The Caped Crusader

When I was a little girl I was different from all the other girls. In the sense that I was never a fan of Barbie dolls, teddy bears or anything remotely and generally related to being a girl.
Remote controlled cars, battery operated robots, motorcycles, airplanes, hot wheel cars – everything and anything related to technology and innovation intrigued me. So it was a shock for my parents that I became a diehard fan of James Bond. If you’ve seen Pierce Brosnan ride the 1964 Ford Thunderbird Aston Martin DB5 and kill his enemies with the Anderson Wheeler 500 NE Double Rifle, you’ll know what I’m talking about. 

 

As I grew up, I became acquainted with the several superheroes that were protecting our world. Fictionally speaking, from Superman to Iron man, the marvels, the fantastic four, Justice League, Captain America, Green Lantern, the flash – I was fascinated by all of these crazy and fabulous people. But my favorite among them was, is and always will be Batman. Not only because the first time I saw him on television was I infatuated by him, but also because I could see myself in him. 

Now we all hear the usual story of Batman - He is the super-hero protector of Gotham City, a man dressed like a bat who fights against evil and strikes terror into the hearts of criminals everywhere. In his secret identity, he assumes the alias of Bruce Wayne, billionaire industrialist and notorious playboy. This too is a disguise, that of the man he would have been had his parents not been murdered before his eyes when he was a mere boy. 

We are all mostly aware of only the Nolan series of Batman –  Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight  (2008) and The Dark Night Rises (2013). But did you know that Batman was created by Bill Finger with Bob Kane, first appearing in Detective Comics in 1939. What was Batman’s first movie, ever? Well, casual fans will point out Tim Burton’s 1990 “Batman” but more savvy fans will no doubt point out that Adam West starred in a Batman movie in 1966 that was theatrically released. In truth, they’re both wrong. The first time Batman  was ever depicted in a movie that had any kind of release was “Batman, Dracula” in 1964, directed and produced by none other than Andy Warhol.

What is it that is unique to Batman and sets him apart from other superheroes? Well you’d be amazed to know that at the age of 14 Bruce Wayne embarked on a journey that took him to every continent. He studied criminology, forensics, and criminal psychology, and learned from manhunters and martial artists, mastering every fighting style. If you’ve seen  Batman Begins you’d know that his master was Ra’Al Ghoul which is played by Liam Neeson. Although Batman possesses no super-human powers, he is one of the world's smartest men and greatest fighters. His physical prowess and technical ingenuity make him an incredibly dangerous opponent. Why do you think he didn’t star in the Avenger? Cause then he’d steal all the show and movie would’ve been Batman – The Avenger.

Who’s Who? 

Heath Ledger – The psychopath Joker. Did you know that Heath Ledger won the Oscar for the best supporting actor for his performance of the Villain Joker? Also, an interesting fact is that to bring out his dark side, Heath locked himself up in a hotel room for more than 20 days. This certainly shows commitment. 

 

Did you know that Cillian Murphy (The Scarecrow) and Heath Ledger (The Joker) auditioned for the role of Batman? Christopher Nolan liked their performance and decided to include them in the movies anyway. 

Michael Caine – Alfred, the butler who is the confidant of  Batman and gives his opinion even when he’s not asked. 

 

Lucius Fox – Morgan Freeman. How could we forget him! The mastermind behind all the Batman’s fancy gadgets: The Batsuit, the utility belt, the grapple gun and of course the stunning Batmobile. 

And finally Christian Bale – The Batman. Did I mention how ridiculously handsome he is? Besides, he is an incredible actor and very dedicated for his movies. A report states and I quote: Even though Christian was very uncomfortable in the batsuit, he wore it for a entire day in Batman Begins to perform naturally in the movie. Bale also did most of his own stunts, kinda like the Akshay Kumar of Hollywood – But Nolan never let him anywhere near the Batmobile. 

It is not who we are underneath, but what we do that matters. This is my favorite quote from the entire Batman series because it rings of truth. It is what we do that defines us, regardless of what is underneath. Anyone could’ve become Batman, but it takes courage to stand up for what you believe in and act on it. This also relates directly to the crisis of dual identity every superhero faces in the end - whether or not to share it with the people they love. 

Batman is one of America’s favorite super heroes. From comic books, to movies, video games and television he has undergone many changes. You may not have known him before, but I’m certain that you know The Caped Crusader a little today. 

Signing off,

Nitsy