Batfleck Forever! 8 Reasons Why Ben Affleck Is The Best Live-Action Batman

We'd be lying if we said the rumors that Ben Affleck was hanging up the cape and cowl didn't make us choke up a bit. We've only seen him as Batman in two films to date, but he's left an indisputable positive impression and we've become big fans of his portrayal. For many, he's the only interpretation of the Dark Knight that they'll accept in the DCEU. There's no denying the two-time Oscar winner is a talented all-rounder, but his initial casting as the iconic Caped Crusader rattled the cages of many comic book fans. Not everyone was behind the idea of Batfleck due to the nightmarish flashbacks of 2003's Daredevil, which was a fair-enough concern all things considered. After seeing his portrayal in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, though, it's hard to imagine anyone else but him in the dual role of Bruce Wayne and Batman. With Affleck confirming that he's indeed staying on for Matt Reeves' The Batman (at the very least), it looks like we'll have more time to cherish his brooding and bruising Bat. So, in celebration of this piece of news, we've decided to look back at all the reasons that make Affleck the best damn live-action Batman yet. As always, this is a discussion that's open for debate and we welcome your honest feedback. So, if you agree or disagree with us, please let us know in the comments section. Without further ado, let's get on with the show. Long live, Batfleck! He's Got The Look All you have to do is compare Ben Affleck and Bruce Wayne from Batman: The Animated Series to see the uncanny resemblance. It's the powerful jaw, imposing physique, towering height, and that smirk. Yes, that damn smirk that's been used in countless memes to illustrate how Affleck is the picture-perfect Bruce Wayne. Bruce is the ultimate playboy in DC Comics, while Affleck has been breaking hearts in Hollywood since he first broke onto the film scene. He's incredibly believable as a suave charmer and you could imagine that more than a few ladies have fallen for his shtick. That said, as we all know, there's a lot more to him than meets the eye - much like Monsieur Wayne. Onto his nighttime activities, have we ever had a live-action Batman that looks like he was pulled directly from the comic book pages like we do now? Even looking at all the released photos and trailers from Justice League, you can't help but be impressed by the new costumes and designs, which leads us to the next point… He Pulls Off All The Batsuits While we've seen a host of different Batsuits worn over the years, Batfleck has shown he's a true style icon by changing them up, even in the same movie. And he rocks every suit like he was born to wear them all, checking every point of comic book accuracy along the way. In case you didn't know, the change of costumes is in line with the character's modus operandi in the comic books. The Dark Knight possesses a variety of suits for different mission and requirements, and isn't afraid of swapping out the gear when the situation calls for it. There were even a few tongue-in-cheek references to this in The LEGO Batman Movie, too. Sure, the actual costumes have nothing to do with Affleck and more to do with the exceptional costume and design team's hard work, but will they find anyone who can pull off the look like he does? Not many actors are capable of putting on that cowl and looking as fearsome and awesome as Batfleck does, that's for sure. The Aggression Why do we like Batman when there are other seemingly better superheroes with actual superpowers around? It's because he smacks the snot out of villains like no one else in the business. He's one of the best fighters around and has knocked out more teeth than Mike Tyson in his heyday. One only needs to take a look at the infamous warehouse scene in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice to see what Affleck's Bat is all about. Looking like he was straight out of the Arkham video games, the Caped Crusader beat the living hell out of every goon in the place, while making it look cool. Up until Affleck's portrayal, we'd never seen a fighter quite like his, and it delighted every single one of us to see a bruising Batman. Yeah, we all want him to do the essential detective and heroic work that comes with the territory, but we also want to see him smash faces and send a strong message to Gotham City's underworld. He's Grumpy AF Say what you want about the Dark Knight, but he's a grumpy Gus at the best of times. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and isn't exactly renowned for his friendly nature, either. He is the (k)night, after all. Since we've seen him in the role, Batfleck looks tired and world-weary. He's seen a lot and it has left him more damaged than before, turning him into a cynic. His faith in humanity has been restored since the death of Superman, though, but we doubt we'll see him exchanging his black clothing for a lovely shade of orange and green and quipping one-liners while beating up Parademons. There's an emotional depth to portraying Bruce Wayne/Batman, and it isn't all about his parents' death at this point in his career. Dick Grayson has left him, Jason Todd was murdered, and he's seen over 20 years of chaos in Gotham City. As such, it's unlikely that he'll be singing Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" every day, and Affleck nails this facet of the character without breaking a sweat. He's A Thinking Batman The Dark Knight isn't called the World's Greatest Detective for nothing. He's a thinker and searches for all the clues and every minute detail before executing his next cunning plan - and Affleck has shown this side of the character like no one else before him. You might argue that he got played by Lex Luthor in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, but did he not realize the error of his ways before it was too late and he killed Clark Kent? Yes, it did take an emotional moment to snap him out of his rage; however, he still took down the most powerful being on Earth by identifying and studying his strengths and weaknesses. That's a pretty impressive feat for any mere mortal. Now that the fury has subsided and Bruce has taken a chill pill or two, we're likely to see more of a strategist role going forward and a Caped Crusader that thinks twenty steps ahead of everyone else. After all, Batman's greatest asset is his brain (and money), and we'd like to see more of Affleck's interpretation of this. He's A Natural Leader In Justice League, we're set to see a different version of Batman - one who actually plays well with others. Most interpretations of the character will have you believe that he works better alone. Maybe in the past it's been true, but Batfleck has had at least two Robins in the DCEU so far, thereby proving he's not averse to having a partner to team up with in this new modern-day universe. From all the stills and footage, we can see that Affleck will assume a strong leadership role of the League. Whether he's actually made the official leader or not (our bet is that Supes will assume the mantle at the end of the film), he has the presence and clout to inspire and lead a group of new heroes into battle. As the oldest of the bunch, it's also likely that Batman will assume a mentorship role to Barry Allen/The Flash and possibly Vic Stone/Cyborg. From what we've seen, there's certainly a strong bond between Bruce and Barry in the trailers. His Chemistry With Co-Stars And The Crew Apart from the actual on-screen chemistry, you can see that the DCEU crew enjoys each other's company. It's not hard to spot when there's dissension in the ranks, and it's fair to say that these guys and girls are getting on like a house on fire right now. Throughout his career, Affleck has never been known for being a difficult or prim-donna actor. In fact, most co-stars and crew members have raved about his professionalism and desire to go the extra mile in all of his projects. Thinking about it now, he was hired to portray the Bat solely, yet he's gone over and above in several other unofficial roles and assisted where he can. It makes it far easier to build a universe when everyone's on the same page and striving for the same goals - and this is evident in Affleck's approach. He seems to genuinely care about the DCEU and is an executive producer for Justice League; he's certainly invested in it and has a lot riding on its success. How many other Batmen can you say have shown as much interest as he has to date? He Loves The Character It's widely known that many of the actors who've portrayed Batman haven't been prior fans of the character. With Affleck, though, it's the polar opposite. Ask Kevin Smith and he'll tell you how Batfleck slept on his couch and read Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns while they worked on a previous project. He understands and loves the World's Greatest Detective. Even Affleck's comments at Comic-Con seemingly affirm his love for the character. He's quoted as saying "Batman is the coolest part in any universe" and "I am the luckiest guy in the world. I'm so thrilled to do it." That doesn't sound like someone who is about to quit the franchise, does it? While time will tell whether it's all lip service, he does appear to have a deep and resounding connection to the Dark Knight. Also, it's every kid's dream to become the silent protector of Gotham City. Ask yourself this, would you say no to playing the character in a franchise? Tell us, do you think Ben Affleck is the best live-action Batman and do you hope he continues in the DCEU? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.