As a symbol...

Always loved Batman. Always will. Best superhero of all time because of the one quality that made him better than all the rest with "powers": he is defined by his will to attack evil. Looking at Spiderman, Superman, Fantastic Four, they all had their powers imposed on them without their consent, and acted as heroes because of their strengths (if you're going to say Superman didn't, you're wrong. He didn't choose to have his planet destroyed). Batman had no such imposition. He chose the path because he wanted to, not because he had to. The will to stand up and confront the forces that oppose us is a will so many of us have, but are unwilling to face. We love Batman because he was a regular guy who just got fed up and decided to kick ass; an unabashed revolt to the ideals of our Christian society. He's not a nice, pleasant fellow who would just smile and turn the other cheek the way we're all taught to, but would fight back the way we wish we could.