The cancelation of The Flash’s release on June 23, 2023, to check out the Caped Crusader's next appearance. But given that Batman has appeare so many times in various media already, there’s a good understanding in what makes the character tick.
This includes Bruce Wayne’s greatest fears, which have ranged from rational ones such as losing Bat-family to more personal fears such as having to forego his no-killing rule. Considering Batman is seen as the personification of toughness, it’s worth analyzing the things that can strike terror in the heart of even the Dark Knight himself.
Batman Is Afraid To Be In The Company Of Bats
Ironically, Batman is afraid of the very creatures he uses as part of his aesthetic. As a child, Bruce’s fear of bats stemmed from falling in a cave where he encountered the animal. He continued to harbor it as an adult, although Bruce used the very fear as his strength.
Batman has been able to use bats to his advantage because the average person fears the animal. But this doesn’t mean he’s particularly comfortable in their company, as he chooses to channel his fear into his vigilantism rather than let it envelop him.
To Watch His Friends Fall Apart
Batman never its it, but he has a special place in his heart for his friends. As a result of never having had any growing up, Batman tends to be overprotective toward them for fear of watching them fall apart. This includes the worry of potentially losing these people’s friendships in his life.
This was seen in the Justice League TV series, where Batman tended to do things like keep tabs on Hawkgirl’s shady suitor for her safety and attend The Flash’s commemoration ceremony to keep them happy. Batman doesn’t ever show his appreciation for his friends, but he’s also scared of losing them.
To Be Controlled By Anyone Else
Batman is a team player only when he’s in control, having opted to be a part-time member of the Justice League for the majority of its existence. He’s also been afraid of being controlled overall, which primarily comes from living in Gotham City when it was run by organized crime.
The fear of losing control is a primary factor for why Batman ensures he has leverage over everyone he knows. This was seen in Suicide Squad when Bruce instantly shut Amanda Waller down when she attempted to strong-arm him over her knowledge of his secret identity.
To Face A Life Of Isolation
Although it seems as if Batman might be a lone wolf, he’s rarely ever all on his own. Bruce has a fear of loneliness due to the feelings of abandonment he had his parents were taken from him, following which he’s always made sure to be around the likes of Alfred or the extended Bat-family.
It’s partly due to the fear of being lonely that Batman has gone on to be in partnerships with so many people, including the entire Justice League. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm best showed his fear of loneliness when he was prepared to give up being Batman for Andrea Beaumont, whose loss caused him to retreat to his sullen exterior.
To Face A Situation He Can't Understand
The few times Batman has been seen visibly scared is when he’s been caught off guard. Due to his habit of always being prepared, Batman isn’t equipped to face situations where he doesn’t know what to do. These moments lead to him grasping for some sort of clarity.
It was seen in The Batman when the protagonist was horrified to learn that he’d played right into the Riddler’s game, and the Riddler considered Batman to be his partner. Batman resorted to yelling in anger, his go-to response for keeping his fear at bay.
To Have His Identity Exposed Against His Will
Batman has exposed his identity willingly to those he’s trusted or under circumstances where it’s most prudent to do. However, he’s scared of the possibility of being unmasked against his will since there would be no contingencies in place to protect his loved ones.
Moreover, the fear of unmasking ties into the fear of losing control, as Batman would lose the advantage of anonymity he generally has. Batman: Arkham Knight is one of the best Batman games partly due to tackling this issue, with Bruce going so far as to fake his death to prevent facing the fallout of being unmasked by Scarecrow.
To Experience The Loss Of A Loved One
Among the reasons why Batman prefers to be in control is for the safety of those who aid him. His duty of care is stemmed from not wanting to suffer the loss of those he loves, which is something he doesn’t even try to think about.
The times when he has lost his allies have shown Batman in a vulnerable state, as his worst fears come alive. He’s also tended to distance himself from his loved ones. Examples include when Bruce stepped away from the Justice League and the Bat-family after Tim Drake’s brainwashing in The Dark Knight.
To Be Forced Into Taking A Life
All the best Batman movies and TV shows grapple with the theme of the protagonist’s no-kill rule. This is a big fear for him because of the trauma of watching his parents die. As a result, Batman refuses to do the same since he’s afraid of what will become of his psyche.
Some incarnations such as the DCEU Batman have been willing to kill, but these were times when the character was willing to do so. To be forced into claiming a life goes against everything Batman stands for, which he’s fearful to against. This was best seen when he refused to kill the Joker under pressure from the Red Hood.
To Face Fear Itself
Scarecrow happens to be one of the best Batman villains yet because he’s been able to get under the Caped Crusader’s skin. Batman has been scared of the idea of fear itself because it shows him his darkest insecurities that he generally locks away.
His inherent fears have included his greatest failures, and to be trapped in a loop of his biggest insecurities. Much like his fear of bats, Batman has had to accept his fears to power through, but this has generally taken a great toll on his mentality.
To Face The Pain Of His Parents' Demise
There’s no doubt that recalling the fate of his parents is Bruce’s biggest fear and regret. No matter who kills Batman’s parents in different media, it’s the catalyst to the person he becomes. Bruce spent all his childhood and early adulthood scared of what had happened.
All of his other fears have been born out of watching the person gun down his parents before his eyes. The manifestation of his fears is usually depicted to be him returning to when he was a child, feeling helpless and alone as his life was torn apart. Should Bruce ever fully get over this issue, it’s more than likely that his other fears won’t be as daunting either.
