Is Batman Really the Hero the World Needs Right Now?
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At the head of Hollywood’s nostalgia machine, Batman has steadily appeared and reappeared in pop-culture since its conception by Bob Kane for DC Comics in 1939. Some of this tragic hero’s most popular adaptations have come from Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan, and Zack Snyder, all of whom have attempted to create an authentic spin on the character.
The most recent adaptation is The Batman, created by Matt Reeves, which has recently caught some attention after the trailer was released in August. Many people are wondering: can Robert Pattinson, the man who stopped the hearts of preteen girls playing a sparkly vampire, really compete with his predecessors in the role of Batman and Bruce Wayne? Some people are arguing if Batman even needs a new adaptation.
I’d even argue that perhaps Batman isn’t the hero we need today at all.
Now, I know this is a turbulent topic, especially in the Comic-Book-Nerd community. How could I possibly denote the beloved vigilante who, despite his many recreations, has always represented hope and justice?
But what kind of “justice” is Batman serving?
Batman, or Bruce Wayne, is a billionaire who spends his fortune developing new weapons and tools to fight criminals. The only reason the police view him as a threat is because, quite frankly, he’s stealing all of their thunder.
Anyone with a moderate understanding of class and crime knows that those who are “thieves” and “bandits” are actually just working class, poor and racialized people who lack the basic necessities in life. Instead of distributing some of his wealth back into the community to alleviate the circumstances that lead to crime, Bruce Wayne uses it to violently punish some of Gotham’s most vulnerable people.
Batman didn’t always have billionaire status, and all of its recent adaptations made it kind of an afterthought. It was a story of convenience. Wealth, for Batman, has always been about convenience and power. But isn’t that what wealth is for everyone?
There are no casual billionaires. The term itself has become a dirty word, becoming widely popular in public scrutiny. Something about it reeks.
The fact is that this resentment doesn’t come out of thin air; as the wealthiest people and biggest corporations have gotten richer, most people are just short of making next month’s rent or a few missed paychecks away from a food bank.
This begs to ask: can Batman really be Batman without being filthy rich? I think it depends on the creator. But, I also don’t think it takes a billionaire to find ways to beat up poor and racialized people.
When I think of the kinds of heroes we need right now, I don’t think of a neo-liberal billionaire/vigilante. I don’t think of Elon Musk, whose arrogance is arguably inspired by the likes of Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne. I think of someone who is brave enough to strip themselves of their own ego and thinks of themselves as part of their community - not a technologically-clad hero that needs to “save” it.
That being said, Matt Reeves is pretty tight-lipped about The Batman, and we have no idea how his twist on the character will compare to the predecessors. Perhaps Bruce Wayne’s only superpower - his wealth- will be explored in ways it hasn’t before. I guess we’ll just wait and see.
Alannah Link
Alannah is a writer who’s vivid self-awareness often veers into self-consciousness. She can be found either watching the latest A24 flick, spending too much money at the local bookstore, or curating a thematic Spotify playlist.
Blog: TheCrookedFriend
