The titular protagonist of Angel had some uncanny similarities to Batman, which led him to be branded the Dark Knight of the Buffyverse. The similarities between Angel and Batman were no coincidence, though, as Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon was always open about his love for comics. Stylistically, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff, Angel, also felt like it's Whedon's unique take on Batman.
Interestingly, there were rumors that Angel's David Boreanaz was offered the role of Batman in Batman Begins, which the actor has since denied. However, these rumors would be unsurprising if they had any substance. Boreanaz's brooding portrayal of Angel further emphasized the character's similarity to Batman, so while fans never got to see Boreanaz as the caped crusader, various references prevalent throughout Angel slowly morphed him into the Batman of the Buffyverse.
Angel's Odd Relationship With A Law Enforcement Officer
One of the ways Angel referenced Batman was through Angel's relationship with Los Angeles PD detective Kate Lockley. Kate was introduced in the first series of Angel and quickly became a close ally of Angel after she learned more about the supernatural world around her. Initially, Kate believed Angel was a murderer. However, after discovering his true nature, she began using her position on the police force to forward information to Angel to aid his investigations. This was reminiscent of Batman's relationship with Commissioner James Gordon, the only member of law enforcement on Batman's side, helping him eradicate crime in Gotham city.
Angel Brooding Over Los Angeles Skyline
An iconic scene from the Angel television series presented Angel brooding over the Los Angeles skyline late at night. The moment was similar to several shots of Batman staring over Gotham's skyline in the comics, video games, and movies. Angel and Batman were illustrated as shadows within the city they protect, striking fear into any criminal lurking as it was never evident what their next moves might be. Batman and Angel were also nocturnal, predominantly acting on their business at night.
The Angel-mobile
In Angel season 1, episode 3, "In The Dark," Spike followed Oz to Los Angeles to steal a relic that rendered its owner unkillable. Spike watched Angel rescue Rachel from Lenny on the rooftops of Los Angeles, amused at his heroic ways. After Rachel thanked Angel for saving her in a nearby alley, Spike began to mock him for rescuing her, finishing his monologue with: "Quickly, to the Angel-mobile, away!" It was one of the funniest lines in the show and one of the more direct references to Batman in Angel.
Angel's Trauma Pushes Him To Do Good
While Angel's trauma was more difficult to sympathize with than Bruce Wayne's, the pain they both experienced pushed the pair to make a positive change. Angel strived to do good after he was cursed with a soul and lost his evil alter-ego, Angelus. After coming to with the pain and suffering he caused innocent people as Angelus, Angel put his life as Angelus behind him and focused on using his vampiric powers for good. However, Batman is the product of what someone like Angelus does to the innocent people they hurt, as Bruce only becomes Batman after a petty criminal murders his parents.
Angel Investigations Mirrors Detective Batman
Part of the reason why Batman was such a fan-favorite superhero was that he was also one of the world's best detectives. Angel referenced this by turning Angel into a supernatural detective in Los Angeles, further highlighting the purposeful similarities between the pair. While in Los Angeles, Angel set up Angel Investigations to help individuals deal with supernatural beings without giving away the fact he was a vampire himself. It's more out there than any of Batman's detective work, but the similarity was striking.
Angel Has A Quirky Team Of Sidekicks
Throughout the years, Batman had various sidekicks to help him take down the criminals of Gotham. Many of Angel's sidekicks in Angel were similar to Batman's, which further solidified his role as the Buffyverse's caped crusader. For example, in episode 21, season 3, "Benediction," Connor was referred to as "The Boy Wonder," a direct reference to Robin. Furthermore, Faith also had similarities to Jason Todd through her antihero ways, and Wesley was a voice of reason for Angel, in similar ways to Alfred.
Angel Always Wears Black
While Angel doesn't have a costume like Batman, it's clear that Angel was inspired by his color scheme. Throughout Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, Angel was always wearing black. Even Angel's long black leather trench coat was similar to Batman's iconic cape. Through the character's clothing choices and aesthetic, it became clear how much Angel creator Joss Whedon was inspired by Batman when creating Angel.
Neither Angel Or Batman Are Emotional
Angel suppressed his emotions to keep Angelus at bay. His behavior and mannerisms were similar to Batman's. Batman typically wasn't expressive to incite fear into criminals, but he still felt deep empathy – otherwise, he wouldn't have protected Gotham the way he did. The same could be argued about Angel, and while the pair both instinctively keep vulnerability at bay, their emotionless personas make Angel and Batman iconic.