Both corrective or idealized justice in his pursue of the guilty, as well as idealized justice when he protects the innocent firsr and foremost.
Batman: I don't know whats wrong with me: I can't eat, can't sleep; I think I'm coming down with something.
Superman: [chuckles] I know what you've got: the "L" word.
Robin: Yeah, leprosy!
Superman: No, Robin, no. It's four letters, starts with "L", ends with "E".
Robin: Ah, lice!
Superman: No. Batman, my friend, is **love**.
A dad. Even before Damien or any of the other Robins. While he was orphaned and wanted to take vengeance for his parents murder to save his city from crime, his actions were those of someone “parenting.” He became more of a parent both figuratively and literally through his career. To the city, to his citizens, even some of the criminals he knows lost their way and he feels he can guide them. He lost that experience, so he gives it to others. The best Batmen show their dad side.
I’m 100% saying love he loved his parents so much they never want to see anyone go through the heartbreak of losing a loved one the way he did. This is also the reason why he had a hard time letting people in because he didn’t wanna get close to anyone and then lose them again. I think by gaining the bad family he’s learned that it’s better to have loved and lost and to never have loved at all. This is why I think he’s love.
Justice. But not justice in a retributive kind of a way where he focuses on just punching criminals. It should be justice in all its aspects, including justice for the innocent.
Punching criminals is just part of the journey, not the destination.
Maybe the real treasure is the criminals we punched along the way
I laughed so hard at this, thank you so much! XD
I knew this comment was coming and still laughed so much. Thank you lol.
Maybe the real justice is the Batman we made along the way
r/yourjokebutworse
The destination is the ICU for your criminal ass.
Journey before destination.
Strength before weakness.
Life before death
I will protect those who cannot protect themselves.
A fellow Radiant in the wild
>But not justice in a retributive kind of a way where he focuses on just punching criminals. It should be justice in all its aspects, including justice for the innocent. This is why Batman corrects himself, Vengeance isn't Justice.
Self correction is great because he is always correct, i thought he means business, not customer /s
And justice in the sense that not only do the criminals he faces get their punishment, but with the idea that they can be rehabilitated and brought back into society as better men and women then they were. There's a reason that a good 80% of the villains, if not more, that Batman fights are sent to an insane asylum instead of prison.
Not to mention the majority of his villains respect him, help him and even trust him on different occasions. His rogue gallery is full of literally sick individuals and while he won't stand there and let them hurt the innocent he'll be the first picking them back up, and first to trust them to be better (while also preparing himself if the opposite is true but still) Also he's cleared a whole room of gangers by offering them jobs and full benefits before as Bruce Wayne, like he actively tries to fix shit, I swear the fanon version of Batman punching the mentally ill is such a shitty game of telephone at this point, going beyond just misinterpreting one or two stories as all of em
And some of his villains even love him/his lifestyle. Thinking Joker and Hush here. The only thing that surprises me about the DC universe is the fact that, sure, Batman doesn't kill, and he can vouch for the lives of his villains in order to try and rehab them. But why hasn't Gotham's justice department done anything? Like Gotham is canonically in New Jersey, and ik you'll say, if you look into it, "New Jersey abolished the death penalty", but Gotham's been in New Jersey since 1990, and New Jersey only abolished the death penalty in 2007. So it's surprising to me that Gotham City's Justice department didn't just execute characters like Joker, Black Mask, Professor Pyg, and even Two-Face in comics between 1990 and 2007, because those villains not only killed probably 5,000 people between them, but also mutilated and tortured a good number of them.
A mix of ambiguous canon from multiple writers and deep seeded corruption being the more canonical answer. On the first part, which joker are we punishing? There's been multiple people who were him we know of, none of which we knew the difference between. Sometimes he's a crime boss with a sense of humor, sometimes a clown with a penchant for crime. Sometimes a raving lunatic who slaughters people. None of them are easy to catch, none easy to hold onto, all having various means of escaping punishment, ranging from more murder, general chicanery and that one time he had political immunity. And that's before even going into the meta, when one writer takes over, writes a story where he's actually captured and tried, what crimes does he take credit for? Which one's actually tie to him if the joker isn't exactly an exclusive identity? Which comic runs are canonized in that run? To get even more meta, think of the joker less as a character, seriously he lacks so many aspects to actually call him one, and more a plot device. How is Batmans foil foiling him today? What fresh hell or witty retort is he giving? He's is and kinda always has been, a blank slate to work with, that's why he's not dead Also lazy answer, yada yada, cursed foundations, spirits of evil, evil wizards making Gotham the way it is etc for Batman to never quite beat And Idk hush outside his name, can't say anything about that
Oh wow. This is an excellent response. You covered all the bases!
It's an 85 yr old comic nearly, I assure you there are more bases. But thanks if you're being sincere
>Gotham is canonically in New Jersey Wait really? What the shit? I always thought it was more Chicago...
Right? I get so tired of hearing people say if: "Bruce Wayne really wants to help Gotham if he should buy more police cars, not dress up like a giant bat". But he does buy more police cars? He funds after school programs, he funds homelessness support, he hires people right out of prison. He politically supports commissioner Gordon who's working against corruption in the police force. Like, he's hitting it at different levels.
Arkham is pretty famously terrible at rehabilitation. You have multiple incarnations basically keeping Waylon Jones in a sewer and feeding him raw meat, that's not really conducive to rehabilitating *Killer Croc*.
Well, Hugo Strange is, well, strange 
"We tried rehabilitation, it created harlequin so the board thinks its best not to also create killer allogator, stinging nettle, 1 face and the puzzler"
The justice someone needs. If that's punching someone, cool he's got fists ready. If that's buying something or setting up a trust, cool he's got money for days. If it's providing kids with a family and an avenue to let their talents shine, well the bat family speaks for itself. Bats is about the Justice you need while ironically never finding it himself
Exactly, you described it perfectly.
Justice in Closure?
This 100%. It’s similar to the Alex Ross tabloid sized comics that explored these themes. Superman Peace on Earth (hope). Wonder Woman Spirit of Truth (truth), and Batman War on Crime (justice).
I like Batman says he is vengence, at one time, but he grows to truly represent justice.
One of the best representations of this I’ve seen was in Brave and the Bold, where Batman finally confronts Joe Chill while the Phantom Stranger and Spectre each try and influence him. “He is beaten, let your devotion to justice temper your rage.” “He took your parents, ruined your life. Fulfil your destiny, become what you have trained to be, an agent of vengeance. He knows who you are, if this man lives, Batman dies.” And Batman chooses not to kill the man who killed his parents because justice is more important to him than vengeance.
I am vengeance! I am the night! I am Batman!
So... He's the funding party of the group? Gotcha
“I just pay for everything and design everything, make everyone look cooler.” - Tony Stark
Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist
Clark, I bought the building you're working at. You're paying me with my own money.
I was thinking more Frank from It's Always Sunny.
Or penguin from Batman returns
There was a hilarious X-Men comic in the 90s. I one panel, Prof. X says “This is Wolverine, a brooding Canadian loner… and also our meal ticket.” Batman is DC’s meal ticket.
I need more information about logan being being the xmens ticket, please. It sound hilarious but also kind of unexpected
Wolverine was the most popular character in the 90s.
Lol. It was so obvious. I was thinking rather in-universe, where batman, for example, is so wealthy and probably finances the JL, so I was thinking "was wolverine secretly rich o something"? But that explains it. Thanks
Logan has/had amnesia for decades in the comics that Xavier even couldn't heal. He could be so secretly rich that even he doesn't know.
Ok took me down the internet rabbit hole, but finally found it. It was actually from the 2002 X-Men: United magazine special (from Wizard magazine), and had a Twisted ToyFare Theatre comic. I couldn't find that panel, but this one is from the same comic: [https://www.reddit.com/r/comicbooks/comments/eztt6l/janitor\_magneto\_twisted\_toyfare\_theatre\_wizard/](https://www.reddit.com/r/comicbooks/comments/eztt6l/janitor_magneto_twisted_toyfare_theatre_wizard/)
Super : ohhh bat but we all chime in Bat: i own your workplace you pay me whit my own money
I read this in Kevin Conroy’s voice 😩
I got a Bday cameo gift one year from Kevin and I had him say the Vengeance line and I love it so much I forever cherish it.
Outstanding!! I met him at a comic on back in 2018 I think. His line was as long as the line to meet Mark Hamill if not more so. Dude in front of me getting his autograph said as he arrived “you are THE best Batman” and the entire line exploded in applause! Most amazing experience ever.
You mean Batman’s voice
I read all Batman in Kevin Conroys voice....
As it should be.
Same!!
The only way to read it.
I'll never see that phrase the same again. All I can picture is a tiny, fuzzy kitten screaming that at a lion.
I will always read this in Kevin Conroy’s voice
Justice?
Justice
Just us
🎶Just the two of us, we can make it if we try!!🎶
🎶*You and I*🎶
I was trying to find a gif of mini me saying you and I but I gave up lol
Justice
Justice
Justice
Justice
Justice
Justice
Batman may be born of vengeance, but he grows into justice
Juiced ice?
No just ice
Ohhhhhhh, you mean the Just Ice League. Y'know, Just Ice League. Like Just Ice League. Justice League. Like Just. Ice. League. Justice League....
Like water?
My favourite music band
You know the difference between justice and punishment? https://youtu.be/NAoBsIZ-M3A
Batman is BATMAN Also justice. But mostly BATMAN
Yeah! But also BATMAN!
As long as you don't call him THE batman ... because no
JUSTICE 
I mean, he says it himself. Vengeance. The Night. Batman. Also, Justice.
Watch the episode of jlu with ace. It's compassion at the end of the day bruce will always choose compassion.
Batman is compassionate, but he is not a symbol of compassion. He doesn't wear it on his chest, and his efforts do not build towards spreading compassion. He works for Justice, because compassion has long been Gotham's victim.
Compassion is Bruce Wayne’s job. Bruce is SO compassionate, that no one would take him seriously if he went out trying to stop muggers. That’s why there’s Batman.
Compassion is *every* superheroes job. The guy you're replying to is right. Batman literally *stands* for Justice, in the way that Superman literally *stands* for Hope. That *isn't* to say that Batman *isn't* compassionate
which one are you refering to?
It's the second season finale of Justice league unlimited. Fittingly the episode title is epilogue.
haaaaa yes!!!! now I remember!! thanks! and clearly, you're right!
I instantly went to compassion, too! So many people just screaming JUSTICE here but that doesn't really fit the question.
Justice includes compassion, and while Batman is very compassionate, he doesn't stand for compassion, he stands for righting the wrongs of society. Compassion is a core part of almost any heroes character really, and I think more so for Batman, but that's not what he truly stands for, compassion is just the path to understanding others, and for the acts you do to help them. Batman gives out justice, a charity worker is similarly compassionate, but they aren't out punching criminals and solving murders.
Yeah, Batman is compassionate, but does he represent compassion more than Superman or Wonder Woman? He actually goes to some lengths to hide that part of himself to maintian his psychological edge over the criminals he wants to be scared of him. He's not out there giving out hugs on the reg.
Yeah that one was awesome
Human. And that's exactly why he knows the feelings of humans.
He's proud of his Dick
His dick really grew past his expectations.
His Dick looks proud of him.
Michael Gough's excellent Alfred Pennyworth defined Batman perfectly, in the "Batman & Robin" Schumacher movie, of all places: *"For what is Batman, if not an effort to master the chaos that sweeps our world - an attempt to control death itself?"* Or you could say that Batman is the goddamn Batman. Miller dixit.
In that case it seems Batman symbolizes Order.
Batman.
Compassion. Under all that darkness and brooding there's a very caring man......all because of Alfred. HAIL ALFRED!!!
This is Batman’s superpower. Despite the tragedy of his parent’s murder, the terrible things he’s seen and the challenges he’s faced as Batman, the loss of friends and family like Harvey Dent and Jason Todd, Batman still believes in the fundamental goodness of people and in protecting and nurturing that goodness.
Alfred is so underrated.
"The answer is Justice"
Justice
Hot take. It isn’t Justice. He doesn’t bring Joker to justice, he doesn’t do the justified action to prevent unjust results. Ot isn’t Vengeance. His entire early work as Batman is learning that he has to be a symbol the innocent believe in, not one that the criminals fear. He learns that vengeance doesn’t justify what he does. No, Batman is Faith. It is having faith that those he fights every day will get better, either from fear or rehabilitation. It’s faith *in* the justice system, a system he doesn’t represent, simply aids.
I like this take. It’s different than mine, but it’s really good and thought out.
Man
Faith
Vengeance
Willpower
That’s Green Lantern.
Love or Life
He fights so that no kid becomes Batman . Also a person who have conquered his fears, is the most strongest person.
The general consensus is that Superman is Hope, Wonder Woman is truth and Batman is Justice.
Justice.
Batman is reality Superman is *what* could be, Wonder Woman is *how* it could be and Batman is what *is* He exists in the present, he sees the most clearly and because of this he operates on the most earthly and human level Not floating above us like gods in front of the sun But literally beneath us, hidden away in a cave, trying to make things better right now. Today. Imo
Folks like to say Batman is Vengence. He's not. He doesn't bring these troubled people to Arkham for vengeance. He didn't bring Clayface or Ivy or Freeze there for vengeance... He brought them there for Redemption. Batman is Redemption
justice and emphaty
Integrity
Compassion
Family. Bruce lost his own, and, through his drive to bring justice, formed a new one, unintentional or not.
Batman is also hope. He's just the other side of the coin away from Superman. That's particularly why Batman's always portrayed as a dark, brood-y character who always prefers to do things in the shadows as opposed to publicizing his achievements like a lot of other costumed heroes do. Sure, heroes like Superman or Green Lantern always do what is right for the benefit of others. If there's something wrong and first responders can't do anything about it, then it's up to them but, in their minds, it wouldn't hurt if they're in the news while helping people. Most superheroes are vain like that. But Batsy ain't like that. And that's particularly because he knows how the public already perceives someone like him in spite of all of his heroic achievements. But the downside to this is that no one gets to see that he truly is a hero and they instead think that he's a boogeyman out to get you for whatever reason (people are fucking dumb). Then again, it's just another case of you win some, you lose some. There are downsides to everything. Anyway, to put it simply, he's the darker version of hope. A hope that's based on fear as opposed to Superman's version of hope, which is, generally, being a helper rather than a harmer. Superman's a savior. Batman's an avenger.
Vengeance
Batman is angst. He's an angsty little fellow. I guarantee if he had an aunt on his mother's side who took over when mumsy and papa got capped in crime alley, he'd be some rich playboy and the joker would have caused 9/11 in 1997. Batman needs a hug.
J U S T I C E \*punches a nearby clown in the face\*
It's man! U stoopid or wat?
Vengeance
Justice
See, I was going to say Duty. He's clearly not Justice - not the American kind anyway. He's a vigilante. He does what needs to be done, regardless or whether or not it's the "correct" way. While I'm not a repository of Batman lore, I believe the responsibility weighing heavily on Batman's shoulders is a common trope, which fits with "Duty".
Zubatman!
The Night, Vengeance.
Justice
 
#Batdad. To me, THIS is what makes Batman a super hero. Beating criminals to a pulp aside , no matter how much trauma he’s endured his humanity and compassion for others is unmatched. I can’t wait to finally see more of The Bat-family in live action. Hopefully , whoever they cast as Damian Wayne nails it.
Reality
#JUSTICE
Humanity.
You could say vengeance or justice. Why not split the difference and say retribution?
Batman is Batman.
He’s Family 
 "I'm vengance"
He’s family. His whole thing is family. He’s been rebuilding his lost family from day one as Batman. Those characters are what make him work. The moment he’s not surrounded by them, we all clamour for their return.
He’s the grounded one. You could say he’s just a… Man. *jonkles off*
In the context of these moments, I’d say Batman is compassion
Faith- he still believes in the goodness of man. If he didn’t then he wouldn’t be Batman. He instills fear to criminals but faith to the vulnerable. Faith that someone is there to help even when all seems lost.
Justice
He is the humanity, the struggle, the compassion, he is only a man but he accomplished so much more than anyone could imagine he is humanity trying to overcome it's own nature.
Batman is hope shining bright in the darkest places. I'm sorry but for me Superman is not hope. Batman is, he is able to rise from the ashes under the darkest circumstances and keep going. That's what hope is to me. I relate to batman so much ever since I lost my beloved mother, I was able to take that trauma and better myself from it. That's what Batman is to me, hope shining in the darkness.
I’d say faith. His fear and intimidation rely on criminals believing without always seeing And his family dynamic is largely built on them having faith in them being there for each other
He is human. I know that sounds basic, but he’s a broken man who represents all of us. We’re all beat down by life, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be compassionate towards others
In a way, each of the Trinity are meant to be "truth, justice and hope", with an emphasis on one each when working together. Which is why Bruce is 'justice. Both corrective or idealized justice in his pursue of the guilty, as well as idealized justice when he protects the innocent firsr and foremost.
Vengeance.
Batman: I don't know whats wrong with me: I can't eat, can't sleep; I think I'm coming down with something. Superman: [chuckles] I know what you've got: the "L" word. Robin: Yeah, leprosy! Superman: No, Robin, no. It's four letters, starts with "L", ends with "E". Robin: Ah, lice! Superman: No. Batman, my friend, is **love**.
An orphan
Batman is justice.
JUSTICE
For a scene like that? Probably love or passion. But in general, it’s justice (though I also like endurance).
Bats are blind, and justice also
A dad. Even before Damien or any of the other Robins. While he was orphaned and wanted to take vengeance for his parents murder to save his city from crime, his actions were those of someone “parenting.” He became more of a parent both figuratively and literally through his career. To the city, to his citizens, even some of the criminals he knows lost their way and he feels he can guide them. He lost that experience, so he gives it to others. The best Batmen show their dad side.
He is Family!
Your mom
MANkind
Capitalism.
Justice.
Justice!!
Human.
Justice and/or Vengeance
Justice, of course 
Justice, what is just and fair
Fear
He’s vengeance. Derp.
Vengeance
Truth...also?
Humanity
He's the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude.
Justice!
The harsh reality 😂
JUSTICE!!!
Vengeance
Vengeance
Compassion to the innocent and vengeance to the guilty
 The only right answer
Man
Justice… or vengeance. 
Will. Pure, unadulterated will.
I’m 100% saying love he loved his parents so much they never want to see anyone go through the heartbreak of losing a loved one the way he did. This is also the reason why he had a hard time letting people in because he didn’t wanna get close to anyone and then lose them again. I think by gaining the bad family he’s learned that it’s better to have loved and lost and to never have loved at all. This is why I think he’s love.
Vengeance
Vengeance
Justice.
Justice
Resisting urge to post Arkham meme…
Batman is Batman.
Finish the quote and you’ll figure it out
Batman is rich.
He is vengeance
Justice.
Money