Happy Batman Day, everybody! Yep, 75 years of Batman greatness capped off today with Batman #33 (which I wrote a review on, feel free to check it out), Batman and Robin #33, Batman Eternal #16, a re-release of Detective Comics #27 (for FREE), and various other books either featuring Batman or Bat related characters. Fan art up the wazoo, and probably a ton of other such fan projects, comic shops selling merchandise in Batman plastic bags, and so on. And as awesome as all this is, I gotta say, we need to do this for other major superheroes. Not all of 'em, just the big ones. It just doesn't feel fair that Batman's the only one to get such a huge hooplah.

That said, it's on days like these that I think back and go, "Wow, what were some of the really great moments for Batman? My favourite movies, comics, cartoons, characters, people to play Batman, etc.?" Well, I'm gonna go over all of that right now, and I'm gonna start with...

Favourite Batman Story: Court/Night of the Owls

I've gone on record as saying that, at the start of The New 52, Scott Snyder's Batman was the best book going at the time. It was a GREAT story that had lots of action, mystery, and horror (see Batman #5 for the best example of that, one of the creepiest things I've ever read in comics). The Court of Owls worked great as an antagonistic, mysterious organization in opposition not just to Batman but to Bruce Wayne. Scott Snyder does a great job of making Gotham City itself as important a character as Batman, and Greg Capullo's art fits every single panel perfectly. The only real problems I have with the story is how it has a massive crossover with the other Bat Family books (which you should really wait until books hit the 12 issue point, in my opinion), and I don't know how well it operates as a story meant to be a whole new audience's first look at Batman (because, again, this was at the start of the rebooted universe of The New 52). However, you don't need to read the other books to know what's going on, and most people at least have a passing knowledge of Batman and his supporting cast (although some fans that didn't read the comics prior to the reboot might be wondering why there are apparently 3-4 Robins, lol).

Favourite Portrayal of Batman (Cartoons, Movies, Games, Etc.): Kevin Conroy

I've said this before on numerous occasions, and I mean it: If you are reading a Batman comic, and you're one of those people that hears a person's voice in your head when you read a character's dialogue, you don't hear Kevin Conroy over Batman's lines, you're doing it wrong. lol I'm sorry, but as someone who grew up in the generation that I did, Kevin Conroy IS Batman, plain and simple. Between the DC Animated Universe, various other animated features and movies he's done work for, and the Arkham video game series, Conroy has become THE voice for Batman, both under the cowl and as Bruce Wayne. And speaking of the DCAU...

Favourite Episode of Batman The Animated Series: Baby-Doll

HOW HAS THIS CHARACTER NEVER SHOWN UP IN THE COMICS?! C'mon, she's inventive, she's completely bonking nuts, she's surprisingly fit for someone her size, she has that side of her that you sympathize with like any great Batman villain should have, and OMG that ending. That might just be the saddest, most emotional moment in the whole DCAU, of which there have been many, when she finally breaks down. If it's not, it's at least a top contender. The only thing I can think of is that someone thought fans couldn't take someone like that seriously as a villain. Guys, take a sec and think about this: Batman's arch nemesis is a frakking clown. You can figure this out.

Favourite Live-Action Batman Movie: The Dark Knight

Yeah, big shocker there, eh? I'd go into detail, but you've heard it all before: The action, the drama, the visuals, Heath Ledger, the score, and so on. You probably even know what parts I disliked: Bale's Batman voice, the fact that the last act to act and a half never frigging lets up or gives you a chance to breathe, and the ending kinda frustrates me. At this point, what more is there to say about it? It's The Dark Knight.

Favourite Robin: Tim Drake

Before anybody calls me out for not picking Damian, let me just say that it is EXTREMELY close for me. In fact, somedays I might even tell you Damian is my favourite. It kinda depends on my mood. But overall, I think I prefer Tim by a hair. Also, I don't care what The New 52 changed, Tim WAS Robin. Even if it wasn't in name, he was still Batman's partner, and he still wore the R, so he belongs in that group. I think what I like most about him is that he's the detective of the Robins, which makes him the easiest of the bunch to operate alongside Batman, as the two had mutual ground on an intellectual level. Where I think they dropped the ball, though, is where they pushed him to become too much like Batman on a personality level over time. He's also seemingly the only other foe to Ra's al Ghul to have earned his respect, was the first Robin to get his own series independent from Batman, and pretty much reinvented the overall look and feel of Robin.

Favourite Batgirl: Stephanie Brown

And again, if anyone thinks I am in any way dissing Cassandra Cain or Barbara Gordon, I'm REALLY not. I'm just saying, for my own likes and dislikes, for my own personality, Steph is the one that resonates with me best. It's just her near-infinite levels of optimism, her sense of humour, and her unwillingness to back down from ANYBODY that makes me admire her so much as a character. She even pimp slapped Bruce Wayne for his bullcrap once, and not only got away with it, but earned his recognition and trust afterward. And as I've said before, anybody that can do that is clearly doing something right.

Favourite Batman & Robin: Dick Grayson & Damian Wayne

And here comes the flames! XD Okay, let's make this perfectly clear: Dick Grayson is best suited as Nightwing, and Bruce Wayne will always be the best Batman. Having said that, this is the best Dynamic Duo we've seen thus far. Why? Not only for their chaotic-yet-effective methods in the field, but just for how they are a COMPLETE inversion of the traditional Batman & Robin team. And they just have a chemistry to them that is amazing and oftentimes hilarious to watch in action, to the point where I am SO sad that we couldn't see more of them teaming up in The New 52.

Favourite Bat Villain: Poison Ivy

Granted, your definition of villain may vary, but for the most part, she has had an antagonistic relationship with Batman for the better part of her existence as a character, so I'm at least calling her a Bat Villain. There's been a lot of different interpretations of Pamela Isley over the years, from the cruel yet sympathetic seductress, to the borderline eco terrorist (not one of my favourites, but whatever floats your boat), to someone who has been shown to have legitimate heroic traits and wants to do the right thing but is ultimately misguided in her execution. But whichever version is your favourite, she nonetheless retains her status as a major player in Batman's stories, has maintained a strong fanbase, and will continue to be one of the most well-known and fondly remembered characters in Bat Family stories for a long time to come.

Well, I think that's everything... ... ...Oh wait, one more. :D

Favourite Batmobile: The Tumbler

I frakking love this thing. There's no penis-extension front for the massive engine, there's no disco-ball glowing lights or whatever the frak was in the Batmobile from Batman & Robin, it's just a car mixed with a tank that will mess up your crap. If you ever wanna make me happy, just park one of these outside my door and hand me the keys. Mind you, I will likely destroy everything in at least a mile radius, but it'll be one hell of a ride. For me, the saddest moment in The Dark Knight wasn't the death of Rachel, it wasn't the fall of Harvey Dent, it was when Joker blasted the Tumbler with a rocket, critically damaging it to the point where it'd need to self destruct. And yes, for those keeping track, the Batmobile lost its wheel and the Joker got away. XD With that said, I will admit to very quickly growing fond of the new Batmobile shown in Arkham Knight. That thing is a beast in all the most wonderful ways.

Anyway, feel free to comment on your own favourite Bat moments, characters, and so on, and hopefully, we'll do this again if they ever declare a Superman Day or a Wonder Woman Day. Ja né!