Batman

Guide Note: Along with Superman, Batman is the most famous DC Comics superhero. Created by Gil Kane and Bill Finger, Batman has been among the most enduring and recognizable comic book characters for over 60 years. The latest Batman feature film adventure, The Dark Knight, stars Christian Bale as the hero and Heath Ledger as his nemesis, The Joker.

Fast Facts

1. Created by: Bob Kane and Bill Finger
2. Notable alias: Matches Malone
3. Alter ego: Bruce Wayne

Bruce Wayne was the child of the affluent Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne, who are philanthropists and owners of Wayne Industries. On their way home from a movie theater, the pair are gunned down by a mugger before the 8-year-old Bruce's eyes. Form that moment on, Bruce Wayne vowed to wage a war on crime. In the following years he would hone his fighting, scientific, engineering, and strategic skills and acquiring an arsenal of weapons for his war. He adopted the costume and identity of the Batman to scare criminals, and to stand as a symbol for law and order.

Having no legitimate super powers, Batman employs an array of weapons to aid him in his campaign against crime. Most notable among these are his utility belt and his Batmobile. The utility belt is a belt loaded with small tools and weapons he can easily access when needed; over the years he has produced ball bearings, caltrops, lock picks, batarangs, small explosives, tracking devices, smoke bombs, and various other useful tools from his belt. The Batmobile is a special car retrofitted with a rocket engine, armored plating, communications equipment, and other modifications intended for martial force. Though it is not strictly a weapon, Batman's Batcave is his secret den where he keeps his arsenal and his Bat Computer, which allows for various kinds of statistical and forensic analysis.