Character Autopsy: Batman

This is the character autopsy, where I take a character that I adore and force them down onto the cold and metallic table and cut them open, exploring what about their character that resonates with me and how I can use it in my own writing. Today I am opening up Batman, THE Batman.

I would not be the first to analyse Batman, nor will I be the last, he is well known as are his movies, comics, games and merchandise. What I want to focus on for the autopsy today is one scene in particular. This scene is from the animated series Justice League: Unlimited. In the scene, Wonder Woman and Batman are atop a building looking down on the nightlife below, couples walking from the movies, kissing and hugging. Wonder Woman wishes for her own romantic experience with Batman while Batman does not want distractions. I love the scene for a few reasons, the first is that from a teaching perspective, it is a great scene to use for character analysis. The differences between how Batman and Wonder Woman look, act and interpret the world around them is rich enough for any student to dissect. The pinnacle of the scene is when Batman begins listing to Wonder Woman the reasons why they should not date and he says, “you are a princess from a line of immortal warriors and I am a rich kid with issues, lots of issues.” That line there is what I love about Batman, his awareness.

Those critical of him claim that without his wealth he would have never been Batman, and it is his gadgets that allow him to fight crime, but it is how he uses them. Batman not only has the awareness to notice his surroundings and throw a batarang into a goon about to shoot him in the back, but he knows what he is, a broken kid. His upbringing was filled with tragedy and his dedication to fight crime is a result of his trauma. I have seen and read characters like him, who have the tough act nailed and present invincible, but the problem is, invincible is boring. Here, Batman acknowledges his own short comings, that he has problems that would harm a relationship with Wonder Woman. It shows a high level of maturity in a character, which is an admirable trait. To acknowledge his own faults does not retract from his tough status, but elevates him. In my own writing, I feel that it is so important to have these flaws be directly dealt with by the character. One of my characters, for a book that I wish to be published but have not yet had the privilege, has a substantial flaw and in the story I have him face it. I feel it shows more depth in a character but also that it makes them more likable. Robots aren’t likeable, that’s why all the best ones have human traits and showing the vulnerability of a character shows that they are flesh and blood, that they bleed like us. That is what I am trying to develop more of in my heroes, not only that they need to bleed more, but that they need to know they are bleeding.