Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns not only exemplifies a remarkable introduction into the world of fantasy, but also serves as a reflection the popular culture of society. Batman is a person in conflict with whom they are and the person of whom they ideally would like to be. He is a reflection of popular culture in that he is representative of a specific time in history, not a real history found in books, but a specific period of time that imagination served as the basis of history. It is within this imagination that our desires are projected to create Gotham City, but also mirroring how society functions today. It reflects society in that crime exists and breaks the laws of the land, so it takes the will of a person who has experienced crime first-hand to save the community (Batman) or to help perpetrate it (Harvey Dent). This signifies how society can shape a person. What makes Miller's version of this superhero so unique is the way he portrays the inner conflict of Bruce Wayne, not just exemplifying the inner dichotomy of Bruce through words, but also through mere illustrations devoid of language. By doing so, we discover Batman's real motives for being the crime-fighting superhero that he is: he is a character driven not by duty, but rather resentment from his past. He thus is not a progressive character, but rather stagnant in his desires for they will never be fulfilled and continue without ever having a specific purpose. Bruce Wayne is driven by revenge, but even though this act may seem selfish, in turn it benefits society as a whole. Thus Bruce Wayne's actions are considered to be circular in pattern: to get to what he wants (his desire for revenge against criminals) he ultimately touches upon good deeds as a result when his desire for revenge is enacted. But his character's intentions are motivated by an internal factor, rather than external. .
For instance, if Bruce Wayne were interested in fighting crime as a duty, he wouldn't be so focused on himself while walking the streets of Gotham (as shown on page 12).
A Day in the Life of Batman When you think of Batman, you might think of the superhero that wears a cape and a mask, but the Batman in my life is different and much more significant to me. My favorite pet is my hunting dog Batman. ... Batman can do it all. ... Batman is the first dog I let out. ... Batman has a tough, but exciting life. ...
Andy Medhurst didn't write his essay Batman, Deviance, and Camp as a die hard Batman fan. ... Batman's character progressively was perceived as less homosexual as time went on. ... In the 1960's, Adam West played the role of Batman. ... In the 1980's Batman was very masculine and he began liking girls. ... The Batman of the eighties had a completely new appearance, far different from the Batman of the sixties. ...
To compliment Batman's strength, he was exceptionally intelligent. ... Batman, or shall I say Bruce Wayne, was smart. ... Batman was the greatest to me and I wanted to be just like him. ... Also a man should have a large amount of money, because Batman did. ... Batman gave me some of my first views on manhood. ...
Unlike "Beowulf," which is an epic poem, Batman was written as a comic book. ... AKA Batman. ... All of these devices help Batman through his crime fighting filled life. ... Batman on the other hand, takes on the image of "Batman" only when the city is in trouble. ... Like Beowulf, Batman is also very intelligent. ...
At high noon, Batman faces Superman. ... Instead, Batman uses force and intimidation to help Gotham. ... Another symbol of masculinity in Batman is the use of guns. ... Batman has an exaggerated jaw yet he still has a small head. ... Perhaps due to his lifestyle, Batman never had children. ...
He will get rid of Batman for half of all of their profits. ... All of their buyers are afraid of the Batman, and regular civilians aren't scared of them anymore. ... The Joker sends a tape to the local news showing himself torturing a young man in a Batman outfit. The film reveals this man was a vigilante pretending to be the Batman that the Joker has now caught. ... Batman and Gordon both decide to keep Harvey's evil deeds in the dark from the public. ...
The evening's entertainment is a Batman movie. The screen shows Batman to be a present-day Beowulf, as he fights villains and makes the city a better place. ... Batman has become an icon rather than an actual person. ... Batman while having his own powers is just as comparable to Superman or Spiderman. ... The names and the faces change but the immortal Batman is recurrent. ...
