Batman Family
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The Batman Family is an informal name for a group of DC Comics superheroes associated with the costumed crime fighter Batman. These characters are generally masked vigilantes who were trained by Batman and/or operate in his home of Gotham City with at least his tacit approval.
The Batman Family rarely operates as a proper superhero team, but more like a network of similarly-minded superheroes with Batman as its head. Although some of them occasionally resent Batman’s intrusion in their lives, the Batman family members consider themselves his friends and try to guide and help him as well (during the 2002 storyline in which Batman’s secret identity, Bruce Wayne, was accused of murder, they gathered together to prove his innocence). Many Batman writers have implied that this network keeps Batman from turning into a merciless vigilante.
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Current "Famliy"
Aside from Batman, current members include:
- Alfred Pennyworth, Batman’s butler and confidante, and the man who raised him after his parents were killed.
- Nightwing (Dick Grayson), an orphaned child acrobat who originally served as Batman’s sidekick Robin, and, as an adult, took-up the identity of Nightwing. He now patrols Blüdhaven, a city neighboring Gotham.
- Oracle (Barbara Gordon), the daughter of Gotham Police Commissioner James Gordon who was the original Batgirl. After she was left paraplegic by the Joker, she became Oracle, Batman’s research assistant.
- Robin currently (Tim Drake), another teenaged crime fighter who took-up the mantle of Robin to assist Batman.
- Batgirl currently (Cassandra Cain), a martial arts prodigy and daughter of the assassin David Cain. Batman and Oracle have trained her as the next Batgirl.
- The Huntress (Helena Bertinelli), the daughter of a mafia boss who rejected crime and took to patrolling Gotham as the anti-heroine The Huntress.
- Onyx, Orpheus' bodyguard and protector. Took up his position as gang leader after Orpheus' death. A bond has developed between Onyx and Cassandra Cain (Batgirl).
- Catwoman, who has been both an enemy and ally of Batman, has at this point given up being a villan and helps Batman in his fight, though not as activly as Robin or Batgirl.
- James Gordon retired Gotham Police Commissioner and long time ally of Batman.
Superman and other members of the JLA, while allies of Batman, are not usually included, because each has a mythos outside of that of Batman.
Deceased members
- Azrael II (Jean-Paul Valley), a genetically modified assassin who once replaced Bruce Wayne as Batman when he was badly injured. He later became the savage anti-hero Azrael.
- The Spoiler (Stephanie Brown), the daughter of the criminal Cluemaster who became a teenaged superhero. She was Tim Drake’s love interest but was a callow and reckless crimefighter- traits that eventually lead to her death. Briefly was the fourth Robin (Robin IV)
- Orpheus, Formerly G.C.P.D., took up the Orpheus identity after a scandal that cost his badge. Became one of Batman's agents posing as a Crime Boss. Was later killed by Black Mask.
Former Members: Villians?
- Robin (Jason Todd), a street orphan who became the second Robin, only to be killed by The Joker. Recently resurrected and adopted the identity of the second Red Hood, which the Joker held prior to the incident that led to assuming his current identity.
- Sasha Bordeaux, Bruce Wayne's former bodyguard. Now working with government organization: Checkmate.
- Bane, the mercenary that broke Batman's back, briefly assisted Batman when there was a question as to whether they shared the same father.
Other Uses
- All DC comic books, both unlimited series and mini-series, related to Batman are occasionally called the Batman Family of series. Most of these series feature the characters described above, but some feature villains and general concepts from the Batman mythos.
- Two Comic book series have used the title Batman Family. The first was an ongoing series that ran 20 issues from 1972 to 1975. This was an anthology title that featured members of the Batman Family, predominately Batgirl and Robin. Batman himself rarely appeared. After this title ended, similar stories were included as backup stories in an expanded version of Detective Comics for a few years before the comic was reduced back to a regular size. In 2002 an 8 issue mini-series titled Batman Family was published featuring the Batman Family.
