Technically last month was Batman’s 75th birthday, no wait, March? Or better yet, Bruce Wayne tends to be February 19. Who cares, he is a fictional character and I chose June for one main reason, it’s also the 25th anniversary of the Tim Burton flick. Initially I thought it rocked but within a few years I realized it didn’t age well (Lost in Space too). Think about this, Batman (1989) should be more appropriately re-titled The Joker Movie thanks to Jack Nicholson doing an impression of the Joker doing an impression of Jack Nicholson’s standard schtick; not sure which year it began, I’m going with The Witches of Eastwick.
Before I digress any further, I want to break down this month’s header/banner, my favorite incarnations of Batman.
Obviously, Adam West! His playing it straight in a camp take widened the character’s appeal to TV audiences from Sixties on ABC and then forever through syndication and soon the entire run on DVD this year! To his right is a representation of the Bruce Timm look. The 1992 cartoon series rescued the icon and his fellow DC cohorts from three decades of schlock animation via The Superfriends. I’m going to miss Kevin Conroy provided his voice too. MAD made many jabs at the films and TV versions, I went with their most recent parody to incorporate the finale to the Nolan trilogy. After Alfred E. Neuman comes what will be taken as the most heretical stance, my favorite latex-armor Batman…George Clooney. Hear (or read) me out. I totally agree that Batman & Robin is horrendous movie, hell it makes Batman the Movie! (1966) resemble a documentary. However, Clooney is not at fault and he beats out Bale, Keaton and Kilmer for one huge reason, he is the more plausible Bruce Wayne. Any clod can wear the armor, act tough and put on a gruff voice. It’s the character in his day clothes who matters more. Keaton has less range than Nicholson, when he’s not doing the Beetlejuice bit, it’s Mr. Mom. Bale and Kilmer were vanilla dudes in suits. Admittedly, by the time Clooney had the role, the death of Wayne’s parents was played out. For my money, the guy had the playboy millionaire down pat for a Joel Schumacher disaster.
The bottom row are Batman in two different comic-book styles. His first appearance in Detective Comics #27 by his primary creator Bob Kane and the look responsible for rejuvenating Batman after the Sixties’ camp ran out, the Neal Adams and Dick Giordano rendering. I would like to also acknowledge Walt Simonson and Marshall Rogers for their contributions during Batman’s modernization in the Seventies.
Batman has gone on to be my favorite superhero long after I grew out of the Frank Miller The Dark Knight Returns miniseries. To me, he is the greatest detective in the 20th and 21st century, I’ll concede Sherlock Holmes the 19th. Sure he’s not terribly original: the Lone Ranger, the Green Hornet, the Shadow and the Crimson Avenger; and Kane cribbed his look from Dracula. The character’s success and longevity comes the numerous other artists, writers and animators who have found new ways to integrate the Dark Knight into different teams and shows. Cases-in-point: The Justice League, Batman: The Brave & The Bold (TV show), Batman Beyond, helping Scooby Doo, his cameos in other titles like Swamp Thing, Suicide Squad and being Superman’s equal when fighting Lex Luthor. What I hate is the Batman-is-crazy viewpoint. Obsessed? Yes. A bit extreme? Oh yeah, he is a freakin’ billionaire. Insane? NO. Batman still captures his foes, has them incarcerated because justice is the goal, not revenge. For D&D players, he’s the best example of Lawful Good around.
In closing, I also want to stand up for Ben Affleck landing the role with the next film. He’s not my favorite actor neither. Argo was decent but I wouldn’t have given it an Oscar®. Affleck has done a superhero movie before which did suck. Remember Chris Evans got a second chance too, look how well-loved he is as Captain America! Makes you forget he was the Human Torch, twice. I have to root for Ben because the finally gave the role to an American. We should make a deal with Aussies and Brits, we don’t play your iconic characters and nationalities (Bridget Jones, Sherlock Holmes, Judge Dredd) and you leave ours alone: Thor, Spider-Man and Superman.