Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2014 21:52:17 GMT -5
My local store, like many around the world, are holding a special event to celebrate Bat's big 75th birthday and they posted on Facebook a great competition idea: They're getting everybody to send them why they think Batman is the greatest. So I thought this is something the Talking Comics community could do in the forums, write why they love Batman. Kind of like a Gotham City Thanksgiving:
I think Batman is the greatest because... he isn't the greatest thing about Batman.
People always say we can relate to Batman because he's a normal human. But he isn't. He's a human... who also happens to have billions of dollars and a company that makes stuff for him and he lost his entire family so travels the world to learn everything possible. If we were given a billion dollars we wouldn't spend 5 years travelling the world trying to become a perfect fighting machine. We've got friends and families and responsibilities.
In the comics Batman takes up the name and mantle of the bat to instill terror into criminals, protect the innocent and to become a symbol that can do what one single man can't.
In real life Batman is obviously a fictional character, but those key points are still true: As a character, he is a symbol that does what we know we could not accomplish but inspires us to do more. So if we are the ones who are inspired by this character who does what we all WISH we could do when we see crime and injustice, who is the representation of us in the comics?
James Gordon.
As a character he is a man with a job, a wife and kids. His marriage has faced difficulties. His daughter is put in a wheelchair. His job isn't easy but he does it anyway. He tries to be good and provide for his family in the face of corruption and adversity from everyone else around him and he occasionally fails. He knows there are even things he can't do. And then Batman comes along and does those things for him. Batman inspires Gordon to do more. He can't defeat every criminal and clean out every bit of corruption, but he still tries. All while still caring for a family and tending to his own responsibilities.
We all know somebody with a hard life. We might have a hard life. And we can't become Batman. But, we can definitely make the most of what we have, try to be better people and not let everything wrong in this world get the better of us.
So Happy 75th to Jim Gordon!
... and Batman
