Yeah, my first thought was Batman is okay with unchecked power, so long as it's his own. I've seen others say he hates authoritarianism, unless it's his own. But that's modern Batman, and it's hard to pinpoint changes, when they often shift over a time period. I think it's fairly easy to pick a beginning point of the change, usually (a wildly popular work), but when he crosses the finish line is another story.
Batman has never really been 'anti-establishment' as such. Yes, he's been seen at odds with the corrupt GCPD and corrupt Gotham politicians. He works outside the law to get the job done. But he's never been some kind of radical or revolutionary. He's only 'anti-government' in DKR because the corrupt US government of that story had neglected Gotham, and was sending their pawn, Superman, to take him down for the work he was doing protecting Gotham.
And yes, for most of the Golden Age and Silver Age, Batman was officially a deputized agent of the GCPD. Post-COIE, they retconned this away, but he still enjoyed a kind of 'unofficial' status among the GCPD whenever Gordon, or some other friendly official, was in charge.
Batman is ultimately a kind of 'super-cop'. He does what normal cops can't or won't. He's ready to help them if they're good, but willing to work behind their backs or even take them down if they're incompetant or dirty.
Pulls: Batman, Detective Comics, SiKtC, Catwoman, Nightwing, Titans, Godzilla, Wonder Woman, Batman & Robin, Brave and the Bold, No/One, Kill your Darlings, and Deviant.
My runs: Batman #230-, and Detective #420-
I actually can't really think of any noteworthy moment when Batman acted like a jerk in the late 80's-90's period of his book. The 2000's pre-Morrison are a different story but the Dixon/Grant/Moench run is actually my gold-standard when it comes to Batman comics.
And yet the term BatJerk originates from the 90's under Dixon
I blame the writers who came on in the 90's to the 00's
It was down hill from around the time Tim was introduced
I like to think that Bruce after facing zero consequences for being the mitigating factor in Jason's death. Being encouraged by Alfred that he did nothing wrong and that the solution to Jason was to replace him with a more responsible kid from the burbs. Bruce's ego took on a life of his own and he felt he could do anything and get away with it
Last edited by CPSparkles; 01-26-2021 at 02:13 PM.
I mean he really can. Not just with the Bat Family but any hero. His plans were used to attack and almost kill the Justice League, he created the OMACS which killed many people. And yet the heroes are still in this cult like awe of him where his word is law. Even Superman and Wonder Waman bow to him half the time.
I dont know with all the reboots if those events are still continuity. But DC writers have Batman pretty much doing anything he likes, and his family/friends, other heroes, police, no one holds him to task. its just Batman being Batman.
That is why the days of Adam West and the 60's and 70's comics are going to be king for me
This Post Contains No Artificial Intelligence. It Contains No Human Intelligence Either.
"We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe."
~ Black Panther.
He had a midlife crisis. He spent his teen years training and decided to get back that time by being an angsty adult.
december 21st has passed where are my superpowers?