Reflections

By Michael Gilroy

Holy Childhood Memories Batman!

Most kids believed in Santa Claus. Me? I believed in Batman. From the first time I

saw Adam West running around in a Bat-suit when I was three years old, to last month’s

Batman #686, I have been addicted to the Dark Knight and his exploits.

For the uninitiated: After the tragic death of his parents, millionaire playboy Bruce

Wayne (alongside his youthful ward, Dick Grayson) trained his body and mind to perfection,

he now fights for truth and justice as the caped crusader, Batman!

The camp and comedy of the 1966 Batman TV Show was completely lost on me as a

youngster. When I went back and watched my old VHS tapes, I didn’t know whether to

laugh or cry at the absurdity of my childhood obsession. However, I think the show’s

campiness is one of the chief reasons that the show resonated so strongly with me as a

child. In the 60’s series (which I watched in reruns), Batman and Robin would typically get

themselves in a seemingly inescapable deathtrap. Half the episodes would end with a

cliffhanger, with the narrator exclaiming something like:

"How can [Batman & Robin] live? Will they be vanquished by a vacuum? Tune in tomorrow

night! Same Bat-time, Same Bat-Channel1!”

However, no matter how impossible the odds, Batman and Robin would always make their

escape. Batman was capable of anything, because he always used his brain. He would

always be prepared for the strangest situations thanks to the gadgets he carried around in

1 Batman Episode 33, Fine Finny Fiends

his utility belt, such as the time he defeated an exploding shark with his shark repellent bat-

spray. After making his daring escape, Batman would always catch the villain. It didn’t

matter if the bad guys wanted to take over the world or cheat to become the greatest surfer

in Gotham City; if they were on the wrong side of the law then Batman was going to stop

them. That sort of message was comforting to me as a child. Good guys always win. Evil

never prospers. Bad guys are easily identifiable by their garish costumes and maniacal

laughter. The heroes are always stalwart, honest, and polite. It was a black and white

simplistic view of the world, while at the same time it was bright and hopeful. It was a

happy place full of action, adventure, and onomatopoeia special effects. Believing in

Batman, or at least the principals he stood for, made me feel safer. I had a rough childhood,

but with Batman as my guide I felt like I could be a strong hero and beat the bad guy just

like he did every week. After all, heroes always come out on top.

Batman also taught me a lot about civics, although I didn’t realize it at the time. On

the 1960’s TV show, Batman is a duly deputized agent of the law. He constantly reminds

people of their civic duties and responsibilities as good citizens. His words of wisdom also

include good manners, and safety tips. Batman is also conscious of himself as a citizen, and

his role as the city’s top crime-fighter.

As a kid I learned a lot of important life lessons from Batman in the form of Adam

West and the animated Superfriends TV series. As an adult, Batman still resonates with me

but fills different emotional needs. As I re-watched the old episodes I couldn’t help but

laugh. The campiness and the situations are so ridiculous and the actors’ performances are

very tongue-in-cheek; I understand why this show was a 60’s phenomenon. A part of me

remembers what it was like as a kid, and that just adds to my enjoyment. It would be nice if

things really were like Gotham City, but the contrast of Batman’s “perfect” world compared

to ours is humorous.

Batman is a unique character. He has had a presence in American pop-culture since

the 1930’s, which continues into today. This is unique for a fictional character. I highly

doubt Sponge Bob will even be remembered in 2070. Since Batman is generational, he has

to evolve with the times. I am lucky to have been able to evolve with him. Batman

challenged me intellectually and comforted me emotionally as Adam West when I was a

kid. Today, Christian Bale in The Dark Knight does the same. As a kid, Batman confronted

the greatest evil imaginable when he foiled the Joker’s plot to pay kids to drop out of school

and create a generation of hoodlums. In The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger’s Joker is out to

destroy the lives of Batman, Commissioner Gordon, and District Attorney Harvey Dent,

while hatching a series of attacks designed to create anarchy and the downfall of society.

Both of these incarnations told the story of a hero facing insurmountable evil and defeating

it without compromising his heroic integrity. This is an allegory for the tough times in

anyone’s life. Batman in his many forms has filled my emotional and intellectual needs

throughout my entire development.

Although Batman has fueled my development, I cannot in good conscience

recommend The Dark Knight to children. However, reruns of the 1960’s series have held

up remarkably well over the years. Most shows over 40 years old have the unintended

effect of coming off cheesy and campy when viewed today. Luckily for the Batman series, it

was intentionally cheesy. The technology and sophistication gap that affect other old TV

shows only add to the wonderful campiness of the series. I have no doubt that this show

could fill the same needs for today’s generation. Of course, there are other incarnations of

Batman suitable for kids such as the animated adventures. The new cartoon, Batman the

Brave and the Bold, has Batman teaming up with a different superhero every episode. The

series emphasizes friendship, respect, and accepting the differences of others. This show is

intentionally made for kids, and harkens back to a lighter Batman. As evidenced by every

toy aisle in America, Batman still makes a strong impression on today’s kids.

My evaluation of Batman is that he remains a powerful character in American

popular culture. He has the kind of appeal that attracts people of all ages. It is entirely

conceivable to have three generations in a single room all talking about “their” Batman and

the role he played in their childhood and into their present lives. The 1960’s series in

particular, much to the chagrin of fans who only like the dark and serious Batman, is an

especially long lasting element in our culture. No matter how much money or how many

awards The Dark Knight wins, the headlines that report it will always start with “Holy Sales

Records, Batman!” There is a reason for this. Batman represents the ultimate good guy.

He fills the need for adventure, while standing up for morality. He is polite and he obeys

the law to the letter. The fact that he can do just about anything, and find a way even out of

the most impossible (not to mention ridiculous) situations by being smart and planning

ahead is inspiring. The 1960’s Batman was a commentary on a bygone era where there

was a clear and definitive line between good and bad. The simple Gotham City of the

1960’s is an ideal society where crime is literally surreal and ridiculous. People will always

be attracted to that kind of world, even if it’s only to get a good laugh. Batman teaches the

difference of right and wrong, and inspires generation after generation to be kind, humble,

polite, smart, strong and civically responsible.