Why Batman?

What is it about the Caped Crusader? What brings people back to him, time and time again? 8 months ago, someone calculated the appearances in comics Bruce Wayne has had, across versions across time, and according to that, since his debut he has appeared in 8,690 issues, across 88 years, with more and more guest appearances every year.

Here's why: He's a real, no-powers human, but he dresses up as a giant bat and fights giant crocodile men, monks with the power to control werewolves, and alien gods that embody evil. He's traumatized, broken, and still fighting a fight he believes in. He's an icon, inspiring real pop culture, becoming bigger than himself both in and out of universe.

There are other characters introduced before World War II. Hell, there are other characters in their own stories in Detective Comics #27! But Crimson Avenger and Speed Saunders, no matter if you know those names or not, simply did not have the same staying power as Batman. They didn't have that unique grab of a gimmick, combined with an interesting personal story, all wrapped in a great bow with well-written fighting, interesting villains, and a cool as hell costume.

So, now we know why he lasted this long. But wait - Brin, why are you doing this? What kind of torture is it, to attempt to read over 8,000 issues of comics?

I'll tell you why: I like to know stuff.

I'm a creature entirely driven by my curiosity, I let it guide me into places most of the people in my life would never go. And boy, am I curious about Batman.

There's so much of the character everyone knows. So much about him that if you asked 10 strangers on the street, most would be able to rattle off a bunch of specific facts about him that they'd be totally lost on for other characters. He has a lot of information about him fully known in the public zeitgeist.

But what's under the hood? What's there in the annals of Bat-history that I could uncover, turn over and examine? I, for one, can't wait to find out.

NEXT BAT-ARTICLE!