Who Is Batman, Really?

[tsunamiwombat]

As promised, a single issue showcasing the many sides to Bruce Wayne/Batman.

Good art, shitty scans after the cut. 8 pgs out of 24



We open on the Gotham City bridge, where a Police negotiator is doing his level best to convinced a young man named Kenny not to jump. Kenny's at rock bottom, he's got a bad heroin hook, and it's looking to check out.

Batman shows up and scares the crap out of him, que TAS theme music.




Batman leaps off after him and snaffles the kid out of mid air with a convenient harness, and he is not happy.




According to that last panel, we do not cut but rather microsoft powerpoint fade to another setting- Willys diner, where the cop telling the story to a chap of his over a cup of coffee finishes relating his story.

"You should've seen him george, he was incredible!"
"I did see him tonight. But the Batman I saw was a whole different person"

Cut to Cop two's story. A gang of drunk and lost extra's from Mad Max (not really) get interrupted in the middle of robbing a convenience store by a beat cop. They add him a handfull of holes but he gets away to call for backup, GPD swat has the place surrounded in 5 minutes. The gang makes demands, and says if they're not met, they're going to start killing hostages.

Wait, whats that sound? Da na na naaa... thats right, TAS themesong.

There's a really great beatup page with just shots of peoples faces, the glee and sadism in the eyes of the gangsters, the grim expressions of the cops, and the horror and fear of the hostages- ending on Batmans narrowed eyes. Some solid, wordless action follows as Batman kicks the crap out of the gang, leaving one left...




Wait for it...




I think I just pee'd a little.

Batman straight up murderfaces all of them and disaperes without a trace, the cops remineisce about how badass he is when a third cop introduces himself and shares his own tale of the Batsyman.

He relates he's walking the beat that night, when he spots two kids wandering around Gotham streets alone. Obviously something doesn't click, so he goes after them and they run. He chases them, but they're fast and wily and they get away.

Almost.

TAS THEMESONG.

Batman pops out of nowhere, cape fluttering dramatically like he do. Naturally, this freaks the kids out a little, and one of them picks up a peice of junk wood and threatens him with it.




It turns out they're from down south- Dad got laid off, and moved up to Gotham looking for work. He didn't find any work, but he did find a knife in the chest trying to win money to get home during a card game. Parentless, child services eventually shows up to take care of the kids, but they want to split them up.

The kids say "F That noise" and run for it, and spend the next 3 months living off the trash and refuse of Gotham, all alone, not a cent between them.




Aww.

Batman arranges to have his 'friend' Bruce Wayne take care of things for them and whisks the kids off into the night, because he's the Goddamned Batman and he can. The Cop relates his story to his disbelieving friends then exscuses himself.




Wait for it.... wait for it...




And thats who batman is.

Writer: Jim Starlin; Pencils: Dave Cockrum; Inker: Mike DeCarlo; Colorist: Adrienne Roy; Editor: Denny O'Neil

Comments

[shanejayell]

Awww.

^__^

[darkblade]

"Well except for the circus boy and that street kid who tried to steal your tires. I'm just glad I didn't have to tailor two more Robin costumes, sir."

[leoboiko]

/runs

[jarodrussell]

"So is this how it works, Doctor? You never interfere in the affairs of other peoples or planets... unless there's children crying." - Amy Pond, "The Beast Below"

No part of me doubts that part of Bruce's training to become Batman also included traveling with a man in a blue box, learning that even when you're The On Coming Storm, you're doing what you do for a good reason.

[icon_uk]

I've always felt that a marvellous summation of the Doctor's approach to life.

And if you haven't seen it, just wait until you see tonight's Doctor Who, fantastic stuff!

[baxter2814]

I officially love the shit out of all these stories. Especially with the cops telling them. So fitting after everyone has been commenting in the Batman Inc post about the history of Batdickery.

[tsunamiwombat]

On a completly seperate tangent, I find it hilarious to flip through these comics, which were old and falling apart when -I- got them, and find old adverts for Bionic Commando.

EXPERIANCE BIONIC POWER!

[icon_uk]

Now THAT'S MY Batman, one with depth and some complexity to his approach to things.

Thanks for posting!

[tsunamiwombat]

Happy to oblige sir.

[kainnero]

This is the true Batman! Thank you so much for posting this. Can I ask what issue this is so I can buy it?

[tsunamiwombat]

"You Shoulda Seen him", Batman #423

http://www.comicvine.com/batman-you-shoulda-seen-him/37-30001/

[darkknightjrk]

That is a great story, but I couldn't help but laugh at:

"But I do find it a bit disconcerting... I'm used to you coming home with bullet holes and bruises, not wayward children."

Oh come now, Alfie--he definitely comes in with latter the most, but wayward children's probably second on the list. How many Robins have we had, again?

[stubbleupdate]

Surely wayward children is the latter in that sentence.

[tsunamiwombat]

It's ironic this issue ends on such a peppy note, the next two (which I also have, and represent the total of my batman collection) are much darker stories, arguably the tales that killed Jason Todd - not the actual Death of Jason Todd, but the issues many people looked too when they voted the thumbs down on the kid.

[tsunamiwombat]

Infact I may post scans from 424 next

[venatosapiens]

It is a testament to the power of The Batman that the phrase "I won't let you die" is fucking terrifying.

[icon_uk]

Absolutely! It's the same reason I get bored by the Joker killing people when he can do so many more hideously creative and nasty things to you than simply KILL you (Just ask BTAS Tim Drake as the classic example).

[stubbleupdate]

The first story feels very

[img]http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5c88vPlMQ1qcy5lco1_500.jpg[/img]

[tsunamiwombat]

Links a little busted, but that appears to be Brad Pitt smoking. Que?

[sigmund_droid]

That was a great story, one I forgot reading. Thanks Womby

Looooovvveee batman “Patrol” stories

[omnipotent]

This is the true essence of Batman, intense and simultaneously compassionate.

Thanks so much for sharing.

[ebailey140]

Thanks for this. Really says who Batman is.

[cypherfdp]

"Dash it, sir, two more? Wasn't the Todd boy enough for you?"

[blackruzsa]

Awwwww this is just perfect!
I was about to ask in the last bit why he didn't just adopt them---turns out, he probably would have if they hadn't located the relatives.

Oh Bruce <3

[midnightvoyager]

Eeeee, that's my Batman!

[screamsheet.wordpress.com]

This is the type of Batman I like. The guy should be terrifying to people who don't know him. There's no reason for him to be a dick to friends or people in need, though.

[sailorlibra]

I love that Batman not only takes the criminals off the street, but also does his best to keep them off the street by finding them jobs at Wayne Tech or another place. It's kind of sweet.

[sailorlibra]

Also, I don't see why Bruce isn't still written like this. He's perfectly badass, but he's also a nice guy to those he trusts or who need him. Being tough is not the same thing as being mean.

[baxter2814]

I know! It really pisses me off too. Nightwing's no less badass for being a nice guy — why shouldn't Batman be the same?

[jelly_ace]

Yeah, there is more to fighting crime than...you know...fighting.

But I must say, Batman crying is indeed a bit much.

[icon_uk]

At the plight of lost, orphaned children? He goes UP in my estimation for crying at that.

[jlroberson]

Oh wow, the EXACT moment Batman lost me for a while. I forgot it was Starlin that did it.(the punk criminals and the "I will break you" bit--that was when Batman crossed over to just a thug fighting thugs. I did not like that period at all and I hated that the Crisis even had to affect Batman, which was doing just fine at the time. Thanks to the Crisis for instance, we lost the Barr/Davis permutation of Batman & Robin. And got...this.

Even when Starlin is just writing his characters all grimace. I wonder if he actually puts "grit teeth" in the scripts.

I had such an ambivalent relationship to Starlin as a kid, but I still bought his stuff(still like WARLOCK) because at that age, it's cool, but so is metal and prog. It's kind of like being a former Yes fan or something.

[icon_uk]

It's borderline, but I'd say he seemed to be talking a big game because that was the best tool for the job at the time. He'd never DO things like that, but the thug doesn't know that.

[proteus_lives]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Kids are not afraid of Batman because Bruce will always be a child at heart.

[baxter2814]

That....makes SO much sense. Of course! You get a cookie!

[lieut_kettch]

"Kids, I'm going to see to it that you're never separated ever again."

*whips two pairs of scaly green hotpants*

"But try these on first."

[lbd_nytetrayn]

Thanks for posting these. I have-- or had-- this issue, somewhere, but was never able to find it when I was looking for it for a friend who was really into Batman. It was always a cool story...

Wish I knew where it was...