If any superhero has a reputation for being downright grim, it's Batman - but even he has a funny side. The Caped Crusader is from being a villain. The Dark Knight truly lives up to his dark moniker by being absolutely brooding when the opportunity presents itself. However, to say that Batman is exclusively dark, brooding, and grim would be false.

Maybe there was a time when that perception about him was true, but since beginning his crimefighting career, he's gained friends within the Justice League and found a family in the Bat-Family. Batman doesn't need to be doom and gloom at every turn anymore. He may not look the part, but he is just as much of a bright, beacon of hope as Superman is. He's capable of being lighthearted, cracking a joke and a smile, and even showing a little sass from time to time.

10 Batman Gives Lip to the Outsiders

Batman and the Outsiders #32 by Mike W. Barr, Alan Davis, John Workman, and Adrienne Roy

Batman spends the majority of this series trying to enforce his strict values onto his team of Outsiders, causing conflict within the team. The last straw for everyone involved came when he failed to tell Geo-Force that his sister was kidnapped, which could spark a war in Markovia. Batman believed Brion was needed in America with his team, but obviously, the prince and even his teammates disagreed.

Carrying a flair for the dramatic, Batman tries to force the Outsiders to disband with a sashay of his cape and a Cheshire smile. That smile fades when the team decides to continue without him, but it's moments like this that remind readers just how theatrical the master of disguise can be. He makes a presentation and a spectacle of this moment, like a true theater kid at heart.

9 Batman Roasts Deathstroke: A Divorced Dad Whose Kids Hate Him

Deathstroke #34 by Christopher Priest, Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz, Jeromy Cox, and Willie Schubert

One of Batman's most personal rivalries is against Deathstroke, to the point that their next fight could happen any moment. Some will argue that they hate each other because they are too evenly matched as fighters, but truthfully, Deathstroke hates Batman because the latter knows how to go for the verbal jugular. During a battle in the Batcave, Slade Wilson decides to cross-examine Bruce Wayne, noting that he's "not well" judging by all the branded cars that symbolize his "Bat fetish."

That's enough for Batman to unload all over Deathstroke, chopping Slade down by pointing out that his kids hate him and that he's divorced, not to mention homeless. He later reiterates that Deathstroke's own obsession has landed Slade in the pits, and Bruce pities his ex-wife and children for it. He's not wrong, but Batman doesn't have to be so darn mean about it.

8 Batman Smirks to Himself after Making a Heart Pun

JLA #99 by John Byrne, Chris Claremont, Jerry Ordway, David Baron, and Tom Orzechowski

Some would think that there's nothing scarier than a smiling Batman and that if Batman cracks a smile, everyone in the room should be scared. In reality, a smiling Batman is only scary because it could signal that he has just cracked an eye-rolling joke. Batman is a lot of things, but besides being scary, Batman is also a dad - meaning that he's no stranger to dad jokes.

Earlier in this issue, the Justice League encounter Crucifer, a vampire, who Superman defeats by punching a crucifix through his heart. Batman thinks this is the perfect chance to make a heart pun, saying that Crucifer's "heart was in the right place." The Leaguers are either shocked that Batman made a joke or that the joke was so bad, but judging by that smile, Bruce is certainly proud of himself for that one.

7 Batman Is No Stranger to Prop Humor - But He Has to Pay for the Laughs

Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #5 by Matt Fraction, Steve Lieber, Nathan Fairbairn, and Clayton Cowles

Not everybody is going to appreciate the unassuming sense of humor that Batman has at his disposal, but maybe that doesn't matter when the Wayne family has money at their disposal. Bruce Wayne learns this the hard way when he discovers through overhearing a private conversation that Alfred has been paying off his colleagues to laugh at Bruce's jokes. When he confronts his butler, Mr. Pennyworth its that he's paid out $85,400 to various people. Bruce then docks Alfred's pay before silently moaning to himself.

Nobody likes a complainer, and there's nothing sassier than a complainer. Batman spends the whole issue telling jokes to anyone willing to listen, certain that Bruce Wayne's charm will do the trick. The only trick afoot is the dollar amount, and his confidence is crushed as a result - maybe rightfully so, considering how bad some of those jokes are.

6 Batman Isn't Afraid to Be Petty About Ghost-Maker to His Face

Batman #103 by James Tynion IV, Carlo Pagulayan, Danny Miki, Guillem March, David Baron, and Clayton Cowles

Among other Gotham characters co-created by James Tynion IV, this Batman run introduced Ghost-Maker, someone Batman trained with from a young age and formed a complicated bond with. When Ghost-Maker resurfaces, they pick up right where they left off, this time with Gotham City on the line. As Oracle is in Bruce's headset asking what's going on and why his opponent wants to fight, Bruce insists on pointing out that Minhkhoa Khan is still bitter that he made fun of him when they were fifteen, and even more bitter that he hasn't beaten Bruce since they were twenty.

It's petty enough for Batman to have such a sharp tongue as he fights Ghost-Maker, but to throw such sass in his direction in the middle of a fight like he isn't even there is pettier. They treat their rivalry like they're still kids on a playground, and it's clear that Batman is comfortable enough with Khoa not only to trust him with Batman Incorporated, but to keep cracking jokes at his expense.

5 Batman Even Cracks Jokes to the Joker

The Joker: Devil's Advocate #1 by Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan, Scott Hanna, Pat Garrahy, and John Costanza

This scene doubles as the occasion one of Batman's most sinister lines - and also one of his pettiest. Batman saves the Joker from a death row sentence after learning that he was convicted of a crime he did not commit. He tells his rival that he owes his life to him, but not without asking the Joker to tell him a joke with a jester's smile on his face.

The sass in that smile is beaming from his cheeks. Few things have ever brought Batman as much delight as knowing his worst enemy has to live his life knowing his rival saved his life. It reads like sweet, sweet revenge in Batman's eyes, and he enjoys every minute of it like any true diva would. No diva would give up the opportunity to drag their foe in the midst of a downfall, especially a diva calling himself Batman.

4 Batman Takes a Chance to Make a Teasing Dig at Jim Gordon

Batman #50 by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, FCO Plascencia, and Steve Wands

For context, earllier in this monumental New 52 Batman run, Bruce Wayne went missing - meaning that Gotham was without a Batman, five words that normally spell disaster. To counterattack that disaster, Commissioner Jim Gordon fills in for his friend by becoming a temporary Batman. Just when the end seems nigh, Bruce reappears. The first time that Jim sees his old friend in the flesh, he hears "who died and made you Batman?"

Instances like this show just how far removed Batman is from his far more grim days. For a lot of people, there is never a bad time to crack a joke. In fact, some will say that the higher the stakes, the more necessary it is to make a joke to lighten the mood. For Batman, he's been presumed dead and arrives in the nick of time during an utmost urgent mission, yet he still makes time to greet his friend with an ironic jest. A man of that nature couldn't possibly be the deadly serious brooder that everyone thinks he is.

3 Batman Makes a Small Joke to Robin

Batman: The Widening Gyre #3 by Kevin Smith, Walter Flanagan, Art Thibert, Art Lyon, and Jared K. Fletcher

The perception that Batman is deadly serious 24/7 is strong enough that his sense of humor has taken his Bat-Family off guard on occasion. In this issue, moments after saving Batman's life from Stirk, Tim Drake is persistent that Batman tells him he's going after such a dangerous villain beforehand next time. Noticing that the role of father figure and son has been reversed, Batman jokingly calls Robin "dad." That Batman is even capable of making a joke throws Robin off.

Batman can be a bit much sometimes (which, truthfully, might be an understatement), but he's not a complete stick in the mud. He knows how to let his guard down when he feels comfortable, and few people make him more comfortable than his Bat-Family - and especially his Robins.

2 Nothing Makes Batman Happier Than Making Fun of Superman

Batman #37 by Tom King, Clay Mann, Seth Mann, Jordie Bellaire, and Clayton Cowles

Clark Kent and Lois Lane newly engaged couple Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle for a date night at the Gotham County Fair, but unbeknownst to everyone, it's Superhero Night. The only way they can get in is if they're dressed like superheroes, and, as the doorman tells them, "you all ain't superheroes." Everyone has their costumes on hand, but obviously, they'd look a little too close to the real thing, so they opt to trade costumes for the night to lower suspicion.

Upon giving his super suit to Bruce, Superman reminds him that the S is literally a symbol of hope. Not happy with the scenario that they've agreed to, Batman pokes fun at the gesture, saying that his bat symbol is just a bat. Obviously, Bruce isn't happy about the arrangement and chooses to be vocal about it in the snootiest way possible the more the issue builds to unveiling everyone in costume.

1 It's a Christmas Miracle That Batman Can Make a Joke

"A Day Without Sirens" by Joe Kelly, Mick Bertilorenzi, Pam Rambo, and Travis Lanham in DC Universe Holiday Special #1

'Tis the season, and not even Batman can deny being in the Christmas spirit. His gift to Gotham City and Jim Gordon is that, for one day, there will be no crime reported in Gotham City, because all calls will be forwarded to Oracle, leaving Supergirl to do the sweeping. Gordon reminisces on the day of peace with Batman the next day, and the Commissioner brings up the GD's clothing allowance. When Jim explains why detectives are crappy dressers, Batman pokes a jab that surprises him.

As Batman fades into the night, Gordon has to attribute it to the Miracle of the Christmas season. That'd be fair to say, but Batman can be disarmingly charismatic. Not only can he catch anyone off-guard with a joke because of his reputation, but he can catch people with solid jokes. Batman's sassy, and oftentimes, his sass is wholesome.