Reflections On Batman
"We live in a society where honor is a distant memory."
- The Joker
Zack Snyder's Justice League, extended cut
It's funny how an event, sight, sound, or smell can remind you of something from your childhood. So you think about it and you realize that you've been thinking about this one thing for a very long time.
When I began writing this, it was the 56th anniversary of the premier of "Batman", the 1966 tv show. The more that I thought about, the more I realized that I had been thinking about this on and off for most of my life. This is just one small facet of my life. Even those that know me well, didn't know this.
The original BATMAN television series ran for three seasons from 1966 to 1968. It is literally one of my eariest memories. I've since read a number of analyses of the relative artistic merits of the tv version of the comic book hero, all of which didn't matter to a young, impressionable boy.
Two of my earliest memories are of the duplex on the 2000 block of Monterrey St. in San Antonio, TX, where I used to live. The memories are of me running through the house in my underwear pretending that I was Robin, the Boy Wonder. I was not just running. My arms were flailing about in imitation of the way Robin was depicted running in the open credits of the Batman tv series as seen in the link below.
https://youtu.be/1jgE-lrfZ3k?si=by-Le9oviZbpBi5H
Another memory involves the screenshot below from Google maps. The small concrete porch and railing were there in the early 1960s when I lived there. I had found a small piece of rope and somehow attached it to the top rail. I allowed the rope to hang on the outside of the porch, where I recall trying to "Batman" my way up from the lawn level to the top of the railing. I'm sure that I failed, but I did try!
Once Batman was cancelled, the caped crusader was relegated to the fading memories of a growing boy who had moved to a new house, a new neighborhood, and then new experiences of going to school. The TV show was eventually gone, but I soon began to read comics.
There was of course, the Batman that never was. Although William Dosier had decided on Adam West as BATMAN, he needed to present a pair of choices for the studio execs. Lyle Waggoner, was asked to audition for the role. With Peter Deyell as ROBIN, they filmed a scene for a scene test. One wonders how different history would have been if Lyle Waggoner would have gotten the role.
The scene survives and can be seen at the link below:
https://youtu.be/apsYvoFePo0?si=s2S9TDk_q3hBgDw6 All was not lost for Waggoner. He later went on to fame as a regular in "The Carol Burnett Show". He resurfaced a few years later das a pair of DC characters -Steve Trevor in the "Wonder Woman" tv series set during World War II and Steve Trevor, Jr. in the same series, but set in 1978.
As I grew up, I had two main sources of reading material. My aunt Libby would hand me down her ARCHIE and assorted other comics. My other source was a teenage neighbor who handed over to me a very large box of superhero comics. So I had a mix of DC and MARVEL comics. Not only did I get to refamliarize my self with Batman in print form, but I also developed new favorites such as GREEN LANTERN, SPIDER-MAN, THE ATOM, HAWKMAN, GREEN ARROW, DOOM PATROL, and METAL MEN. Yes, I read mostly DC comics. I would occassionly read THOR, IRONMAN, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, and THE FANTASTIC FOUR, but DC mostly kept my attention.
Not only did I read the comics voraciously, I tried to act them out in my mind. Where the character struggled, I tried reading as though I were in that struggle. I added emphasis to words in bold text because the bold implied emphasis. It was a dramatic excercise as much as it was a story.
Somewhere along the line, I came across a different comic. It was in the same vein as "MAD" and "CRACKED" magazines, but instead of focusing on current events, it was a parody of super heroes. The only name that I recall was a parody character of GREEN LANTERN but with the name "Green Lampburn" and his secret identity of "Leonard Burnstein". I don't recall the story lines, but I was inspired.
It was in 6th grade when I began drawing my own comic strip with super heroes pulling pranks on each other. The last frame of each story usually included the offending super prankster peeking around a corner and snickering to himself.
That summer after my 6th grade, we took a family vacation to visit relatives in Houston. I was amazed at the differences between Houston and San Antonio. For one, while San Antonio had a single volume that served as both white pages and yellow pages, Houston had a separate volume for each. Each volume was the same size as San Antonio's combined phone book.
Houston also had more TV channels. On the local independent channel, I was able to watch Batman for the first time in years! Other than watching the Houston Astros live in the Astrodome, watching Batman on TV was the highlight of that trip.
As chance would have it, Houston was another turning point in my literary life. We visited a Kmart. There were no Kmarts in San Antonio at the time. Exploring that store was a real adventure. As we browsed around, I chanced upon the book section. I spotted a 99 cent STAR TREK novel. I don't recall the title, but it started me on the path of reading science fiction. Batman went to the backburner and STAR TREK rose to prominence.
Not only did I read all of the available novelization of the STAR TREK tv shows, but scoured the shelves for the more serious science fiction authors. I discovered Ben Bova, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, David Gerrold, and many others. I made allot of trips to the library during my teen years.
Those science fiction stories weren't just escapism, they were mind broadening experiences. Growing up within the strict, narrow views of a Mexican Catholic family in the 1970s, I lived with expectations of a "normal", predetermined life. I don't know how many times I heard "when you get married and have kids ..." It was as though my ultimate goal was only to procreate within the bonds of holy matrimony! And I was only twelve! These novels exposed me to new ideas and new possibilities. I plunged head first into a "brave, new world".
1976 brought me back to the realm of superheroes. "Wonder Woman" premiered on ABC, then later moved to CBS. It can be best described as action/adventure and was a far cry from the vey campy Batman of the previous decade. Not only was WONDER WOMAN beautiful, she was strong, courageous, and very much a humanitarian. Not once did she scream or faint. I was hooked.
As it turned out, her portrayal of a strong and independent female was an inspiration to a generation of girls. Today, women are still fighting for their own political, economic, and reproductive self determination in the midst of narrow minded conservative thinking. Their fight continues.
1976 also saw the publication of The novelization of STAR WARS, months before the film was released. I remember reading that on a warm weekend. The film was heavily hyped and I couldn't wait to see it, so reading the novelization satisfied the anticipation. This brought me into the world of fantasy fiction. Having read Dr. Carl Sagan's account of how he had read "John Carter of Mars" in his youth, now I had to read it.
Not only did I add fantasy to my reading list, I also dove into the art work. I could not get enough of the art of Boris Vallejo. Luckily, science fiction magazines were falling all over each other to publish his art, like the example below.
1978 brought SUPERMAN to the big screen. Honestly, I was never a big fan of the "Man of Steel", but I did enjoy Christopher Reeve's performance.
The 80s came and I found myself in a new world of military service and personal growth. No time for Batman while I serving Uncle Sam, chasing women, listening to heavy metal, trying find your niche in life, and discovering who you are (and who you're not). At any rate, the 80s belonged to SUPERMAN. Christopher Reeve reprised his role in the II, III, and IV sequels. Yes, I watched all of them!
I was stationed in Norfolk, VA in 1989. If I wasn't at sea, I was at the heavy metal club or strolling about at the mall. It was another weekend of wasting time at the mall, shopping, and trying to meet girls. There was a theater in that mall. As I walked towards the ticket booth, I saw a poster. There were no words on it, but I knew exactly what it was. I bought a ticket and was instantly over come with excitement and anticipation. He was back!
I hadn't seen any commercials or trailers for the film. Neither had I read any reviews. I went in blind with high expectations. I had no idea what was about to hit me.
This was no Adam West. This was a dark, brooding, quirky, and somewhat disturbed Bruce Wayne. Even Batman's fight style was different. Adam West's Batman was little more of a brawler who often lost fights and ended up captured. This new Batman was efficient and was able to quickly dispatch opposing criminals as seen in this link. This Batman did not have the luxury of being captured. I believed in Batman again.
Micheal Keaton reprised his role in 1992's BATMAN RETURNS. It was a dark, believable fantasy. With the Joker gone, Oswald Cobblepot (aka The Penguin) runs for mayor assisted by an empowered Selina Kyle who becomes Catwoman. The story and sets were over the top. But something else was afoot.
I was at a Walmart when I noticed the Batman related toys. This did not bode well.
1995 and 1997 saw Batman back on the big screen with BATMAN FOREVER and BATMAN & ROBIN respectively. Each incarnation was more cartoonish and more fantastical than the last. The Batmobile went from armored muscle car to a more and more elaborate vehicle designed to sell toys. Even Batman's body armor became unnecessarily elaborate, which would lead to more toy variants and more toys sales. Yes, they were fun stories, but they became more kid friendly.
Val Kilmer was good as Batman in the third film. In the final instalment.
George Clooney left much to be desired. No longer dark and angry. He was now more of a suave and sophisticated version of Adam West. Thankfully, he never donned the cowl again.
2005 rolled around and while reading a magazine, I chanced upon an article mentioning a BATMAN reboot. "What the hell did that mean?", I asked myself. With the George Clooney disaster still in my mind, I didn't have high hopes. Then I watched the trailer. No more over designed costumes. No more Art Deco sets. No hokey situations. This was a serious BATMAN. He meant business.
I wasn't disappointed. Christian Bale was the angriest, most dedicated BATMAN ever with villains to match. The League of Shadows, The Joker, Two Face, Bane, and Catwoman. He was angrier than any Batman before him. He beat the crap out of the Joker trying to extract information. Click here.
This series was a winner, but it ended too soon. There were only two sequels.
Then in 2016 BATMAN Vs. SUPERMAN premiered. Sort of a continuation of the previous BATMAN films, Ben Affleck portrays an older, wiser, cynical, battle weary BATMAN. I could relate to this BATMAN. The hard core Batfans loved Affleck, even going so far as dubbing him "Batfleck". The general public didn't like him. He was too dark, too jaded and too violent.
This is a Batman of no faith, no fear. He fights to win, regardless off the odds. He backs down from no man, not even the Man of Steel.
He even picks a fight against SUPERMAN because he sees the Kryptonian as a possible threat to Earth. Click for PART I and PART II. of the great fight.
Then after taking a beating from SUPERMAN, BATMAN fights on his behalf to save his mother, Martha Kent, from Lex Luthor's army of thugs. It has to be one of the most brutal fight scenes in any superhero film. BATMAN fights to win, and he does. Perhaps it was this sheer brutality that scared many filmgoers.
In JUSTICE LEAGUE, BATMAN shows his value as a leader, but he knows his days are numbered. There is a scene that I can relate to. An injured BATMAN confides in WONDER WOMAN how he feels physically.
"I can barely do it now."
https://youtu.be/yp3mUWcu26k?si=ZgruFmMBTtaOv5Jk
We also see the darkest side of BATMAN during his conversation with The Joker. We can see how Batnan and The Joker are really just both sides of the same coin as seen here:
Because of his age and the physical demands of playing a buffed up BATMAN, Affleck's days in the cowl are numbered.
In 2019 the CW debuted BATWOMAN. My bat ears were up. Ruby Rose had the role of Bruce Wayne's cousin, Kate Kane. With the disappearance of BATMAN, Kate took up the cowl and became BATWOMAN. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, she not only fought crime, but fought for social justice as well.
Due to injuries and an allergic reaction to the latex in the batsuit Rose couldn't continue in the role. Kate Kane was cleverly killed off in an airplane explosion. The suitcase containing the Batsuit was found by Ryan Wilder.
Wilder, played by Javicia Leslie, has the deck stacked against her. African American, an orphan, whose adopted mother was murdered, living alone, and incarcerated for a crime she did not commit. Wilder donned the cowl and despite the odds, fit herself into BATWOMAN 2.0. Like Rose, she is a lesbian, a fighter for social justice, homeless, and advocate for the poor and the disenfranchised. A hero for today. Despite her feelings of inadequacy, Wilder grew into the role of a crime fighter on the mean streets of Gotham City.
It's during the CW's crossover episodes of "Crisis on Infinite Earths", that we see another live version of BATMAN. In this alternate reality, an aged, disabled, and demented BATMAN, is played by Kevin Conroy. In this case Bruce Wayne has become a retired recluse who, due to his many injuries, walks with the help of an exoskeleton.
While BATWOMAN is the star on network television, BATGIRL was being filmed but never released. BATGIRL made her one and only big screen appearance in "Batman and Robin". That appearance has not been enough.
Fans of BATGIRL have made a few made-for-the-web episodes. People can't get enough of the Bat family.
BATGIRL first appeared as a sidekick to the original BATWOMAN back in 1961. She was then known as "Betty Kane". BATWOMAN and BATGIRL would be discontinued in 1964. BATGIRL was reimagined for the 1966 "Batman TV series as "Barbara Gordon", daughter of Commissioner Gordon, played by Yvonne Craig.
Apparently, there was an early version of her cowl, that may have been filmed, but never made the final cut.
I am guessing that the original cowl covered too much of her face, so the cowl appears to have been modified to the final shooting costume.
BATGIRL made her bigscreen debut in 1997's "Batman and Robin" and was played by Alicia Silverstone. In this version, Silverstone plays Barbara Wilson, niece of Alfred Pennyworth, butler of Bruce Wayne. When asked if she would play BATGIRL again, she would do it again if asked.
"Barbara Gordon" appears again in the CW's "Birds of Prey" for one season in 2002. This time she is played by Dina Meyer. In this version, Barbara Gordon was shot by the Joker, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. She assumes the new persona of ORACLE, !n internet/Intel whiz and the leader of the BIRDS OF PREY. Although disabled, she dons the batsuit one more time, this time with an exoskeleton to help her stand and fight.
BATGIRL almost made her standalone him debut in "Batgirl". Leslie Grace starred in the unreleased film. The project was abandoned in 2022.
Fans of BATGIRL have made a few made-for-the-web episodes. People can't get enough of the Bat family.
There is even a foreign language version of BATGIRL. I don't know where this from, but it sounds Slavic, perps Russian. This is a very cocky BATGIRL. Interesting, but not well acted.
Let's not forget ROBIN. He stars in HBO's TITANS, a more adult version of the animated TEEN TITANS television show. Although I have yet to watch this series. Apparently, ROBIN (Dick Grayson?) has parted ways with BATMAN and hates the idea of still being considered a "side kick".
Robert Pattison is up next as Bruce Wayne in yet another reboot of the BATMAN legend.
The public may hate it because of the very dark edge of the new film titled THE BATMAN. The new Bruce Wayne will face familiar foes, but they will be more twisted and demented than ever. Here's the trailer.
In "The Flash", Keaton reappears as BATMAN. I was elated to see him again. In the time bubble scene where all time liness are colliding, we catch a glimpse of 1966 BATMAN. My old hero returned. Then when BATMAN dies during the battle with the forces of General Zod, my heart sank. I felt actual grief and sadness. My hero has died!
We actually saw four BATMEN in this film: Affleck in the begining of the film. Keaton for the majority of the film. West in the time buble. At the end, Clooney returned in the "restored" timeline.
What's the future of BATMAN? He is alive and well in the hearts of his diehard fans. Not only do they consume the content and buy the merchandise, they get creative. Artists of all sorts create new content. Working in a variety of mediums they recreate and reimagine the Dark Knight. He can be anything, anywhere, in any era, in any culture. In the following examples we see BATMAN as a medieval knight and as a ninja.
Last but not least, are the cosplayers. Without a doubt, they go to great expense to create authentic looking and fanciful versions of the Batsuit. In one photo we see the Ben Affleck Batsuit reproduction as worn by @batmaninhouston and a Samurai version of the batsuit as worn by another cosplayer
If you're not up to some interesting reading, you can watch the video on the psychology of BATMAN.
It's safe to say that long after this writer is gone, BATMAN will continue to inspire.
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