EDITORAL: The Case for Anarky

EDITORAL: The Case for Anarky

Although not well-known, Anarky is the next suitable villain given the way things ended in "Dark Knight." There are problems with selecting a villain for Nolan's third Batman film.

Editorial Opinion
By ORION - Jul 13, 2010 09:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman

The first problem is that too many villains are too sci-fi'ish. This would include villains like Clayface, Mr. Freeze, Killer, Kroc, Man-Bat, and Poison Ivy. These characters simply cannot exist in Nolan's hyper-realistic world, nor would the Public want them to exist because the public prefers hyper-realism over the sci-fi/cartoony style

Second, too many characters are just not well known enough. Much of the Public didn't even know about Scarecrow, so do we really think that the Public will know about Anarky, Hush, and Black Mask? Probably not.

Third, too many characters are simply not menacing enough. Characters like the Riddler & Penguin are the main examples. Which is more menacing, Riddler's riddles, or Scarecrow's nightmares? Penguin's birds, or Anarky's anarchy and lawlessness? Appearance wise, Penguin is comical/funny looking. Granted the Joker jokes, nothing about the Joker's appearance is comical orfunny. Nolan's joker was menacing because he was more of homicidal maniac (with a menacing appearance) rather than as the court jester type. Nolan's Joker was really a nihilist that looked like a jester. But the Joker is not an option given Ledger’s death and Nolan’s recent statements. So how does Anarky fit it? Well, we all know that nihilism will lead to anarchy

Enter Anarky. Again, he's not well known. But that's the price we pay to retain hyper-realism and the menace factor. In the comics he's a teenager, but that doesn't have to be the case in the movie. But most importantly, Anarky’s modus operandi fits in with the ending of “Dark Knight.” “Dark Knight” ended with the police chasing Batman. For philosophical reasons (like V in "V for Vendetta"), Anarky believes the government should be destroyed (whereby anarchy will ensue) because he believes all government is corrupt all the time (unlike Raz al Gul, who believed that only some cities were corrupt at their financial peaks).

Imagine the action scenes and plot! The government is hunting Batman down in pursuit, and Anarky intervenes their hunt by killing them and saving Batman! This causes Batman to hunt Anarky, the government to hunt Batman, and Anarky to hunt the government by blowing up cars and FBI buildings! It's a three-way circle! For Anarky, the enemy of the Government (Batman) is his friend. But for Batman, the enemy of the Government (Anarky) is not his friend.

Anarky's appearance is dreadful as well. His mask is similar to V's (V for Vendetta) Guy Fawkes mask, and shares V's anti-Government views. But he has this red Catholic Pope robe and hat on, which adds to the eeriness. Intellectually, he would be the smartest of all villains – smarter than Edward Nigma. He doesn't quote jokes and simple riddles, but political philosophers such as Aristotle and Karl Marx. He's justifies (or tries to at-least) to provide a philosophical foundation for his anarchism. He’s deep, yet misguided. He’s our next Batman villain.

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InSpace
InSpace - 7/13/2010, 9:46 AM
Yeah but Anarky is a little kid
ORION
ORION - 7/13/2010, 9:52 AM
Make him an adult, or a young adult.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 7/13/2010, 10:09 AM
Black Mask is a much better and logical choice for the next one. especially given how importat the mob is in these movies.
MassExecutions
MassExecutions - 7/13/2010, 10:23 AM
Some good Batman editorials lately. Wish I had had more time to comment on the earlier ones.

Nice plot idea, but I'm with the group that says the next villain has to be a PHYSICAL threat to Batman and its about time we got some good fight scenes, therefore, Bane played by Javier Bardem.
Destroyer14
Destroyer14 - 7/13/2010, 10:29 AM
Deadshot would be my choice.
antonio
antonio - 7/13/2010, 10:32 AM
black mask was supposed to be the main villian in tdk.him or the riddler all the way for the next villain in batman 3.
AverageCitizen99
AverageCitizen99 - 7/13/2010, 10:38 AM
Nice work, but I'm not too sure about him as the next villain. Anarky (which ever way, character or idea) was a theme already dealt with in "the Dark Knight." "Batman Begins" dealt with fear, hence the inclusion of Scarecrow as a minor villain, "the Dark Knight" dealt with escalation, hence the Joker as the primary antagonist, but so far we really don't know the theme of this next installment. These villains are representations of the primary themes that are layered within their respective films which is why they worked in the film. Both films have shown that you can have multiple villains, big or small. Anarky would be interesting but he would just remind people of the Joker and his rants about it. Alot of people are theorizing that next film will deal with someone learning Bruce's identity, hence the Riddler being a main contender. Either him or Hugo Strange could work because they both are characters that have gotten close to the Batman's public identity while also causing a sort of gossip amongst the criminals of Gotham. That could not only affect Batman's work but also Bruce's own personal life.

Nice work though. :)
agentofshield
agentofshield - 7/13/2010, 10:41 AM
BANE FOR BATMAN 3!!

BREAK THE BAT!!!!!
fanboiii
fanboiii - 7/13/2010, 10:44 AM
Clayface, Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, and Poison Ivy could all be reimagined in a more believable way. I'd say any villian is possible.

Example: Killer Croc could be a guy who wears alligator skin clothes with body-modded sharp teeth. Poison Ivy could be a biochemical terrorist using plant toxins. Any of these characters can be re-written/re-imagined to fit wtih Nolan's vision.

Like Nolan said, story is everything. He's going to pick the villians that embody the story. Batman Begins was about fear and rebirth so he used Scarecrow and Ra's al Ghul. TDK was about duality and chaos so he used Two Face and Joker.
MatchesMalone
MatchesMalone - 7/13/2010, 10:44 AM
@ORION- I think it's a little presumptuous to say that "nor would the public want them to exist because the public prefers hyper-realism over the sci-fi/cartoony style." I consider myself part of the public and I wouln't mind seeing any of the aforementioned villians in a Batman movie. Will they be in a Chris Nolan Batman movie? No. Would the "public" still go see a Batman movie if there were villians in it that weren't "hyper-realistic?" The answer is a resounding YES!
Clutchplayer
Clutchplayer - 7/13/2010, 11:02 AM
What if?????
How do you catch Batman? You get the big guy from Metropolis..... SUPERMAN!
That would be an awesome end to the Nolan series...
the police try to catch batman, by using the riddler, or other "small players" give up and ask the Man of Steel to catch him... he does and they of course become adversaries and then friends....???? it would be sweet!
ORION
ORION - 7/13/2010, 11:05 AM
@ MassExecutions, Bane was my runner-up.

@ AverageCitizen, your comment about Anarky's anarchy and Joker's chaos is my main concern. The theme can be veiwed as repetitive. However, I'd still think Anarky's motives can take second chair to hunting Batman.

Thanks for all the comments guys.
BrotherJohnson
BrotherJohnson - 7/13/2010, 11:20 AM
I think Bane and Deadshot/Deathstroke could be suitable
rolanddeschain
rolanddeschain - 7/13/2010, 11:22 AM
I think it's an intruiging suggestion, but, as Orion just stated, the only problem is the feeling of redundance of theme. I could see him in the mold of being inspired by the jokers actions to try and further his cause, but I just don't feel him as a main villain. If you make him a 2nd tier nemesis, I would like it.
Vafrous
Vafrous - 7/13/2010, 11:22 AM
Anarky would be...awesome IF he was older...
Black Mask,Bane,Deadshot and Firefly are my choices...Nice article btw
mstargel
mstargel - 7/13/2010, 11:24 AM
I would love to see Batman on the run... Make the Riddler a detective for the Gotham police department who goes crazy trying to hunt down the Batman. Meanwhile, with the police and city focused on hunting down the Batman, Oswald Cobblepot,(Phillip Seymour Hoffman) could step in as a new crime lord to take over the city.... i think a small side story of how there is a young psychiatrist treating the joker (Harley Quinn) in Arkham could be a could reference to the Joker and Heath Ledger w/out actually using him in the film... just random thoughts...
secretasianboy
secretasianboy - 7/13/2010, 11:35 AM
i don't know he's such a minor villian
but if nolan puts him in: i won't complain i'm sure it would be great
AlternateNo4
AlternateNo4 - 7/13/2010, 11:48 AM
i think perhaps if we consider it less as "redundance of theme" and more of "continuing the story arc," it might feel a little better?

i definitely think fanboiii is correct when he says that the sci-fi rogues could be reinvented and made possible... but while the idea of independently operating psychotics seemed to be what Goyer was setting us up for, the Nolans took things in a much different direction in TDK. at this point it looks like the most logical continuation of the story would be to examine the power vacuum left following the Joker's capture.

i don't want to PREDICT what they're doing, but I'D have Black Mask and Penguin arrive on the scene at about the same time, or even pick up the story after they've already taken over most of the city in an "uneasy-alliance-cum-rivalry" that eventually breaks down as Black Mask gets more and more sociopathic. SO many story possibilities there... Bruce as Matches Malone, the Gotham earthquake... how about making Catwoman's sister eat her husband! That'll fit into Nolan's universe just fine!

Anarky, then, would fit in quite well as a young nut that hates the gov because he views it as complicit in the gangland activity. i picture him arriving thinking Batman will welcome him with open arms, but turning vicious when he doesn't.
superdog
superdog - 7/13/2010, 11:58 AM
no way. they did anarchay and chaos in the last one, this would be a rehash.
TheStranger
TheStranger - 7/13/2010, 12:04 PM
Thank you! Ive been preaching this ever since TDK opening day. :D
opencart
opencart - 7/13/2010, 12:08 PM
This is what the plot would be if I was creating Batman 3.

Joker would be in jail but because of all the trouble he's caused with the mob and there's now a hit out on him. The only way he can stay alive is by mutilating his face and get transferred to Arkham asylum for the criminal insane.

Once transferred he finds out that Harvey Dent is still a live and Gordon had Harvey committed under a false name. Gordon can uses the excuse that he's protecting Harvey from the mob by faking Harvey's death and had him committed under a false name.

Feeling cheated Joker plans his escape and revenge with Harvey. Harvey wants to kidnap Maroni and put him on trail for what he did to Rachel. Harvey thinks the courts are to corrupt and soft and the only punishment should be death of Maroni and the people he loves.

Mean while a green activist group is believed to be responsible for number of poisonings have been happening targeting members of Gothams business elite.
MassExecutions
MassExecutions - 7/13/2010, 12:16 PM
Would Nolan take a lot of guff if he went back to the world of Batman Begins, which ALLOWED more sci-fi elements?

You could say he never REALLY left it since Scarecrow was in TDK. Just because Joker used more realistic methods it doesn't mean we can't still have fear toxins and microwave super weapons. If so, why not super steroids, bizarre plants, and weird skin conditions?
Dakjaniels
Dakjaniels - 7/13/2010, 12:49 PM
@Brotherjohnson. Bane would make total sense to me. The police become desperate not being able to catch batman and bring him in to hunt him down. I don't like the idea of Anarchy as it feels like a rehash of chaos in TDK.
timtimthegod
timtimthegod - 7/13/2010, 1:05 PM
my choiceses for batman 3

the riddler-a detective that changes changes his tune after going mad trying to capture the batman,

poison ivy- bio chemist who has a expertice in plants, works for bruce waynes company and after her being let go for her dabbleing in chemical weapons. She takes her revenge on the wayne family

the penguin- a new crime boss that comes in and takes over the gap of power that has been left since the reign of the joker

and last but not least robin- have him come in not as a kid but as a fellow martial artist he has meet on past adventures when he was abroad, he has come to lend the bat some assitance on gothams darkest times

also have it state in at least one scene that between the time tdk and the third movie batman has taken down other villans, Like have a scene where he is in the bat cave and he has a wall off villan paraphlia and newspaper clipings.

if this is gonna be the last movie it needs to go out with a bang, have batman and luices build there new super weapon the bat wing, it should be called the spirt of gotham,

just my 2 cents, im typeing this quickly im sure i misspelled, sorry
timtimthegod
timtimthegod - 7/13/2010, 1:17 PM
also have bane as poison ivys freind from the military who she was building the chem weps for, who she has comprised a steriod made from types of venomous plants to inhance muscle growth. They both are a team and try to bring down the bruce wayne element of batman. So batman is getting hit from all directions
Clutchplayer
Clutchplayer - 7/13/2010, 1:19 PM
I still think if you really want to go with a bang, and set up for a Superman/Batman crossover (like how tony stark ends up in Hulk, or Thor's hammer in IM2) then the guy called up to catch the bat has to be superman.
Wayne could build the bat wing in order to fly (like superman) equip himself with kryptonite gloves(or ring, like in Hush??) it would be epic!
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 7/13/2010, 1:21 PM
Good article but I think I'd rather see Nolan's take on a better known, established villain. :P
Macksimus
Macksimus - 7/13/2010, 1:43 PM
I'm reading all of these Batman articles on here, and you guys keep writing about how certain characters can't exist in Nolan's Batman universe because of how those characters are perceived in the comic book universe.

The two universes are obviously completely different. However, any character in the comic book universe can be adapted for Nolan's movies.

Batman, Scarecrow, Ras, Two Face, and even the Joker from Nolan's movies are nothing like their comic book counterparts.

So, that being said, to say that a character can't be in the new movie because they are "unrealistic" is rediculously off-base, considering that it has already been done.

Now, there are characters that are more easily translatable to the movies, and Nolan may decide to go with those character for the sake of staying as close to the source material as possible while also keeping the character grounded within the realm of reality.

Angelus
Angelus - 7/13/2010, 2:08 PM
Dont like it. Joker was the anarchist. We need a different political aspect at least. Maybe someone who doesnt wanna to destroy society but just see how far he can go before it breaks. And he's not a terrorist. Maybe make the villain rich or something, a highclass crazy.

Beware my power.
Nightwing09
Nightwing09 - 7/13/2010, 2:21 PM
I think Anarky would be perfect with the scarecrow beside him
BryEL
BryEL - 7/13/2010, 2:43 PM
Anarky needs to be like 18 on the dot, and Talia needs to show up going "what's up, Bruce? You knew my dad..."
XxBatmanCrusaderxX
XxBatmanCrusaderxX - 7/13/2010, 3:37 PM
This movie is about mental state, not everbody tryibg to kill everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GreenHalJordan
GreenHalJordan - 7/13/2010, 3:38 PM
nolan kinda hinted tho in my opinion, in the hospital scene he gives the gun to dent and asks him to introduce a little anarchy, plus it would be a great villain for the last film. Riddl, to anarchists, wither and anarchy a common goal, break the batmanm but make him older
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 7/13/2010, 4:09 PM
AARON ECKHART is Two-Face (He is in coma, then wakes up, crazier than ever and is planning to destroy Batman for good... WITH ANARCHY AND CHAOS), JAVIER BARDEM is Bane (Sosiopathic Contract Killer who starts to work for Talia and Thorne, but then becomes obsessed with Batman and starts to hunt him down), DANNY HUSTON is Rupert Thorne (Deals guns and drugs and works for Talia), RACHEL WEISZ or MARION COTILLARD is Talia Al Ghul (She knows who Batman really is and is planning to revenge her fathers death)... H*ll the third movies name should be The Dark Knight Hunting Season!:D lol
Or Batman Knightfall!! THAT! WOULD! BE! AWESOME!:D

My other choices:
MARK STRONG or ED HARRIS / Mr. Freeze
JOHN MALKOVICH / Hugo Strange
PAUL BETTANY / Clayface
JACKIE EARLE HALEY / Firefly
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN / Penquin
And
JOHNNY DEPP / The Riddler

Like fanboii said they all can be reimagined in more believable way!!:D
quinnymahon2008
quinnymahon2008 - 7/13/2010, 4:24 PM
is that the guy thats a rip off of V from v for vendetta
Newbe
Newbe - 7/13/2010, 4:27 PM
@orion This is exactly what i thought.

on a different note. In terms of Nolan's Universe, the Riddler would probably be the most logical choice.(although i still have hope for Anarky) If we are looking at the political aspect of These batman films the riddler could have this sense of existentialism about him. The whole thing with Nietzsche and looking into the dark abyss. How far will a person go to see their very own will to power. In ideologies like Fascism it is very evident. Looking at Nietzsche we see that the one person who goes the furthest into the dark abyss will be the Uberman. Or essentially the one with the most suffering to gain their will to power. The ideal refers to a person who suffers the most being more fit to run a country but like most ideologies it becomes misunderstood and misguided. Thus the will to power found by everyone's favorite bad guy Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler thought he was the Uberman and thus his campaign to concur Europe was in his own twisted way his will to power. So if the riddler shared this same ideal and delusion, he could use the Joker's reign of terror as the essence of destroying contemporary society to rebuild it in his own blueprint. In the comics the Riddler always represented a pretentious over confident attitude so it is not entirely out of question that he would try such an impossible task. This whole idea i feel caters to his brilliance and ego. but then again this is just speculation.

Disclaimer: The above ideology has been paraphrased beyond belief, and some of the ideas I may not have grasped fully. Be warned, research it for yourselves and if there are any issues please bring them to attention and correct any errors.
AlternateNo4
AlternateNo4 - 7/13/2010, 5:04 PM
@ Newbe lol you're apologizing for your potential minor misinterpretation of Nietzsche's UBERMENSCH THEORY? omfg that's rich. friend, you're brilliant and while Nietzsche himself might have taken issue with a few of your deductions, i doubt any of US would be so presumptuous. bottom line is i think this is just where the Nolans need to take the story in order to close the circle.

i still feel like Black Mask and Penguin should be stepping into the post-Joker void, because the question of Gotham's gomorrahaeic soul needs to be answered so that Batman is forced to accept that he must soldier on ad infinum. In fact, I don't believe that they should be defeated, or even [necessarily] confronted... but I think the film should paint a portrait of Gotham's surreal crime network taking shape. Just like "Begins" ended with the image of a psychotic rogues' gallery, and TDK ended with the image of Batman working outside the law, B3 should end with the vision of a Gotham that will never recover.

Riddler can be the villain that will present the PROBLEM to be SOLVED, but by the end we should be made aware of the existence of Penguin, Black Mask, AND the oscillatory alliance of the East End's strange burglar/vigilante Ms. Selina Kyle... AND, while we're at it, why not Anarky too? It's not "too many villains" because the whole POINT is to create a sense of overwhelming odds—he's not actually FACING them all, they're just coming out of the woodwork and so he sees just how dismal the situation really has become.

Bruce should be forced to accept the fact that for every criminal he brings to justice, he creates three more villains and one more "questionable ally." This sets up the unanswerable question of when he will ever be able to stop. And thus the series ends, with all of US knowing that he can NEVER stop... because he is sworn to battle evil, but trapped by the evils he has himself engendered and begat.
Kurbbsyde
Kurbbsyde - 7/13/2010, 5:08 PM
Anarky does have potential I will give ya that but remember WB wants money and no name villains may not fly
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