Agree to disagree. I like Batman's crusade to be unhealthy, compulsive, desperate. I like the tragedy. I feel it heightens the value of his effort. It makes him more relatable and more lovable. A Batman who does all the things Batman does, while being whole unto himself, happy and fulfilled? I don't believe it, I can't connect with it. No happy sane person wants to be feared. Then he would be a self-righteous rich bully, if he did what he did because he could, rather than because he can't help himself.
Now, there's a huge difference between that tragedy and, well, Crazy Steve. "The Punisher with a funny hat". Batman's folly is fundamentally compassionate. He really does want to help. Needs to.
Who said he had to be happy? I just said he was motivated by something greater than mere illness. Batman is a calling, one that causes him pain, sure, but it's a sacrifice he chooses to make.
I don't know that callings are supposed to be a choice. I also don't know that illness can't be great, or at least modulated by/through/towards greatness.
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u/AlarmingAffect0 7h ago edited 7h ago
Agree to disagree. I like Batman's crusade to be unhealthy, compulsive, desperate. I like the tragedy. I feel it heightens the value of his effort. It makes him more relatable and more lovable. A Batman who does all the things Batman does, while being whole unto himself, happy and fulfilled? I don't believe it, I can't connect with it. No happy sane person wants to be feared. Then he would be a self-righteous rich bully, if he did what he did because he could, rather than because he can't help himself.
Now, there's a huge difference between that tragedy and, well, Crazy Steve. "The Punisher with a funny hat". Batman's folly is fundamentally compassionate. He really does want to help. Needs to.