As much as you can make fun of the Schumacher movies, at the end of Batman Forever he says "I am Batman. Not because I have to be, now... but because I choose to be." Like, after all the training and buying gadgets the hard work is over, you're just a dude with an awesome job helping people. Batman can just enjoy that even if he has some days better than others.
To be fair to some writers, Batman and Spider-Man can seem whiny when they mention the Waynes or Uncle Ben every other issue but one of Jim Shooter's rules was "Treat every issue as if it was someone's first." This is why Claremont had the X-Men explain how their powers worked all the time. MAYBE the writers are using that tactic, though I would argue Batman and Spider-Man are so well known you don't need to go into WHY they do this much anymore.
It boils down to what kind of story you want to tell to what audience. These things can go a lot of different ways. Bat Man has a pretty broad appeal to a lot of different demographics. For kids. For adults that followed as kids. For kids you don’t have to over think it. A guy that felt injustice wants to dress up to correct it. It’s universal. Every luchadore. Adults want something more. Nolan did a good job with it. The Phoenix Joker movie dropped the ball. You can’t do a joker movie without being able to do a a movie where this guy fights the joker. It’s like making a mob movie as a fantasy where you can’t write them fighting the FBI.
The compulsion is fine for early cruel Bruce but eventually he needs to be doing it for himself. Otherwise there's very little development of Bruce's perspective on himself, which at 30+ is a very silly idea.
I personally don't think of it as a an obsessive compulsion, more of a moral duty. Sure, batman is "compelled" to do it, but because he is a virtuous person who has the power to do good. The parents thing is his origin, sure. But he his a person who believes in justice to his core.
I said in another post that I don't think the Punisher likes what he does, but derives more of a job-well-done satisfaction after a mission. I'll ammend that and say he probably does enjoy getting his hands on new gear and trying it out. Like firing a new rifle and going "Holy shit, that kick is sick!" in his head.
If it's something they can't help but do, then they're not in control of their actions. I don't think that's a very aspirational aspect to a character who is meant to be a hero. Part of their appeal is that if they can choose to do the good, that means we can too.
@SuperSaiyanGuyver
11 hours ago