The Best Batman that Gotham Needs

Hello Netizens, welcome back to Comic Theory; where examinations of characters and concepts are attractions for controversy. With Tom bringing up discussions on Bruce’s effectiveness as Batman; I think now is a good time to discuss who is the best Batman Gotham City deserves.

Yes people have debated this into the ground before. Batman is the hero that Gotham City needs; with all of its out of control criminals that the GCPD are ill-prepared for. But does that mean Batman is perfect the way he is?

Bruce as The Best Batman (Potentially)

A friend of mine once told me that Bruce can do a lot more good with his wealth; more than he ever could as Batman. However, Wayne Industries regularly donates money to the people of Gotham; touching every economic niche in the city. Scott Snyder even has this aspect show up several times during his run on the Batman comics. Bruce actually invests some of his fortune into bettering the city with mayoral candidate Lincoln March backing him up.

Of course, Lincoln March turns out to be a sleeper agent for a secret society; and ends up pulling the rug on Bruce’s operation to better Gotham. When Bruce loses his traumas and memories of being Batman; he uses his fortune to once again create a community that can get through the hard times. But the city is under attack by a supervillain that slipped through Batman’s fingers. Forced to become Batman again, Bruce fights on. Bruce Wayne has a lot of bad luck when it comes to bettering Gotham; doesn’t mean that he ever stops though. These days his company handles the economic situations.

Is This Healthy?

Of course Batman’s methods of saving Gotham aren’t exactly fruitful. Batman is paranoid and has a lot of trust issues. This causes a lot of rifts between his trusted allies including some of the Robins. Even Batman’s methods for reforming villains end up backfiring by a victim group who blame their status on him. The worst part is, Bruce knows that his actions as the caped crusader don’t make as a big a difference as he hopes. In fact, he considers the cowl and identity of Batman to be a curse that he needs to shoulder himself; because he feels that he is already dead.

Tom King knows and displays in full view that Bruce is still the traumatized child who witnessed his parents killing. He wants to save Gotham but does methods that no sane man would or should do. In fact the people who are closest to Bruce want to help him; but some of the smarter ones find Bruce’s methods demeaning. Others like the Joker and even Catwoman believe that if Bruce ever became happy; he wouldn’t be Batman anymore. But does Gotham really need Batman to solve its long term problems as displayed in Batman: White Knight? As Bruce continued his war on crime; politicians and businessmen from behind the scenes took advantage of the chaos the Dark Knight and his villains had cause. They profit off them all the while the lower class of Gotham suffers losses.

The Other Batmen

Maybe it doesn’t need Bruce Wayne’s Batman, maybe Batman needs to be someone else for Gotham to thrive. Authors have entertained the idea of the cape and cowl being used by someone else. Some people have taken the mantle with Hugo Strange (a psychologist driven by his insanity) easily being the worst.

One or two of these guys could be the Best Batman

Others have taken the role including Azazel, an assassin who took the mantle after Batman’s injury from Bane. But his zealous upbringing was retained making this Batman a killing machine. As if a Batman with his own traumas isn’t bad enough; having one plagued with hallucinations and brainwashing is even worse. I guess Bruce’s role is a very tough niche to fill. Jim Gordon, a long time ally of Batman took up the cowl. Thanks to his experiences as a police officer, it make him a good fit without all of the psychological troubles. But since Gordon is still a cop under contract and restrictions, he lacks the independence that Batman needs.

The Darkest Batman

Finally there is Thomas Wayne from the Flashpoint universe. This version of Bruce’s father has the independence, wealth, but none of Bruce’s altruism. After his son’s brutal murder and his wife becoming the Joker, this is Batman at his worst. In the background, Gotham deteriorates with crime at every corner. Thomas doesn’t even make use of his abilities as a doctor to help people. He just relentlessly pursues the woman who was once his wife. The state of Wayne Manor is a complete reflection on his crusade, a truly broken man.

The latter parts of King’s Batman show this version at his darkest. Thomas does whatever he can to convince the main Batman to give up the cape and cowl. However, it becomes apparent that he is doing so in a manipulative and narrow way. An almost “you’ll thank me for this later” kind of deal. Once all the villains are under his thumb through Bane, Thomas proceeds to pressure his alternate family. The people of Gotham however suffer for it.

The Hope of the Robins

The Robins also each took up the role of Batman. During the “Battle for the Cowl” Jason Todd and Tim Drake each took the mantle; with varying degrees of success or lack thereof. Jason’s time as the Red Hood and as Batman is practically a reflection of a dark knight driven only by his traumas rather than hope. He tortures criminals to become more of a shadow of terror than a beacon of hope. Tim tried to take over the mantle but lacks the skills necessary. There are also times Tim assumes the role of Batman in the future; with the Titans Tomorrow storyline showing him as ruthless gun wielder who kills without mercy. When Tim even meets his future self, he is horrified to see the extremes Timothy Drake would go. At the very least, the Batman Beyond version manages to get through his traumas.

Bruce’s biological son, Damian Wayne also has a potential future as Batman. But unlike his father, Damian takes a much more darker approach. He’s not only willing to kill adversaries; but also seems to have taken a supernatural approach to become something demonic and fearsome. It seems Damian is someone still very much defined by his time in the League of Assassins; as well as the view that Batman is an unstoppable force of nature. But fans and DC agree that takes away the point of being Batman.

The Prodigal Son

Finally, there was the first Robin, Dick Grayson. Spending time with Bruce since some of the earliest comics; Bruce takes Dick in after the tragic death of Dick’s parents. Bruce never wanted Dick to become anything like him. So by the time Dick chooses to join Batman as Robin; Bruce takes measures to ensure Dick stays on a righteous path. The dynamic between them not only keeps Dick from becoming a reflection of Bruce; but also keeps Batman from going over the edge. Still their relationship is anything but smooth. Bruce pushes Dick away from the uglier sides of Gotham; Dick meanwhile grows tired of being Bruce’s sidekick. However among everyone he’s worked with, Bruce has the most faith in Dick; believing him to be a worthy successor and a great leader in his own right.

A Bright Reflection

Dick had certainly proven himself as Nightwing. He acts as a brother figure to the Robins; as well a leader and friend to the Teen Titans he helped found. Unlike Bruce, Dick has greater faith in the people he protects. Nightwing has had his own trials and tribulations between the pressures of being a superhero though. Getting raped by women, failed relationships, and even stepping into Batman’s shoes. But when the time comes, Dick becomes Batman whenever Bruce is unable. As Batman he is much more open to help from the outside.

Dick unlike Bruce is not defined by his failures or traumas, despite having gone through a lot of them. Dick believes in the legacy of Batman unlike anyone else who took the mantle. He has a light-hearted optimism that contrasts with the darkness that is Gotham City that was best shown in Batman: The Black Mirror. Overall, Dick is much more human compared to Bruce; who had to sacrifice trust and happiness to be able to fight against threats no regular man can. What Dick lacks in ability, he makes up for in the people that surround him. But it’s going to be a gradual process as Dick still has his own flaws to deal with.

Do not bring up The Gift version of Dick

Reexamination of The Best Batman

Then again, DC’s never gonna let Batman be anyone other than Bruce Wayne for the long run. So maybe DC will allow a little leg room for improvement. Bruce despite being affected by his traumas still goes on with the hope that things can be better; Dick practically embodies those beliefs. In fact, why let it remain as trauma? As I’ve found thanks a certain video; why not let that event develop into a motivation instead? Bruce already has a family in the form of Alfred, the Robins, the Batgirls, and any other person with the Bat insignia. So maybe he needs to be more active in other areas.

Having a significant other is certainly a step up. Maybe he can’t have a happy marriage but maybe he can have an average one. Relationships are tough and there will even be times when both sides let each other down. Batman’s life is already messy; worrying about real domestic issues however would help humanize him more. It doesn’t even have to be with Catwoman, it can be with anybody worth their weight.

Changing of Plans

Then there’s how Batman operates. Because of Batman, there is no major threat of corrupt cops or politicians anymore. Some of those figures are now just a pain in the neck but they’re actually doing good. Right now the major problem come in the form of crime families and petty criminals organized under supervillains. Everyone in Gotham City knows about Batman (somehow not his secret identity). So he can’t be this urban legend that Bruce envisions the cape and cowl to be. He is still human so he can’t be an unstoppable juggernaut either. Bruce Wayne could make Batman into a presence that the crooks of Gotham fear at all times. But some people argue that makes Batman a fascist especially when times do become peaceful.

Modus Operandi

Even when charity occurs thanks to the Wayne Foundation, it doesn’t help the problem at large. Crime was a culture in Gotham long before Batman ever showed up and it comes in every corner; especially around the Narrows. Just throwing money at problems doesn’t make them go away. A few orphanages in Gotham are often destroyed or used as fronts by organized crime for obscene child labor. Even the most educated people still fall in bad crowds in the right conditions. In fact those who know their math can become financial backers to some of these criminals.

Yet, Batman could also donate some of his equipment over to GCPD, in the right hands and training of course. This would allow the police to more efficiently solve crimes and even prevent them. Yet corruption could also have that equipment sold on the black market. The friend I mentioned also suggested having Bruce personally oversee the prevention of corruption on the economic side. But how much can just one man accomplish even with all of those resources?

A Diurnal Bat?

Then there’s the most obvious problem. If Batman dies or if Wayne Enterprises is compromised; everything that Bruce built up will fall apart. If anything, Batman would need to go public but not necessarily reveal his identity. In fact a private company like Batman Inc. is actually a good investment; it gets the mentally stable enforcers ready to help Gotham and other cities. Advocating for a few stable political movements could certainly work too; especially if that means putting restrictions on both businesses or local government.

Not to mention there are the presence of supervillains. Some of them are well meaning but mentally broken people who just can’t function with others. Poison Ivy’s research could be used for more peaceful solutions rather than eco-terrorism. Just the Joker or Penguin should be executed. Batman however is a public figure; that task is best for the justice department of Gotham. Just sending them to the asylum is nothing short of hubris.

The One True Batman

Despite these arguments, it’s really about who writes Batman best. Batman may be one of the most influential and memorable characters in comic books; but he represents someone who has been through the worst of times. In a world full of gods among men; one has to remember that they are still human. It is also important to know the lengths a man goes through to become something that can make a difference.

Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.