Tragedy of Batman
Feb. 12th, 2016 10:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lucean posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
scans_dailyBatman 49 came out this week, setting up Bruce Wayne's return as Batman for the big next issue. And what a path it was to that point in this issue, so much that I kind of felt the need to post that return in the last three-ish pages because it was a thing of art.
Couple of things before the scene itself. The issue is extremely dense and there are no side plots going on, it is healthy Bruce Wayne and Alfred debating about the return of Batman with Alfred being vehementely against it. He has finally seen his greatest dream come true, after all, the Bruce Wayne who grew to be a man not haunted by past traumas and who become a truly great man, compassionate and helpful to those in need while being able to enjoy his own happiness. Yet the nobility of that same man will not allow him to just stand around watching the city burn under Bloom's attack while knowing that he could do something to help. I cannot do justice to their scenes with that explanation
So they make their way to Bruce's backup machine where he had stored his memories and skills to be implemented on clones of himself so that there would be a Batman. It is messed up and it is totally Batman once you understand that Snyder's Batman is a thing of tragedy and hence would never want his children to have bear that legacy. Anyway, the project never worked as a human mind could never handle being Batman, projections showing that the brain would simply die unable to handle the amount of mental trauma required. In addition, Alfred trashed the machine to prevent Batman's return, but of course Bruce figures out that there was a backup program.
At this point Bruce enters the machine to have Batman's program imprinted on his mind, convinced that he can be the better Batman, the one without all the trauma weighing on him, the one who is capable of being happy. Yet as they start the simulation, the imprint continuously fails as Bruce's mind cannot handle it, constantly nearing brain death only to be pulled back. Finally Bruce understands that tragic truth: For there to be a Batman there cannot be a Bruce Wayne. The same mind cannot hold both of them and begs Alfred to have the program to go through and wipe out his mind. Alfred of course refuses, but then they are joined by a third party.
I have to praise Paquette's art in that last panel as you can just feel the difference to Bruce Wayne we saw before, see the the darkness in him again. And while it was clear from the beginning that Bruce Wayne would be Batman again, I never saw it coming like this which makes it so great. Notice that last page. That is not a scene of triumph, that is not a hell yes moment. That is sadness, as for Batman is a story of tragedy. A great child of Gotham had to be sacrificed for it to have its greatest protector.
As a last word, I've seen a lot of grousing online as we got Bat!Bruce back all dark instead of having a bright Batman and I feel there are two important points to be made of that. First, Snyder's Batman has always been a tragic character, actually the most popular version of the character has always been a tragic character. Yet here, Snyder is direct about it, he makes it clear to the reader that nobody in their right mind would want to be Batman in a way that hasn't really been been done before. This isn't us knowing the kid Bruce dying, this is us seeing the awesome human being Bruce Wayne would have been without Batman. Second, there is always an important distinction on the story being bad and the story not being what one wanted it to be. And I don't think this story can be argued to be bad.
Couple of things before the scene itself. The issue is extremely dense and there are no side plots going on, it is healthy Bruce Wayne and Alfred debating about the return of Batman with Alfred being vehementely against it. He has finally seen his greatest dream come true, after all, the Bruce Wayne who grew to be a man not haunted by past traumas and who become a truly great man, compassionate and helpful to those in need while being able to enjoy his own happiness. Yet the nobility of that same man will not allow him to just stand around watching the city burn under Bloom's attack while knowing that he could do something to help. I cannot do justice to their scenes with that explanation
So they make their way to Bruce's backup machine where he had stored his memories and skills to be implemented on clones of himself so that there would be a Batman. It is messed up and it is totally Batman once you understand that Snyder's Batman is a thing of tragedy and hence would never want his children to have bear that legacy. Anyway, the project never worked as a human mind could never handle being Batman, projections showing that the brain would simply die unable to handle the amount of mental trauma required. In addition, Alfred trashed the machine to prevent Batman's return, but of course Bruce figures out that there was a backup program.
At this point Bruce enters the machine to have Batman's program imprinted on his mind, convinced that he can be the better Batman, the one without all the trauma weighing on him, the one who is capable of being happy. Yet as they start the simulation, the imprint continuously fails as Bruce's mind cannot handle it, constantly nearing brain death only to be pulled back. Finally Bruce understands that tragic truth: For there to be a Batman there cannot be a Bruce Wayne. The same mind cannot hold both of them and begs Alfred to have the program to go through and wipe out his mind. Alfred of course refuses, but then they are joined by a third party.
I have to praise Paquette's art in that last panel as you can just feel the difference to Bruce Wayne we saw before, see the the darkness in him again. And while it was clear from the beginning that Bruce Wayne would be Batman again, I never saw it coming like this which makes it so great. Notice that last page. That is not a scene of triumph, that is not a hell yes moment. That is sadness, as for Batman is a story of tragedy. A great child of Gotham had to be sacrificed for it to have its greatest protector.
As a last word, I've seen a lot of grousing online as we got Bat!Bruce back all dark instead of having a bright Batman and I feel there are two important points to be made of that. First, Snyder's Batman has always been a tragic character, actually the most popular version of the character has always been a tragic character. Yet here, Snyder is direct about it, he makes it clear to the reader that nobody in their right mind would want to be Batman in a way that hasn't really been been done before. This isn't us knowing the kid Bruce dying, this is us seeing the awesome human being Bruce Wayne would have been without Batman. Second, there is always an important distinction on the story being bad and the story not being what one wanted it to be. And I don't think this story can be argued to be bad.
no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 06:00 am (UTC)That brings to mind the Comicosity review of this issue. The reviewer points out the big differences between Grant Morrison's "The Return Of Bruce Wayne" and Superheavy. One being that while Morrison made Bruce's inevitable return to the cowl a triumphant moment, Snyder paints it as a the worst thing that can happen to Bruce.
It really is an amazing review, and I can't do it justice. I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a read.
http://www.comicosity.com/review-batman-49/
no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 06:25 am (UTC)I was actually thinking a lot about Morrison after reading this issue, but didn't want go in to it when doing the post as there was already a lot of text for a few scans. I think with Morrison's run, the core issue, which has become even more evident looking back due to Snyder's run, was that for Morrison Batman wasn't a tragic figure, instead he represented ultimate fantasy fulfillment. Batman's an awesome dude overcoming crazy obstacles by being awesome. Even his darker scenes, like Batman digging himself out of the grave or turning his memories in to weapons, felt triumphant because it was him again overcoming.
However, while doing that story, Morrison almost went out of his way to not address, which let to a really lackluster Dick Grayson as Batman due Morrison again just writing as wish fulfillment instead of trying to address what being Batman might require from Dick. As mentioned in the review, a lot of the emotional moments in his Batman run ended up feeling hollow because he didn't want to address that Batman might actually tragic figure. Which was problematic as one of the great things about Batman is that he is a tragic figure. He is the man among the gods, but he also had to a pay a huge price to be that person.
I think it's fair to say at the moment that Snyder's run is currently one of the defining runs of the character due criticial, fan and sales reception. What I am really curious, though, is that five years from now, if Snyder's run and time will perhaps alter how we view Morrison's run on the character.
no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 07:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 07:19 am (UTC)There is a clear distinction. Tragic things happened during Morrison's run, but for Morrison, Batman wasn't a tragic figure. Not really.
EDIT: Besides, is the sole counterpoint from Morrison multi-year run they very final issue?
no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 07:34 am (UTC)Then he founds Batman Inc in response to the future glimpsed in Batman 666 - a future where his son succeeds him. He is trying to build his own legacy in fear that his son will not be able to live up to him. So of course Batman Inc gets outlawed and disbanded and Damian gets killed and Batman gets obsessed with 'saving his city', even as Talia's trying to take over the world. And then his ex-girlfriend shows up and kills Talia in front of him and goes, 'well, we grown-ups handled that, you can just keep on doing what you've been doing.'
It's a tale of a man who only has one response to anything and cannot grow past it. And the horrible part is, is that his one response just keeps working. He keeps surviving. He keeps getting through it. Everyone else either grows up or dies. Bruce just keeps Batmanning on.
no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 03:06 pm (UTC)But the last page of Batman Inc shows Ras in a room full of Damian clones, leaving the door open for his resurrection. Even though Bruce will continue his crusade without ever really changing, the future is bright because Batman and Robin will never die.
no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 06:05 pm (UTC)The biggest sign for me about Morrison's view on Batman was actually when he wrote Dick as Batman as there was no real character examination there, it was just Dick doing stuff as Batman. Nothing really about what it means to be Batman or the price that requires. Weirdly Winick was the only who started to examine that and they booted him out of the book fast to replace him with Daniels. And Daniels, I still have no idea what that was.
no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 11:27 pm (UTC)But these variations prove insufficient. Every arc of Batman and Robin focuses on someone being upset that Bruce is gone and claiming that Dick can't take his place. First it's Damian, then Jason, then Dick himself, then Talia. Even when Bruce returns to actually set up Batman Inc, it proves to be motivated out of fear of Damian replacing him, fear that Damian won't be able to live up to him.
All of Bruce Wayne's issues are due to Bruce Wayne. Someone else can be a Batman, be a bat-themed crimefighter, and still have a happy life. The problem is that no one will ultimately accept anyone but Bruce Wayne behind the mask.
no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 11:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 06:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 11:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 07:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 07:48 am (UTC)And besides, editorial constraints, reboots, etc, are a fundamental part of Batman the character. Batman cannot die or change because DC comics will not allow him to die or change. Since continuity was disrupted and undone thanks to a reboot, so too were in-story developments undone. It rings true.
no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 06:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 06:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-13 06:32 pm (UTC)To be fair, neither of us can speak what it true situation and only of what we've heard.