History Hoyay / Batman

[[caption-width-right:350:Not officially the panel that launched the [[UsefulNotes/TheComicsCode backlash against 'adult content']] in comics, but it had some unfortunate timing.[[note]]Panel is from Batman No. 84 - April 1954, the same month Dr. Fredric Wertham testified before Sen. Estes Kefauver's Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency and published his anti-comics manifesto ''Seduction of the Innocent''.[[/note]]]]

-->'''Producer''': I know some stories say that the kid's a ''guy''--but in a costume like ''[[{{Stripperiffic}} that]]''? C'mon--this is ''family'' entertainment!

--->"Joker, does it ever bother you... really bother you... that Batman will always like Catwoman better? Blow up his city all you want, he'll never take you to the prom!"

---> "In "ComicBook/DeathOfTheFamily," using [[Creator/ScottSnyder Scott's]] [the writer's] words, we had a love story – Joker loves Batman."

-->'''Superman''': We're like night and day, you and I, and yet we're closer than we realize, '''closer than twins''' because we complement each other... we '''fit''' each other... '''like a hand and glove'''.\\
'''Narrator''': They hold the '''grip''' for a long time....

--> '''Harvey''': Bruce, good old Bruce. Always there. You never give up on me.

--> '''Batman''': You don't know him like I do.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/smartbombstudios-justice.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:What indeed.]]

* Just look at [[http://superdickery.com/oracle-and-black-canary-get-all-wet/ this.]]

* Just look at [[http://superdickery.com/oracle-and-black-canary-get-all-wet/ this.]] Batgirl is basically made of [[HoYay Les Yay]].

Lord knows where they got it from, but many people interpret ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' as having plenty of HoYay. One {{Moral Guardian|s}}, Frederic Wertham, famously claimed that it was "homosexual propaganda". Some later writers intentionally joked around with this. Reputedly, this (plus [[Series/Batman1966 the spandex-clad TV series]]) is how the name "Bruce" became associated with homosexuality. (Of course, his original ward's name is suggestive enough on its own.) Creator/GrantMorrison claims homoerotic themes have been present in Batman from the beginning. Hell, Website/{{Wikipedia}} ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_the_Batman_franchise has a page on it]]''.

Lord knows where they got it from, but many people interpret ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' as having plenty of HoYay. One {{Moral Guardian|s}}, Frederic Wertham, famously claimed that it was "homosexual propaganda". Some later writers intentionally joked around with this. Reputedly, this (plus [[Series/Batman1966 the spandex-clad TV series]]) is how the name "Bruce" became associated with homosexuality. (Of course, his original ward's name is suggestive enough on its own.) Creator/GrantMorrison claims homoerotic themes have been present in Batman from the beginning. Hell, Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_the_Batman_franchise has a page on it]]''.

Lord knows where they got it from, but many people interpret ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' as having plenty of HoYay. One {{Moral Guardian|s}}, Frederic Wertham, famously claimed that it was "homosexual propaganda". Some later writers intentionally joked around with this. Reputedly, this (plus the spandex-clad TV series) is how the name "Bruce" became associated with homosexuality. (Of course, his original ward's name is suggestive enough on its own.) Creator/GrantMorrison claims homoerotic themes have been present in Batman from the beginning. Hell, Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_the_Batman_franchise has a page on it]]''.

* Taken to truly ridiculous levels in the ''ComicBook/SupermanBatman'' comic series written by Creator/JephLoeb (oh, and [[SlashFic as if that title wasn't putting it in neon lights either]]), in which pretty much every thought-caption that Superman and Batman have about each other is describing the other in the most ludicrously fawning tones about how the other really is the best hero ever, to the point where it nearly isn't funny any more. But as ''Webcomic/{{Shortpacked}}'' shows, [[http://www.shortpacked.com/comic/supermanbatman it still is.]]

---->'''Superman''': We're like night and day, you and I, and yet we're closer than we realize, '''closer than twins''' because we complement each other... we '''fit''' each other... '''like a hand and glove'''.
---->'''Narrator''': They hold the '''grip''' for a long time....

* Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_the_Batman_franchise has a page on it]]''.
* Lord knows where they got it from, but many people interpret ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' as having plenty of HoYay. One {{Moral Guardian|s}}, Frederic Wertham, famously claimed that it was "homosexual propaganda". Some later writers intentionally joked around with this.
* Reputedly, this (plus the spandex-clad TV series) is how the name "Bruce" became associated with homosexuality. Of course, his original ward's name is suggestive enough on its own.
* Creator/GrantMorrison claims homoerotic themes have been present in Batman from the beginning.

$$

* The Joker makes a couple of HoYay jokes about Robin in Creator/GrantMorrison's ''Comicbook/{{Arkham Asylum|ASeriousHouseOnSeriousEarth}}''. After the Joker greets Batman with a slap on the buttocks (throwing him into a rage), he asks, "How is the Boy Wonder? Started shaving yet?" Later, when Batman claims to see nothing in an InkblotTest card, the Joker says, "Not even a cute little long-legged boy in swim trunks?" Although this probably says more about the Joker than about Batman.

--->'''Producer''': I know some stories say that the kid's a ''guy''--but in a costume like ''[[{{Stripperiffic}} that]]''? C'mon--this is ''family'' entertainment!

* The relationship between Batman and his Robins is explicitly stated as being not ''quite'' father-and-son. Dick's affection for Bruce, in particular, is canonically judged by other characters as being, well, a little too much.
** Basically the entirety of [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders Outsiders]] (the Creator/JuddWinick one), with a few coy references in [[ComicBook/TeenTitans Titans]] (the Devin Grayson one).
** During the Hugo Strange arc in ''Batman: Gotham Knights'', Hugo psycho analyses Dick's feelings for Batman as being sexual in nature.
** To be fair, that arc was written by Devin Grayson, who has long held the view that Dick has a deep rooted sexual attraction to Bruce Wayne, despite him acting as a father figure.
** Also, during this arc, Strange is depicted as extremely, y'know, ''[[VillainousBreakdown crazy]]''.
** Not to mention that the second Robin (who was the first child to be adopted by Bruce, years before even Dick), Jason Todd, went on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge after he came BackFromTheDead that was mostly motivated by his finding out that Bruce hadn't broken [[ThouShaltNotKill his one rule]] to avenge Jason's death.
---->'''Jason''': And doing it because... ...because he took me away from you.
*** Though that's more likely due to Jason seeing Bruce as a father more than anything else.
* In ''ComicBook/BatmanHush'', Catwoman refers to Tim Drake as Batman's 'toy wonder' several times. Although the first time she says this, she has just been kissing Batman. The second time, she's in a full relationship with Batman.

* Subverted in a Batman Confidential, when Batman commits a crime as his criminal persona, Matches Malone, so he'll get sent to jail, get put in the cell next to Joker's, and pick his brains. After Joker recognizes him-in about five seconds-Batman changes clothes right there, causing Joker to turn around and cover his eyes. "Don't worry. I like-a the ''ladies''."
* More or less confirmed in the ''Cacophony'' mini-series where Joker's stated dreams are to humiliate Batman, kill him, then violate his corpse sexually. (What? You were expecting something ROMANTIC or even ''sane'' from the Joker?)
* Then, of course, you have Joker in ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns''. "Batman. Darling."

* There's a bit of HoYay between Bats and Franchise/{{Superman}} as well, which was gloriously sent up in the Superman/Batman Annual #1 (Or, as [[CaptainErsatz Slade's parallel-universe twin]] called it, "Brokeback Titanic"). They even [[http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/1346854.html?#cutid1 share a bed]].

* The thing is, Loeb was by no means the first writer to make you doubt the heterosexuality of Superman and Batman. That honor goes to Doug Moench in [[http://the-isb.blogspot.com/2005/11/where-they-went-wrong-superman-and.html ''World's Finest'' #289]], also covered [[http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/813229.html#cutid1 here]]. It starts off with the two seeking comfort in each other at the Fortress of Solitude one lonely night and Holy Mother of God, does it go downhill from there (or [[LampshadedDoubleEntendre uphill, depending on your point of view]]). It ends with - swear to God - tentacles, and the two of them embracing. And with dialogue like this (emphasis is directly from the comic):

* Superman/Batman [[CaptainErsatz pastiches]] Apollo and Midnighter from Creator/{{WildStorm}} are explicitly a gay couple.
* There was an [[http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/1280377.html?#cutid1 Elseworld comic]] in which Kal-El's rocket landed in medieval Japan, and the medieval Japanese equivalent of Batman was a woman. The results were...predictable.
* Further referenced in their [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries animated]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries series]] crossover, when Bruce Wayne's obvious interest in Superman leads to Lois asking "You want me to fix you two up?"

** Creator/GailSimone agrees. She's [[WordOfGod stated]] that far as she's concerned, ComicBook/BlackCanary is bisexual. And the above panel is from ''before'' she took over Comicbook/BirdsOfPrey.

[[folder:Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy]]
* Three words: Harley and Ivy. There are even ''fast-food placemats'' that insinuate these ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' villainesses might be a lesbian couple.
* {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by Comicbook/{{Batgirl}} [[http://media.photobucket.com/image/harley%20batgirl/Insanely-Random/Cartoons/batgirlharley.jpg?o=7 once]], when she [[EnemyMine teamed up with Harley]]. Harley got her right back:[[labelnote:note]]Found in [[http://community.livejournal.com/scans_daily/5275280.html 'Brave and the Bold Cartoon Officially Announced']][[/labelnote]]
--> '''Harley''': Oh, Ivy can't hurt me. She gave me a special shot once so we can play and I won't get sick at all.
-->'''Batgirl''': You mean you two...?
-->'''Harley''': What?
-->'''Batgirl''': You and Ivy are... well... *crosses her index and middle fingers in that "I'm implying you're in a relationship" gesture* friends...
-->'''Harley''': Yeah...?
-->'''Batgirl''': Y'know... friends... like...
-->'''Harley''': Like what everybody says about you and Supergirl?
-->'''Batgirl''': What?! Who says...? Forget it! Forget it!
* Harley's expression when talking about how Ivy can't hurt her is effin' ''priceless''.
* The suggestive drawings of the two by Creator/BruceTimm don't exactly serve to disprove the implications between them.
* Let's face it. It's not even subtext, it's just... TEXT.
* Dini has confirmed their relationship as romantic and sexual. Not that WordOfGod was needed in this case. Unless you were denser than lead.
* Two throw-away characters in a Harley and Ivy comic (based on the animated series) are depicted as being gay themselves as a sort of joke, a pair of lumberjacks called Slash and Burn (Slash has chainsaws, Burn has a flamethrower). When they try to bring in Harley and Ivy, the two try to get them to let them go free by asking if they would do it for a pair of cute girls like themselves. The two just look at each other knowingly before jumping into combat.
* In the Batman Black and White backup comic "The Bet", written by Paul Dini, we see Harley saying that she misses men, with pictures of several specimens on the wall of her cell. She asks Poison Ivy, in the next cell, if she ever gets "the lonelies". Red says she has everything she needs. She's lying on her bed with her plants...and pictures of her and Harley. [[note]]Including her sleeping. And one that appears to be of Supergirl.[[/note]] Harley's response? "No. I mean, like, for guys." Ivy admits that she does need to "mist her fern" every once in a while.
* The relationship continues into the New 52: Harley's first annual, written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner, features her deliberately kissing Ivy to break her out of brainwashing (it doesn't work, but still), and in a separate moment declaring they have a connection beyond what most people can even begin to understand.
* Then there's the New 52's ''Comicbook/HarleyQuinn'' #15, again by Palmiotti and Conner, which sees Harley and Ivy getting up close and personal on Harley's floor before they're interrupted.
* Given the above, it's not much of a surprise that Palmiotti and Conner have said they see Harley and Ivy as being girlfriends who aren't hung up over monogamy.
* Later on, in the Rebirth era ''Harley Quinn'' series, ambiguity was finally thrown away altogether with on-panel kissing and {{Sexy Discretion Shot}}s.
* Their team-ups in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' hint at this about as much as a 1990s animated series for kids could get away with. For instance, they were repeatedly seen hiding out together in quarters [[ThereIsOnlyOneBed with only one bed]].
* ''Videogame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' only has them interacting in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfJVdXiy73U one scene]]. And it's no different from other media, as Harley lets Ivy out even though she isn't on the Joker's list, and Ivy blows her a kiss as she leaves.
[[/folder]]

* The notorious [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]]/[[ComicBook/{{Superboy}} Conner Kent]] pairing.

* Their team-ups in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' hint at this about as much as a 1990s animated series for kids [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar could get away with]]. For instance, they were repeatedly seen hiding out together in quarters [[ThereIsOnlyOneBed with only one bed]].

* At times, the interactions between Bruce and Harvey Dent have shades of this, especially when Bruce is lamenting and feeling guilty over the fall of his childhood friend.

** Creator/GailSimone agrees. She's [[WordOfGod stated]] that far as she's concerned, ComicBook/BlackCanary is {{bi|TheWay}}sexual. And the above panel is from ''before'' she took over Comicbook/BirdsOfPrey.