SEEKERS OF THE BAT

The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh was introduced in a Golden Age story as an alternate Batman from a different planet. However in Grant Morrison’s Batman RIP story arc, he was reintroduced as an emergency backup personality tucked away just in case Bruce Wayne ever lost his mind. Although the garish costume was stitched together out of rags, the Zur-En-Arrh personality says the bright colors indicate absolute confidence. Once again, Batman proves his ‘superpower’ is super preparedness; having a backup plan in the case of any contingency.

Here we have Batman and Wonder Woman posing for a photo at the San Diego Comic Convention. Although they are 2 of DC’s “Big 3″ (minus Superman), they don’t have much history together… That is, until the 2001 Justice League animated series hinted that an attraction between the two might be present. But even in the cartoons, Batman is ever the consummate masochist, denying himself any happiness in life, and nothing became of it.

Going into nightly fights against thugs with guns and knives, leaping off rooftops, escaping from burning buildings, straitjackets, ticking bombs, swinging saw blades …  All this action is bound to leave a few permanent marks on a human body. Bruce Wayne does his best to explain his visible scars as mishaps from any number of polo matches, skiing accidents, spelunking excursions, etc.  but the rest need to be covered up at all times.

With his history of mistakes or failures literally carved into his body, it is a constant reminder to himself that he is still only human. And that he has to be better.

From this classic design did an entire mythos flow.  Orphaned billionaire Bruce Wayne puts on his cape and cowl to fight crime as The Batman. More than 50 years later, the silhouette is still instantly recognizable.