26. Bat Transport
Have we not all wished we had a Batmobile at least once in our lives? The beauty is, as the character develops at a parallel to society, the artists who draw him are able to constantly re-design the range of vehicles that Batman utilizes (which of course includes planes, boats and bikes) so that they remain fresh and contemporary, regardless of the era.
Lets be honest, human fascination with transportation machines is one thing that will never ever wane, particularly amongst the men-folk.
27. The Bat-Signal
The Bat-Signal is a perfect narrative method of summoning Batman to action, as it acts as a pre-justification for his grievous brutality, which could easily turn a sensitive reader off. If Jim Gordon has fired up the ancient spotlight, then you know the situation is dire. You know the police cant handle it alone, or they wouldnt be summoning the Dark Knight.
Its such an iconic part of the character that youll rarely get through a storyline without seeing it somewhere. And its always satisfying to see how different writers, artists, animators and film-makers use its narrative power to drive their Batman stories.
28. Robin
One of the most criminally underrated kid sidekicks amongst the non-comic book community (we call you normies), Robins on-going story is tinged with just as much tragedy and dramatic brilliance as even the Caped Crusaders himself. Whether youre talking about Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake or Damian Wayne theres something at the core of the character that consistently casts him as a lynch-pin in the Batman legacy.
He was traditionally there in the beginning to help children to empathise with the Dark Knight and while he still serves that purpose hes grown over the years into his own thing all together (former Robin Dick Grayson, now Nightwing, has enjoyed his own book lines for example, even before the new 52). Whoever hides beneath the eye-mask, theres always been a Robin and there always will be in one form or another, as long as there are kids out there that fantasize that its them.
29. Alfred Pennyworth
And while were on the topic of unsung heroes Alfred Pennyworth is perhaps the most epic butler in all of fiction. Its not just that hes an ex-RAF medic and the only reason Batman is able to recover from his wounds and keep hitting the rooftops; hes also the only character in the Batman world that really knows the man behind the Cowl. He sees further through the exterior than Robin or anyone else in the Bat-family, through the aggression, through the pain, through the Dark Knight and to the very core of Bruce Wayne.
30. Commissioner James Gordon
GCPD Commissioner Gordon is essentially Batmans direct line to the heart of Gotham City. Their story together is painted to have tumultuous foundations; in the beginning, Gordon treated Batman like any other criminal, pursued him as he would a crazed vigilante. But eventually he came to recognize the fact, as we do, that Gotham does need a Batman.
Jim Gordon is faced with consistently human problems. We all know how work stress feels, we can relate to his on-going relationship complications and with the state of Gotham we can most certainly relate to his stoic reverence of the Batman. Much like how Han Solo is the human anchor in the original Star Wars films, Jim Gordon brings the plot firmly back down to Earth whenever it starts to feel like reality is taking a rain check.