Solving the Batman Problem
The idea of Batman only works if you ignore a few crucial details. And we can’t afford to overlook these details in today’s world. Not anymore.
I recently saw the new Batman movie on opening night with my wife and surprisingly enjoyed it. I loved the characters. I enjoyed the story. I loved Robert Pattinson as the Batman (although I think Christian Bale made a better Bruce Wayne). There were aspects about the movie that I didn’t enjoy, but overall, I walked away with a positive experience.
A day ago, a friend of mine posted a scathing review of The Batman on social media, pointing out the serious sociopolitical issues with the movie, asking why anyone would want to watch a rich white dude pummeling the underprivileged when he could be using his skills and money to create real change.
And, honestly, the more I thought about it, the more I realized he has a point.
Batman Today and Yesterday
The details about Batman we’re forgetting as a society is that he is a white, traumatized man with billions of dollars at his disposal (in some comics, trillions). He has the resources he needs to create real social change without pummeling thugs into pulp at night. So why doesn’t he? Why don’t the writers of Batman stories take this into account?
Because then there’d be no Batman, of course. And Hollywood wouldn’t like that.
But in all honesty, neither would I and millions of other fans. We enjoy watching Batman with the kind of suspension of disbelief you’d have with any superhero or Marvel movie. You’re there for the spectacle, to watch Batman go up against some of the craziest villains you’ve seen in the darkest, grittiest Gotham you’d never want to live in.
What about Batman appeals to us? Why do we care so much about this particular masked vigilante?
In short, Batman is an icon because he dresses like one. The symbolism of his bat/devil ensemble dates back to Victorian-era folklore with Springheel Jack, and perhaps even earlier. The cape and cowl have been embedded in society’s subconscious for a long time, and it enthralls the primitive part of our brain because we’re wired to flee from predators and beasts. Batman dresses like a monster to instill that kind of fear in his enemies, but the only one who can’t take him seriously is the Joker—the perfect villain for someone who dresses up in a costume as a serious hobby.
But one thing each Batman film always touches on, but never actually addresses or provides any solutions for, is the fact that when Bruce Wayne dons the cape and cowl, he doesn’t ever seem to make Gotham better. In fact, things only seem to get worse. And the more he pushes, the more things tend to push back.
How might have Gotham evolved if Batman had never existed? What might have happened to the Harvey Dents and Bella Reáls of the world?
It’s an old question that many have asked time and time again. The truth is, we’ll probably never know.
Until someone shows us.
Here are some interesting solutions to the Batman problem that don’t involve retiring the character.
Author’s Note: No, I have not read all the comics. This post is coming from a Batman fan who’s watched all the movies and some of the animated series. These solutions are for potential mainstream or blockbuster Batman adaptations only.
Solution #1
“If you want order in Gotham, Batman must take off his mask and turn himself in. Oh, and every day he doesn't, people will die…”
- The Joker, The Dark Knight (2009)
Image Source: Warner Bros.
The thing about Batman’s anonymity isn’t just for the sake of hiding who he is so that his loved ones don’t get hurt. It’s certainly not to protect him from any legal ramifications. If Bruce Wayne cared about not breaking the law, he would have given up a long time ago.
No, the real reason why Batman remains anonymous (or at least should be) is because he could be anyone.
That’s the appeal of Batman—at least to the citizens of Gotham. We, the audience, are let in on Batman’s secret identity. We know who he is and there’s real dramatic irony in knowing a character’s secret when everyone else in the movie doesn’t. But it also denies us the experience of wondering “who?” Who could it really be?
“It could be anyone.”
And that’s an empowering thought. Anyone could step up to corruption and, if it gets bad enough, fight against injustice.
Of course, in the Christopher Nolan movies, instead of a costume, Batman’s wearing kevlar and is driving around in a tank everywhere he goes. He couldn’t be just ANYONE, now could he? He’d have to be some billionaire with access to resources others don’t. Anyone with half a brain could narrow down the list of suspects.
Bruce Wayne wouldn’t be very low on that list.
But we haven’t seen a Batman movie where Bruce steps up to a pulpit and says, “I am Batman”, much like Tony Stark at the end of the first Iron Man movie. Why not? Why not show us what would happen?
People would pay to see it, I guarantee.
Solution #2
“Your family has a history of philanthropy but as far as I can tell you’re not doing anything.”
- Bella Reál, The Batman (2022)
Image Source: Warner Bros.
So let’s talk about Bruce being a billionaire. But first, let’s get one thing out of the way: even if Bruce wasn’t an actual “billionaire” in the original comics—and let’s be honest, billionaires didn’t really exist in 1939—his character was always rich and well off.
As far as I know, the reason the original story writers made Bruce wealthy was simply to give him the ability to do what he wanted with his time. It’d be hard for Carl Everyman to be Batman and not get caught after a family member or boss reports him missing. Bruce could disappear whenever he wanted, do anything that met his goals.
Because in a city like Gotham, wealth matters, and only a few people have what Bruce has.
…does that sound familiar to anyone?
So what if Bruce took all that money and poured it back into the city instead of into the Bat-tank? The Batarangs? The Batcopter? All of which, I shouldn’t have to remind you, need constant maintenance and replacement parts. I’m sure Alfred does not get paid enough for the kind of work he has to put in to enable Bruce’s nightly escapades. Batman is an expensive hobby.
No, wait. It’s beyond just expensive at this point. It’s a bonafide liability. All that trust fund money redirected into weapons for someone who is, at his core, a ronin. A warrior. Instead, show us a Bruce that puts aside the Caped Crusader—like Peter Parker does in Spider-Man 2 (2004). “I am Spider-Man no more…” Take those billions of dollars and invest it in better infrastructure, services for the needy, mental health facilities, etc.
Image Source: Sony
Will it work? Will it fail?
We won’t know until we see it. If a writer and director’s vision comes together in an interesting way to prove that Gotham needs Batman, all righty then—but it’d better be convincing. And it better address the issues. Most importantly, it better be smart.
Solution #3
“Something happened to you, didn't it? And it wasn't just that you got old.”
- Terry McGinnis, Batman Beyond (1999)
What if—now hear me out on this—what if Bruce got old? Like, really old. Just like everyone else. And what if—just what if—he passed the baton to someone new?
Well, that’s the premise for the 1999 classic, Batman Beyond. How that show ever got made, I’m still not sure, but the stars aligned somehow and gave us three amazing seasons and a movie with Mark Hamill’s Joker—so I don’t know what more you could ask for. If you haven’t seen it…
Go. Now.
*ahem*
But here’s the deal. Batman really is old. Almost a century old. No one lives forever, and he would need to give his mantle sooner or later. Or we can keep the same old stale stories for the next century. I guess it really is our choice, isn’t it?
Image Source: Warner Bros.
Batman has always been about dealing with societal issues. He gained popularity in a time when there wasn’t much faith in government. Remember Vietnam, Watergate, and the eighties? Yeah, me neither. But it made sense for the Dark Knight to channel the angst and disillusionment of the time. While there’s still a market for brooding Batman stories, things are starting to look up (as hard as that is to believe). There’s a new wave of optimism going around, and the Batman of the eighties and nineties doesn’t really fit anywhere anymore.
So pass the mantle off to someone else—the Terry McGinnis’s of the world. What would a middle class Batman look like? For that matter, what about someone from the lower classes? What moral quandries would he have to face? Who would be his enemies? Would such a Batman actually be necessary? If so, what would make him necessary?
The End?
Well, these are just some suggestions that Hollywood could (probably not) take notice of to address some of the problems I see with the Batman character.
Don’t get me wrong, Batman’s cool.
Image Source: D.C. Comics
I loved all the famous (and infamous) movies that have told Batman’s story in different ways. I will forever hold Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008) as the gold standard of Batman movies that I’ll rewatch time and time again. But do we really want to watch a remake of that movie in fifty years? Do we want to dredge up old stories, or create new material that a new generation can relate to?
I would think the latter is more interesting in the long run.
I know it’s easier to build on established properties, but back in the 1940’s, Batman was brand spanking new. His character evolved over the decades into one of the most iconic comic book heroes of all time. We will have to let go of the Caped Crusader sooner or later.
So, let’s unmask the Batman, or have him redirect his wealth to more worthwhile means, or give him a proper sendoff. Above all, let’s tell good stories with even better characters that audiences can get behind.
