Batman and its Queer Characters

With the release of The Batman in theaters on March 4, the DC superhero has returned to the center of many conversations. While the newest installment of the franchise has certainly taken a new direction for Bruce Wayne's character, it has inspired many people to go back to the story's roots by returning to the DC Comics. 

Something you might not know is that there is a surprising amount of information that shows Batman is gay in the comics, even though this isn't something that's depicted in The Batman. Read on to find out how much LGBTQ+ representation is in the Batman franchise.

There are plenty of reasons Batman is the favorite superhero of many, and the comics and films have been breaking new ground since the beginning. As one example, Batman is one of the few superhero franchises where the villains wear disguises. One of the most famous villains is the Joker, whose real name and occupation are unknown. Instead, he is recognized for his green hair and clown makeup, but we know little to nothing about his true identity.

This adds an extra element of mystery and excitement, and the idea of the villain being 'unmasked' at the end keeps us hooked. Additionally, Batman is the most famous superhero not to possess superpowers. Instead, Bruce Wayne is a vigilante who relies on his intelligence and incredible fighting skills. His lack of powers makes Batman more relatable, and the hero is a complex and flawed human.

Similarly, Batman has continued to bust stereotypes with its LGBT+ representation. One of the latest developments of LGBTQ+ characters in Batman was less than a year ago, when Robin was revealed to be queer in the Urban Legends anthology. Although there was speculation about Robin's sexuality for decades, the comic released in August 2021 saw Batman's famous sidekick agree to go on a date with his friend Bernard, much to the joy of many fans of the series.

More famously, Harley Quinn was confirmed to be bisexual in the 2020 film Birds of Prey. However, what you might not know is that her sexuality was alluded to long before the film's release. While her most infamous relationship is the one she has with the Joker, she also has long-standing ties with Poison Ivy. In fact, in one recent comic, they even got married in Vegas.

While the sexuality of Harley Quinn and Robin was never exactly a secret, few people (apart from Bruce Wayne superfans) are aware of the speculation that lies behind the protagonist himself. The Batman portrays the titular character in a classic love affair with Catwoman, but there have been plenty of critics and fans who suggest that he's also engaged in a relationship with Robin.

Will Brooker, who's studied the Batman franchise in depth, argues that reading the character as queer is a perfectly valid interpretation; however, DC has never confirmed this, and so we've been left to assume that Bruce Wayne is heterosexual. However, LGBTQ+ acceptance in society has certainly come a long way since Batman was first introduced to DC in 1939. Who's to say that we won't have Batman confirmed as queer within the next five years?

Overall, there's a surprising amount of LGBTQ+ representation in the walls of Gotham, and we're very much here for it.