Episode 47: Batman Tutorial

Topic: Batman Tutorial

We’re moving on from Gundam, and in to… The Batman!  This is the first of what will be coming in the next year of Focused Topics, as where previously, we had been broad in discussion about Anime, Manga, Star Trek, and such, we’ll be diving in to more focused parts of geek culture, namely the heroes, villains, and key elements of certain media.  Batman being one of the most ubiquitous comic book heroes in almost all media from Comics, to TV, to movies, and even anime and music, I figured this was a good place to start.


Tutorial

DC vs Marvel Continuity

Marvel’s continuity is never explicitly mentioned or referenced, since Marvel deliberately doesn’t mention when events occur.  In most cases, Events in Marvel happened a few years ago usually.

DC continuity is often the Story.  Namely that it has changed, reshaped, and modified the continuity endlessly over time.  There’s been numerous major events that reshape the world and universe of DC to the point that it’s hard to talk about some characters, events, or even stories properly without rationalizing if they happened before certain events or not.  This doesn’t make DC hard to follow, but rather makes it more difficult to be invested in long running stories, as the universe could up-end everything a few years later in a big event. 






Batman
More about characters than individual plot/stories.
First appeared in Detective Comics #27, 1939.

Bruce Wayne (Batman)

• Classic well known character.
• Caped Crusader
• Dark Knight
• World’s Greatest Detective
• Watched his parents get killed after coming out of a theatre(Sometimes movie theatre). Devoted his life to stopping crime after the event.
• Decided on Bat-theme as he discovered the now Batcave as a child and was afraid of the bats in the cave(Depending on Story)
• Doesn’t kill.
• Rich.
• No Super-Human Powers
• Intelligent.  Depending on story, studied or well educated in:
• Criminology
• Software Engineering and/or Computer Engineering
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Physics
• Psychology
• Master of Various martial arts
• Acrobat

• Considered the world’s greatest detective
• Consider to be in Peak physical form for man in his age. 
• Some stories he’s in his mid to late 20s, or as old as his early 40s.
• Fights for what’s right for the city, outside of the law.
• Will not take a life
• Equipment:
• Batsuit
• Built using Kevlar and various cloth based armors
• Symbol on chest is often hardest part of the suit, (Intentional)
• Mask includes radio for ease of communication
• Bracers/gloves have unique Fins/Blade catching spikes
• Utility belt (Numerous gadgets)
• Grapple Hook
• Cape can be used for stealth and gliding in the air.
• Batmobile
• Various incarnations of cars
• Later version have gadgets and tools
• Some don’t look like cars
• Various Planes, Boats, Submarines, or motorcycles have been used in the past.
• Doesn’t use Guns

• Thought to be a Psychopath by some people.
• Alfred is his trusted butler, right hand man when it comes to managing and assisting batman.
• Lucius Fox: trusted advisor, inventor, business manager, and associate to Bruce Wayne/Batman
• Previously Played by Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, Kevin Conroy

Alternative Versions

Terry McGinnis : Batman Beyond(Batman of the Future)

• Gotham 40 years after Batman, Bruce Wayne has retired
• Terry (17 Years Old) takes up Bruce Wayne old, but very high tech, Batsuit
• Cloak
• Integrated wings
• Integrated bat tool
• Enhance Strength & Durability
• Some returning villains, some new ones.

Robins:
All incarnations of Robin are often depicted being an element of Batman character.
All Robins have worn a Red, Yellow, Green, and Black costume, symbolized by the letter “R” on left breast.

Dick Grayson

• First Robin
• Former acrobat, parents died during high-wire event in a circus. Bruce offers for Dick to become his ward, and eventually Robin
• In most cases, people talking about Robin are talking about this incarnation
• Considered the next to inherit the Batman Role
• He did on the one occasion Batman died
• Became new hero called “Nightwing” when he became disillusioned with Batman’s Ideals
• Represents the peak physical conditions of Batman
• Is equally smart and morally just.

Jason Todd

• Second Robin
• Discovered by Batman as Jason was stealing the Batmobile’s tires.
• Initially a ‘Rebel’ Robin, not wanting to conform to society and often going against orders.
• Batman makes him a Robin, despite lack of physical conditioning, as he feared Jason would turn to a life of crime afterwards.
• Character actually died in Comics due to a fan vote.  First death of a robin/side kick.
• Character was later revived through various means, but comes back resenting Bruce Wayne
• Becomes the anti-hero/villain “Red Hood”
• Represents the psychopathic tendencies of Batman

Tim Drake

• Third Robin
• Tim deduced that Batman and Robin was Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson due to Dick’s acrobatic skills.
• He offers/convinces Batman to allow him to become Robin because Batman has gotten more violent and reckless without a Robin
• Later becomes the Red Robin after Dick Grayson becomes Batman
• During Batman’s Death, he tried to prove that Batman was still alive.
• Only man behind Batman to have Ra’s al Ghul to be addressed as “Detective”.
• Represents the intelligence and detective skills of Batman

Stephanie Brown

• Fourth Robin
• First Female Robin, former Girl Friend of Tim Drake, former vigilante.  Took over the role when Time resigned for a period of time.
• She was fired by Batman for not following orders.
• She was apparently killed when she attempted to orchestrate one of Batman’s plans for a gang war
• Her death was faked by a doctor, trying to protect her, but also trying to prove a point to Batman and other kids so that they wouldn’t become Robin ever again.
• She’s often not thought of as a true Robin as she only had the role for a short time.

Damian Wayne

• Fifth Robin, Current
• Damian is the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul via.  Talia gives Damian to Bruce when she must go in to hiding. 
• Upon Batman’s Death, Dick Grayson becomes Batman and promotes Damian to Robin
• Typically Batman is brooding and Robin is more innocent/fun, the roles were reversed somewhat during Dick’s run as Batman, with Damian being more hard edge
• After Bruce Wayne returned, Damian continued as Robin
• Much more bleeding edge and hardcore than even Batman
• Represents the violent and morally blurring aspects of Batman

Other Allies:

Commissioner James Gordon

• Head of Police in Gotham
• Ally of Batman, often giving direction and insight to Batman
• Often seen as Trusting Batman fully, though in later incarnations, questioning the vigilante nature of Batman.
• Shares same belief/feelings about protecting Gotham and ridding it of Crime element.

Barbara Gordon (Batgirl)

• Initially Created for the Batman TV show with Adam West, but migrated to the comics upon her popularity.
• Daughter of Police Commissioner James Gordon, she initially worked as the Head Librarian for Gotham Library system, thought to be one of the largest Libraries in the world.
• Became Batgirl by accident after foiling plan, but eventually became an ally of Batman
• In the graphic novel, Killing Joke, Joke shoot Barbara Gordon in the spine, causing her to become paralyzed from the waist down
• This is carried over in to the mainline comics, where she is no longer Batgirl, but instead becomes a mysterious information broker known as ‘Oracle’.
• As Oracle, she helps Batman deal with information and computer warfare.  She also starts her own organization called “Birds of Prey” as an all female super hero troop to fight off other crimes.
• Due to reality bending incidents, she eventually regains her mobility and becomes Batgirl once again.

Villains

Joker

• #1 Batman Villain
• Clown Prince of Crime
• He is presented as a criminal mastermind with a twisted sense of humor
• No real Origin Story ever established
• Multiple interpretations on the character:
• Mafia/Criminal Organization Boss
• Psychopath
• Chaotic Lunatic
• Jokester
• Previously played by Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, and Mark Hammil

Harley Quinn

• Another character that started in the Animated TV show, translated to Comic
• Former Psychologist at Arkham Asylum, fell in love with Joker
• Often portrayed as just as lunatic as Joker

Penguin

• Oswald Cobbelpott
• Former Criminal and super villain, used themed umbrella
• Now operated semi-legitimate organizations for his criminal enterprise
• One of few villains Batman allows, seeing him as useful information

Riddler

• Edward Nigma
• Super level genius
• Hell bent on proving that he smarter than everyone else, including Batman

Catwoman

• Selina Kyle
• Master theme with cat theme
• One of Batman’s many lovers
• Another person Batman allows as a former love interest and occasional ally.

Two-Face

• Harvey Dent
• Former Gotham District Attorney, he had acid splashed in his face and went crazy because of it.
• Crime center around the flip of a coin and two opposing sides/choices

Mr. Freeze

• Dr Victor Fries
• Former Scientist who was researching Cryogenics for his wife who was suffering from a terminal illness
• An Accident forced him to have to wear a cold suit.
• His powers/crimes revolve around Ice

Bane

• The man that Broke Batman
• A genius level criminal mind who is addicted to a drug known as venom, turns his body in to something similar to the Hulk
• Known previously for breaking Batman’s back and putting him out of commission for a period of time

Poison Ivy

• Pamela Isley
• Former Biochemist and Botanist who is an eco-terrorist.
• Her powers revolve around poisons and manipulating plants
• Occasionally teams up with villains Catwoman and Harley Quinn

Ra’s al Ghul

• Name translates to “Head of the Ghoul”
• Eco-Terrorist bent on returning the world to a natural balance
• Over 700 years old
• His life is extended via the Lazarus Pits, wells of restoring water/liquid that can even restore life in to people and turn them young.

Talia al Ghul

• Daughter to Ra’s al Ghul and mother to Damian Wayne
• Frequent love partner to Batman
• Almost always around her father or his activities, rarely acts outside of his interests

Scarecrow

• Jonathan Crane
• Former Arkham Asylum Psychologist
• He is known for his scarecrow like look
• Master of Fear through gasses and toxin he releases to cause hysteria

Homework

• Dark Knight
• Batman: Under the Red Hood
• Batman: Year One
• Batman: Bad Blood