Superhero knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics

¶ … superhero is no easy feat or task. In order to be a successful superhero, one must possess a universal set of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Based upon Christopher Nolan's interpretation of Batman, it can be argued that Bruce Wayne/Batman possesses the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to be a superhero.

In order to be successful as a superhero one must know the difference between right and wrong. This ability to discriminate between right and wrong allows a superhero to establish his or her mission. Initially, Bruce Wayne was unable to distinguish between right and wrong and was, in fact, contributed to the evil that he came to revile. In Batman Begins (2005), Wayne is shown to gain first-hand knowledge of the criminal underworld through observation and participation. Through this knowledge, Wayne is able to develop a mission that was supported by his knowledge and experiences. Additionally, knowledge about the limitations of the criminal justice system is also necessary to become a superhero. Wayne uses this knowledge to stop criminals that the Gotham City Police Department does not have the resources to apprehend including villains such as Ra's Al Ghul, Scarecrow, the Joker, and Bane. Lastly, superheroes must possess tactical and strategic knowledge to help them apprehend criminals. This knowledge allows superheroes to apprehend criminals with minimal collateral damage. As a superhero, Wayne must understand why criminals such as Ra's Al Ghul and the Joker attack Gotham and its citizens in order to figure out how to stop them from destroying the city and society. Through knowledge of a villain's origins, a superhero, such as Batman, can understand what drives a person to at the way they do and can also help them to determine if the threat can be fixed or if it has to be eliminated altogether.

In addition to specific knowledge, superheroes must possess certain skills. A superhero must be skilled in hand-to-hand combat, investigation, and must be able to adapt to his or her environment. The combat skills that Batman possesses include a mastery of martial arts; mastery in armed combat; and mastery of explosives. Wayne's investigative skills allow him to track down various criminals including his parents' murderer. Lastly, Batman's ability to adapt to his environment allow him to react quickly to his enemy's advances without compromising his advantage over them. This ability to adapt to an environment also allows a superhero to adjust his or her approach to a particular situation. Wayne is able to demonstrate this skill in the final film of Nolan's trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises during his escape from the prison Bane has banished Wayne to. Through observation and preparation, Wayne is able to determine the obstacles that previous prisoners faced in attempting to escape the prison and adjusted his approach accordingly.

Unlike other superheroes, Batman/Wayne does not possess any inherent supernatural abilities and must rely on other characteristics to be a superhero. Among these other characteristics are a heightened ability to learn, heightened athleticism, and the ability to carry on a secret-identity. Wayne has mastered a wide variety of martial arts, a variety of skills, and is quick to adapt and integrate new technology to his Batman duties. Additionally, it can be surmised that Wayne possesses an eidetic memory that enables him to retain a large amount of information. Furthermore, Wayne's heightened athleticism enables him to successfully carry out his Batman duties with reduced injuries and a quick recovery response time. Lastly, like many other superheroes, Wayne has the ability to successfully carry on a secret double life.