Warning: SPOILERS for Detective Comics #1017
Batman has made a lot of superfriends during his time as the Dark Knight. He's teamed up with the best-of-the-best in the DC Universe and come out victorious in seemingly impossible situations many, many times. It's understandable Batman would start to admire some of his colleagues. However, it's there is one fellow hero who is Batman's absolute favorite according to the Caped Crusader himself: Superman.
In Detective Comics #1017 by Tom Taylor, Fernando Blanco, John Kalisz, and Travis Lanham, Batman is on the lookout for a 15-year-old named Miguel who's escaped one of Bruce Wayne's funded orphanages. He finds Miguel face down in the snow, suffering from severe hypothermia. Once Batman gets him in the Batmobile, Miguel fades in and out of consciousness. Before passing out, he tells Batman he's sorry that Superman is his favorite hero. Batman lets him in on a secret, Superman is his favorite as well.
It's a tender moment and one that illustrates why Batman is so beloved. He knows Miguel is in rough shape and is just trying to console him. While Batman can come across as cold and disconnected, his heart is always in the right place. After the encounter, Batman and Damian manage to get Miguel into the emergency room and wait outside as doctors operate. Unfortunately, Miguel doesn't make it, succumbing to his ailments. As he has with Spider-Man, Taylor humanizes Batman in this special scene.
While some might be more familiar with Batman and Superman facing off against one another in the DCU, the two's on-again-off-again friendship is one of the storied aspects of DC Comics. The two connect and respect one another despite coming from totally different backgrounds. Superman is a superpowered alien who crashes on Earth to be raised in a farm town in Kansas. Meanwhile, Batman is born privileged and powerless and disconnected from society following the death of his parents. Their shared responsibility is what makes Batman and Superman an excellent pairing. The two have had numerous team-ups, have saved the world together and even gone on double dates. They have a bond that can't be broken - even when they've fallen out in the past.
Batman knew Miguel wasn't in the best shape and did his best to console him during his last moments. Maybe, Batman wasn't telling the truth about Superman being his favorite hero, but it seems like a genuine response to keep Miguel's attention. Regardless, Batman shared a special moment with the kid and revealed a side to him that many people don't often see. It makes for an incredibly touching panel.