Is BATMAN one of the great 20th century literary characters?

I'll keep this short, as this will probably garner fewer than five responses.

Although I was weaned on the heroes of the DC and Marvel universe, I now find myself indifferent to their comic/cinematic exploits. It takes a Jeph Loeb or Paul Dini effort to even raise an eyebrow. Not at all a disparagement on the medium; I've simply lost interest.

Yet just as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was no mere monster scare, but a profound morality tale--perhaps, moreso than Genesis or Darwin, our defining Creation Myth--I think Bob Kane and Bill Finger's baby lurks in his own pantheon, completely transcending any and all of his pulp/funnybook roots. It's a marvelous mythology--damn near impossible to destroy. Part Byron, Poe, Stoker, Doyle and, in the more intriguing chronicles, Dostoevsky.

This malcontent's gonna endure. Who's with me?

He is a modern day Achilles; powerful, yet flawed and imperfect.

That is, Batman and Superman and Spiderman and Wolverine should be given as much consideration as any other character in a work of fiction, be it a novel or film or whatever. Comics are just another medium, and while not always as serious as other novels, can be just as culturally relevant. And usually characters, especially the big ones, are very well developed.

And of course, Finger and Kane... then yes.

His work on Daredevil in the 80's really soured him for me, especially following Miller's remarkable stint on that book.

What we as a people watch & read for entertainment - along with the heroes & villains in that entertainment - are a part of us.

Hamlet started out as entertainment for the masses too.

The story...the origins, the trials, and the character flaws of Batman are as deep as any Literary characters. Hell, compare the movie adaptations of Batman to those of Hamlet. You get some good ones, and some bad ones, but the story itself is timeless. The story could be repeated in any number of movies, and they wouldn't get old.

I don't go for costumed supers, but Bats is fascinating.

And when handled well, like by Frank Miller - and I'd love to see Alan Moore tackle the Dark Knight - Batman is a true literary juggernaut and icon for our times that can speak to us and for us.

In many ways, Spiderman is one as well, but he doesn't have the dark side that makes Batman so compelling in that tragic hero/greek mythology kind of way.

They are the two truly human superheroes.

Mostly about the Joker, but Bats had a major presence.

And it's a testament to Moore's craft that even one of his lesser stories turned out to be the most absorbing Joker one-shot ever penned.

IIRC Barbara Gordon was only seen in a wheelchair after that.

Damn but Moore has a dark mind. Brilliant, but dark.

The Spider-Man chronicles are warm and inventive, but in the end, they are confections. As you said, the underpinnings aren't there; and as iconic as his villains are, the Green Goblins and Doc Ocks are difficult to take seriously, whilst the Joker, Two Face, the Scarecrow, and the Catwoman are imbued with a Dionysian majesty.

Really, Nolan's upcoming The Dark Knight is as important a genre film as Lucas's Revenge of the Sith. If he pulls it off--and there's no doubt he will--we'll not only be treated to the greatest comic adaptation, but one of the more intense spectacles of the past decade.

I think Batman is, and not Spidey...but you all ready know I'm biased as hell.....:D

to infuse noteworthy mentions as to medical science & metaphysical thoughts of her time; my sense is that our little Mary was much appreciated by her contemporary Lit peeps...a demure, spooky one that

And a damned funny one, at that.

Call me a snob, I don't really care

Do you take issue with Time Magazine including Alan Moore's Watchmen in the Top 100 list of 20th century fiction?

than it does about the literary merits of a $10 comic book.
A friend of mine who is heavily involved in the comics scene gave me a copy of The Watchmen. I honestly enjoyed it, but I never had any illusions about what I was reading.
"The Count of Monte Cristo", "The Prisoner of Zenda", "The Man in the Iron Mask" and other "thrilling tales of adventure" also enjoyed both respect and widespread popularity in their day. They didn't make it into the literary canon either. I'll wager that the modern day protagonists in tights will also suffer the same fate.

Look what he did for the spinach industry.

in the 60's, Batman has always been an intriguing character...

"Robin, do you ever wonder why it is we are always able to overcome the obstacles set by our adversaries?"

"Is it because we are smarter than them, Batman?"

"No, Robin. I believe it is because our hearts are pure."

Otherwise, with apologies, he's pretty boring if you're over the age of ten.

Of course, I am a 60s-phile so I may not be the most impartial of people to ask... :D

To the Bat Poles, Boy Wonder!