# Ya know, the only thing remotely bat-like about Batman is the cave. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288 "2003-02-15T19:30:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/1 "2003-02-15T19:30:22Z")
The commercial for Daredevil got me thinking; Batman should have been blind and had sonar. Then I realized that Batman wasn’t even remotely bat-like save the fact that his hideout was a cave. No hanging upside down, no coming out only at night. Nothing! Batman really blows. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/2 "2003-02-15T19:38:48Z")
For the most part, Batman does only come out at night. Just as with real bats, there are exceptions. Batman, unlike DD, is a normal human, albeit with cool toys and exceptional training. The Bat motif is an attempt to scare the Bejeezus out of criminals, “a superstitious and cowardly lot”, and it works quite well for him. Batman rules. And bats can see. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/3 "2003-02-15T19:59:17Z")
I’ll put it to you that Robin isn’t very robin-like. Shouldn’t he be out fighting crime during the day, since robins aren’t night creatures? And why is he Batman’s little helper? If bats are mammals, shouldn’t his helper be Flying Squirrel Boy or Vole Man? ---
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/4 "2003-02-15T20:27:16Z")
It’s the cape. It’s all about the cape. Seriously, some of the freakier appearances of Batman are when it’s done from the criminal’s point of view. This usually ends up being a sillouetted figure with pointed ears, eyes with no pupils, and the outline of very…large…wings. We all have our complaints about the first Batman movie, but you gotta love the criminal being hauled away on the stretcher: “It was a bat…a giant bat…” ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/5 "2003-02-15T20:29:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KidCharlemagne \* > \*\*The commercial for Daredevil got me thinking; Batman should have been blind and had sonar. \*\* You _do_ know that bats aren’t blind, right? ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/6 "2003-02-15T21:14:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Darwin’s Finch \* > \*\*You _do_ know that bats aren’t blind, right? \*\* Yea but I liked blindness for dramatic effect and to emphasize the sonar. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/7 "2003-02-15T21:18:53Z")
Batman decided to be a superhero, so it’s probably not his fault he’s blind and sonarless. It should be noted that Hal Seeger’s Batman parody Batfink did have sonar-a supersonic sonar radar, to be exact (as well as wings like a shield of steel). ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/8 "2003-02-16T00:29:39Z")
Did it ever bug you that batman couldn’t fly? the cape always made it seem like he ought to be able to fly, or at least glide. ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/9 "2003-02-16T00:41:32Z")
Hey, you know, Spider-Man should have webbing coming out of his butt! And Iron Man should be able to press clothes with his steam heat powers! And why is he called _Plasic_ Man? Plastic doesn’t stretch, rubber does! Or in other words, there’s such a thing as attempting to interpret things abit too literally. Batman is awesome just as he is. ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/10 "2003-02-16T00:42:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sock Munkey \* > \*\*Did it ever bug you that batman couldn’t fly? \*\* You have heard of the Batwing? And the Batcopter? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/11 "2003-02-16T01:17:42Z")
Yeah, it’s always been a little odd that just about the only member of the Justice League that can’t fly is the guy dressed like a flying mammal. You’d think that at some point he would have upgraded to an antigravity belt, or something. If Batman were blind with sonar powers, it would probably adversely affect the whole secret identity thing, insofar as people tend to assume that bats are blind and would therefore immediately suspect blind playboy Bruce Wayne. This is probably the reason Matt Murdoch called himself “Daredevil, the Man Without Fear,” instead of “Blindfighter, the Man Without Sight.” ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/12 "2003-02-16T05:22:04Z")
And while we’re at it, Daredevil isn’t very daemonic, is he? Does he fight against God for the throne of heaven? Does he tempt souls away from the path of righteousness so that he may torment them forever in a firery underworld? No? Well, there you go then. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/13 "2003-02-16T05:34:53Z")
Ah, but Daredevil is not supposed to resemble _the_ Devil, merely _a_ devil. Specifically, **Hot Stuff** , the Good Li’l Devil. Look, it’s perfectly obvious: Hot Stuff teamed up with Casper the Friendly Ghost; Daredevil teamed up with Ghost Rider. Plus, the costumes are pretty identical, other than the diaper. What more do you want, man? ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/14 "2003-02-16T06:34:02Z")
—Yeah, it’s always been a little odd that just about the only member of the Justice League that can’t fly— Oh whatever: they make up some damn crap whenever they need someone to fly. Hell, even the Flash gets to fly sometimes for no particular reason. Of course, that’s not as funny as on the superfriends cartoon when they re-use the “everyone flying out of the hall of justice” animation stills… which often ends up showing some heroes flying out on a mission to save themselves (saving captured superfriends is what the superfriends spend about half of their time doing). ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/15 "2003-02-16T06:45:16Z")
Batlike or not, he kicked Superman’s ass once, and isn’t that all that really counts? ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/16 "2003-02-16T06:47:32Z")
You are familiar with this, I take it? [http://www.seanbaby.com/super.htm](http://www.seanbaby.com/super.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/17 "2003-02-16T07:43:54Z")
**Fibber** , I’m sure a mod is gonna come in here any minute and break that link, but just in case you post too many more links like that one before then there is a no linking to pornography rule on this board (the banners at the bottom of the page). All links must be at least two clicks away from porn. Kinda funny actually, because I recently started a thread concerning a different Seanbaby page on the [Super Friends](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=161485) recently. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/18 "2003-02-16T12:03:50Z")
It seems like you could build some kind of collapsible glider thingy into that cape without too much difficulty. Don’t ya think? ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/19 "2003-02-16T15:16:27Z")
Batman Beyond has that rocket boot and glider wing getup. It comes closer to flying than Brucie ever did. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-know-the-only-thing-remotely-bat-like-about-batman-is-the-cave/155288/20 "2003-02-16T20:58:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FisherQueen \* > \*\*It seems like you could build some kind of collapsible glider thingy into that cape without too much difficulty. Don’t ya think? \*\* He had that in Batman Returns but I don’t remember ever seeing it again.