Batman and Daredevil: Symbols of Darkness before the Light

by Christopher Barr

“Adults..struggle desperately with fiction, demanding constantly that it conforms to the rules of everyday life.  Adults foolishly demand to know how Superman can possibly fly, or how Batman can possibly run a multibillion-dollar business empire during the day and fight crime at night, when the answer is obvious even to the smallest child: because it’s not real.”

– Grant Morrison

Batman and Daredevil are two of my favorite darker comic book characters, one from the DC universe and one from the Marvel, respectively.  Both these men created their symbols as representations of their own fears as well as the reality of what they were engaging themselves in.

Crime is what they are combating, because the police from Gotham and New York appear to have their own problems with corruption and apathy.  These men have taken it upon themselves to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.  The heroism for both men I think is in their own sacrifice, they’ve set aside their own well-being and pursuit for happiness to help people.

“I run blindly through the madhouse… And I cannot even pray… For I have no God.”

- Grant Morrison, Batman: Arkham Asylum

Bruce Wayne’s parents were murdered when he was a child, so he was forced into the realities of the world at a very young age.  Bruce come from a privileged background which makes it uncertain what kind of man he would have grown up to be, if he and his parents went left instead of right that fateful night.  Maybe he would have taken on more of the characteristics of his villainous foe, The Joker, because when Batman is fighting the Joker, symbolically, Batman is fighting himself.  Comic books are like therapy sessions without the benefit of the comfortable couch and the hefty bill.  People have demons and Batman is no exception, so if Batman is a manifestation of a strength Bruce Wayne only wished he could have, then the Joker conversely is his Shadow side he must fight on a regular basis to essentially be, Bruce Wayne.  I guess that’s why Batman can’t simply kill the Joker and put an end to his anarchy, because that would be suicide, he’d be killing a part of himself.

Matt Murdock, if the fictional universes collided, would have a lot in common with Bruce Wayne.  They could have beers and discuss their childhoods with one another.  Matt’s father was murdered, leaving the little boy understandably devastated.  But prior to that murder, Matt was involved in an accident that separates him from Batman in the colored pages of comics.  Matt received chemical burns to his face, blinding him, but leaving him with sonar abilities, where he is able to see via sound waves as well as other heighten senses.  He’s also been gifted with super human strength.  Matt grows up and becomes a lawyer by day and a crime fighter by night.  He has the Kingpin and Bullseye to fight in the dark of night while the majority sleep safely in their beds.

The Dark Knight and The Man without Fear, break the law to do what is right.  They are both seen as vigilantes but revenge is not their primary motives, it would take a conversation with Freud for someone to see a little revenge hiding behind their ‘good deeds’.  These are men after all that are products of their past which informs their present, they might not have had a choice but never the less they are where they are.  

Batman was originally a creation as a result of the success of Superman but took on his own fan base soon after his debut.  He was dark and gritty and less forgiving than Superman.  He hard to fight harder because he didn’t have super powers, he had to push himself more than Superman, who has always suffered from the problem of being too super.  Batman could get hurt, Batman could die and that’s what we love about him, he’s more real and relatable.  

One thing that Batman does have in common with Superman is the men who created them.  Like Ian Fleming’s James Bond, these fictional characters were created by men that were not popular and not respected.  These characters reflected that, they were alter-egos for their creators to fantasize through.  This is the ingredient I think that stands these iconic characters apart from those that don’t resonate, those that only attempt to replicate.

But that’s what Batman and Daredevil are; they are these cyphers that represent their creators and our own desires for justice.  Somehow it’s not just good enough to catch the bad guy and turn him over to the police, like Spider-man.  Batman and Daredevil both are far more violent with their approach to heroism, certainly not in a nihilistic or sadistic way but I think they think it’s not just good enough to catch them.  A lesson must be taught as well as a message must be sent, this type of activity will not be tolerated.  That’s what my favorite characteristics about these two men are, is that they can be very unforgiving.

“Fortunately for me, I’m not a cop.  So, I can break your face into a jigsaw puzzle if I want to…”

- Daredevil

Batman has been way more successful in the movies than Daredevil but I do hope one day that the Devil will appear again on screen, it’s looking like at this point the small screen will have to do.  But they do need to be careful not to lose what makes these characters so rewarding to watch, in spite of the violence and the head aches; they have to be more than vigilantes.  They have to maintain their humanity above all, regardless of the villain in their way or in themselves.  Society’s only hope is that the good people stay good in the face of extinction. 

“You think you can….turn me into a blubbering wreck….by preying on my fears…But I’ve already faced them – and come out the other side!  I know what I am…Who I am… And I am not afraid!”

- Matt Murdock

So what does it mean to win a battle knowing you are losing the war?  Not to sound too cynical but Batman and Daredevil are fighting losing wars.  It’s their battles that concern these men as the criminals keep pouring over the edges of cities.  I would say both these men aren’t optimistic for the future of mankind but they do feel compelled to at least try to fight the good fight, even if the people are skeptical of their heroism.  Even if they are wanted men, they suffer the cuts and bruises because they are the men most of us should aspire to be. 

What’s really great and inspiring about Daredevil and Batman is their attitude in realizing that it doesn’t matter what people think, what the press and media think.  It doesn’t matter what all the nations politicians or criminals say.  It doesn’t matter what the whole country or even world for that matter think.  The idea is these men know that, it is of the highest principle to stand up for what you believe, no matter what the odds or the consequences are.   These men know that, morally and constitutionally, they must at all cost plant themselves like trees, firmly next to the river of truth and shout to the world, ‘Now, you move!!’

“Don’t talk like one of them.  You’re not!  Even if you’d like to be.  To them, you’re just a freak, like me!  They need you right now, but when they don’t, they’ll cast you out, like a leper!  You see, their morals, their code, it’s a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble.  They’re only as good as the world allows them to be.  I’ll show you.  When the chips are down, these…. These civilized people, they’ll eat each other.  So, I’m not a monster.  I’m just ahead of the curve.”

- The Joker