Unlike other popular heroes such as Superman and Spider-Man, Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, has never had a long romantic relationship. However, this rarely discourages him from finding new partners. In The Batman, he once again falls for Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, though their future remains uncertain after she leaves Gotham at the end of the movie.
Batman's relationship arcs in the comics, animation and live-action have been intriguing, but which of his lovers are held in high regard by fans? Every fan has their favorite, but according to those on Reddit, a few love interests stand out as the ones that had a better connection with the Caped Crusader.
Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman
Catwoman and Batman's love story has played out in many DC comics, movies and TV shows, and fans love it. HilarityEnsuez feels that "the Cat and the Bat are kindred spirits" with FewWatermelonlesson0 adding, "Catwoman. Others need not apply."
They're right about Batman and Catwoman being kindred spirits since on multiple occasions, they have teamed up to send Gotham's baddies to Arkham Assylum. Such is the case in The Batman where Selina makes good use of her gig as a waitress at the Iceberg Lounge to spy on criminals. And as one of the most important of the Bat-family, Catwoman shares Batman's "No Kill" rule too. Since she has appeared the most in live-action and animated projects, writers and directors definitely think she is Bruce's ideal soulmate too.
Silver St Cloud
Gotham socialite Silver St Cloud is one of the people to not only date Bruce Wayne but also find out that he is Batman. Maccai3 feels she ticks one of the most important boxes, which is "someone that Alfred approved of."
Alfred's blessing means a lot to Batman. Moreover, Silver is one of the few women that Bruce Wayne actually proposes to, something he does in Batman: Widening Gyre. What makes her relationship with the billionaire interesting is the lack of stability, as well as the eventual tragedy. The two keep breaking up and making up because of her inability to tolerate his double life. She ultimately makes the firm decision of leaving senator Evan Gregory for him but is soon killed by the Joker.
Andrea "Andi" Beaumont, aka Phantasm
During her appearance in Mask Of The Phantasm, Andi mirrors Batman by also working as a vigilante. Though she clashes with Bruce, the two mostly get along and A_Dog_Chasing_Cars labels her "the best love story he's had."
Having things in common is essential for relationships to work and Andi mirrors Bruce in a number of ways. She is not only gutsy and eager to punch outlaws but is also the daughter of a billionaire. Most importantly, it's her father's death that inspires her to be a vigilante. Sadly, she and Bruce never follow up on their promise to marry each other.
Dr. Chase Meridian
Val Kilmer's Batman gets to briefly date Chase in Batman Forever and the two have some great moments. Redditor DragonStation vouches for her, writing, "I would say Chase Meridian has by far the most interesting dynamic with Bruce/Batman. Kidman’s performance is great too."
Like Poison Ivy, Chase takes the initiative by intentionally seducing Batman. And she sure does have great pickup lines, some of which qualify for inclusion among the best Batman Forever quotes. Nicole Kidman's performance definitely makes the character more likable and it's no surprise that Chase later became a regular in the comics, having initially been a movie-exclusive character.
Wonder Woman
Idek45000 says "Batman and WW relationship in JLU was amazing." The two Justice League have rarely been paired in other DC media but they sure do connect in the animated series.
Sometimes great love stories are born out of unusual circumstances and that is the case with Wonder Woman and Batman, who pretend to kiss in order to hide from the Thanagarians. From there on, romance blossoms, with Wonder Woman realizing she wasted her time crushing on Clark Kent yet the true love of her life was a mere mortal.
Talia al Ghul
The earlier, less-villainous version of Talia got along well with Batman. BasedFunnyValentine vouches for her, stating that she was great "Back when she was a morally complex anti-hero who struggled between the two men who meant the world to her."
As the only woman to bear Bruce Wayne a child, Talia has a special place among Bruce's list of lovers. In recent comic issues, she has become villainous to the extent of hiring The Heretic to kill her own son, Damian. Before that, she carries herself as a ive partner, even persuading him to return to Gotham and rebuild when it becomes a "No Man's Land" after an earthquake.
Vicki Vale
Movie fans got introduced to Vicki Vale in Batman 89 but she has many great arcs in the comics too. Regarding her and Bruce, Mcclane88 says "the pre-Crisis romance between them does feel like a soap opera."
Vicki Vale can be thought of as the Lois Lane to Bruce Wayne. She is a reporter too who happens to be proactive and good-hearted. Like Julie, she always finds herself in danger but Batman always saves her. Overall Vicki is undoubtedly one of the best characters in the Buttonverse and fans will be hoping for her to make a live-action return soon.
Zatanna
Zatanna and Batman remain friends in many comic issues before they finally decide to date in Batman: Urban Legends #11. And Fidyp83 sees her as the perfect partner, writing, "Zatanna is awesome."
The long buildup to Zatanna and Batman's relationship makes it all the more worthwhile. As a sorceress, she has had her own multiple arcs too in DC media, without Batman having to show up. This makes her more independent compared to the Caped Crusader's other lovers that mostly have to be paired with him.
Julie Madison
Madison doesn't get mentioned enough like other love interests but she has her moments. DarkCrusade25 states "she has a really great run as the one true love back in 2015/2016."
As a love interest, Julie has shone by being portrayed as a damsel in distress. The Dark Knight normally finds himself in situations where he has to save her and he has never failed. Alternate storylines have also had Bruce dedicate his life to helping her, such as when he gets resurrected after being killed by the Joker and donates his Batman paraphernalia to Julie's kindergarten.
Rachel Dawes
As one of the most heroic characters in The Dark Knight, Rachel will always be the one that got away. She eventually chooses Harvey because, as The_Godot puts it. "she truly loved Bruce but not Batman."
Bruce Wayne rarely has to fight for love with another man but in this case, Dent proves to be a worthy opponent. After all, he is a very competent District Attorney. What makes Rachel appealing is that she is a traditional lover. She strongly believes in marriage, doesn't tolerate chaos, and even takes time to write letters. Sadly, she dies.
