Batman, The Bat-Man and still referred to at times as The Batman, he is additionally known as The Caped Crusader, The Dark Knight, The Dark Night Detective, and The World's Greatest Detective, is a fictional comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger (although only Kane receives official credit), appearing in publications by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939.
In the original version of the story and the vast majority of subsequent retellings, Batman's secret identity is Bruce Wayne, a billionaire playboy, industrialist, and philanthropist. Having witnessed the murder of his parents as a child, he swore revenge on crime, an oath tempered with the greater ideal of justice. Bruce trains himself both physically and intellectually and dons a bat-themed costume in order to fight crime. Batman operates in the fictional American Gotham City, assisted by various supporting characters including his main sidekick Robin, occasional assistance from former sidekick Batgirl and hero Nightwing, the police commissioner James Gordon, and his butler Alfred Pennyworth, and fights an assortment of villains influenced by the characters' roots in film and pulp magazines. Unlike most superheroes, he does not possess any superpowers; he makes use of intellect, detective skills, science and technology, wealth, physical prowess, and intimidation in his war on crime.
Adam West played Batman in the 1960s TV series. In the years between the end of the show and his work on Family Guy, he was constantly recognized as Batman, to his annoyance. The Family Guy crew has explicitly stated that no direct references to Mayor West as Batman will be made.
In "A Hero Sits Next Door", he watches Peter Griffin play strip poker with Wonder Woman.
In "Brian in Love", Peter pretends to be Batman to Lois Griffin's Catwoman.
Peter watches the 1960s Batman television series while Lois is preparing for sex in "Emission Impossible".
In "Blind Ambition", Peter interrupts the Superfriends meeting in the Fortress of Solitude by stating there are no more Cheez-Its. Both Batman and Superman look at him with annoyance.
Peter uses the Batman symbol as part of his guessed letters in the final, game-winning puzzle of his episode of Wheel of Fortune in "I Take Thee Quagmire".
Peter, while dressed as Spider-Man, sings his Spider-Man theme song to the tune of the 1960s Batman TV show theme in the second Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story segment "Bango Was His Name Oh".
His Hispanic counterpart lives in a run-down Hall of Justice with the other Mexican Super Friends in "No Meals on Wheels". He almost gets them evicted.
Batman get a completely unnecessary signal from Commissioner Gordon in "FOX-y Lady" where he sees a signal light letting Batman know that the Commissioner is going to the bathroom. Batman states that he "did not need to know that".
For the Superfriends opening for "Family Goy", Brian Griffin assumes the role of Batman.
In a cutaway gag in "Brian Writes a Bestseller", a guy in a coma dreams of writing a script of Batman vs. Predator.
In "Halloween on Spooner Street", a trick-or-treater is dressed as Batman. He gets candy from the Mayor at the Mayor's mansion.
Batman appears when Peter and the guys watch The Superfriends Accountant in "Grumpy Old Man". When the accountant tells them that they'll need a loan to pay their taxes and when the accountant suggests that Bruce Wayne might give them a loan, Batman is quick to tell them that he'll not give them the loan.
Stewie points out to Batman the illogic of hiring workers to make the Batcave in "The Blind Side".
When Peter is worried that Patrick Pewterschmidt may have committed another murder in "Killer Queen", he threatens to do to him when he did to the Riddler. A cutaway shows a Batman-style fight with colorful verbs describing the action.
Batman's name briefly appears on a nonsense sign during "Come On Home" in "Candy Quahog Marshmallow!".
When Peter is introduced to George Clooney circa 1997 in "Foxx in the Men House", he notes that he was the second-worst Batman.
Quagmire's grappling hook escape in "Crimes and Meg's Demeanor" is a homage to Batman, notably the 2008 film The Dark Knight in which he snags a passing elevated train to escape.[1]
Batman is voiced by Seth MacFarlane, but in "The Blind Side", he is voiced by John Viener.