While Spider-Man is a vigilante very easily consumed by the masses, Batman is a much darker character. Perhaps one of the most morally grey in the line of great superheroes, Bruce Wayne believes the law is inefficient and insufficient to take care of his city. He fights for the underdogs and the people who can’t protect themselves. He realizes his privilege and uses it to correct the wrongs done to the people of Gotham City. He has no problem making the bad guys hurt in order to scare them off or have them locked up. Many times he has come close to killing and he has some of the darkest villains to ever grace comic books or a movie screen. His vigilantism inspires fans; if Bruce Wayne can go out and singlehandedly heal his city, then anyone can do good.
Deviants such as Spider-Man and Batman are needed in comics and movies because they appeal to the “other”. Cookie-cutter heroes like Superman and Captain America don’t attract all fans. Peter and Bruce have a grittiness about them that draws people in and satisfies a need for a group that is other. They are more relatable because they’re not perfect; Peter runs his mouth and gets in trouble all of the time and Bruce doesn’t always agree with the justice system. These characters are flawed and have been crafted in a way where their stories are relatable to fans. While there are people underneath the suits, Clark Kent and Steve Rogers are a step removed from humanity. In Peter and Bruce’s stories we can see what real struggle is as they try to protect their homes and do good.
Peter and Bruce are also relatable because they are seen as lesser than other heroes. How does Peter Parker stack up against the great Captain America? Who is Bruce Wayne to the magnificence of Superman, a god amongst humans? The answer is that they’re real. Their stories touch fans in a way that others’ can’t. We often see Bruce being beat down and bruised, Peter almost arrested. They sometimes can’t win, but they get back up and go at it again. They have resolve and their experiences have made them stronger. Fans see themselves and their desires in these characters that seem so real.