When did Batman became the Chuck Norris of all superheroes?

Avenger · 07-03-2017, 12:53 PM

Hello everybody,

I was wondering when Batman get this "aura" of superiority over everyone else.

I know he's one of the most iconic and popular superheroes, but he seems to do everything:

- He knows all 454338 martial arts on the planet
- He seems to out-think everyone, either on a scientist level or a deduction level (as a detective)
- He seems to always be 12 steps ahead of everyone else when a menace comes.

I just don't know at which moment it was decided Batman would be THIS guy. He seems to be the Deus ex machina superhero.

Even the popular catchphrase "Because I'm Batman" prove it: doesn't need other explanation that "it's Batman".

*sdp* · 07-03-2017, 12:56 PM

He already was when I got into comics a decade ago so I'm guessing a long ass time.

*Andrew NDB* · 07-03-2017, 01:14 PM

Somewhere around the Grant Morrison run on JLA that began around 1997, I think. There simply didn't exist that aura around Batman until then, and even then it took a few years to really cement in.

*snake* · 07-03-2017, 01:15 PM

When casuals started liking him at time of Batman Begins' release. This doubled during TDK's release

*Andrew NDB* · 07-03-2017, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snake

When casuals started liking him at time of Batman Begins' release. This doubled during TDK's release

Nah, that didn't do anything to elevate Batman to the Chuck Norris level. If anything, Begins did the opposite... it humanized him more than ever, made him weak, vulnerable.

Though, perhaps, things like the Nolan movies opened people's eyes to stuff like the Morrison JLA stories. The "Batman will defeat anyone, he is always the smartest guy in the room" started there.

*snake* · 07-03-2017, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Nah, that didn't do anything to elevate Batman to the Chuck Norris level. If anything, Begins did the opposite... it humanized him more than ever, made him weak, vulnerable.

Though, perhaps, things like the Nolan movies opened people's eyes to stuff like the Morrison JLA stories. The "Batman will defeat anyone, he is always the smartest guy in the room" started there.

I'm not talking about the movies themselves, but they certainly gave rise to the "BATMAN CAN DO ANYTHING" folk.

*Andrew NDB* · 07-03-2017, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snake

I'm not talking about the movies themselves, but they certainly gave rise to the "BATMAN CAN DO ANYTHING" folk.

I'm not sure I'm seeing it. The movies are great, but the Christian Bale Batman could barely even fight off dogs. If the "BATMAN CAN DO ANYTHING" thing was born around then, it wasn't because of anything that happened in those movies.

*CyberCubed* · 07-03-2017, 01:36 PM

I thought it's been like this since at least the 80's? Even when I was a kid Batman was always the most popular DC superhero.

*snake* · 07-03-2017, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

I'm not sure I'm seeing it. The movies are great, but the Christian Bale Batman could barely even fight off dogs. If the "BATMAN CAN DO ANYTHING" thing was born around then, it wasn't because of anything that happened in those movies.

It's definitely not, but it's certainly when the Batman franchise had the biggest influx of fans since the Burton movie. It's probably unlikely that comic readers only spread this to the point of it becoming fact.

*LeotheLateBloomer* · 07-17-2017, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

I'm not sure I'm seeing it. The movies are great, but the Christian Bale Batman could barely even fight off dogs. If the "BATMAN CAN DO ANYTHING" thing was born around then, it wasn't because of anything that happened in those movies.

Pretty much this!

"Batman has no limits."

07-03-2017, 12:53 PM	#1
Avenger Thug Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Matane, Quebec Posts: 62	When did Batman became the Chuck Norris of all superheroes? Hello everybody, I was wondering when Batman get this "aura" of superiority over everyone else. I know he's one of the most iconic and popular superheroes, but he seems to do everything: - He knows all 454338 martial arts on the planet - He seems to out-think everyone, either on a scientist level or a deduction level (as a detective) - He seems to always be 12 steps ahead of everyone else when a menace comes. I just don't know at which moment it was decided Batman would be THIS guy. He seems to be the Deus ex machina superhero. Even the popular catchphrase "Because I'm Batman" prove it: doesn't need other explanation that "it's Batman".

07-03-2017, 12:56 PM	#2
sdp Megan Fox = April Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tokio, Italy Posts: 9,998	He already was when I got into comics a decade ago so I'm guessing a long ass time. __________________ *Bye* *TMNT !!! I'm unaliving tonight* Click to join The Drome Discord server

07-03-2017, 01:14 PM	#3
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 29,251	Somewhere around the Grant Morrison run on JLA that began around 1997, I think. There simply didn't exist that aura around Batman until then, and even then it took a few years to really cement in. __________________ [ ODYSSEY \| ORIGIN \| THE IMAGE/VOL. 3 CONCLUSION \| THE SHELLSHOCKED PODCAST \| ON FACEBOOK ]

07-03-2017, 01:15 PM	#4
snake Disgusting Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Outer Heaven Posts: 12,230	When casuals started liking him at time of Batman Begins' release. This doubled during TDK's release

07-03-2017, 01:36 PM	#8
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 41,031	I thought it's been like this since at least the 80's? Even when I was a kid Batman was always the most popular DC superhero.