This is inspired by the similar thread over on the Superman boards.
So who is your definitive Batman? As in, which version are you most likely to picture when you think about the character? Can be any version from any media.
Also, in a deeper more character-based sense, which version(s) do you think is definitive?
I'll go first...
To me, the BTAS Batman is the definitive Batman...the one who's simply a perfect representation of the character in all aspects. Appearance, characterisation, balance between light and darkness...everything. And BTAS Gotham is one of the purest distillations of Gotham City in any medium. As for Kevin Conroy...well, he's the real 'Bat-God' IMO
That said, the Year One Batman is a close second.
Year One is the story that really laid the foundation for the Batman mythos as we know it today. Its legacy, and its interpretation of the Dark Knight and his world, reverberates far beyond the initial story. You see the influence of Year One in Batman comics all through the late 80's, 90's, 2000's...right up till the present-day. The Burton movies, BTAS, the Nolanverse, the Arkham games - all, on some level or the other, have a bit of Year One in their DNA. And the Year One Batman look is to my mind the definitive comic-book Batman look - so much so that its being brought back as the 'classic' Batsuit very soon!
In a character sense, Year One also features a Bruce Wayne whom we can see evolving into any of the other modern interpretations of the character. This is a Bruce who's filled with determination to set the wrongs of Gotham City right and who finds the perfect weapon to do so in Batman. He realises he's not invincible and sets out to find allies and to be a bit smarter about his crusade. You can see this Bruce evolving into the 'Bat-God' who's prepared for every plan - even the off-chance of his allies going rogue. You can see this Bruce becoming a psychological wreck after his crusade takes too much of a toll on him and the city. You can also see this Bruce becoming a reasonably well-adjusted individual and one of the world's greatest superheroes.