Batman Stands Guard Over Gotham

About this drawing

Batman in Gotham is the classic picture of the Dark Knight, one of DC Comics' biggest heroes. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, he arrived in 1939, just a year after Superman.

Under the cowl is Bruce Wayne, a billionaire from Gotham City. As a boy, he watched a mugger kill his parents in an alley after a night at the movies. That night he vowed to spend his life fighting crime so no one else would suffer the same loss.

What makes Batman special is that he has no superpowers. He spent years training his body and mind, mastering martial arts, science and detective work. His sharpest weapon is his brain: he gathers clues, solves mysteries and plans every move, which is why he is often called the world's greatest detective.

He relies on a utility belt packed with gadgets like grappling hooks, bat-shaped batarangs and tiny tools. He chose the bat as his symbol because bats scared him as a child, and he wanted criminals to feel that same fear. Since then, the bat symbol has become one of the most famous logos in the world.

• batman
• dc comics
• gotham
• superheroes