It’s funny to think about Batman outside the context of a super hero. And of course, I need to point out that he is not “super”, because he has no super powers. Of course, his deductive mind, his ability to be prepared in almost any situation, against anyone (including Superman) can be considered a super power. In the end though, that’s not the ability to fly, to create things with your mind, to run faster than any living thing out there, or to deflect bullets with your body, so Batman, under the cowl is just a simple, run of the mill billionaire. But there’s something special about the Batman, and not just because I’ve been playing Arkham City (which is an amazing game), but it’s because the Batman is everywhere.
Batman…I said his name a lot of in this post.Originating as a comic book character in 1939, Batman was first and foremost a detective, which made sense since he debuted in Detective Comics #27, and from that moment on, his appeal began grew. Then, there is his story, which for some reason, resonates with people all over the world. From his tragic childhood where he lost his parents to his growth as a martial artists and cunning sleuth, to the point when he puts on the cape and uses his harrowing past as a way to fight crime as a vigilante. It’s that history that for some reason, makes great movies, TV shows, and comic books.
Well, I guess, I shouldn’t keep acting like this is surprising. Batman, is awesome. Even when Adam West played this campy, melodramatic Caped Crusader, people were glued to the screen. I know I was, when I was a kid. I would watch those shows all the time, and revel in the “Zaps” “Pows”. Then there was the Tim Burton movies where we get to see a darker Batman. Then the Christian Bale iteration where we really get a feel for how the Batman would be like if he lived inthe real world and wow…they’re all just so great. Even the animated series, which was so adult for a cartoon, was so cool, I watched all day, everyday, and excitedly absorbed the life and times of the Dark Knight. And even when I was a kid, I always thought it was weird that Batman had such adult themes in comparison to Animaniacs or Duck Tales, though I guess Animaniacs had adult humor throughout. But that’s beside the point. To this day, people still hold Batman the Animated series in high regard as one of the best cartoons of all time. With Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker himself as the voice of the Joker, whom I guess is ending his run as that character with Arkham City, and then there’s Kevin Conroy with his iconic Batman voice. I honestly can’t hear Batman in any other voice. Even Christian Bale sounds weird as Batman, but Kevin Conroy…whew…HE’S the Batman.
Then there are the video games. The one that got me writing was Arkham City, and people agree, that the game is amazing. Playing as the World’s Greatest Detective is a lot of fun, with his flying around using his cape and grappling hook, and his intense fighting style, and his gadgets, it’s hard to emphasize how cool it feels. There’s just something about taking control of this larger than life guy, whom you often forget is really an orphaned billionaire. Instead, I got swept up and then it clicks…after writing all this praise, it hits me. Batman is the only super hero we can relate to.
There’s something very human about the Batman, despite the fact that he’s crazy, the 1% (which just let’s people know that I’m keeping current), and that he’s out every night successfully fighting crime. People, regular people in the real world, try to be like him. Or maybe Kick Ass, but I bet a lot of them think Batman. But I think, of all the comic book superheroes out there, he’s the one people feel they can actually become. He’s intelligent, he’s a genuinely good guy, and his modern take is a non-lethal guy who likes to let justice take over. As far as I know, he’s been killed, but I don’t believe he’s ever killed anyone. He’s never even killed his arch nemesis the Joker, despite the fact that the Clown Prince of Crime has killed a whole slew of people. He murders like nobodies business, yet Batman tries to stay above all that. Batman, always tries to take the higher ground.
Finally, I think what really got me going was that, I’m pretty sure everyone knows who Batman is. You can go to almost any country, and you mention Batman, I’d be surprised if you met someone who didn’t know who you were talking about. I bet his bat symbol and the name Batman is more recognizable than Superman. I could keep going, but I think you get my point. Is Batman the greatest super hero ever? Franchise-wise, for sure. Fan-wise…obviously. For me? Definitely. So what do you think about the Batman? Is there someone in any universe, DC, Marvel beyond, that’s better than the Batman? I’d love to hear your opinions.
