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Post by David on Aug 3, 2007 21:53:20 GMT -5
It's always been interesting to me how we view Batman: arguably the biggest badass in comics, and yet he can be defined, to a certain extent, by his sidekicks!
Personally, I've never seen Batman as a parent--- he's way too driven, too messed-up, and frankly too self-aware to make a good (or even decent) father. Besdes, why would he want to be a father to these boys who have had perfectly good fathers (other than the fact that they're dead) to begin with?
This particular aspect of Batman seems to come out quite a bit in fan fiction, so I'd love to hear what everyone else--- but especially our Batfans and Wingnuts!--- think!
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Post by starlord on Aug 3, 2007 22:45:40 GMT -5
Excellent question, and very timely, what with the both Jason Todd and Tim Drake now entering the DC2 Universe.
As you said, everyone has their own take on Batman and his partners. Yes, Bruce is driven, and just a little bit out there, which doesn't make him a great parent, nor do I personally think that he has ever actively sought out that role.
But I also think that there is a small part of Bruce, somewhere in the back of that fractured mind of his, that misses his father so much, the idea of being a "type" of father calls to him. It's not a strong feeling, nor one he is truly conscious of, but it's back there, in the deepest parts of his mind.
It rarely rears its head, but it's there.
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Post by arcalian on Aug 3, 2007 23:53:44 GMT -5
Tries to be a father? No.
Can't help but be a father figure, intentionally or not? Yes.
So I'd have to split my vote between the general and mentor options about evenly.
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Mischief
Staff 
I Sit Upon My Throne As The Guardian & The Keeper Of The Lightning.
Posts: 1,517
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Post by Mischief on Aug 4, 2007 16:21:25 GMT -5
Well I think that Bats is the general. He has so many people that are his allies. Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing, Huntress, Catwoman, Oracle and Azeral before he died. Yes he has a bond with them all in one shape or form, but its still there. Like any genereal who leads his soldiers into battle.
Mischief
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Post by Crow on Aug 4, 2007 22:42:41 GMT -5
I'm piggybacking Mischief's answer: I see him as a general. I believe part of him would like to be a parent, and part of him knows that he is a father figure to these boys, but I pretty much see by his actions that he has been more of a leader, training people to overcome darkness by using darkness (fear) though he cares for them (though it may be hard to say so).
With Dick, I'd say he was more of a father to an extent, but the way I see them know (with Wing as an adult) I see that Dick seemed to find a father in Bruce, though Bruce wasn't exactly a father figure in the best respects. I think Bruce picked this up eventually and tries his best to be fatherly, though for him this is merely done in compliments to Dick's abilities, abilities which Bruce helped bring out, so I feel more like he is a general who turns out to be a figure to his subordinates.
Jason was someone who needed guidance, but I don't think Bruce was really fatherly...
Tim was, to me, one of the best examples of Bruce as a general because Tim had his dad for a long time, and so while Bruce was a figure, he wasn't, nor did he need to be, a father figure, not until recently with Tim's father dying...though Bruce's current actions are different now because of his "Identity Crisis and his "journey around the world".
Stephanie Brown was also a great example of Bruce as a general: I don't think he really tried at all to be a father figure to her...and he trained her hard and she was never good enough for him...
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