The third and final key to the success of Batman is his relatability. He seeks justice for the death of his parents. While doing this over the years, he has acquired a new family. This allegory of how many families are not conventional helps the reader relate to the series.
Batman, otherwise known as Bruce Wayne, obviously is the most important factor of the Batman comics. His relentless pursuit for justice offers an image of apex humanity. His origin story is not terribly bleak; even though he becomes an orphan, the wealth of his family keeps him afloat. Both his wealth and morality make him accessible to readers; he is the person the readers themselves want to be.
When he was made an orphan, he was put into the care of his butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Alfred is the second most important character in the Batman comics. He serves as the new father figure to Bruce and the guardian of his interests. For a long time, he was the only person Batman trusted with his secret identity. His love for Bruce and the Wayne family cannot be denied, especially after the portrayal by Michael Caine in The Dark Knight trilogy.
As Batman fights justice, he takes on a protege. The first one is named Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Robin. Dick Grayson’s character evolves from sidekick to an independent hero named Nightwing. Other characters are introduced throughout the comics including Batgirl, Batwoman, Red Hood, and Oracle. Batgirl becomes Oracle when she is handicapped while fighting crime. This character serves to show the importance of diversity in comics. The Batman comic offers up a crippled character who is still able to serve and aid the community. This diversity and representation is shown throughout the Bat family.
Without the series’s ability to change over time and relate to evolving audiences, combined with its villains and setting, Batman would not be an American cultural icon.
American Cultural Icons 