I was listening to that beautiful main theme from the soundtrack of “The Godfather” film when this all occurred to me: parallels with the Bat family. However, I’m limiting my discussion to Bruce, Dick, Jason, and Tim (and maybe a teeny bit of Damian) since they’re the only ones I can relate The Godfather characters with at this point. So, here goes.  

I vaguely remember a quote about how none of sons were the father, but each of them had a characteristic that reflected their father. It had something to do with Vito Corleone, but it seems to be very appropriate with Bruce Wayne, as well. 

None of the Robins (much less anyone outside the Bat family) could ever really replace Bruce as Batman because, well, Bruce’s Batman is the definitive Batman (in my opinion, at least). All his strengths, all his flaws… they’re all very… Bruce. Does that make sense? Regardless of whoever dons the cowl in Bruce’s absence, he/she will always be doing it in homage to him.     

But, having said that, each of the Robins has a special trait that they share with Bruce – whether or not it was something they learned from him. I’m fondly reminded of that set of panels from the Robin War story arc where Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damian tell the civilian Robins-in-training the most valuable trait of being a Robin according to the Batman. And, interestingly (I’m pretty sure, not coincidentally), each of them spoke of a trait that reflected Bruce’s Batman and the specific Robin concerned.  

Anyways. Naturally, I start with the fathers:

Bruce as Vito Corleone:

For all his sins and flaws, Vito is revered as a character, both by his fellow characters and the audience. Perhaps it has something to do with his brilliant on-screen portrayal by Marlon Brando? Regardless, we find it in ourselves to revere him because he’s sympathetic. We know that he’s a criminal, a cold-blooded murderer, a thief, yet we romanticize him because we’re given glimpses into his most vulnerable moments: his home life, his struggle to be a lesser evil, his orphaning, etc., etc. He witnessed his mother murdered by a merciless mafioso in front of him at a very young age, leaving him an orphan and prompting him to escape a life of poverty and into the United States. 

Familiar scenario? I guess I don’t have to go into detail about what Bruce has been through (except, he wasn’t born into poverty and had a generally happy childhood before the Crime Alley event, of course).

The main difference, I suppose, is that while Vito used crime to right the wrongs in his life, Bruce wanted to break the vicious cycle.       

As fathers, both of them want to protect their children from the chaos in their individual crusades. They built empires so that their children would have better lives than they did growing up, but at the risk of exposing them to the behind-the-scenes reality and enticing them to join in. Vito wanted his youngest (and most promising) son, Michael, to steer clear of the “family business”. Bruce trained Robin so that he wouldn’t become like him, consumed by darkness; he wanted his kids to be able to channel their frustration in positive and productive ways (leave the extravagant-ness of his methods to fiction, though).

Also, both are tired old men, jaded by experience, but refusing to pass on the mantle to their children just yet.  

Dick as Sonny Corleone:

The eldest. The most obvious heir to the family business. Chatty. Very, very protective of his family. Can get very emotional, and will be extra aggressive when angered.  

Jason as Fredo Corleone:

The second son. Willing to do shady/underground dealings to expand the family’s (and his personal) empire. Master manipulator. Has a history of betraying his family.

Tim as Michael Corleone:

The third son. Seemingly weak at first. The most introverted. Brains before brawn. Has the closest temperament to the father. Was initially the most sheltered one, as two older brothers had already gone deep into the “family business”. Eventually takes over the empire. 

Damian as the unborn child in Kay’s womb??? Or, we could go with an aged Damian holding his pet, Alfred Pennyworth *wink wink*: