Is not liking Batman a crime?

[Flutterguy]

No, but posting "self glorifying aren't I special hipster shit" is.

Well sometimes I wish it was.

 

[twistedmic]

I hate batman. There. I said it. Okay, maybe not hate, but I'm not a fan in any way.

Look, I know it's an unpopular opinion, and no it's not because I'm a hipster. I just think that Batman is just such a downer emo rich-boy. Yes, your parents got killed, we get it. And there's really not much more you can do with him. He's quite one-dimensional to me and he doesn't need to have a personality because angsty brooding seems to be enough.

First of all, it wasn't just that his parents were killed. They were murdered right in front of him, and in several versions (at least) Bruce and his parents were there because Bruce either wanted to go to the theater/movies or leave early. So he undoubtedly has survivor's quilt and most likely blames himself for their deaths.
Secondly, Bruce's tendency to brood and angst is somewhat justified, given what he has gone through both before and after becoming Batman and doesn't, in my mind, make him an 'emo'.

 

[RJ 17]

Of course it's a crime! And that's exactly why Batman's going to track you down and put his Bat-boot in your face!

Just kidding, of course.

No, it's not a crime to not like Batman. Just like it's not a crime to say you don't like Halo, or CoD, or WoW, or anything else. Each person has their individual tastes and quite honestly there's just as much reason to not like Batman for the haters as their are reasons to like him for the worshippers. As I said: it's all about individual tastes.

Incidentally, that's why I don't believe in reading/watching reviews on movies/games...the only thing that differentiates a critic from any other random jackass on the internet is that the critic gets paid to express their opinion, while all the random jackasses give it freely. That's why I think it's better to make up your own mind and not listen to others. You know what you like and you know what you don't like. If you don't like Batman, well there you go. Who cares what anyone else has to say about the matter? You already know that you don't like him.

Why are people so religiously devoted to this completely overdone character? I don't get the appeal, and I fear I never will.

As for his appeal, it's because he's overpowered and because he's a ninja. He's overpowered in that "I've always got a plan" way. He always knows the weaknesses to any enemy he goes up against and that's why he always wins. Batman really is just Goth-Superman. Superman's power is that he's omnipotent...there was a time in his story line where writers would literally just make up super powers as they went along. I'm not huge into comics to begin with, but I've got a friend who is and apparently there's an instance of Superman grabbing the fabric of reality and pulling the frickin' galaxy to move it through space. THE ENTIRE GALAXY. I don't know if that's true or not - again, I don't read comics - but I honestly wouldn't put it past Superman.

Now I'd call that pretty damn overpowered. And yet Batman is STILL more overpowered than that, seeing as how there's apparently a storyline in which Batman singlehandedly defeats the entire frickin' Justice League. Why? Because he's Batman, he always has a plan.

So yeah, he's more overpowered than a character designed specifically to be stupidly overpowered. And some people like that in their hero. Sure he's got the personality of a rock, but his plans are just amazing to behold! (not my thoughts, just the thoughts of the people that are fanatically devoted to him)

Then there's the "villains" argument, it goes along with what you said about liking Joker better in Dark Knight. Most people would agree that out of all the superheroes in all the comics - Marvel or DC - Batman's list of villains is by far the best. That is, they're by far the most entertaining villains. Their motives are fun, their personalities are great, and most would say that they're far better characters than Batman himself. So if it's the villains that make the hero, then it's no wonder why so many people love Batman.

As for my own opinion, I don't have a fanatical devotion to him. I will say that I really love the Arkham games because I think that, as far as comic-book games go, they're the best example in REALLY making you feel like you're the character. But other than that, eh, the movies are fun...sometimes. As I said I don't read the comics. To me he's just another source of entertainment, though I wouldn't say he's my favorite super hero. Truth be told, I don't think I have a favorite super hero.

 

[Drake the Dragonheart]

Of course not. Why we have the phrase, "To each his own." Like or dislike whatever you please.

It is to Batman...

Spoiler: RUN!

...Honestly, no - you're entitled to your opinions and no-one else has the right to say otherwise... except Batman... wait...

Though apparently OP, you have made yourself a very powerful enemy. Be careful!

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

However, if you try to make him dark and gritty you have to deal with the fact that he's a grown ass man who chooses to dress up like a bat, in tights and cape no less, and run around the streets fighting criminals with bat themed gadgets.

You have that problem with every single superhero though. Batman isn't significantly sillier than any other DC or Marvel superhero that I can think off, and in fact is less silly than quite a few. You can level the same criticism of silliness on Captain America, the Fantastic 4, Superman, Spiderman, the X-men, and pretty much any other superhero. All superheros are silly, just look at their damn costumes.

Batman's universe isn't our universe, in the context of his world it's not as silly and bizarre. It's just one of those things you have to accept about comic books as a whole.

 

[w9496]

I'm not a huge Batman fan either. The way he's set up means that you'll never see him lose to anybody. Ever.

He's always got some bullshit spray can of bad-guy vanquisher in his belt, and could beat up the mutant creation of Mike Tyson, Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee and Andre the Giant.

 

[Fox12]

I hate batman. There. I said it. Okay, maybe not hate, but I'm not a fan in any way.

Look, I know it's an unpopular opinion, and no it's not because I'm a hipster. I just think that Batman is just such a downer emo rich-boy. Yes, your parents got killed, we get it. And there's really not much more you can do with him. He's quite one-dimensional to me and he doesn't need to have a personality because angsty brooding seems to be enough. Not to mention he's super rich and gets everything handed to him. So without his money it's easy to imagine him just staring at the walls, doing nothing. I know there are many different takes on the character but there's so little variation. Like the Dark knight movie, I only liked the Joker. I think I have more fun watching Adam West batman from the 60's or even that Batman and Robin movie. At least those things don't take themselves so excruciatingly seriously.

But I will admit that the Arkham games are pretty good. But that's the gameplay, not the character or the story.

And it seems that whenever I tell someone I don't like batman, I get bombarded with reasons why I'm supposed to "love" it, and how great the movies are, and that the comics are awesome, that I'm an idiot, and yada-yada.. Especially when I tell them I'm more of an Aquaman fan in the same breath.

Why are people so religiously devoted to this completely overdone character? I don't get the appeal, and I fear I never will. I mean, I like things others don't and what's the point in 'converting' someone to your likes?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go turn in my geek badge.

If he wasn't rich, I think he'd basically be Rorschach, minus the ultra conservatism. I think it's a stretch to say he's one dimensional though, it just depends on who the writer is. He's pretty interesting in The Killing Joke, since the whole point of the book was to point out the similarities between the two characters. It was the first book to acknowledge that Batman is basically just as crazy as everyone else. He's got deep rooted psychological problems. His lifestyle is not healthy, something the Batman Beyond series was happy to point out. The real world darkness he has to deal with, the psychological nature of both him and his enemies, and the fact that his opponents are usually all tragic in themselves, makes the Batman universe much more interesting to explore.

He was also quite good in the animated universe. My favorite scene was probably this one:


His characterization is very subtle, because he doesn't show any emotion, but it's there. Of course, if you know anything about the character, you know that the dog he later adopts dog is named Ace, a fact that the show lets you figure out for yourself. This shows that, even though he doesn't act like it, he cares more about other people than anyone else. In a sense the way his words say one thing and his actions say another. The reason he doe what he does is because he wants to stop other people from experiencing what he felt. There's also a psychological aspect to his parents murder, other than it being traumatizing. Feeling as utterly weak and powerless as he did in that moment made him, I think, fixate on being as lethal as possible.

You're certainly welcomed to your opinion, but I don't think he's necessarily one dimensional. In the right hands he's very complex.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I'm not a huge Batman fan either. The way he's set up means that you'll never see him lose to anybody. Ever.

Really? Cuz

Spoiler

Bane kicks Batman's ass pretty hard in the comic books.

Joker kills Jason Todd, which essentially amounts to Batman losing.

I'm guessing you also never read Heart of Hush or Batman R.I.P, in which I assure you, Batman doesn't do a whole lot of winning.

In fact, Batman losing in the comic books really isn't at all unheard of. Usually some new villain will appear, or an old villain will have a new ability or weapon or something that Batman doesn't see coming, and Batman loses the fight, barely getting out alive, and beats the villain at a later time once he's figured out how to deal with them.

Few writers have Batman winning all the time on the first try. He's only human after all.

 

[w9496]

I'm not a huge Batman fan either. The way he's set up means that you'll never see him lose to anybody. Ever.

Really? Cuz

Spoiler

Bane kicks Batman's ass pretty hard in the comic books.

Joker kills Jason Todd, which essentially amounts to Batman losing.

I'm guessing you also never read Heart of Hush or Batman R.I.P, in which I assure you, Batman doesn't do a whole lot of winning.

In fact, Batman losing in the comic books really isn't at all unheard of. Usually some new villain will appear, or an old villain will have a new ability or weapon or something that Batman doesn't see coming, and Batman loses the fight, barely getting out alive, and beats the villain at a later time once he's figured out how to deal with them.

Few writers have Batman winning all the time on the first try. He's only human after all.

Hey, I never claimed to be an expert on Batman. That was more or less how I perceive him, although I admit much of my opinion is based on what people tell me.

Maybe it's not so much the character Batman, but rather his uber-fans that bother the hell out of me.

 

[Chaos Isaac]

I dislike him because he has a continuity. He doesn't seem to actually do anything besides... get more villains to mess up Gotham Streets. I personally would love a storyline where he kills the Joker, but has it so one of the previous Robins takes up the Cowl, brings him in for murder, and lives his sentence.

Seriously, how many people are harmed or killed when all that happens is that they go back to the asylum or something. That was something I liked about the Red Hood, until the ending screwed it up in about a gillion different ways.

In something like the Nolan movies, where it starts out a shithole, then becomes a bit better, and is finally a decent place in the third movie, where it shoes some good in what he's doing, then I can like Batman. Or, you know, super heroes in general.

 

[Kenbo Slice]

I like Batman, but I hate Batman fanboys that think Batman can defeat anybody, because he's Batman. They always pull the "he's always prepared" bullshit and you know what? Sometimes being prepared isn't enough. Then they pull the "Well if he had more time to prepare" card and that one is still bullshit.

 

[Olas]

However, if you try to make him dark and gritty you have to deal with the fact that he's a grown ass man who chooses to dress up like a bat, in tights and cape no less, and run around the streets fighting criminals with bat themed gadgets.

You have that problem with every single superhero though. Batman isn't significantly sillier than any other DC or Marvel superhero that I can think off, and in fact is less silly than quite a few. You can level the same criticism of silliness on Captain America, the Fantastic 4, Superman, Spiderman, the X-men, and pretty much any other superhero. All superheros are silly, just look at their damn costumes.

Batman's universe isn't our universe, in the context of his world it's not as silly and bizarre. It's just one of those things you have to accept about comic books as a whole.

But nobody looks at Captain America and thinks "there's a badass" or at least nobody I know does. He's basically representative of the starry eyed patriotism of the mid-twentieth century in all its goofy glory. I'll admit I'm not an expert on him, or superheroes in general, but it seems like his silliness doesn't conflict with his persona because it kinda IS his persona.

The Fantastic Four just wear generic blue uniforms, they're not modeled after an animal or any random theme, and considering they're a coordinated team of people, it makes sense that they'd wear some sort of similar uniform.

Superman's outfit is basically perfect for what he is and what he represents. It's big and bright and unapologetic. His theme is that he's super, and he is super. It would be silly for a normal person to dress like Superman, but Superman isn't normal, he's not even human. And his outfit isn't even something he chose, it was basically chosen for him.

Spiderman, well, Spiderman is very silly yes. At least his outfit isn't designed to intimidate, and Spiderman is generally much less serious in tone than Batman anyway, often cracking jokes while fighting crime. I assume the venom suit was created to make him look less silly, and I think it works to some extent.

X-Men, well again basically same story as FF. It also seems like their specific outfits are less critical to them than Batman's is to him. It's not Wolverine is always staying dedicated to the dress code.

Most, though not all, superheroes have some similar reason why their outfits don't seem so absurd to me. Of course this is all very subjective so you can disagree. I just think batman is a particularly bad case of a superhero failing to make his intended image work.

 

[Xenedus]

I like Batman, but I hate Batman fanboys that think Batman can defeat anybody, because he's Batman. They always pull the "he's always prepared" bullshit and you know what? Sometimes being prepared isn't enough. Then they pull the "Well if he had more time to prepare" card and that one is still bullshit.

Most people you match Batman up against have a weakness and Batman keeps files on all of them. There are a few characters who are uber powerful who could probably beat Batman even if he prepared but part of the reason Batman still "Wins" in those situations is he knows when he needs to call in assistance. (for the most part)

As for me I'd say that I like Batman but I like his supporting cast much more. Batman for me has always been a bit dull mainly because he is just too good at his job so it makes it a little bit boring to read. I have much more fun reading about Nightwing or Red Robin because as less celebrity characters they don't HAVE to win every engagement.

The reason I like Batman(esque) characters is I like reading about characters who are not super powerful taking on characters who are technically more powerful than they are and making the more powerful characters afraid of them. For the most part it's more interesting reading about a competent weak powered individual than it is reading about an incompetent strong character.

 

[Littaly]

Yes, it is a crime. Reported.

No need, the Batman will bring swift justice to him.

Seriously though, not liking <insert pop-cultre phenomenon of choice> is never , why is it taking so long for people to understand that?

 

[Athinira]

Think of it this way: if it was a crime, you'd be rotting away in Arkham right now! ;-)

 

[Xenedus]

One thing that I find interesting about Batman comics is how they go into how the Hero's presence changes crime. A lot of comic series just have the good guy beat up the bad guys and call it a day but the Batman comics like to point out how a lot of these super villains are arising and coming to prominence because of Batman and people like him.

 

[Guffe]

I'm going to answer you Topic Headline:

No it's not a crime, because that would imply you breaking the law. Not liking a comic book character is not against the law.

Then to, maybe, the actual question at hand:

If you don't like a character, be that character real, made up, popular, historical etc. is your opinion. If you don't like him, then you don't. You have your reasons for it, no harm done.

 

[Sandjube]

I just dislike superheroes in general, I guess. They're like supernatural fantasy stories, but slightly worse.

 

[Soxafloppin]

I think its more Batman fans are more annoying to be honest.

They are very defensive/touchy especially in vs threads.

 

[Bug MuIdoon]

Nope, not a fan of any superhero films, cartoons, comics or games really. It kind of makes at least 80% of this website hard to look at sometimes when that's all that the majority seem to talk about...

I don't mind the old Adam West batman, as it's funny. Batman Returns was alright, but mainly because of Danny DeVito (and Michelle Pfeiffer in that costume..)
Batman Forever was watchable, but only for Jim Carrey's performance and The Dark Knight is an OK film but I like it because it's more like a decent gangster film than a 'superhero' thing, and Heath Ledger is pretty good in it.

Arkham Asylum was also a decent game, but it was the gameplay that made it good - not because it was Batman.