An Essay on Batman

   It's a foggy night, and the moon casts a ghastly glow on the air's pervasive moisture. The city's streets blaze beneath fluorescent gas signs marking popular hideaways for those who wish not to be seen. Shifty faces navigate the thick humidity, purposely avoiding one another. In this town, it was best to keep your head down. A cry rings out from a dim lit alley, but the walkers with their shifty faces choose not to listen. The call for help echoes loud, but remains unanswered by all. All except one. Descending silently from the mist comes a shadow cloaked figure. His arrival on the scene goes unnoticed. In front of him stands a wide stock man hovering over a young women. The menace in his grin reveals his intentions. Before approaching his prey, a noise behind him alerts his suspicion. He pauses and turns to see The Batman rise from his crouched position, towering above the man at full height. Batman narrows his eyes. Fear overwhelms the man, causing his knees to buckle beneath him. He has heard the rumors. He has read the stories. He knows what will happen next.

   Batman is arguably the greatest comic superhero to ever exist, due mainly to the fact that he is not “super” within the context definition. This is not to say Batman is any less heroic. Batman (and by extension his secret identity, Bruce Wayne) is indeed extraordinary, but at the end of the day he is still a regular being without any superhuman abilities that we normally associate with the term “superhero”. Instead however, Batman's incredible powers come from his sheer force of will, stonewall determination, and unbreakable morality that he uses to deal justice to those who threaten society's sanctity. Batman represents the epitome of heroism on a mortal scale. While human mortality can be considered Batman's greatest weakness in a world filled with supervillains, it is also what makes him so unique. Batman's heroism comes from the fact that he is a singular human being fighting against mankind's moral corruptibility for what he believes is just.
   Batman dictates his actions through a code of morals that he strictly abides to. Unlike countless other men (namely Gotham City's inhabitants), Batman ensures these moral guidelines are never corrupted even when a situation demands these morals be bent to guarantee a definitive solution. Take for example, Batman's “no kill clause”. Batman believes taking life is a power man is unfit to wield and therefore does not kill, even if it means the villains he stops today will return to crime tomorrow. Is this a vicious cycle of temporal prevention? Perhaps, but Batman can not be allowed to violate his own set of rule and order, otherwise his justification for fighting crime is null and void. Hypocrisy on this level would make him no better than the criminals he seeks to defeat. This kind of inscrutable morality makes him an ideal arbiter despite being a vigilante. This remains the only degree of separation between the neuroses of Batman and his enemies. Without it, Batman would fall within the same pretext as The Joker despite their differing motives for being. In many forms of classical literature, the hero holds a virtually infallible set of moral values. The near entirety of Batman's reason for existing is his moral obligation for justice. High moral character of this kind is more than worthy of the heroic title.
   Batman is different from traditional heroes in that he was not born into greatness (being rich doesn't count), he was not chosen by a higher power, nor was he thrust into a quest for glory as a matter of circumstance. Rather, Batman is a man who independently decides to take matters into his own hands when he becomes dissatisfied with the resulting efforts of societal justice. Batman assumes the burden of Gotham City's protector on his own, without incentive of reward in any form. This is a clear example of heroic self sacrifice for the greater good. This not only backs up the claim of Batman as a morally high individual, but also shows Batman as a human of incredible resolve. Batman represents the ideal form of human ability. He is of strong self identity, his determination equates to his success, he is morally just and protects the weak, and his stoic character is comprised of traits our society strives to garner. Many heroes are figures of envy and admiration due to their superior construct but often times are difficult to identify with or project oneself onto. Batman is different in that while maintaining a level of abilities beyond that of the average human he is still rooted in realistic human accolades, notably standing against injustice, being of solid moral values, fighting for what you believe in, etc. Batman's form of heroism lies within the common man, the only difference is that Batman is powerful enough to channel that heroism in action.
   Batman is a hero in that he is a flawed character. The trauma suffered witnessing his parents death as a child formed the man that we now idolize today. Instead of letting this ordeal poison his mind with fear and sadness, Batman made this his strength and motivation for his actions. Similarity, Batman uses bats as his persona because of a personal phobia he suffered from as a boy. Batman is unique, turning the pain and hurt within his past into a power he uses to better the future. By accepting his weaknesses and using them to him benefit, his enemies are thus unable to use them against him. Among Batman's greatest abilities is his power to instill fear in his foes. Batman is only able to do this because he himself understands fear, the fear he grew up experiencing. Batman is not a perfect being, which makes his heroism more impressive in that he is able to accomplish so much as a flawed man. Batman is a hero because despite these personal flaws he still puts the needs of others before himself.

   Batman is a very unique type of hero. He is a man who faced with hardship at an early age made choices to rise above it. He used that tragedy to improve himself and the environment in which he exists. He became a morally righteous individual with clear ideals and convictions. He developed into a ideal being of justice and human ability. These are what makes a hero; these are what make Batman compelling. The morality and humanity Batman symbolizes makes him a hero in our culture, one that is identifiable and relevant to a general populous.