The Bat-Family is DC’s Biggest Problem, But Not for the Reason You Think

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I really enjoy the Bat-Family in DC Comics, despite the dramatic way I’ve described them. They’re one of my favorite superhero families – it’s hard to find fault with such a diverse and engaging group! They shine in both serious crime dramas and lighter, family-friendly stories like Wayne Family Adventures. However, I think there’s a significant issue with how the Bat-Family has been used recently, and I suspect many fans will agree with me.

If you follow Batman comics, you’ve probably noticed the Bat-Family arguing quite a bit lately – which is normal for any family, really. However, when superheroes disagree, it often turns into actual fights. And it’s happening more and more in the comics. Just recently, DC published two weeks in a row of issues where Batman was battling members of his own family, and honestly, it’s starting to feel repetitive.

DC Can’t Stop Making Batman Fight the Bat-Family

The newest issue of Batman (#162) continues the “Hush 2” storyline. After the previous issue’s fight with Batgirl and a gathering of Bat-Family members, we knew a larger conflict was coming. This issue delivers on that, with a fight breaking out amongst the heroes. It was difficult to watch Batman incapacitate Batgirl, and Bruce himself acknowledges that his actions seem cruel and that he dislikes the decisions he’s being forced to make. However, he continues down this path regardless.

Okay, so here’s the thing that really struck me: just a week after DC K.O. Knightfight #1 dropped, we’re seeing another story focused on conflict within the Bat-Family. This one throws Batman into a messed-up future Gotham where Dick Grayson has taken over as Batman, but not before a huge rift with Bruce. Of course, they end up fighting, and during the brawl, Batman admits how much he loathes fighting his own family. But then, the story throws a major wrench in things – it’s revealed that in this alternate timeline, Bruce is allegedly responsible for the deaths of Jason, Tim, and Damian. It’s a dark turn, and honestly, a little jarring after already seeing family drama play out so recently.

It seems like Batman stories frequently involve him battling those closest to him, while also highlighting his remorse. We recently saw this in the “Gotham War” storyline, where Bruce Wayne acted terribly towards his family – even trying to get his partners arrested and brainwashing Jason Todd. And predictably, once Bruce realizes his mistakes, he expresses how much it hurts him to harm his loved ones, which has become a recurring and unsettling theme.

The Constant Fights are Holding Batman and His Allies Back

I’ve been reading comics for a long time, and I understand that conflict is essential for a good story. It’s not always about heroes versus villains, though – internal struggles and disagreements, even within families or teams, can be really compelling. However, I’ve noticed a recurring pattern in Batman stories where the Bat-Family is constantly at odds, and it makes me wonder what the long-term effect of this is. Despite the different storylines, they often feel repetitive and don’t seem to move the characters forward in a meaningful way. It feels like they’re stuck in a harmful cycle.

I’m a big fan of Batman stories, and I think the dynamic between Batman and the other members of the Bat-Family is great. However, many stories repeatedly show Bruce Wayne forced to fight his adopted children, which feels repetitive and a bit tiring. It’s often established that Batman doesn’t want to fight Dick Grayson or Damian Wayne, yet these conflicts keep happening. As a long-time Batman reader – and there are a lot of us – it’s hard to accept Batman’s remorse over these fights when they’re constantly being written into the narrative.

Honestly, it doesn’t surprise me that Wayne Family Adventures is such a hit. It shows the Bat-Family as a genuinely loving and communicative bunch – they have disagreements, sure, but it feels healthy. It’s a stark contrast to what we usually see in the main DC comics. Even in the broader DC Universe, other superhero families manage to coexist without constant conflict. It really makes you wonder: why is the Bat-Family always stuck in this cycle of fighting and then making up? It feels… unnecessary, and this series proves there’s a better way to tell their story.

It’s true that not every Batman comic from DC falls into this pattern, but it’s happening often enough that fans have noticed—and they don’t like it. I’m not arguing that the Bat-Family should always agree, but the constant fighting feels unnecessary. These characters are supposed to be intelligent and emotionally aware, capable of resolving issues without resorting to physical conflict. DC needs to move beyond this habit of having them fight, because real teamwork and growth require more than just sparring.

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2025-11-14 21:43