The DC universe reboot is upon us. This means mostly everything we know and have come to love (or hate) is now either gone or reinvented. So with a fond farewell, I'd like to bring attention to why Batman has become one of the greatest badasses to live in this generation.
Recently, comics have been becoming more and more accepted within the modern social norms of the world. No more are geeks or nerds who spend their times reading comics being isolated and frowned upon for their interests. To be honest, this never was understood by me. Why would drawings of great stories and fantastic adventures by amazing beings not a popular fascination amongst everyone? But that may just be the geek within me asking that. This however, may no longer be true. Movies, television and even video games are capturing comics in their mediums and opening up their universe for the vast majority of the world to be in awe. Comic book movies are eagerly anticipated, video games based off comics are now becoming a common sight, and even superheroes are starting to have a huge fanbase outside of a comic book.
And this is where Batman has reigned. Batman has been for years the outcast of superhero lore. Taking the formula which all of the world's best superheroes are accustomed to and and putting it topside. When someone asks you to think of superheroes, you would probably be the 99% of normal people who would think , justice, good and honorable intentions right? Batman takes that idea sets it on fire, and beats it with a metal pole. Batman doesn't care about the journey, he cares about the end. Batman didn't choose this lifestyle to save people, he started because of revenge. Batman doesn't fight against the darkness, he is the mother[frick]ing darkness.
"So Batman has always been a badass right? Why haven't people always understood this?" you may ask. Because when one of the first times Batman was introduced to a big mainstream audience, it had been presented like this
Not the most helpful thing to have the franchise associated with. A batman who was corney and cheesy, an "audience loved" Batman, not a comic-true Batman. The worst thing about it is that it became quite popular at its time and defined how batman was seen. It threatened Batman to such a degree that the comic was almost canceled. This view on Batman carried on for a few decades, yet they persisted until the badassery would return once more. Waiting... Watching... And it did. It rose with the comic mini-series called "The Dark Knight Returns". A now old and retired Bruce Wayne picks up the mantle of Batman once more after years without his vigilantism. This brought back the darkness in Batman, this reinvigorated its origins. This also continued into the 1989 Batman Movie which was Darker than all previous film and television incantations. Even the animated series was filling this gaping whole of badassery which everyone longed for. For a cartoon it was dark and gritty, and everything Batman should've been seen as. However just as all good things come, a tidal wave of bad rises to destroy it. Some survive these onslaughts, but Batman did not. This wave was called Joel Schumacher. He brought back the cheesy Batman and god was it terrible. "Batman & Robin" single-handedly destroyed the Caped Crusader's universe once more and not even the Bat credit card could save it.
Seriously what the [frick] was that.
Batman was dead. But not even the dead can stop this Dark Knight. And Christopher Nolan knew it. He took the task to reboot the franchise. From the beginning. No one shitting on it this time. No one was going to stop him. When people first heard he was putting a realistic touch on it, outcries were heard. When fans saw the Tumbler Batmobile, protests were held. But when everyone saw the movie, gasps were uttered. It was Beautiful. Batman's origins at it's best since the beginning. Hope was reinvigorated. Praise for the movie was uttered by every mouth which watched it. Could this be a one hit wonder? Nothing can top it. Is the next one going to be a disappointment? Then the Dark Knight happened.
A roar of wonder came. Batman was back and he was invincible. Nothing bad could be said about this movie. The Joker was the anti batman, not the darkness all bad guys are but instead once again where the formula was turned around. He was the the dark humor, the chaos without restraints. He was not serious, but did what he wanted because that completed him. The Dark Knight was critically acclaimed. Comics were no longer a geek thing. The Batman was a world wide idol. and this is one of the key componants which make Batman the ultimate Bad-ass.
Films are not the only things which brought Batman to his popularity it is today. Video games were surprised with the instant hit Batman: Arkham Asylum. It gave Batman its dark nature, but everyone forgets. He is a detective, the worlds greatest. And that was what won the hearts of gamers everywhere. It wasn't just showcasing Batman's brawn but his intellect as well. He didn't just go out and punch people, he analysed, He hid in the shadows, and struck at strategic points. He was the Batman everyone knew. It was once again acclaimed by critics of a different medium when it was released. Batman was on top of the world.
Dark Knight, Arkham Asylum, those are the mainstream media's reflection on how they see Batman today. To us geeks who read comics, he is that times one hundred. Batman is in a universe where all superheros have super powers, except him. He keeps up in every way and because of that he is highly regarded. Batman has killed a god (An new god to be more precise) something almost no one in the DC universe has done. He killed Darkseid, however at the same time he too was virtually killed off. But the dead cant keep Batman for being the [frick]ing badass he is. He was sent back in time and survived in the primal wastelands. Nothing could keep him back, even time itself and because of how badass he was, he made it back to the present. When he returned, he saw his protege, Dick Grason (The first Robin and Nightwing) had taken up the mantle of Batman while he was gone. Instead of kicking him out of that position, he took that as an opportunity and started something called Batman incorporated. Batman inc. was a base of operations he set up where he would find people worthy of being "Batmans" around the world . It was basically the idea to become a worldwide vigilante police. Each country would have a Batman and they would all look up to him. He was the mother [frick]ing Batman of Batmans. if that hasn't convinced you enough, During the rise of the Sinistro corps (The anti-Green Lanterns), he was recruited because of his formidable ability to instill fear in others.
Batman has had his back broken, defied evil powers and even come back from the dead. Even with DC Comic's reboot, the majority of his lore still remains intact. He has gone through horrible phases yet comes out stronger than ever. With the Dark Knight Rises and Arkham City coming soon, these will only strengthen his place as the ultimate badass.
Batman. You. Are. [frick]ing. Awesome.
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