Batman

Initially, Batman's only ally was Alfred, who used his military medic experience to tend to his wounds. But soon, Batman found an honest man in Gotham City's notoriously corrupt police department: Jim Gordon. Together, they cleaned up the GCPD, and Gordon became commissioner. When a boy named Dick Grayson, from a family of circus acrobats, saw his parents fall to their deaths in an accident staged by extortionist Tony Zucco, he became obsessed with learning who was responsible. Seeing that Grayson could easily go down a dark path, Bruce took in Dick as a foster child, revealed his Batman identity to him, and helped him bring Zucco to justice. Dick joined Bruce as Batman's partner Robin. Having an adoptive father spared Dick a life of darkness, while having Robin around brightened Bruce's life.

As if to meet the challenge of Batman, ever more bizarre criminals arose to challenge him, such as the Riddler, the Penguin, Catwoman, Two-Face, Scarecrow, and The Joker. But Batman found allies as well, encountering Superman of Metropolis and finding a surprising kinship with the incredibly powerful alien. The two of them became founding members of the Justice League, with Batman acknowledged as the team's master strategist despite lacking superhuman powers. Closer to home, the Batman Family grew bigger as Commissioner Gordon's daughter Barbara took on the identity of Batgirl and, despite initial resistance from Batman, proved herself more than worthy of the name.

Batman met his match in mind and body after encountering Ra's al Ghul, the centuries-old leader of the League of Assassins. In Batman, Ra's saw a worthy heir. When Ra's kidnapped Batman to his mountain lair to convince him to join his cause, Batman fell in love with his daughter, Talia. But Batman left, unable to stay with Talia as long as she supported her father's murderous methods, not realizing she was pregnant with their son. Over the following years, Robin joined the Teen Titans and ultimately struck out on his own, taking the name Nightwing. When Batman crossed paths with another troubled youth, Jason Todd, he saw the opportunity for history to repeat itself, and Jason became the new Robin. His time was cut short after he was killed by The Joker, leaving Batman wracked with guilt.

Following Jason's death, Batman became more reckless and violent. This alarmed Tim Drake, a youth who had deduced Batman and Nightwing's identities. Tim tried to convince Nightwing to train him as a new Robin, feeling Batman needed a partner. When Dick refused, Tim donned a costume anyway and helped Batman in battle. Grudgingly, Batman agreed to train him, and Tim became the third Robin. Years later, Batman and Talia's son Damian arrived, having trained almost since birth to be Robin. Tim took on the name Red Robin, while Bruce attempted to steer Damian away from his mother and grandfather's more violent methods. Even Jason Todd returned as the Red Hood, resurrected by the Lazarus Pits that give Ra's al Ghul eternal life. At first a foe, he eventually became part of the Batman Family again.

Batman later had his back broken by the villainous mastermind, Bane, and struggled through a long recovery. He fought The Joker to the death, though both were resurrected by a pool of Dionesium (the active ingredient in Lazarus Pits). But perhaps his most devastating defeat was one of the heart. After years of downplaying the attraction between himself and Catwoman, the two of them gave in and began a romantic relationship. Finding true happiness together, they planned to marry. While both had misgivings, Bruce was prepared to go through with it, but in the end, Catwoman left him at the altar, believing that marrying her would destroy what made him the hero Gotham needed. Despite these setbacks, Batman continues his eternal struggle, honoring the vow he made as a boy, with the Bat-Family giving him strength to go on.