Batman TAS Babydoll

[Deledrius]

This is a formula that BTAS used frequently, and for good reason. In retrospect it seems like it might be a bit of a crutch, but given the setting and themes of the show I think it's a necessary and inevitable outcome. Gotham (as stand-in for our world) is a sick place that hurts the powerless and turns the powerful against everyone else. Batman is a hero because he resists falling into either trap; he uses his considerable wealth and first-hand experience as motivation to fight back against the forces trying to victimize people.

So you end up with characters like Freeze, and Baby Doll, who had horrible things done to them (maliciously in Freeze's case, and through apathy in Dahl's) and were ready to do arguably even worse things after their mental states had taken all they could. Sometimes it involved special powers and sometimes not, but it's always about trying to regain control and lashing out.

Gotham still has its share of other forms of villainy, with Penguin being largely exploitative, The Mad Hatter being partially self-inflicted, and Poison Ivy falling somewhere in between the rest as someone fighting on behalf of the wrongs done to others far more ruthlessly than Batman. But the ones people really remember and are uniquely characterized in BTAS tend to be the tragic villains.

So, in a way, Baby Doll was not really anything new for the show in the broader strokes, but her origin and pathos was far more based in reality than most of them which makes her story memorable and especially poignant.

[CrypticMirror]

Batman, Bruce, needs to believe in the system. That is why he doesn't set himself up as judge, jury, and executioner, he brings people to the cops or to doctors, he wants the system to work, he funds stuff like rehabilitation centers, halfway houses, has Wayne Enterprises hire ex cons to give them second chances, and for a lot of the more petty cases it works. Batman is the OG social justice warrior. Batman would like nothing better than to see a genuinely healed Joker. He's not just a believer in second chances, but in infinite chances.

Yeah I think this is more where he shines on a grounded level. And it's largely out of JL's jurisdiction.

I always think the best thing Batman does for the JL, when used properly, is not bring fists, or tech-toys, or even money, he brings the heart and the morals of the group. He's the one that says something isn't right, he's the one who steps forward and motivates by example, and he is the one -if you'll pardon bringing the competition, who plants his feet and refuses to be moved. Even in stories where he goes rogue and becomes the complication, it is because it comes from a place of caring for others.

I think that is where Batman vs Superman gets it wrong. In it Batman plans to take out Superman because he sees Superman as a threat to himself. In the story it is very loosely based on Batman's plans against the league are not from fear for himself or his power as in the movie, but because he worries about the danger and risk to others if a League member goes rogue. Batman is not perfect, he's only human-as the saying goes-, but he cares and he worries, and he wants to always be wrong when he does worry.

I know that people would think that being the heart would be Superman's job, and he is in his own book, but in JL, Clark (and to a lesser extent Diana) is the muscle. Everyone changes role a little in a team up book. Which I think is to the good.

That is just my interpretation though.

[Deledrius]

I know that people would think that being the heart would be Superman's job, and he is in his own book, but in JL, Clark (and to a lesser extent Diana) is the muscle. Everyone changes role a little in a team up book. Which I think is to the good.

That is just my interpretation though.

That makes sense to me.

If more nuance is needed, have Superman's heart be in the right place, but find that Batman and Superman differ on scale (big picture/small picture). At least, in the context of the DCEU.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

All and all though, I must disagree with you and Fuzzy Necromancer that Batman's predominant worth as a superhero has to do with him talking to kids or people who physically resemble kids.

Hey now, don't go putting words in my mouth.

But Twitter's got the receipts...

viewtopic.php?p=78340#p78340

My point was that, if Batman doesn't have time to comfort a frightened child, then what you have is just the Punisher in a silly hat. That's not the same as saying his worth as a superhero comes from talking to kids or kid-looking people.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

All and all though, I must disagree with you and Fuzzy Necromancer that Batman's predominant worth as a superhero has to do with him talking to kids or people who physically resemble kids.

Hey now, don't go putting words in my mouth.

But Twitter's got the receipts...

viewtopic.php?p=78340#p78340

My point was that, if Batman doesn't have time to comfort a frightened child, then what you have is just the Punisher in a silly hat. That's not the same as saying his worth as a superhero comes from talking to kids or kid-looking people.

https://youtu.be/311tHNMwf88?t=107

[Madner Kami]

All and all though, I must disagree with you and Fuzzy Necromancer that Batman's predominant worth as a superhero has to do with him talking to kids or people who physically resemble kids.

Hey now, don't go putting words in my mouth.

But Twitter's got the receipts...

viewtopic.php?p=78340#p78340

My point was that, if Batman doesn't have time to comfort a frightened child, then what you have is just the Punisher in a silly hat. That's not the same as saying his worth as a superhero comes from talking to kids or kid-looking people.

https://youtu.be/311tHNMwf88?t=107

At times I and clearly others as well, really do not get what the hell is going on in your head. If you're on drugs, stop doing them, for your own sanity at the very least.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Fuck off.

[Thebestoftherest]

I do like how batman the animated series, the whole tim verse had humanity the current DC comics, the comic themselves, and the movies could use. Heck even Bruce Tim later works seems to be lacking them for more edgelord bull.