For those unfamiliar with the Batman mythos outside of the films (with or without bias in favor of a competing comic universe), or even some intimately acquainted with it, Bruce’s 360-degree change in attitude towards Clark during the culmination of their one-on-one in “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” at the mention of “Martha” (both their mothers’ name) may seem ludicrous – that a mere mention of a name could end the most anticipated battle between two of the most iconic superheroes of all time on the big screen. Disappointing, right?
But to lambaste Zack Snyder and the rest of the cast and crew for letting that happen is to ignore 75 years worth of reasons that make Bruce and Clark iconic, at the forefront of which is their love for their respective families juxtaposed with their orphaning.
I’ve only recently immersed myself in comic books, specifically in the DC Universe, particularly on the Justice League and the so-called Bat Family and their related titles. At the moment, I can hardly focus on any other family than Batman’s. I… I love them, especially Bruce, Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian, and Alfred. They feel like a home away from home sometimes. Like they could be living under your roof. (Anyways. I digress.)
And while almost 100% of what I’m reading from cover-to-cover are from the Modern Age, I’ve done a bit of research on the Golden, Silver, and Bronze ages, including alternate universes and timelines.
If one thing is consistent, it’s that Thomas and Martha Wayne’s death in Crime Alley basically created Batman. Apart from the Flashpoint Paradox where roles are reversed (Thomas becomes Batman in response to his son’s death), this seems to be a DC universal constant. How many writers have taken over the mantle of recreating Bruce Wayne since Bill Finger and Bob Kane introduced him? Bruce has come to have multiple titles (Detective Comics, Batman, etc.) since then, but he remains driven to be Gotham’s protector by that night, albeit an altered detail here and there.
The writers basically rub it in our faces time and time again: if Thomas and Martha Wayne lived, perhaps there would be no Batman, no Dynamic duo, no international crime-fighting enterprise known as Batman, Inc. The trauma of seeing those precious pearls drop to the ground on that fateful night turned a child into a legend of the night.
Clearly not everybody copes the way Bruce does. His “children” were orphans, too. They each dealt with the darkness their own way, yet none of them matched Bruce’s obsessive nature, his channeling of practically his entire being and all of his resources towards an endless pursuit of justice.
So, yeah. Bruce Wayne coped differently, end of story. As a fictional character, he can afford that much exaggeration and extravagance.
The version of Bruce Wayne that we meet in the film is reminiscent of Frank Miller’s version of the Dark Knight – older, more jaded, still wary of anyone who poses a threat to Gotham. He’s definitely been through too much to be surprised by much anymore. Yet the one thing that can throw him off is his one vulnerability: his parents.
When Clark choked out “Martha” in that scene, he and Bruce weren’t yet the best friends – BEST FRIENDS – they are in comic book canon. They were strangers, and in Bruce’s mind, enemies: Clark was an overpowered alien, a threat to the planet that had to be stopped. They hadn’t yet discussed personal histories or shared tragedies.
Given this context, imagine the wheels in Bruce’s mind stopped dead in their tracks when this ALIEN, this THREAT, utters that name. (Imagine you were Batman and you overhear a stranger mention your ex’s name, which happens to be “Martha”. You had a bad break-up, so this at least makes you cringe, right?)
Bruce is a man who isn’t fazed by his mortality, with a reputation among the JLA and his own family for rarely showing emotion. A man without superpowers, yet near-invincible due to his brilliance and sheer willpower.
Kryptonite is to Clark, as a death of a loved one is to Bruce. They each have one major weakness, it seems.
So, maybe “Martha” wasn’t so far-fetched, after all? Maybe a three-hour movie simply couldn’t just convey the depth of “Martha” to everyone’s liking?
I loved the film so much that I watched it twice – once alone – during its opening week. I felt that almost every aspect was on point, with some acceptable re-imaginings for the sake of telling a story on the big screen. Most of all, it felt very… DC. Very Bruce. Very Clark. In the Modern Age, at least. It wasn’t pretending to be anything else.
I made this post because I was thinking about that whole “Why did you say that name???” spiel, when I vaguely recalled reading “Bruce was traumatized as a chlid” or something to that effect. So, yeah.
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