Three years ago I talked about Batman team-up's with characters from different franchises and/or comic companies. That's all and well good, but what about team up's with his fellow DC heroes? Aside from Superman, who will always be The World's Finest, that's one area I never covered. So let's talk about some of them.
The funny thing about Batman is whikle he is a dark loner, he also works great with other heroes. He's had real partners including Robin, The Outsiders, and every version of The JLA. This is because despite his grim style he is also a good teacher. The other heroes respect him and look up to him, and while Batman has flaws he is always willing to offer guidance. It also helps that since he has no godlike powers, others probably feel less intimated than they do with someone like Superman who can save the day all by himself. I said before when I discovered the old Brace and The Bold series I loved them. Here are ten of my favorite Batman team up's with DC characters.
And yes I know about the Brave and The Bold cartoon but I've never watched it. Let's limit to this comics, and no team books since that's not the same.
The Joker
Yeah how does this work? To be fair it probably wouldn't fly today. But back in the old days, before The Joker was so psychotic it was almost ludicrous, these two teamed up a couple times. Remember, Joker my be a homicidal maniac but he's also smart. So when his talents can be used to help, why not take advantage of it? He teamed up with others in his rogue's gallery but these are the memorable one's
Green Arrow
As was pointed out recently during the big DC TV crossover, Green Arrow and Batman aren't far from each other. They are both wealthy people who got into being heroes as means of getting revenge. Course, there motives aren't exactly the same and there methods are very different. Green Arrow being a little more aggressive.
Black Canary is so often paired with Green Arrow we forget she works great with others too. Her team-up's with Batman are always cool. I love how Batman pours on the charm with her, as if he really respects her as a mutual crimefighter. Unless they're being written by Frank Miller at least
Wonder Woman
This was always the team up I wanted to see, but didn't seem to. I guess that these two seem soo different, almost more than Superman and Batman do, that there was just something about pairing the two up I always found irresistible.
Green Lantern
These two were never the best of friends. I never really understood why, I guess there were just to many differences in how they operated. So when they did team up the tension tending to escalate. He's also teamed with other space heroes like Adam Strange and of course Hawkman.
Elongated Man
While Elongated Man is usually more associated wiyj Flash, since that is were the character was first created, he teamed up several times with Batman. Course there's one simple reason for that, since Ralph Dibny is a damn good detective. Of course he's also a bit of an oddball making their pairings a little more fun than Batman can stand. Same when he teams with other off the wall heroes like Plastic Man and The Creeper.
The Flash
You'd think Batman wold have a hard time getting along with Barry Allen, but with these two there seems to be more mutual respect. They pair very well together course it helps that Barry is a police scientist which isn't far from being a detective.
Aquaman
Much lisle Green Lantern it seems that when these two get together they find themselves more at odds than anything. It seems like every time they met in the old days they were fighting each other!
The Phantom Stranger
Another odd one which somehow works. Batman working with supernatural beings is hard to pull off. Because obviously the supernatural being is going be leagues ahead of Batman. He has paired with Dr.Fate, Spectre, and Zatanna to name a few. Why does this one stick? Guess it goes back to that respect thing, when the Stranger can't find the answers and needs a detective to help who else to go to but the World's Greatest?
Robin/Nightwing
Yeah this seems like a no brainer but after Dick Grayson left to form his own identity, he and Batman would team up often. Dick would even become Batman a few times...but that's another story. Batman serves to remind Dick that you can't completely escape your past, and to appreciate it. Of course he's also worked with Batgirl and Catwoman but this is always the interesting one
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TONS more out there. There aren't bery many heroes in the DCU who haven't teamed up with Batman at some point. If I missed your favorite, comment and let me know. As I said I hoped to talk a lot more about Batman with his big 80th anniversary coming up, so stay tuned! Same bat time, same bat channel.
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