THE IRON LION

It is so easy to read a comic book or watch a movie and admire a superhero from a distance.  There are many different grades of superheroes.  There are the team players, the sidekicks, the anti-heroes and the nobodies.  Then there are icons.  Being icon means you are a staple in your culture.  It means everyone should at least know your name.  Iconic status does not come by coincidence.  Men become immortal because there is something about them that resonates deeply with people whether it is conscious or subconscious.  Batman has achieved that very status.

Superheroes pick up the mask and mantle for many different reasons.  Superman, Spiderman and the grand majority of heroes have decided that “with great power comes great responsibility” and their super human abilities, whether innate or developed, should be put to use for the greater good.  This is what sets Bruce apart.  As you (should) know Bruce lost his parents during an armed robbery after a late showing of The Mark of Zorro. His decision to become the Batman was made to exact vengeance against those who would do what was done to him.  At least that’s what we see on the surface.

When blessed with superpowers many would argue that the noble thing to do is to protect those not as strong as you.  One might say that being a hero is a good outlet for such gifts.  There is however nothing noble or healthy about Batman.  The healthy thing to do for a child in Bruce’s position would be to let go of the pain of losing his parents and move forward with his life.  He chose instead to turn himself into a weapon so potent that he can roll with the likes of Superman and the Green Lantern.  This comes at a high price. 

Wayne is a master detective.  One thing about detective work is that it takes time.  When most people think of Batman, they think of nightfall coming and Batman going to the bad guy’s hideout to stop whatever he or she has planned.  What many tend to overlook is that Batman has to understand what the plan is, what the villain’s objective is, and how he plans to foil this plan.  This takes time to figure out.  This is work Bruce conducts in the daytime.  Being that he has no super powers, his plan to defeat his foes must be airtight.  Batman often has very small windows of opportunity that must be taken advantage of when fighting enemies like Bane or Darkseid.  The training to execute those strategies is extensive and Batman has to stay sharp.  This takes even more time.  Superhero business aside, he also must keep up his living alias of the carefree, sometimes irresponsible, playboy billionaire Bruce Wayne, appearing at parties, taking vacations and running Wayne Enterprises.  While many people think Bruce Wayne is just another secret identity, they’re wrong.  There is no Bruce Wayne.  There is only Batman.

When it comes to crime fighting Superman and Spiderman have it easy.  They’re able to save the world, be a symbol for hope and return home to their girlfriends at the end of it.  Batman cannot do that for a multitude of reasons (the main one being time).  The cost of being Batman is often at the expense of Bruce’s psyche.  With no superpowers he has to plan every eventuality down to the most improbable and unlikely events.  Such a disadvantage leaves him paranoid and leaves him with almost no chance of having a real connection with another human being.  This is a man who has a Kryptonite ring just for the chance that (his best friend) Clark tries to get cute.  How can a man like that come home to the wife and kids at the end of the day?  However a lack of ability to have a deep connection with someone doesn’t negate the need for social interaction.

Batman as a comic is praised lavishly for its cast of villains.  Batman’s villains are more than just antagonists.  I believe they serve also as dark companions.  The transformation into Batman has left Bruce a very fragmented person.  His potential for good is equally balanced with his potential for great evil and he knows that.  He has descended into the darkest pits of his own psychology in an effort to understand his foes.   So long has he wrestled with the idea of killing every one of his foes.  The fear of never returning from that dark psychological cavern however is too much for him so he doesn’t kill, even when killing would do the world a greater good.  That’s what the Bat would tell you anyways. 

I think he doesn’t kill his foes because his enemies give his life purpose.  I think he’s addicted to Batman and would do whatever he could to continue it.  The pain of his parents’ murder that he has held onto for so many years has created so many demons within him.   I believe that Batman is fighting himself when he is fighting Joker; trying so hard to convince himself that he is different and also trying to justify and maintain his place in the world.   

There are quite a few people who have known Batman’s secret identity.  The most interesting is Robin.  It is no measure of good health to do what Bruce does for a living, but involving children in your exploits is just downright twisted and I don’t think a lot of people catch that.  Dick Grayson was 10 when Batman enlisted him as the Boy Wonder.  He trained and weaponized the child just as he did himself.  I believe this satisfied Bruce’s need for fatherhood and connection with a human being but at what cost?  Jason Todd, the second Robin died at the hands of the Joker and it still didn’t register with Bruce that perhaps involving children isn’t the best idea.  Tim Drake took his place shortly after as the third Robin and his son, Damian Wayne is the latest.  Much like anybody who is addicted, Batman will never admit that what he’s doing is wrong and will continue doing it, purely in the name of addiction.

It is the everyday torture that Batman endures that makes him the deep dynamic character that he is.  His story will be told until words are no longer spoken or read.  Batman has the greatest story told by comic books.  His endeavors, if they have taught us anything have taught us this: no matter how disadvantaged your situation may appear, you still have the potential to do things people will call impossible years after.  A little known lesson he also teaches is that holding on to your past pains will keep you fighting your entire life.   Can we call Batman a hero for the work he does?  Is he really just a damaged child afraid to give rest to his tired emotions?  I think Batman resonates so well with people because of his issues and insecurities.  Batman carries his pain so that we don’t have to.  We should take note and let go of our pain, because in my opinion the best crusaders are  fictional. 

Reblog if you’re a fan of Batman or enjoyed the piece.  Thanks Tumblr!