Other characters in Batman
Since 1939, appearances have been made by a number of supporting characters in Batman published by D.C. Comics. With any super hero there are allies and trusty sidekicks, but there are also villains in Batman that really show the real character traits, both good and bad of Batman. Some supporting characters and villains in the Batman series are recognized more than others, but all made an impact on the story line and life of both Bruce Wayne and his masked counterpart Batman in different ways.
Commissioner James Gordon was the first supporting character in the Batman comic series and first appeared in number 27 of the Detective Comics. Commissioner Gordon worked as a detective for the Gotham City Police Department. Considered to be one of the very few non-corrupt protectors of Gotham City, Gordon was suspicious of Batman and was more of an antagonist in the series before both became allies; working together for the better good of the city they were protecting.
Batman's first sidekick wasn't introduced until the early 1940's of the comic series and was known as Robin or Dick Grayson. Grayson was an acrobat orphaned as a child, but later adopted by Bruce Wayne and later took Batman's side as Robin, the first sidekick of the series and the most commonly recognized of the supporting characters in Batman series. In the event of Batman's supposed death, Grayson took over protecting Gotham City and appointed Damian Wayne, Bruce's biological son, as the new Robin, but later went over to The New Teen Titans under the name Nightwing.
What makes the characters; especially the villains in Batman, so popular are the fact that they are real people, with no special powers. Some of the villains are crazy and deranged, while others are crime bosses trying to take over Gotham City, making the story line and characters in the Batman comic series easier to relate to; thus the popular fan base.
The most widely recognized of the villains in Batman and the biggest enemy to Batman is The Joker. The Joker made an appearance in the first Batman comic book and enjoys causing anarchy and chaos for others. His clown like appearance masks a sick and twisted mind and his razor-like playing cards, laughing gas and acid spewing flowers make his jokes anything but funny.
Formerly known as Harvey Dent the District Attorney for Gotham City, Two-Face commits crime based on the indiscretions and faults of others. He chooses the fate of his victims by flipping a two-headed coin – one side scarred like his and the other normal. Two-face got his popular scar from a gang member in court who threw acid at him, permanently scarring him and helping to aid him into a life of crime.
It doesn't matter if you're a fan of the supporting characters in Batman or the villains in Batman, the uniqueness of the story line and the realness of the portrayed characters is what has kept this comic series around for decades. Batman will hopefully be around for decades more and introduce more characters for us to love that will help and hinder Batman and his duties to Gotham City.