The Real Batman

After much research and revisting Neo-Aristotelian, I have decided to drench anyone who is interested by giving you the real Batman, an analysis of his true identity revealed...

Batman has never stopped being part of American and in every sense of the word, Batman epitomizes America. Starting as a comic book whose image the stamp shows; Batman has appeared in film and television. The United States Postal Service (USPS) in its consideration decided not only to give Batman prominence but to put him on the top right hand corner. A position that shows the amount of respect that should be afforded.

Batman is a part of ancient mythology adapted to the changing tastes of the American archetype. A symbol in modern day popular cultural, the legend of Batman shows highly adaptive traits. Being malleable enough to survive centuries of changing world values, though it can be argued that there were a few bumps along the way, Batman was still able to keep the unique style of American values.

One of the reasons that Batman is able to survive is that it is part of an American art form that is the comic book. Now being part of a stamp collection, it probably cements its place. An art form that can be adapted in many ways such as the sequential style shown in comic books is powerful. While the stamp does not show movement, you can still feel Batman coming towards you with a vengeance. Since the form adapted allows it to move, its visual impact, along with the expressions, connotes an active pursuit of justice.

The power of the image is often at times what cannot be seen. And Batman through his powerful back-story is positively endorsed by the USPS and is now part of mainstream America.

The symbolic bat started in the 1930s and it was a popular symbol connoting revenge. Kane, Batman’s creator, used the 1931 film, “The Bat Whispers” as his influence. The Mask of Zorro which led to how Batman acrobatically fights criminals. But again going back to the visual style of the stamp, its was probably that Kane was impacted with horror movies featuring dark and long shadows that covers or even shades half of Batman, maybe to show that his left half is Batman and the right half is the more respected Bruce Wayne. This duality consumes the mind of everyone that not only looks at the stamp but those that think of what it takes to be Batman.

The duality factor fascinates people, there is a certain association that some people can relate to, and how often does your public self clash with your personal self? None more so than Batman, by day he operates within the law, by night as shown in the stamp with his cape and mask, he acts as a vigilante or outside the law. Yet he receives help from those with authority, Commissioner Gordon and his butler, Alfred.

In essence, the question that can and should be argued is what more does Batman epitomizes? Surely with the style and ‘USA’ printed on the right hand side, it must be pointed out that Batman represents Western values. Western values usually linger round justice. But it is the unknown that of fear that darkness or the edge of revenge overcoming justice. Batman is on the edge and with the expression of his mouth, you get that he is not happy at what he is doing. Sometimes it might seem like a chore, part of the characteristic of a stamp is in making sure that the looker is able to gather almost every aspect of the character. And the attribute missing out is Batman’s cynicism. The movie may not have portrayed it yet but as an active viewer of television shows which derive from comic books, it is shown that he is cynical especially about the good of mankind.

If we were to take the stamp collection as a whole and truly analyze the word ‘Super Heroes’ at the top, then we would have a certain sense of pride that Batman, not immortal, not having super abilities is right there at the top right. Batman like a decorated Olympian is not only a symbol of the consummate super hero but of a hero that all of us can hope to be. This escapism is much more a better fit with reality. Considering the fact that what hides behind his mask is Bruce Wayne, the learned student who studied unarmed fighting techniques and mastered it. Batman’s detective ability came about as he studied chemistry, psychology and law. Thus, placing him as a stamp shows the ideal American work ethic.

Batman’s facial expression of what is left of the shadows, also to me shows an orphan needing love. This is where vengeance and the past come clashing in and if this stamp were to be sent somewhere the receiver, if he or she knows Batman would remember that Bruce Wayne like the receiver had a certain immunity about him. His parents fulfilled his every need and he had the love of both his parents being the single child. Like America, an act of violence shattered all that. The horror of having your parents shot and having a gun pointed at you was Batman’s epiphany. Now donning the cape and mask, the stamp clearly shows that Batman has left all sense of fear and is thought to be invulnerable. And instead of needing protection, Batman provides security.

Yet oddly enough revenge as shown on his face is never materialized, Batman shows the ‘right’ kind of justice to undertake. USPS chose the right image in that it shows pseudo-violence; one that is not acted upon but only when initiated by the other party; one that does not condone the use of guns. The tragedy of guns and through this particular hero who has suffered from a gun tragedy, Batman does not kill criminals, preferring to bring them to justice, preferring not to seek revenge to the one that killed his parents but to all criminals. Much like America and its ideal, this stamp symbolizes all that, we would only use weapons after we declare war and if you really force us to, then we would.

Gotham City and the dark blue background symbolize a city needing hope. The blueness connotes that the warmth of the city gives way to the dark and violent nature of its citizens. The blue contrasts that of Batman as he provides that contrast of the pursuit of justice and believing that the law and its enforcement would take care of his beloved city. Much like being the son, Batman protects his mother – Gotham City in the background.

Part of Batman’s masculinity is not having any woman that he can be married. Much like Katy Perry’s chastity, many super heroes in wanting to keep the hero pure, never marry. In that Batman’s marriage is to his city, to the citizens of Gotham. Also the fact that he uses his own resources to protect his ‘wife’ shows that he is not seeking power or fame. Rather he wants to restore Gotham back to the time where his parents could walk the street safely and that to gain the absence of violence is to ironically inflict violence.

Another aspect to consider is that Batman and other super heroes are for usually catered for teens and in particular, boys. These are the next generation that is not in power and by placing them on stamps. It shows that there is an effort to make stamps more tempted to remember the bygone era that which is superseded by electronic mail. This change is similar to the nostalgic era where comic books rule and was considered to be first class art. Now first class art is more often found in movie theatres and so to have Batman as a form of drawing is to revive the origin of how the legend that is Batman first begun.

A new era for Batman and comic heroes came with September 11, 2001 came and it must be acknowledged that just by looking at the stamp. Anyone not knowing Batman might see a terrorist. In a way, super heroes that of mythical origin, were supposed to have prevented this great tragedy but instead were left to mourn. There lied their power or their potency giving way to the reality of innocent lives lost and USPS in choosing this angst version of Batman was able to depict a staunch determination not to have terror revisited.

I was skeptical or perhaps naïve not to mention that all males would form a bond with stamps simply because I do not know too many females and the ones that I do including my cousin’s girlfriend, loves comic books and it would not take her too much buy these stamps. In other words, I do not like to take things for granted. I once collected stamps but I do not see it as a male activity. Thus just to have comic books and stamps gain an appeal enough to attract over 70 million to buy them. Unless there is evidence to prove otherwise, it is not enough to stereotype stamps as being a male thing.

Lastly, escapism is also evident in the artifact in that we do not see a real life Batman protecting us and there lies the true legacy of Batman. No matter how awful the situation, whether violence or other crime, in the end, Batman always triumphs. The hope that is offered to every fan or every receiver of this stamp is knowing that the marvels of being human is despite tribulations, there is an enduring quality that if one stayed true to the principals of the upright citizen, evil will never triumph. Or that we hope we have a guardian knight running like in the stamp, to save us.