RASQACHEPEDIA: BATMAN

RASQACHEPEDIA: BATMAN

For the first entry of Rasqachepedia I thought it was important to use a fictional character in order to demonstrate how fiction impacts our real lives and what we get out of it. Rasqachepedia is not about facts or statistics, but more about discussing figures - artists, leaders, & legends.

Batman is truly a legend, who's story has been passed down and retold over and over from writer to illustrator to reader, reincarnating in films and video games, inspiring an increasing fan base as his legend grows and evolves. Bit it's never been about the permutations, or his popular, yet rather silly villain ensemble. It's always been about the man behind the cowl, Bruce Wayne. Outsiders are too caught up in whether he's wearing black rubber or gray spandex, & it's no one's business if he's having an affair with Robin. The legend of Batman is about a man who lost everything that mattered to him, but got back on his feet to dedicate everything he had left to one cause: defending the lives of the people of his city.

Batman is a man with total conviction, a quality that is universally admirable. He is willing to sacrifice his own life to save even the lives of the terrorist criminals that plague him. Batman's strength lies not in his gadgets or above average physical abilities, but in his pure will power. He has nothing to gain and everything to lose. The combination of a childlike sense of compassion and a cloud free sense of judgement is what allows him to act without hesitation and do what is necessary. This focus empowers him to utilize his strength, intelligence, speed, agility, and instruments to the greatest of his abilities. 

Despite all the crime in Gotham, Batman's real battle is with his own pain, a constant struggle to transform his profound angst into legendary actions. No amount of good deeds will ever erase the sorrow he feels from the loss of his parents. His stunted emotional growth subtly pushes the reader to feel sorry for him,  rather than recognize his sociopath activities. For the sake of the story, we forgive him for running around hospitalizing thugs and criminals instead of getting over the trauma like anybody else. Instead we are enthralled as we watch him go deeper, only to rise to new heights. As long as Batman's pain transcends into justice, fans will continue to be inspired by his struggles and sacrifices to do what is right.