Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 41
  1. #1
    Unadjusted Human on CBR SUPERECWFAN1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    CM Punk's House
    Posts
    21,354

    Default The Many Loves of Batman .

    With Bruce Wayne getting set soon to walk down the aisle with Selina Kyle in comics after years of the two being an on/off couple , this thread will look at the many short term loves of Batman. With over 80 years of history its almost like every decade writers would introduce a love interest in the comics and they'd fade from view. So decade by decade , gonna run down the MANY LOVES OF BATMAN.




    Vicky Vale : 1st appearance : Batman #49

    Perhaps the 1st romantic interest of Bruce Wayne , the character was a newspaper reporter who debuted way back in 1948. The idea of the character was basically another Lois Lane type. Who for a number of years was out to prove that Bruce Wayne was Batman. And each story would end with Bruce fooling her. Anyhow for the next decade she'd keep that status.

    However by 1964 Julius Schwartz became editor of Batman titles and decided to drop a bunch of golden age characters like Vale , Batwoman and others. Of course by 1964 Vale had been eclipsed by the character below this as Batman's potential love interest for awhile.

    Vale of course wouldn't disappear for good as she'd return to the Batman books for good by 1980's (they ignored a story where she had married in 1970's). New editors decided to reinstate that relationship with Bruce Wayne and then the Crisis on Infinite Earths arrived which changed some things. Then once the Batman film in 1989 was released DC seemed ready to maximize on that big screen couple by having the two back in a relationship. Of course by Batman #475 however they pulled the plug on it as they had Bruce refuse to reveal his secret identity and Vale would disappear again for a number of years til the 2000's. Since then she's been a minor supporting character and the 2 haven't had a relationship since.


    MY TAKE : Vale was more or less a Lois Lane rip off and numerous attempts to change her character (she hosted a radio show , she hosted a TV show etc) hasn't really changed that. Also as a reader Vale always came across as demanding even by the 1980's standards and wanting more from Bruce Wayne than what he was capable of doing. Her being phased out off and on makes sense.





    BATWOMAN (Kathy Kane) - 1st Apparance : Detective Comics #233


    Kathy Kane was introduced in the wake of the 1950's hearings on comics and the editors ideas to create a Batman family of characters to appeal to a wider audience. Kane was nearly like Batman and compared to him as a fighter then. She also had her own version of the utility belt in her purse with female objects that she used (lipstick , mirror etc). Kane became a favorite for the writers at the time and even married Batman in a story above. Replacing the Vicky Vale relationship pretty much awhile.

    But like above mentioned Schwartz decided to make her character disappear as he felt she didn't fit in the comics he wanted to do. Her character would be eclipsed soon enough by Batgirl in popularity and Batwoman for over a decade never appeared again until Batman Family. Then in Detective Comics #485 , editor Denny O'Neil allowed the character to be killed off. Saying that they had Batgirl and really didn't need a Batwoman in the comics.

    For over 30+ years the character was gone from comics and it wasn't til Grant Morrison reintroduced Kathy Kane into the Post Crisis DCU. In fact Morrison revealed that Kathy and Bruce were a couple for a short while and she was his aunt by marriage (Ok , we really didn't need that) . But then in his last issue of Batman Inc. , he revealed she had faked her death and was working for a spy agency called Spyral. The character would appear in Grayson as a spy for awhile. But her relationship is written as having ended early in Batman's career.


    MY TAKE : I don't really have that many issues of Batman where Batwoman appeared. So I can't judge this. But I can see where Schwartz wanted to do his Batman and why characters were dropped.




    Talia al Ghul : 1st Appearance : Detective Comics #411

    Talia would debut in May 1971 and reintroduce a more deadly threat as a love interest than Bruce Wayne ever had. As the great Denny O'Neil/Neal Adams run did they introduced a more serious darker Batman after so many years of the 1966 TV series plus a bigger new threat in Ra's al Ghul. The daughter of the demon was a skilled assassin who her father wanted her to have a skilled warrior and fighter as his heir to run the League of Assassin's.

    While for years Talia and Bruce did have feelings for each other , Bruce would resist them since he did not believe in Ra's mission to wipe out half of humanity and become its ruler. Talia would appear on and off for years , with even Dick Grayson questioning why Bruce would continue to associate with her in one issue. Knowing the answer all too well.

    By the late 1980's an imaginary story called "Son of the Demon" would have Talia and Bruce finally marry and her get pregnant with his child. Talia however is attacked by rival assassins and Bruce fights them off. She decides she can't rely on Bruce to protect her forever and fakes a miscarriage. This has the marriage end and Talia later gives the baby up for birth. In this continuity the baby would go onto being in The Kingdom and "Son of the Bat" one shot.

    Talia would appear in cartoons , movies and video games as the relationship was played up there. In the 2000's , the character would get a big change as the "Son of the Demon" was placed in continuity as Grant Morrison revealed that Talia and Bruce did have a relationship and had a child (unknown to him). Using part of Son of the Demon , Morrison had Talia keep the child and made him a skilled warrior at a young age. Allowing Bruce to take him and let him have his destiny next to his father.

    Since then Talia still has feelings (among the fighting she's done against Batman at times lol) for him and had Catwoman fight her to prove she deserved him. At the end she gave her blessing for it.


    MY TAKE : I always enjoyed the Talia issues and how she'd make Batman really question what he really wanted and why he couldn't. Her character personally for me is better than Ra's as she has a more bigger connection to Bruce. As their child connects them and the fact they have clashed a couple times over what she has planned.



    END OF PART #1 ..... PART #2 is coming . So hold off replies til then ok....I wanna do both parts and have it done ok.
    "The story so far: As usual, Ginger and I are engaged in our quest to find out what the hell is going on and save humanity from my nemesis, some bastard who is presumably responsible." - Sir Digby Chicken Caesar.
    “ Well hell just froze over. Because CM Punk is back in the WWE.” - Jcogginsa.
    “You can take the boy outta the mom’s basement, but you can’t take the mom’s basement outta the boy!” - LA Knight.
    "Revel in What You Are." Bray Wyatt.

  2. #2
    Unadjusted Human on CBR SUPERECWFAN1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    CM Punk's House
    Posts
    21,354

    Default



    Silver St. Cloud : 1st Appearance Detective Comics #470


    Silver would appear in the late 1970's and be introduced by writer Steve Englehart & Walt Simonson. The character was an event planner that Bruce ran into and during that story-line that ran from #469 to #479 of Detective Comics ; she would start a relationship with Bruce Wayne. She would muse that she knew Bruce was keeping a secret and by the end she learned he was Batman. The relationship ended as she told him she could not stay home worrying about him at nights he was Batman and she would disappear from the comics til the 1990's/2000's.

    Englehart would have Silver return and the two debated having a relationship. But she grew angry at Bruce for him wanting her to stay with the senator as she was his fiancee and he had been hurt badly by Joker. In the 2000's Kevin Smith would do a miniseries (Widening Gyre) where Bruce would propose to her. This was a nice moment til she was murdered by Onomatopoeia.


    MY TAKE : I don't have the sequel arc and no way would I read Widening Gyre to see her character killed off. But the character really never returned much in comics. She was a small footnote in Batman history. Beyond a couple stories she hasn't appeared much and I can see why writers never used her much.





    Julia Pennyworth : 1st appearance : Detective Comics #501

    By the 1980's the editors decided to introduce a love triangle type angle into the comics . While Bruce was with Vicky Vale again , Julia Pennyworth meanwhile wanted Batman. Julia was the daughter of Alfred and the French freedom fighter Mademoiselle Marie. It was said Marie during the 2nd World War had her daughter raised by her friend Jacques Remarque. She never informed Alfred of this.

    Julia was about trying to be with Batman and really didn't do much beyond showing up to surprise her father by revealing herself. After 5 years the character would disappear due to Crisis on Infinite Earths and never be seen for the next near 30 years. In 2013 she would return in the new 52 era as Alfred's daughter. The connection to Mademoiselle Marie was dropped as was the World War II angle. The character works for the Special Air Service and has assisted Bruce Wayne and Batwoman. Nothing romantic has been shown.


    MY TAKE : Julia being removed after Crisis was a wise move then. The concept of tying Alfred to World War II while not a bad idea on paper (it tied him into Sgt. Rock's supporting cast in a way) but it would become problematic as more time passed from the 1940's to current. So they decided to remove that link wisely. It shocks me it too nearly 30 years to reintroduce Julia Pennyworth.





    NOCTURNA (Natalia Knight) : 1st appearance - Detective Comics #529



    Natalia Knight was adopted by a mobster at age 12 and raised in a wealthy lifestyle. It was her plan to rob Bruce Wayne with a groups help when she encountered him at a party. Bruce was entranced by her but Natalia wanted his wealth to maintain her lifestyle. She of course liked the Batman and would show up through the 1980's. Her main focus was to force Bruce Wayne to marry her and by that she used Jason Todd by adopting him (she used corrupt mayor Hamilton Hill to get that done). This scheme didn't seem to work and right when Crisis was happening was seemingly killed in a hot air balloon and floated into the red skies.

    It wasn't til 20+ years later that Nocturna would return and be part of Salvation Run miniseries. Since then she's appeared a couple times and doesn't seem to be interested in Batman or Robin.


    MY TAKE : Nocturna seems more like DC's attempt at doing a goth version of Felicia Hardy in a way. During this time if we remember Hardy as Blackcat was involved with Spider-Man. She of course did not really want the man behind the mask (Peter Parker) and was a known thief. Here Nocturna did not like Bruce Wayne and instead was more interested in Batman. All while leading a criminal group and wanting Bruce to marry her in a scheme for his money. Its weird it took DC 20+ years to reintroduce her .



    Shondra Kinsolving : 1st appearance : Batman #481


    Kinsolving was a doctor who was introduced to treat Bruce for the after effects of coming off "venom" which had his physical and mental abilities slip. Kinsolving started to develop feelings for Bruce and even took part in saving his life after the brutal beating from Bane . She was told he had been in a bad auto accident but she knew it was something else.

    It was during this she was kidnapped and while in a wheelchair , Bruce would start the search for her. After finally finding her , Kinsolving was revealed to be a meta-human and restored Bruce to full health (he had a broken back). The effect on Shondra was she suffered brain damage and became child like. Bruce would buy her a residence to live the rest of her life. She has not appeared since.


    MY TAKE : This one had promise as a doctor who grew to love Bruce , plus being an interracial romance it would have been interesting. But her character was introduced before Knightfall and was used as the magical solution to get Bruce Wayne back as Batman. DC hasn't had the character appear since this.



    Vesper Fairchild : 1st appearance : Batman #540

    In the late 1990's , Doug Moench would introduce a new female love interest in the bat books and it was Vesper Fairchild. A radio host who was nicknamed "Siren of the Night" she would start a relationship with Bruce Wayne. Of course her character would have a brief run and sadly would die right before No Man's Land began. Killed by David Cain.


    MY TAKE : Vesper rarely would appear due to the big crossovers going on in the Bat-books and the relationship really had no big effect on Bruce beyond framing him for murder. Maybe if she had a bigger role in the books and had appeared constantly it would have meant more. Also Bruce seemed more interested in the next one below....


    Sasha Bordeaux : 1st Appearance - Detective Comics #751

    Bordeaux was hired to be Bruce's personal security by Lucius Fox (much to his dismay). She was constantly doing her job and would later learn that Bruce Wayne is Batman. After training her awhile the two start working together. Its there Sasha develops feelings for Batman as Bruce acts to date other women along the way. After the entire No Man's Land and being framed for murder , Bruce would learn that Sasha was killed.

    Not believing it , he learns CHECKMATE is responsible and disrupts their entire operations in Gotham. They eventually allow him to meet with Bordeaux where he confesses his love for her. She tells him he has to let her go and they part. The characters never really met up again as Sasha became part of Checkmate. Also her last appearance was in the fall of 2010 and she has not appeared in the post Flashpoint era.


    MY TAKE : This one really like Vesper never went far due to the crossovers in Batman books . DC seemed to be giving this new character quite a push early but soon forgot about her after she took over Checkmate in 2006. By 2010 they pretty much allowed the character to go into limbo.



    Jezebell Jett : 1st appearance : Batman #656

    Created by Grant Morrison , Jezebell was the ruler of an African country called Mtamba and had started seeing Bruce Wayne. It was during this time that the Black Glove would start to appear and Bruce was handling it and this relationship. Soon enough Jezebel would question Bruce's disappearances and his change of attitude. Finally he revealed to her he was Batman and even took her on a tour of the batcave.

    Of course much like her name hints , Jett would be an undercover agent of the Black Glove and lure Bruce into a trap for Dr. Hurt and the Black Glove. Due to his strong conditioning mentally , Bruce overcomes it and his "death" during Final Crisis happens. Jett who thought she would get away is killed by Talia and its said Talia showed Bruce her severed head later.


    My Take : Morrison tried to make the romance happen very quick with Jezebel and Bruce , but given that she was only around 2 years ...and not enough lead time made me care about her. Now her being a secret agent meant to destroy Bruce Wayne was a great touch here.



    In all that is the ones I know about in comics the last 80 years. Sure there is Black Canary but it wasn't that long (an issue in Justice League of America) and barely seen beyond All-Star Batman & Robin and we really can't judge it. Happy reading folks.
    "The story so far: As usual, Ginger and I are engaged in our quest to find out what the hell is going on and save humanity from my nemesis, some bastard who is presumably responsible." - Sir Digby Chicken Caesar.
    “ Well hell just froze over. Because CM Punk is back in the WWE.” - Jcogginsa.
    “You can take the boy outta the mom’s basement, but you can’t take the mom’s basement outta the boy!” - LA Knight.
    "Revel in What You Are." Bray Wyatt.

  3. #3
    Astonishing Member Vinsanity's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    2,453

    Default

    Forgetting a couple

    - Julie Madison - The first girl
    - Charlotte Rivers - the first one in New 52.

    I really miss they keep Silver. I mean she literally figured out who Batman was.

  4. #4
    BANNED
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    6,983

    Default

    I think Silver was my all-time favorite. She was classy.

  5. #5
    All-New Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    18

    Default

    Linda Page was a recurring love interest of Bruce Wayne in the 1940's!

  6. #6
    Astonishing Member signalman112's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Midwest
    Posts
    2,263

    Default

    Here is a Bat-Blog that list the bloggers Top 5 Love Interest.

    5) Vicki Vale
    4) Silver Saint Cloud.
    3) Wonder Woman.
    2) Talia
    1) Catwoman

    https://shanemcgreevy.wordpress.com/...ove-interests/

  7. #7
    Astonishing Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    4,117

    Default

    Andrea Beaumont, Dawn Golden, Charlotte Rivers, Natalya Trusevich, Rachel Caspian.
    Retro315 no more. Anonymity is so 2005.
    retrowarbird.blogspot.com

  8. #8
    Fantastic Member Valentis's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    362

    Default

    Vicki Vale is the most underrated. Catwoman and Talia got all the stories.

  9. #9
    Death becomes you Osiris-Rex's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Memphis
    Posts
    6,857

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Valentis View Post
    Vicki Vale is the most underrated. Catwoman and Talia got all the stories.
    Vicki Vale didn't really offer all that much. She was just a Lois Lane knock off. And at least with Lois Lane, she worked with Clark Kent. While Catwoman was involved in the same sort
    of work Batman dealt with, criminal activity. And Selina Kyle was often depicted as a socialite, which fit Bruce Wayne's occupation as a trust fund millionaire playboy. Not really sure
    how Talia served that much purpose either. Didn't seem like she or Bruce/Batman had that much in common. They didn't even live in the same town for the most part.

  10. #10
    Extraordinary Member CPSparkles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Posts
    5,875

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Osiris-Rex View Post
    Vicki Vale didn't really offer all that much. She was just a Lois Lane knock off. And at least with Lois Lane, she worked with Clark Kent. While Catwoman was involved in the same sort
    of work Batman dealt with, criminal activity. And Selina Kyle was often depicted as a socialite, which fit Bruce Wayne's occupation as a trust fund millionaire playboy. Not really sure
    how Talia served that much purpose either. Didn't seem like she or Bruce/Batman had that much in common. They didn't even live in the same town for the most part.
    Vicki doesn't need to work with Bruce all she needs is to be an independent woman who understands Batman's mission and is law abiding. Most of us don't work with our better halves and the fact that Clark and Lois already have that as part of their story means Batman doesn't need it.

    Talia is international so where she leave doesn't matter. People move.

    Selina and Talia are two desperate criminals who chase after Batman trying to seduce him [strange how the criminals chase him while he keeps trying to have a relationship with decent women]

    Selina and Talia are bad choices while Bruce is still active and both ladies need to change to ever be with Bruce which isn't a very empowering thing. They have to lose agency to get their man.

    Vicki and the rest like Silver don't have to change. They are already strong law abiding ladies who don't need Bruce. I also like the fact that with Vicki and Sliver Bruce does the chasing.

  11. #11
    Extraordinary Member CPSparkles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Posts
    5,875

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Valentis View Post
    Vicki Vale is the most underrated. Catwoman and Talia got all the stories.
    Agree. I like Vicki. Sliver and Andrea are also good. Diana and Bruce have great chemistry but just like with Superman I'm not a fan of the only female trinity dating one of the them.,

    Talia and Selina make the story more interesting because they are the wrong choice. It won't end well. We get complications and tension which spices up the story so they get used more.

    They are his antagonists so they by default get more stories leading to increased popularity. It's nothing to do with how well matched they are to Batman.

  12. #12
    Mind Controller Arnoldoaad's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Costa Rica
    Posts
    802

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SUPERECWFAN1 View Post
    BATWOMAN (Kathy Kane) - 1st Apparance : Detective Comics #233[/B]


    For over 30+ years the character was gone from comics and it wasn't til Grant Morrison reintroduced Kathy Kane into the Post Crisis DCU. In fact Morrison revealed that Kathy and Bruce were a couple for a short while and she was his aunt by marriage (Ok , we really didn't need that) . But then in his last issue of Batman Inc. , he revealed she had faked her death and was working for a spy agency called Spyral. The character would appear in Grayson as a spy for awhile. But her relationship is written as having ended early in Batman's career.
    yeah, she is a Kane like her mother so the alternative would had been made her a blood relative, a cousin or something else

  13. #13
    Astonishing Member Darkspellmaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    3,811

    Default

    Julie Madison could make an interesting character if they had followed up on her job as a Lawyer and let her be the DA. And she and Sliver would be my two choices. Also straight up, she was designed to be the Lois to his Clark. Honestly, I'd like to see her come back and be a reoccurring character that Brice can have help out.

  14. #14
    Extraordinary Member Restingvoice's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Posts
    9,574

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by K. Jones View Post
    Andrea Beaumont, Dawn Golden, Charlotte Rivers, Natalya Trusevich, Rachel Caspian.
    Which one is Rachel Caspian?

  15. #15
    The Spirits of Vengeance K7P5V's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Chicago, Illinois
    Posts
    12,696

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Darkspellmaster View Post
    Julie Madison could make an interesting character if they had followed up on her job as a Lawyer and let her be the DA. And she and Sliver would be my two choices. Also straight up, she was designed to be the Lois to his Clark. Honestly, I'd like to see her come back and be a reoccurring character that Brice can have help out.
    Your idea for Julie Madison sounds interesting. She could maybe take over for Harvey Dent, which then gives Two-Face a new adversary to contend with.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •