Batman on the shrink's couch

[Panther]

Hi, my pysch profeser assigned my class a paper where we have to analyze the personality of someone famous - real or fictional. So, I decided to do Batman! Can anyone point me in the right direction of anything that's been done on the subject of what's going on in Batman's head? I pretty sure this has been discussed before - does anyone remember in which threads exaclty?

I would love any and all imput on the subject of just how crazy Batman is.

Thanks!!

[MattL.]

I do not believe in the Frank Miller school of thought that Batmans crazy. I think its a cheap and stupid out for explaining the character, the costume, and his motivations.

He's haunted by his demons certainally, and he's unorthadox in the way he chooses the execute his mission. But he is not crazy and thats what seperates him from the villans he fights and a big part of why they always lose. The only villan who truly realizes this is the Joker. Which is why the Joker, in a phrase wants to make Batman "laugh".

Also, in the context of *our* world Batman may be viewed as insane, but in the world setting in which he exists, his response is not that out of context.

This isn't reality tv, this is Batman. (thank god).

[Crimson]

Hi, my pysch profeser assigned my class a paper where we have to analyze the personality of someone famous - real or fictional. So, I decided to do Batman!

I Googled "psychoanalysis of Batman" to see what I would come up with. This was the first result:

PSYCHOANALYSIS OF [...] Batman Billionaire living with a non-family member young male named "Robin" who he forces to dress like a bird. His main hobby is to go out at night wearing a black cape and tights and constantly get into violent fights. Every time a woman tries to approach him, he pushes her away 'cause he has to keep his "identity" a secret. Psychological profile: Homosexual, with multiple personalities and sadomasochistic tendencies.

D'ohh!!

[jadrax]

[QUOTE=Panther]Hi, my pysch profeser assigned my class a paper where we have to analyze the personality of someone famous - real or fictional. So, I decided to do Batman! [QUOTE]Are you doing all versions of batman or just the animated one, they can be quite different.

[Jedigreedo]

He should be considered sane as long as he doesn't walk in, in costume humming a happy tune saying it's to keep the bad man outta his head.

[Crow]

I watched Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked the other day, at least I think that is what it was called. Keith David narrated, and Miller was on there. He seemed extremely holier-than-thou.

Bruce Wayne made a promise to his parents to not really 'avenge' their death, but prevent the same kind of hurt and anguish he experienced, by losing them. Of course he almost walked away from this if you watch Phantasm - but again the spectre of crime and brutality put him back on the 'trail' as it were.

The suit of course is to strike fear into his prey and make sure he gets word of mouth in the underworld. He has trusted friends and colleagues in his butler and the Commissioner of Police; who in many ways are his anchor to the good guys side.

He is fulfilling his innate paternal instincts by taking in other children hurt the same way as he, and strengthening and revitalising them. After time, he has become Gotham's special protector. Sure, the cops don't see him as all that great, but like Sherlock Holmes for example he's going to be always there, doing what he does.

[MattL.]

"PSYCHOANALYSIS OF [...] Batman Billionaire living with a non-family member young male named "Robin" who he forces to dress like a bird. His main hobby is to go out at night wearing a black cape and tights and constantly get into violent fights. Every time a woman tries to approach him, he pushes her away 'cause he has to keep his "identity" a secret. Psychological profile: Homosexual, with multiple personalities and sadomasochistic tendencies."


This is pure BS and it shows that the person who wrote that "analysis" of Batman knows jacksquat about him. First of all, he has never **forced** Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, or Tim Drake to do anything least of all their costume.

Obviously this person is prolly coming from the same Vulcanlike school of thought as Alex Ross when he says "Robin is not the logical choice he would make". Yes it isn't logical. Its emotional, its part of the character. Bruce saw a reflection of himself in Dick Grayson and knew damn good and well that this was something he was going to do anyway because the boys determination was equal to the what he had as boy. The costume was never *forced* upon Dick Grayson as he wore those colors to honor his parents. Again, not a logical choice but an emotional one. Thats what makes it intresting.

Also the whole stupid homosexual accusations really get under my skin. Not out of homophobia, but for one simple reason. Dick Grayson was a kid, the homosexual would then make Batman a child molester which is totally wrong. I really hate the idea of taking one of the most intresting father/son type relationships in comics and fiction and having cynical pinheads turn it into something its not.

"multiple personalities" what part of a secret identity in the context of a superhero story does this frigtard not understand?

[Mister Intensity]

Anyone attempting a psychoanalysis of Batman should find a copy of The Batman Encyclopedia. Even though it deals mostly with the pre-1970 incarnation of the character, it does have a really comprehensive personality profile that gives you a strong sense of the character. The only problem is that a book is hard to find but if you find it you'll have everything you need.

Mister Intensity

[Eddie G.]

Batman isn't insane, not really. He just has a lot of issues, he's probably a sociopath. My favorite take on Batman's mentality is in the The Killing Joke, where Batman is practically refered as a lunatic. And in the end he might be as insane as the Joker. But this makes no difference to me because despite what is really going on his head... he's still a hero.

Oh, and like mentioned before, The Killing Joke is a good book to get inside Batman and the Joker's heads. It's a short and cheap read.

[Crimson]

This is pure BS and it shows that the person who wrote that "analysis" of Batman knows jacksquat about him.

Uhh ... that entire "psychoanalysis" was taken from a site that is pure satire; it just happened to be the first Googled result. Perhaps I should I labeled, but I assumed people would take it as such.

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

Uhh ... that entire "psychoanalysis" was taken from a site that is pure satire; it just happened to be the first Googled result. Perhaps I should I labeled, but I assumed people would take it as such.

The problem is that the satire presented was pretty much a dead-on accurate quotation of Fredric Wertham's "analysis" of Batman in the infamous "Seduction of the Innocent" from the 1950's, which led to the Comics Code Authority, the death of EC Comics, and a terrifying rise in stupidity for comic books of the period (from which I think they are still recovering, but that's another story). In fact, when I read the quote, I figured your Google search just returned a summary of Wertham.

The essay I link to analyzes Wertham's analysis, and was written by TZ's "The Old Maid." Definitely worth your time to read, BTW.

While the site you originally quoted might present itself as satire, there are enough nutjobs, crackpots, big-time weirdos, and tin-foil-hat-wearing conspiracy theory wackos out there that you really never can tell.

-- Ed/Ace

[BeastBoyWonder]

Howdy,



The problem is that the satire presented was pretty much a dead-on accurate quotation of Fredric Wertham's "analysis" of Batman in the infamous "Seduction of the Innocent" from the 1950's, which led to the Comics Code Authority, the death of EC Comics, and a terrifying rise in stupidity for comic books of the period (from which I think they are still recovering, but that's another story). In fact, when I read the quote, I figured your Google search just returned a summary of Wertham.

The essay I link to analyzes Wertham's analysis, and was written by TZ's "The Old Maid." Definitely worth your time to read, BTW.

While the site you originally quoted might present itself as satire, there are enough nutjobs, crackpots, big-time weirdos, and tin-foil-hat-wearing conspiracy theory wackos out there that you really never can tell.

-- Ed/Ace

Yeah, I thought it was referring to a summarization of Wertham or something as well. The Old Maid's essay on Wertham's Ghost is amazing, and you guys should be sure to check out her new rant at World's Finest while you're at it.