Every time I walk into a comic book store, my eyes are assaulted by a litany of issues featuring a depressed, brooding billionaire. Every time I look for a superhero video game, I’m met with a variety of stories about a man cloaked in black and very few about any other heroes. No matter where I go, there is no escaping the Dark Knight.

These experiences detail the major problem DC media has had for years: too much Batman. DC’s excessive emphasis on this superhero has created a lack of originality, detracting from opportunities to develop other characters. 

The most prevalent character in DC’s ongoing comic series is Batman, with over 20% of comic series centering around him, according to DC. By tacking Batman’s name onto ongoing titles where he isn’t necessary, opportunities to shine are taken away from DC’s many other superheroes.

The slots taken up by Batman could be used to introduce ongoings for popular characters or teams that haven’t been in the spotlight for years, such as Mister Miracle. If DC decides to emphasize less popular superheroes within comics, fans will be able to enjoy more stories and personalities within their favorite superheroes.

While one could argue that Batman comics are a better gateway into comic books because they have more film adaptations, the reality is that they create more confusion among consumers due to the sheer amount of plotlines to follow. In “Batman” and “Detective Comics,” the caped crusader is in committed relationships with different people.

Currently, because of the number of Batman comic books, authors often repeat storylines or remove character development from Batman in an attempt to create something fresh. 

For example, the “Failsafe” arc in Chip Zdarsky’s “Batman” ended with Batman realizing that his sidekick, Tim Drake, wasn’t simply a soldier against crime but also his adoptive son. This exact character development has happened at least once with each of the four Robins.

As someone who reads a lot of comic books, it feels like a waste of money to purchase a new issue just for it to read exactly the same as one I already have. 

And Batman media doesn’t just plague comic books. In May, a new Lego Batman game will be released, according to Warner Bros Games. While this new game was announced in August, what was supposed to be the first Wonder Woman video game was cancelled in February, according to the BBC. 

Wonder Woman is equally important to the DC universe as Batman. Taking away a video game from her while creating new Batman-centered media undermines her role in the DC universe.

Despite Wonder Woman being a part of the DC Trinity, DC continues to overlook her as a character, all while making new Batman movies every few years. This suggests that Wonder Woman was created as a diversity pick and does not share a pivotal role in the DC Universe.

Relying on male characters such as Batman to carry stories leads to female characters being overshadowed and limits their exposure to the general public.

While I enjoy Batman as a character, the abundance of Batman media prevents new ideas and new characters from emerging in the DC Universe. In order to tell better stories and serve fans, DC must stop headlining Batman media and instead shift focus towards other characters that deserve the spotlight.