The 2020s have started off with a fairly intense bang, opening important conversations on mental health issues and life during a pandemic. The entertainment-starved public has recently been bombarded by film releases. One notable release would have to be the new rendition of everyone's favorite flawed vigilante “The Batman.” Batman has always been seen as a darker hero when his origin is considered. He is a violent character born out of intense misfortune and most therapists today could have a field day with his childhood trauma. In some ways, Batman, more than any other character, represents a more transparent and relatable side of vigilante behavior.
Batman is neither an antihero nor is he the stereotypical boy scout of the comic book age. Part of his popularity in the modern age of media is that he is depicted as more tortured, making him a realistic vision of heroism. He lurks in the shadows and recent imagery dedicated to the character shows the mental turmoil that a person can go through when justice is so corrupted that for it to be served either a villain or a morally grey hero is required. When compared to Superman, The Batman is more ‘human’ in both physical stature and mental capabilities. Batman represents a need in modern society for realism in superheroes, regardless of the dark side of that notion. In an article comparing the roles of superman and batman in society, Daniel Boscaljon argues that “these stories (in reference to superman) are offered in an iterative structure, which gives the illusion of a timeless world by preventing Superman from making decisions with serious implications.” Superman is regularly seen fighting aliens or mythical villains, whereas Batman's issues are more in line with crime as the real world sees it. Batman films regularly deal with themes of corruption, and the problems that come with the bustling environment of a large urban area. The recent Batman film (2022) tackles issues of corruption in police systems as well as in systems of local government, while also hinting at an incredibly important evolution for Batman as a character. At the end of the film scenes depict a society after a disaster has struck, the local vigilante (Batman, AKA: Vengeance) came to save the day but is unfortunately too late. The new film then shows this adaptation of Batman coming into the light and assisting the national guard in providing aid. This change from shadows to light shows a growth in the character who starts the film as little more than the bigger bully, to one whose intent to serve and protect the community is clear.
As a whole, the Batman franchise is well known for portraying the effect of trauma on different people in different circumstances. In “The Batman” this is shown through the eyes of both Bruce Wane as well as Selina Kyle. Catwoman (Selina Kyle) is a depiction of trauma mixed with true vengeance. She represents the theme of the anti-hero as her actions in the film from beginning to end are meant to fit a personal agenda, rather than the overall goal of the film's heroes. Batman may claim to be Vengeance but during the film, his form of vengeance almost feels calm compared to hers. Batman still has some faith in the authorities meant to handle justice, whereas Catwoman has lost her faith in those entities and becomes a personal version of karma for the people who have done her wrong. Both characters represent different versions of “the trauma of the origin story” which Philip Sandifer argues is a primary reason for the creation of costumed vigilantes. when it comes to the trauma behind Batman, it is fair to say that Sandifer is correct when he speaks on the two competing truths of superhero narratives by stating that “the first is the narrative truth of the origin story—that the secret identity existed, something traumatic happened, and they became their new identity as a superhero. The second is the traumatic truth—that the superhero identity exists, and that any construction of the secret "prior" identity is being made from within a post-traumatic state.” In the film, Batman represents the first narrative truth, while Catwoman represents the second.
`Myths have always been an important outlet for society. They work as both narratives that entertain us in the present as well as reflect important concepts to society during the time that they are created. In older myths (Greek mythology, Sumerian mythology, etc.), a focus on heroism as a divine trait reflected the belief systems of the time. Over time, society's idea of heroism has evolved from a divine character to one with inherent flaws. One reason for this change may be the need for people to relate in some way to the characters that they have come to love. Bruce Wanes' immense wealth makes him hard to relate to and so there is more effort put into developing his alter ego, Batman. The character differs from other superheroes in the way he develops his powers. Batman, unlike Superman or Wonder Woman, has no inhuman abilities, his powers of deduction, understanding of technology, and fighting abilities come from years of training and perseverance. This detail makes Batman appear more relatable to the modern audience. In his paper ‘Folklore, Fakelore, Scholars, and Shills: Superheroes as "Myth”’ Ezra Claverie quotes Batman editor, Dennis O’ Neil, stating that “Batman and Robin are part of our folklore. Even though only a tiny fraction of the population reads the comics, everyone knows about them the way everybody knows about Paul Bunyan, Abe Lincoln, and so on.” Batman represents an evolution in the modern-day superhero as someone that is tied more to the community around them than the mythical terrors of the past is a change that represents a general unrest in modern-day society when the failings of authorities and local government are considered.
Batman's popularity comes from his consistent evolution over time. He represents the constructive things a person can do with their trauma, without ignoring the difficulty of those accomplishments. Batman as a franchise represents society's need for realistic heroism in entertainment. By depicting the heroes of the film as people with their own issues the film takes an opportunity to create reachable goals for the audience. The franchise breathes a new life into the concept of flawed heroes while remembering the importance of character development. Batman can be viewed as a flawed hero at the beginning of ‘The Batman’ because his need for personal vengeance outweighs his need for justice. His evolution comes in the form of a realization that it is down to him as a vigilante to lead Gotham out of the darkness. The films focus on regular issues such as corruption in government as well as in law enforcement and show an incredible sense of awareness on the part of the people involved. Batman is neither the worst, nor best of modern-day superheroes, but he definitely reflects current society the best.
Works Cited
Boscaljon, D., (2013) “The Flip Side of Justice: The Two-Faced Spirit of The Dark Knight”, Iowa Journal of Cultural Studies 14(1), p.44-64. doi: https://doi.org/10.17077/2168-569X.1412
Sandifer, Philip. “Amazing Fantasies: Trauma, Affect, and Superheros.” English Language Notes , vol. 46, no. 2, Fall/Winter2008 2008, pp. 175–92. EBSCOhost , https://doi-org.libezp.lib.lsu.edu/10.1215/00138282-46.2.175.
Claverie, Ezra. “Folklore, Fakelore, Scholars, and Shills: Superheroes as ‘Myth.’” Journal of Popular Culture , vol. 52, no. 5, Oct. 2019, pp. 976–98. EBSCOhost , https://doi-org.libezp.lib.lsu.edu/10.1111/jpcu.12840.
Reeves, Matt, director. The Batman. Warner Bros. Pictures, 2022.
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