1. Batman
You had to know Bats was in here somewhere. And here he is, the current man of the hour, Mr. Wayne. Background Really? I have to explain this? You haven't seen Batman begins?! What's wrong with you? Rich little Bruce Wayne's parents get shot by a mugger in an alleyway leading to him flying around rooftops, dressed as a bat, fighting crime. There, dealt with. Moving on. The part being an Orphan plays It is at the core of our hero, he is totally driven by the death of his parents to an extent none of the other characters on this list are. To say the death of Batman's parents had a domino effect assumes you are playing dominoes with skyscrapers. There's no way of getting away from it, without the death of Brucey boy's parents there would be no caped crusader and therefore no story at all. Harry Potter's story may be wound around the death of his parents and without Superman's Mum and Dad kicking in the bucket little Kal-El wouldn't be slumming it here on Earth. But neither of them are driven to their goal as singularly as Batman. By sheer will power he changes not only himself but his world because of the death of his parents. It's kind of a big deal. Companions Alfred (omitting Robin as this is film depictions) has been with Bats through thick and thin trading quips, sharing the burden of secrets and sewing up wounds. Well, except if you count Rises where Bruce made Alfred cry and then run away for most of the film.