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Who's more feared...

By Gotham's citizens
By the GCPD
By Gotham's criminals
By the Superhuman community in general
By the populace at large, outside Gotham

...overall?

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b1/cd/69/b1cd6932c4df5bc7d1bcbb09b6e3ecc5--comic-tattoo-batman-tattoo.jpg

I'd say it depends on what iteration of Batman is being used (eg some writers' versions are written as mysterious urban legends), however I would say Batman should win the fear game against the Joker.

Think about it - even certain superheroes that have serious power fear the Batman (one reason why Hal Jordan's depictions of not giving a shit about Batman's fear aura is significant - he just doesn't buy into it, but many of the others do). Same thing with villains - even the master of fear himself, Scarecrow, is scared shitless of Batman.

But I guess the greatest measure is his selection by a Sinestro Corps ring as the first person in the space sector to go to, because he inspires great fear. There are many the ring could have gone to, but it went to Bruce first (where he promptly rejected it ...in the same way he rejects having mother boxes heal him, or the use of magic 'due to its unpredictability').

Between Batman and the Joker - in terms of inspiring that deep dark fear that rots in the pit of ones stomach? The fear that makes people flee in terror when they see a shadow move? The fear that can make a power ring get drawn to them like a moth to a flame?

Batman

When Supervillains want to scare eachother, they tell Joker stories. -- James Jesse, The Trickster.

GCPD, Gotham citizens and population at large go to Joker.

Gotham criminals are probably more scared of Batman, considering Joker is always able to find mooks to work for him.

The supercommunity is probably a split: Most heroes, while sickened by what Joker does, are pretty far above his weight class so aren't going to be frightened of him. Whereas heroes repeatedly talk about how frightening it is that Batman does what he does whilst only being a man. It's not fear for their lives or anything, just scary what he is capable of.

Meanwhile villains will see Batman as surprisingly competent for just a man, or they're Gotham villains who aren't scared of him at all. Whereas they look at the stuff Joker does and it genuinely scares them, like Trickster said in Underworld Unleashed. And whereas the Gotham villains are happy to go against Batman, they're pretty much all scared/uneasy with Joker.

Great stuff guys, thank you.