Batman (Bruce Wayne) is a popular DC Comics character who has inspired numerous sets, minifigure variants and other LEGO products and media, including a series of video games and a theatrical film. Originally released in 2006 as part of the Batman theme of the same name, Batman has since been featured in sets from DC Comics Super Heroes, The LEGO Movie, Dimensions, The LEGO Batman Movie, DUPLO and Juniors. In addition to this extensive collection of sets, Batman has also brought along LEGO versions of his allies in the Bat Family and Justice League, plus many of the villains that make up his Rogues Gallery, from famous arch-enemies such as The Joker and Mr. Freeze up to obscure enemies like King Tut and Polka-Dot Man
Will Arnett voices Batman/Bruce Wayne in the spin-offs of The LEGO Movie. Troy Baker voices Batman in the LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes series of direct-to-DVD films, as well as LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham and LEGO Dimensions; the latter sees his version of Batman interact with that of Will Arnett. Regarding the difference between the classic DC Comics Batman and LEGO Batman, Chris Miller, co-director of The LEGO Movie, said: "[Batman] is a little bit more selfish and self-involved than other things we've seen him in. In the end, he's still a hero and doing the right thing and being a badass." [1]
Batman minifigures use a special hood shape that comes in two varieties: long ears and short ears. The long-eared type was introduced on the first Batman minifigures and reformed in 2012 with slimmer ears. The short-eared version was first released in 2015 and has since been mainly used in the Super Heroes theme. All hoods fit a minifigure's head, so the eye holes actually shine through to the minifigure's forehead. To achieve the white "comic book" eye effect, the minifigure's head underneath is printed with a headband or goggles that align with the eyes of the hood. Batman figures based on the character as depicted in The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Batman Movie represent Batman's exaggerated personality by printing cartoonish eyes on the headband to combine with silly facial expressions underneath. The short-eared version does not have a contoured chin strap like the long-eared version, so Batman figures who use it tend to have their faces pressed onto a head that matches the color of the hood, which usually leads to that Batman's skin color is darker than the usual light nougat.
Generally, Batman's color scheme will contrast the black or earth blue hood, cape, gloves, and sometimes trunks and boots with the lighter spandex/armor underneath, although sometimes every part is black. Even in these cases, the bat symbol and tool belt will usually be clear or metallic to add some color. This is a mixture of novelty and "Super Suit" variants that generally use brighter color schemes, but the cowl and cape are still typically darker than the rest of the costume.
In addition, Batman also has a scalloped cape that fits around his neck. This is sometimes swapped for a jetpack that imitates a pair of bat wings. There will be a bat symbol printed on his chest and a utility belt above his waist. Minifigures from The LEGO Batman Movie line generally use a special piece for the belt instead of printing. A muscular pattern adorns most comic and cartoon characters, while some live-action versions, particularly those based on The Dark Knight Trilogy, opt for an armored look.
The Batman figures that are part of the Mighty Micros line, like the LEGO Movie versions, feature goofy facial expressions, but go even further in creating a cartoony look by simplifying the printing to nothing more than an enlarged bat symbol and a blocky belt and replacing the normal full-sized legs with smaller legs used for short characters such as Yoda and The Penguin.
Batman has also been released as a DUPLO figure in different color variants and as a LEGO Games microfigure.
Batman has used numerous accessories over the years, but the most common are a batarang and a grapple.
In the video games
Batman first appears in LEGO Batman: The Videogame where he has only one variant, identical to the black and gray variant of the original Batman theme. However, he is able to obtain a total of four Super Suits that give him additional powers. Batman's abilities in each of these costumes are:
LEGO Batman
After a massive breakout from Arkham Asylum, Batman and Robin must bring fifteen villains to justice. Together they prevent The Riddler, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze and Clayface rob the Gotham Gold Reserves. They then prevent The Penguin, Catwoman, Bane, Killer Croc and Man-Bat from besieging the city with an army of Penguin Minions. Finally, they rescue Commissioner Gordon, defeat Harley Quinn, The Scarecrow, Mad Hatter and Killer Moth, and save the city from The Joker's laughing gas.
LEGO Batman 2
Bruce Wayne's Man of the Year award is stolen by The Joker. After Joker is defeated by Batman and Robin, Superman arrives too late to provide help, much to Batman's annoyance. Shortly afterwards, Martian Manhunter warns Batman of another massive outbreak from Arkham. As Batman and Robin round up the escaped criminals, they realize that Joker is missing and conclude that he was broken out by Lex Luthor. Searching for Joker, Batman and Robin investigate Ace Chemicals, but Joker has already left with the chemicals needed to make synthetic Kryptonite. A fire starts, trapping the Dynamic Duo, but they are saved by Superman. Despite this, Batman still refuses to involve him. Batman and Robin infiltrate a LexCorp Juggernaut to steal the synthetic Kryptonite at the expense of Joker who destroys the Batmobile, but further analysis shows it to be harmless. While Batman locks it away with the rest of his Kryptonite as an emergency in case Superman turns evil. However, a tracking beacon on the fake Kryptonite allows Joker and Lex to infiltrate the Batcave, resulting in the destruction of the Bat-bike, Batwing and Batboat. While the villains steal the real Kryptonite, they plant bombs to destroy the Batcave. Finally, Batman gives in to Robin's suggestion to call Superman to save them. Together, Batman and Superman head to LexCorp while Robin stays behind to repair the damaged vehicles.
While at LexCorp, Batman and Superman discover a large Joker-like robot on its way to Gotham, designed to emit a mind-altering gas that Lex and Joker will spread across the United States to convince people to elect Lex as president to elect. Batman and Superman try to destroy it before it can reach the city, but Lex weakens Superman with Kryptonite. As Superman slowly regains his strength, they are knocked down by the robot and forced underground into the subway. Superman moves past Joker to City Hall and destroys the gas-emitting flower on the robot, foiling Lex and sending the robot on a rampage.
As Superman fights the robot, Robin arrives in a multi-colored Batmobile that is immune to Lex's technology. The robot chases Batman and Robin through the city, with Batman driving in such a way that the trail of Kryptonite the robot leaves behind resembles Joker's face in an image large enough to be seen from the Justice League Watchtower. Realizing what this means, Martian Manhunter calls Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash and Cyborg to Gotham. As the robot destroys the foundation of Wayne Tower while Lex decides to get revenge on Bruce Wayne for winning the Man of the Year award, Superman and Wonder Woman hold him in place while Batman, Robin, GL, Flash and Cyborg robot attack and knock. it from the top of the building.
Batman, Robin and the Justice League in the Batcave
With Wayne Tower safe, Superman buckles under the pressure of exerting himself while still weak. Together, the rest of the Justice League (and Robin) defeat Joker and Lex. Ultimately, Batman must admit that the combined threat of Joker and Lex was too much for him and Robin to overcome alone.
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
As they fight their way through the sewers to find Killer Croc, Batman teaches Robin to overcome his emotions before they get in the way of their crime-fighting efforts. After Croc escapes, the Dynamic Duo returns to the Batcave where Batman discovers a strange object in the sky and shortly afterwards loses control of himself and attacks Robin and Alfred. Batman regains himself just as Robin gives a heartfelt speech imploring him to remember their partnership, but Batman refuses to acknowledge that this saved him, instead explaining that it was the result of an electric shock.
Shortly afterwards, Batman discovers what became of Killer Croc as a distress signal from Martian. Manhunter informs them that a team of supervillains consisting of Croc, The Joker, Lex Luthor, Cheetah, Solomon Grundy and Firefly calling themselves the Legion of Doom has infiltrated. the Watchtower. Batman and Robin head into space where they encounter Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Cyborg and manage to retake the Watchtower, defeat the villains and rescue Green Lantern and The Martian. However, a greater threat soon emerges when the source of Batman's mind control is revealed to be Brainiac, a super-intelligent alien android who plans to use the power of the Lantern Corps to shrink the Earth and add it to his collection . Brainiac takes control
