Ghost of a flea: The philosophy of Batman

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November 26, 2008

The philosophy of Batman

Supergenius, Grant Morrison is set to kill off the Batman. While I regret to point out (the blindingly obvious point) this "fate worse than death" cannot possibly be a permanent feature of the DC continuity, the news has already lead me to some interesting fan rumination.

Morrison isn't interested in complexity for its own sake: The stakes are much higher than that. As his intoxicated performance at the 2000 Disinfocom indicates, Morrison believes that writing comics is magic that can literally alter consensual reality. In Watchmen, Alan Moore surpassed every prior comics writer at imagining the "real lives" of superheroes. Morrison upends the genre in another way. Batman, lacking super powers, achieves his dark mastery by adhering to the magus Aleister Crowley's Nietzschean maxim: Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.

I confess I had never thought of Bruce Wayne as a Thelemic Superman but I do like the sound of the idea.

Reminder: Middle class Batman.

Related: Batman would still kick Superman's ass into next week.

Also related: The aforementioned Grant Morrison appearance at Disinfocom 2000. Think the Flea but with a Scottish accent.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at November 26, 2008 08:47 AM

Comments

I really wish people would quit screwing about with my childhood and remaking and "rebooting" TV shows and pop culture. Seriously. Come up with your own ideas people.

Why does this new generation of writers find it necessary to destroy the edifice created by those that came before them to prove their "creativity"?

I'm reminded of something C.S. Lewis said to the effect that, the Enemy can create nothing of his own, merely pervert the works of the Creator and twist them into his own foul image.

Posted by: dpatten at November 26, 2008 12:19 PM

(Laughs out loud.)

Batman? Newf, er, noob.

Not even Superboy could beat Superman. And Superboy can kick Batman's butt.
.

Posted by: OregonGuy at November 26, 2008 03:00 PM

Dude: Kryptonite. Will update with image of Batman kicking Superman's ass into next week.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at November 26, 2008 03:44 PM