Co-creators: Bob Kane and Bob Finger

• When: May 1939, Detective Comics #27

• Why: According to Chuck Dixon, Batman was a hero based on characters such as Sherlock Holmes, Zorro, Scarlet Pimpermel, Shadow, and even Dracula. His gadgets surpassed those of James Bond. And on top of all that, he was just an average man, who could be any of us if we tried really hard to be smart, athletic and scary.

• Who is this man?

            Real name: Bruce Wayne

            Vocation: Billionaire and generous provider

            Special abilities: trained in many forms of martial arts; technologically advanced vehicles and weapons