Batman: The History of Origin
Created by the artist-writer duo of Bob Kane and Bill Finge, the superhero character of Batman first made an appearance in Issue Number 27 of the popular DC Comics’ series Detective Comics in May 1939. So instant was the popularity of the orphan boy who uses his intelligence and ingenuity to develop cutting-edge gadgets to fight crime in his native Gotham city, that DC Comics launched an entire new comic book series dedicated to the new character that was titled ‘Batman’ in 1940 .
The secret identity of the superhero was that of the heir Bruce Wayne, who witnessed the murder of his parents by what appeared to be a petty pick pocket, when he very young. The brutal murder of his parents, who were considered the most upstanding citizens of Gotham, working towards its progress and elimination of crime that had infested the city, left such a strong impression on the mind of the young Bruce, that he made the decision to use his resources to continue with the fight his family had begun .
Unlike most other superhero characters – such as the iconic Superman of The Flash – that DC Comics created, what makes Batman stand apart is the fact that he is not imbued with supernatural powers of any sort. In fact, the creators of the character emphasized his intelligence and brilliance and how he employed it to develop gadgets and weapons to fight the many villains that threaten the peace and security of his city. What he does hold in similarity with the other superhero characters is the usage of a mask and cape to hide his real identity, in this case, the persona of a bat. In an effort to further throw off people from figuring out his real identity, Bruce Wayne paints a picture of a care-free, often very callous and superficial playboy, with fast cars and beautiful women always surrounding him .
Batman Comics and Feature Films
Given the enduring popularity of the Batman Comic Series, it was hardly a surprise when the character was taken up and developed into feature films, the first of which was released in the 1940s as a two-part series titled Batman and Batman and Robin. During the 1960s, the comic book character also spawned a TV series as well as a few feature films. It was only towards the end of 1980s that Warner Bros. picked it up and developed it into a series of feature films, a few of which were not well-received by viewers or critics. Consequently, other planned films were cancelled by the production house .
Meanwhile, its print version continued to enjoy massive popularity among its readers, thanks mainly to the interest the writers and illustrators were able to maintain in the storyline by adding new characters. These included Bruce’s family butler Alfred Pennyworth, the superhero’s childhood friend and love interest Robin, as well as police commissioner Jim Gordon, who is depicted as one of the few honest policemen still left in the city. But perhaps what intrigued its readers most were the different villains that Batman faced, the most iconic of which was the Joker, considered by most Batman followers to be his arch nemesis .
While the print editions continued on a monthly basis, the Batman franchise received a boost when director Christopher Nolan was roped in to direct the upcoming Batman Trilogy. The three movies titled, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises is considered to be the most closest to real representation of the character in a feature film. The titular character played by Christian Bale, was developed along the constant battle the comic book character fought in suppressing the rage and violence he knew existed within him .
Unlike the ‘ideal, always upstart and representing all that is good’ personality that most superheroes were developed with, Batman has been described as the most human of all superheroes, with weaknesses that have to be overcome. It is for this reason that the caped crusader was nicknamed the Caped Crusader or the Dark Knight, to convey the message that he is not perfect and like other mortal humans has to fight the urges of succumbing to too much power, wealth, influence, and the ability to inflict harm on those he considers criminals.
An interesting yet lesser known fact is the reason why Bruce chooses the animal bat to create his superhero character. The reason, mentioned only in passing in the comic book issues, was highlighted and presented to the audience in the Christopher Nolan trilogy. In a scene between Bruce and Alfred, when his butler (and a father figure to the orphaned young man), asks him as to why he has opted to dress up in black and wear a mask shaped as a bat, Bruce narrates an incident from his childhood .
The waste Wayne estate had several unused wells on its premises, and while Bruce and Robin were playing together one day, he accidentally falls into one such abandoned well where he remains trapped for an entire night. Fearful of the dark as a child, what leaves him chilled to the bones is when he sees a group of bats in the well that fly at him as he struggles unsuccessfully to get out. His father rescues him the next day, and tells a traumatised Bruce that he must learn to fight through his paranoias and fears if he wants to grow into a truly strong man. Bruce reminds Alfred of the entire incident and says that since bats represent a symbol of fear for him even today, he wants the entire Gotham city criminals to look upon the bat with fear of punishment as well .
The Batman Following: The Societal and Cultural Impact
The anti-hero traits that were often depicted in Batman’s interactions with the villains such as the Mad Hatter he encounters, such as his willingness to use excessive force and torture as an acceptable means of acquiring information to save lives is an aspect that has received both the most interest as well as the most criticism from readers and viewers of the print comics and movies.
This is primarily the reason why the animated versions and cartoons of Batman do no underscore the negative qualities of the hero, since the character enjoys a loyal and massive following among children, and it would send across the wrong message to promote violence and a cavalier attitude as traits to be followed or admired .
The Batman franchise that completed its 75 years in 2014, continues to enjoy enduring popularity among both children and adults alike. Journalists and sociologists alike have often attempted to understand the reason why the Dark Knight has retained a cult-like following in more than 80 decades. The unanimous conclusion has been, and one that I agree with personally as well, is that Batman is an individual all of us have a realistic chance of emulating .
On the other hand, a character like Superman, that of an alien being from the planet Krypton with God-like powers, while greatly admired and respected, is hardly someone children can grow up into. The back-story of how Bruce transforms himself into Batman is what has caught and retained the readers’ and viewers’ attention over the years. The young boy trains in martial arts as a young man, learns to develop the spirituality needed to overcome our innermost fears and uses his intelligence to study, research, experiment and develop new devices to help him in his fight .
Despite the considerable help he receives from his butler, Robin and a handful of employees at Wayne Enterprises, Bruce’s character is one of self-reliance and someone who assumes responsibility for his own actions, regardless of consequences. What has also resulted in the consistently expanding fan base for Batman is the fact that his life is shown as a series of different kinds of struggles, which he eventually overcomes.
As a child, it his overwhelming grief over the sudden and tragic loss of his parents for no rational reason, that cripples his personal relationships. As the adult Bruce Wayne who starts his crime-fighting career, he finds it difficult to deal with the criticism that is levelled his way by a certain section of the media and the public who paint him as a vigilante with a hidden agenda. Once he finds himself completely immersed in ‘striking terror in the heart of all criminals in Gotham’, it is his loyal and loving friend and a mentor of sorts, Alfred, who has to keep reminding him that there is a very fine line that exists between fighting crime and becoming a criminal himself .
It is these underlying themes within Bruce’s story that have attracted audiences who feel a personal connection with the superhero, who like all of us, has his moments of doubt and weaknesses.
The extent of the popularity of the franchise can be gauged by the fact that the print comic book series that came to an end in 2011 has been decommissioned for 2017, and has been tentatively titled ‘Batman Rebirth’. Not only that, a series of feature films are also in the works, with the makers focusing on exploring an as-yet unexplored aspect of the rich character that is Bruce Wayne, and his alter ego Batman .
The extent to which Batman has become a part of the very social and cultural fabric of the world can be judged from the fact that a series of video games, branded merchandise as well as real-life models of the vehicle he created – The Batmobile – have been manufactured and sold across the world. Few other superheroes have had been able to generate such universal acclaim and popularity, connecting with people of all ages, languages and ethnicities.
Works Cited
Camp, Hunter. "Batman: A Cultural Icon." Uproar Comics 17 July 2012: 2-5. Print.
Lafayette, Byron. Why Is Batman So Popular?: A Psychological And Cultural Look. New York: Fansided, 2016. Print.
O'Connor, Patrick. Greek Culture in Therapy: Cultural Relevance of Batman. New York: DC Comics, 2014. Print.
