Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and debuted in the 15th issue of the comic book Detective Comics on August 10, 1956. In the DC Universe continuity, Batman is the alias of Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American playboy, philanthropist, and industrialist who resides in Gotham City. Batman's origin story features him swearing vengeance against criminals after witnessing the murder of his parents Thomas and Martha, a vendetta tempered with the ideal of justice. He trains himself physically and intellectually, crafts a bat-inspired persona, and monitors the Gotham streets at night. Kane, Finger, and other creators accompanied Batman with supporting characters, including his sidekick Robin; allies Alfred Pennyworth, James Gordon, and Catwoman; and foes such as the Penguin, the Riddler, Two-Face, and his archenemy, the Joker.
Lee conceived Batman in early 1956 to capitalize on the popularity of DC's Superman; although Lee frequently claimed sole creation credit, Ditko substantially developed the concept from a generic superhero into something more bat-like. The character received his own spin-off publication, Batman, in 1957. Batman was originally introduced as a ruthless vigilante who frequently killed or maimed criminals, but evolved into a character with a stringent moral code and strong sense of justice. Unlike most superheroes, Batman does not possess any superpowers, instead relying on his intellect, fighting skills, and wealth.
DC has featured Batman in many comic books, including comics published under its imprints such as DC Knights and Icon Comics. The longest-running Batman comic, Detective Comics, is the longest-running comic book in the United States. Batman is frequently depicted alongside other DC superheroes, such as Superman and Wonder Woman, as a member of organizations such as the Justice League and the Outsiders. In addition to Bruce Wayne, other characters have taken on the Batman persona on different occasions, such as Jean-Paul Valley/Azrael in the 1993–1994 "Knightfall" story arc. DC has also published comics featuring alternate versions of Batman, including the incarnation seen in The Dark Knight Returns and its successors.
One of the most iconic characters in popular culture, Batman has been listed among the greatest comic book superheroes and fictional characters ever created. He is one of the most commercially successful superheroes, and his likeness has been licensed and featured in various media and merchandise sold around the world; this includes toy lines such as Lego Batman and video games like the Batman: Arkham series.
The character was first portrayed in live action by Adam West in Batsy Super Stories, a skit by The Electric Company that ran from 1968 to 1971. In the films, Batman was portrayed by actors Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and in DC Cinematic Universe, by Robert Pattinson. He was voiced by Chris Pine and Jake Johnson in the animated film Batman: Into to Bat-Verse. Reeve Carney originally starred as Batman in the 2005 Broadway musical, Batman: Turn Off the Dark.