Batman

"Batman Steps Out Of The Darkness!"

Batman (real name Bruce Wayne) is a superhero created by DC Comics in 1939 and the main protagonist of the self-titled media franchise.

He is also a playable character in Nexed.

Real-World History
In early 1939, editors of National Comics Publications (which would lead to DC Comics later on) requested more superhero characters to star in future comic lines as a response to the success of Superman. Artist Bob Kane created a character known as the "Bat-Man" in response, which different vastly from the design of the Batman of today. Collaborator Bill Finger suggested many changes, such as the addition of the now-iconic cowl and cape, inspired by Lee Falk's The Phantom and other aspects of 30's pop culture.

Batman made his comic book debut with the release of Detective Comics issue 27 in May 1939. Several other iconic characters, such as Batman's sidekick Robin and arch-enemy Joker would also debut in following issues. Batman would go on to recieve his own self-titled line the following year. Early Batman comics depicted Batman in a much different light than modern stories, with aspects of his character such as his adversion to guns and killing being introduced later on, both of which originating from editor Whitney Ellsworth.

Batman would go on to be shaped by several different artists and writers over the course of many different series and stories, with the franchise briefly dabbling in lighter, campier stories and science fiction as opposed to its detective-based roots. 1986's The Dark Knight Returns would bring Batman stories back to a darker, more grounded tone, with a similar tone being adopted for the majority of stories to come. To this day, Batman is still featured as a cornerstone of DC Comics, with the latest run of Batman continuing since 2016.

Batman has become a pop culture icon who is recognized by people across the globe. In addition to comics, Batman has been featured in several TV shows, movies, video games, and other forms of media.

Gameplay Information
"After watching his wealthy parents be gunned down by a mugger in his youth, Bruce Wayne has vowed to keep Gotham City safe to ensure no child would have to witness such depraved acts as he had. While he appears to the public as the charming, charismatic owner of Wayne Enterprises, he takes to the streets at night, using his Batsuit and a plethora of advanced gadgets to fight crime as the Batman!

It was a normal night for Batman as he bravely battled the Joker in an effort to stop the mad clown's latest scheme. Suddenly, a bright light flooded the room, and when it faded, Batman found himself in a strange universe filled with faces both old and new. Now, he only has one goal in mind - Return to Gotham before the Joker does!"

Fitting for his interrogative nature, Batman excels in pressuring opponents with his attacks. Many of his attacks deal heavy hitstun, allowing for easy combos. This, combined with his high damage output and versatile special moves, makes Batman a force to be reckoned with.

However, Batman also suffers from lackluster mobility - While he is only below average, his speed can prove troublesome against faster opponents. In addition, Batman has a poor recovery game, having poor jumps and a limited Up Special. This results in a playstyle which requires careful analysis of the opponent in order to strike effectively.

Moveset

 * Wall-Jumping: Batman can jump off of walls.

Grounded Moves

 * Jab: Batman throws a straight punch.
 * Dash Attack: Batman throws a flying kick.
 * Forward Light: Batman throws a hook punch, using his shock gloves from Batman: Arkham City.
 * Up Light: Batman throws an uppercut.
 * Down Light: Batman performs a sliding kick.
 * Forward Strong: Batman throws a roundhouse kick. This is his best kill move.
 * Up Strong: Batman throws a backflip kick.
 * Down Strong: Batman strikes on both sides of himself with a bat-like blade.
 * Counter: Batman punches the opponent in the gut, referencing the Counter move from Batman: Arkham Asylum.

Aerial Attacks

 * Neutral Air: Batman throws a downward angled jab.
 * Forward Air: Batman throws a flying kick.
 * Back Air: Batman throws a roundhouse kick behind himself.
 * Up Air: Batman throws an uppercut.
 * Down Air: Batman kicks beneath himself, being able to spike opponents.

Grabs / Throws

 * Grab: Batman grabs the opponent with both hands.
 * Pummel: Batman knees the opponent’s gut.
 * Forward Throw: Batman kicks the opponent in the chest, launching them forward. This is his best kill throw.
 * Back Throw: Batman drags the opponent across the ground before launching them behind him.
 * Up Throw: Batman launches the opponent with an uppercut.
 * Down Throw: Batman knocks the opponent to the floor, tripping them. This is his best combo throw.

Stage Intro
Batman steps out of the shadows, entering his battle stance.

Taunts

 * Batman folds his arms, asking "Scared yet?"
 * Batman cracks his knuckles, stating “I’m through playing.”
 * Batman whips out a Batarang and scans the area.
 * Batman crouches down and holds two fingers to his cowl, scanning the area as a reference to Detective Mode from Batman: Arkham Origins.

Victory Animations
Batman's victory theme is a remixed excerpt of the Batman: The Animated Series theme song (0:16-0:25) In addition to these, Batman has a secret fourth victory animation if he wins a match with his Level 3 Nexus Attack. Upon the end of the attack, the camera pans up from the streets of Gotham, pausing on Batman standing on a rooftop. A flash of lightning illuminates his body as his name appears before it fades back into a silhouette. This resembles the end of the opening sequence of Batman: The Animated Series.
 * Batman lands from above and stares at the camera, his body partially covered in shadow. As he says this, he states “I am vengeance.”, a line sourced from the Batman: The Animated Series episode “Nothing To Fear”.
 * Batman turns his back to the camera, folding his arms.
 * Batman is seen throwing a smoke bomb at the ground; Once the smoke fades, Batman is nowhere to be seen.

Colors / Costumes


Trivia

 * This moveset is dedicated to the late Kevin Conroy, Batman's voice actor in several pieces of media who passed away in November 2022.
 * Batman's render stems from Multiversus, one of Conroy's final performances as the character, and the last to be released prior to his passing.