One Perfect Moment: Batman

[runespoor7.insanejournal.com]

JLA #65 focuses on Plastic Man and Batman; at the beginning of the issue, Plas asks Batman for his help dealing with the son of an ex, a kid who's fallen in with a gang. Specifically, Plas asks Batman to scare the kid straight.

It may come as odd that in an issue that's one of the closest things to "one perfect issue" I've read, I'm choosing one of maybe the smallest moments here. Maybe it raises more questions than it answers, as well.

Earlier in the issue, Batman got proof that the kid is Plas' son, and this takes place in the following discussion, as Plas is convinced that Batman is going to walk out and be furious at him.

Comments

[richardak.insanejournal.com]

I am not at all impressed with Batman in this scene. A man can be a great father without having a funny bone in his body, and a many could be among the greatest comedic geniuses of history and be a terrible father. Parenthetically, some of the great comedians were terrible fathers.

[daningram.insanejournal.com]

What parent could possibly be as expressive as Plastic Man, though? That was Batman's main point.

[sistermagpie.insanejournal.com]

I thought that was more Batman beating himself up, like he looked at fathers who could do that and romantized them because he's not like them. Iow, what he means is he wants to give his kids joy.

Because surely he doesn't really think that being an entertaining comedian would make one a good father. (::shudders:: thinking of RotJ!)

[freddylloyd.insanejournal.com]

It's interesting to read Batman's remarks here against all the commentary about Dick Grayson saving Bruce Wayne by giving him reasons to smile. Bruce might be putting too much weight on what he recognizes as one of his own weak points as a father and not enough on his strong points.

[bradygirl_12.insanejournal.com]

Yes! I do think that Bruce recognizes his weakness and may be brushing aside his strong points, but Dick did help him stay connected to a world besides psycho clowns and Gotham's darkness.

[parsimonia.insanejournal.com]

Good points. I think Bruce is likely to privately worry about whether or not he's a good father.

I can't for the life of me remember the context, but I know there was some scene where Batman reprimands someone else for not knowing how to talk to children. It's cute because Batman arguably does know how to talk to children, despite being scarier-looking and less colourful than most other heroes.

[runespoor7.insanejournal.com]

I think you're thinking of that scene in Infinite Crisis when Booster is telling Jaime... I don't remember what, and Batman says, "Booster, you have no idea how to speak to kids." Unless there's another similar scene out there (in which case I'd love to know the ref, so I could check it up).

[parsimonia.insanejournal.com]

Yes, I think that's the one!

[killermoth1.insanejournal.com]

That's sweet, you can tell Batman has a slight envy of Plasticman's ability to be so chipper at times, since his own serious attitude tended to drive away those he loved most.