Batman (Bruce Wayne)
Nightwing (Dick Grayson)
Drake (Tim Drake)
Robin (Damian Wayne)
Batwoman (Kathy Kane)
Huntress (Helena Bertinelli)
Orphan (Cassandra Cain)
Batiglrl (Barbara Gordon)
Signal (Duke Thomas)
Red Hood (Jason Todd)
"We're the same thing, you and I. We're both lies that eventually became the truth." Lara Notsil, Star Wars: X-Wing: Solo Command, Aaron Allston
"All that is not eternal is eternally out of date." C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves
"There's room in our line of work for hope, too." Stephanie Brown
Stephanie Brown Wiki, My Batman Universe Reviews, Stephanie Brown Discord
Mega fan of: Helena Bertinelli (pre-52), Batwoman, Birds of Prey, Guardians of the Galaxy, Secret Six
Fan of: Batman, Cassandra Cain, Wonder Woman, Silk, Stephanie Brown, Captain America, Hellcat, Renee Montoya, Gotham Central, King Shark
Quasi-Fan of: Aquaman, Midnighter, Superman, Catwoman, Nightwing, Green Arrow, Squadron Supreme, Red Hood
Other likes: Low, Hush, Arkham Asylum: ASHoSE, Watchmen, A-Force, Bombshells, Grayson, Unfollow
Team Cap (both Rogers and Danvers)
I think WonderNight has a really good point: if various character have similar role, they would fight for the same space in the same title, instead to have their own spaces; in fact all the solo franchise (like Batman is) usually have very few supporting characters, but with very different roles.
Last edited by Gotham citizen; 04-08-2020 at 11:31 AM.
«It's like kids trying to write stories for adults or something.»
There is an huge difference among write a good story and try to write a great one.
«Heroism is not about being perfect or always winning, but breathing hope into the hopeless.»
Batman's world isn't realistic. It's grounded in psychological realism… In real life, Batman's crusade would be a horrible idea.[…] But in the world Batman inhabits, it not only makes sense, it's absolutely the right thing to do.
Having a different role is for initial marketing. If you don't know the character, this is what they do. Interested? Pick up the book. Not interested? Pick up a different book.
After that, it comes down to whether you enjoy the character or not.
Now because they're a family, they have to be together every once in a while, otherwise, it doesn't make sense. The problem arises when you don't enjoy some if not most of them, for whatever reason, be it their personality or their clashing personalities. The Bat Family is a particularly dysfunctional one. A lot of baggage there. Some if not all of us don't enjoy baggage.
And when you're not interested in the character, don't know them, don't know their baggage, you view them as the baggage for bringing their baggage.
I'm enjoying this story, I'm not interested in your story, why do you bring your baggage to a book I enjoy?
This applies to EVERYONE. Omigosh Bruce, stop dragging Nightwing to your problems. Omigosh Tim and Damian, stop fighting. Omigosh Jason, obey Batman or leave. Omigosh Nightwing, stop dating people who are not Batgirl. Omigosh why is Duke even here there's already so many of you. Omigosh Damian, stop insulting people. Omigosh Cass, stop being impossibly strong.
Insert all the other examples here depending on what you're reading, and whichever characters you're not reading because you don't care because you tried and you're not interested in them, yet you have to deal with them anyway because they're family.
"I didn't sign up for this trainwreck." Same. Me neither. The difference is we're jumping at different stations. Some stations already have certain members to the family, so we're used to certain conditions, but some have been there since the beginning, and the train is getting crowded, and some of the characters just. Won't. Change.
Why are people in the back cart so noisy? This is my train! Why are people at the front shouting at the back cart? Batman, stop kissing Catwoman while you're driving! Can't we just uncouple the last two carts and get rid Duke, Harper, and Damian so it's less crowded?... oh look, Alfred got run over by the train.
Last edited by Restingvoice; 04-08-2020 at 11:50 AM.
It depends on how the character is written really.
My favorites:
Cassandra: Before the Beechen Mess, she was by far my favorite member of the Bat-Family. I read her series religiously after reading issue #25. At this point, I don't see her returning to her glory (if ever)
Bruce: Many times I like him but there are times he's too self righteous (even a jerk) for my taste
Dick: Rarely have I disliked his character. He's the one you want to talk to if you're down or need inspiration.
Huntress: Never considered her a member of the Bat Family but I really like her the character
Depends:
Barbara: Strongly prefer her as Oracle. I tried reading Batgirl a few times. Maybe I can't get into it, but it feels like this is backwards for Oracle. She doesn't have to be confined to a wheelchair again but I thought she was lightyears more interesting (and useful) as Oracle
Jason Todd: Really depends on the writer and the story. Overall, I like how they still kept him as the one with Batman Training but continues to use violent methods to get the job done
Kathy Kane: I like her solo stories but she doesn't appear to fit in the family. Just thrown in
Damian Wayne: Sometimes I enjoy the character, other times I flat out can't stand him. Lately I think his flavor is getting stale. He's this close to getting thrown into the "Don't Like" category
Checked "Don't Like"
Tim Drake: Most of the time I found him boring. Bruce-lite and stale
Duke Thomas: Never got into this character
Last edited by Godzilla2099; 04-08-2020 at 12:50 PM.
I never got into Tim Drake as Robin. Throughout my whole time of reading Batman comics I heard how great Tim was. I Tried reading his Robin series couldn't get into it which made me sad. Because I like Chuck Dixon's writing. Loved his work on Birds of Prey and Nightwing. But never got into Robin. I read books with Tim in them over the years and over time I felt like DC has been banking for years on his fanbase having 90s nostalgia. Which seems to be clear as day now since the only book he has been seen in now is Young Justice.
Duke I just don't see a need for.
I used to really not like Damian but after reading more books with him over the years he is not just my favorite Robin but my favorite character overall in DC Comics.
Bruce's writing over the years hasn't led me to reading more of his solo adventures. I like him with a supporting cast and I don't find him that interesting to read alone. Right now if you were to set down Batman, Teen Titans, or any other book with a batfamily member I will choose it over Batman.
I don't hate any character in the batfamily I can love them all if writers make their stories interesting.
Checked Damian and Kathy Kane. I cannot stand Damian and he makes me vomit every time I see him, he tarnishes the legacy of Robin with every passing minute.
I don't know why Spoiler isn't up there.
Surprised Tim and Damian are tied and that Jason has so many votes. Very interesting poll.
I'm surprised that Duke is leading this by a country mile. If I was a betting woman, I'd have but my money on Damian.
Can't say I dislike any of them. At best, I am not particularly interested in Huntress.
I can see why Duke has the most votes. He suffered from a poor introduction and he came at a time where some fans started to feel that the Bat-Family was getting too big.
Last edited by KC; 04-09-2020 at 10:19 AM.
Sure Duke was overhyped but has he ever did anything really bad? I'm used to all the infighting between various Robin fans. There's usually some event that we blame for the reason we don't like 'x' character. ie. Tim stans might dislike Dick because he took the Robin mantle from Tim. They might hate Damian because he tried to murder him or so on. Poor old Duke is just there.
It's not necessarily that Duke did anything bad. It's just his introduction in Synder's Batman was not the greatest (I don't think many people were super invested in his plotline in the Endgame storyline) and his appearance in the rather mildly received "We Are Robin" book means that he isn't going to be many peoples favourite character. Add on the fact that some fans think the Bat-Family is too big and he is seen as just being another additon to something that has got too big and not much else.