Fanlore:Featured Article Archives/2022: Week 15
The Batfamily is the informal name fandom uses for Bruce "Batman" Wayne and his allies and supporting characters. It includes those who appear regularly in Batman comics such as: Detective Comics, Batman, Batman Confidential (2007-2011), Batman Family (Vol. 1 1975-1978, Vol. 2 2002), Legends of the Dark Knight (1989-2007), Shadow of the Bat (1992-2000), Batman Chronicles (1995-2001), Gotham Knights (2000-2006), and various mini-series.
There are also characters in the Batfamily who appear in the books of associated characters (Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, Birds of Prey, Azrael, Catwoman, various Huntress minis—as well as series about the Gotham City Police Department, like Gotham Central), and relevant adaptations of these media. Often these characters are closely associated with Batman, were trained by him, or are members of his adopted family. Batfamily encompasses a large section of the greater DCU fandom.
Many fans enjoy exploring the possible dynamics among the various members of the Batfamily, and the fandom has developed its own distinctive tropes and fanon characterisations. Batfamily fandom has attracted a number of second-degree fans who are more familiar with - and interested in - fanon than canon. The tendency of fans to characterise the Batfamily as a tightly-knit domestic unit has attracted criticism from some fans who consider it to be OOC, while others have pushed back against the tendency to privilege fanon characterisation over faithfulness to canon. However, still other fans argue that this is in keeping with the varying nature of canon, where characterisation is not necessarily static to begin with.