h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Batman - Comic Book Hero - A2912988
Author: Hoopy Frood (Scout & Freelance Post Reporter) - U168592

With the Batman Begins film on the horizon thought it was about time I got this into PR. Suggestions welcome
HF

Good, thorough job! So much history to condense down!

I'm not a big Batamn fan, but I think you did a good job keeping the article moving along and not getting too bogged down.

I've actually heard arguements about whether or not Batman is a 'real' superhero, because he doesn't have superpowers! LOL! I don't think it matters .... I mean, he's really more of a crimefighter, right?

Thanks I'm a kinda expert on superhero entries And I've heard that argument too, but define 'super' to me...
HF

My favorite was always Alfred, personally; can't wait to see Michael Caine play him!

So what makes a model a "supermodel"? If Batman wasn't super, he wouldn't still be around, right? Brother Voodoo had powers, but was not super at ALL!

*flicks hair away from eyes* Now if I was an ORDINARY model I couldn't do that with poise and grace and elegance and pfft who am I kdding? Batman's super in the way the The Shadow and The Phantom kind of aren't
HF

Marvellous - a major gap filled here.

Couple of comments:

First paragraph. Kane originally enviaged Batman as an acrobat (hence 'Acro-Batman'), which might be worth mentioning. It explains his original suit (the grey and black), which was based on a standard acrobat outfit of the time.

>> Attacked by a mugger, the Wayne family was robbed of its money and of the lives of two of its members. After two gunshots rang through the darkness young Bruce Wayne knelt by the cooling bodies of his parents, their blood running into the drains and the sewers below. <<


The mugger's name was Joe Chill (not the Joker, as Tim Burton's movie claimed). It's a bit confusing to say that the Wayne family lost their money as it suggests the Wayne family fortune was stolen in one go. Might be clearer to say 'A family night out ended in tragedy when the Waynes were stopped by a mugger. After two gunshots ... "

Looks great to me! Fully formed already.

One minor typo:

Nightwing - When Dick Grayson grew weary of being Robin, the Batman's shadow

To:

Nightwing - When Dick Grayson grew weary of being Robin, Batman's shadow

Ah, cheers for those, will fix it up so it reads better. I'm a little unsure of the histories of BatGirl/BatWoman...any pointers there might be good too
HF

Wow, wonderfully thorough job. I'm more of an Incredible Hulk man myself, but from what I know of the Batman story line, you have hit all the important spots and gotten the details correct.

A minor typo: In the A little 'Knight' reading... section "appearnce" s/b "appearance".

Stylistic observation: You refer to the JLA in the description of the Huntress, but don't say what that is. You might want to spell out the "Justice League of America".

One factual mistake: George Clooney, not Val Kilmer, played Batman in the Batman and Robin movie. (Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy ).

Nice job

AS. Will fix up those boobs
HF

Very comprehensive HF! I can tell you've put a lot of work into this. I'm not sure about the "loner" in Batman though - he has a constant stream of colleagues, allies and proteges under his wing. Although I think you're saying that was the initial intention of Bob Kane, so maybe it just ended up differently from the first intent.

I don't think there's really anything else I would want added to this. Maybe more examples of his gadgets since they were what I used to love about Batman - but I don't think it would be worth adding a lot more at all.

KB. Will twiddle a few more knobs and see if I can mention the Bat-Computer and the Bat-Toothbrush
HF

A few of corrections, concerning the Allies section:

- Batman hasn't really worked much with the Justice Society. It would probably be best to replace that reference with 'Justice League'. He was an honorary member of the Society in the 1940s, but that part of history is non-canonical.

- Batgirl and Batwoman are two entirely different characters (Batwoman is non-canonical, like the first Huntress, and thus probably best not mentioned!). Definitely Batgirl rather than BatGirl as well. Both Barbara Gordon and Cassandra Cain are/were Batgirl rather than Batwoman (and Babs is now Oracle, of course).

- Under Robins, it might be best to make an explicit note that Cassie is the Robin in a possible future story (many readers won't know what The Dark Knight Returns is). There was another Robin briefly last year - Stephanie Brown, a.k.a. the Spoiler - daughter of the villain Cluemaster. She took over when Tim Drake (her boyfriend) briefly stepped down from crimefighting. She was soon fired, though, and later killed by the Black Mask.

It is a great entry, despite my nitpicks.

David - rather a when it comes to DC Comics!

David,
Ah, wondered when you'd pop by! mate, thanks for clearing up my dubious histories on the female mask wearers Will update entry when I can. DC ain't my bag, I'm a Marvel anorak...
HF

- not into DC? Heresy!

If you need clarification on the Batgirls or whatever else, just ask either in this thread or at my personal space.

David

An often forgotten, if minor, part of the origin story comes from a memory that Bruce Wayne had dredged up after becoming Batman.

He later recalled his mother and father attending a costume party, for which the father wore a Bat costume amazingly foreshadowing the costume Bruce would later design (But with longer bat ears).

There was an outbreak of violence (I believe it was an orchestrated robbery) and Bruce's father surprised and foiled the bad guys. (I remember reading the comic from the 1960s, but it's long gone, I'm afraid).

In effect, DC made Bruce the son of a pre-Batman.

Indeed. There are many little titbits that DC have added to the Batman timeline over (and under) the years, so it's a bit much to add them all in. Might footnote that if I can find the comic you're referring to, and if any others have information that think would add to the Entry then chuck 'em my way.
HF

Updated the Entry thanks to some more info from another Researcher (thanks n_sani_t). More ideas welcome, although don't want the Entry to be too long...
HF

Not sure about the subheadings, (the titles). Any other ideas?
HF

I like the subheaders, personally.