Batman Day: ‘He is the best superhero without any actual superpowers’

Batman Day is observed every year on thethird Saturday of Septemberto celebrate the iconic superhero who has captured the imagination of millions of fans around the globe From the brooding vigilante of the early comics to the triumphant crimefighter of the Nolan trilogy Batman has evolved yet his essence remains constant His ability to inspire hope even in the darkest of times has resonated with countless individuals Whether it is his swanky gadgets or unwavering moral compass generations of fans are enthralled by his enigmatic persona On Batman Day passionate fans share their favourite memories and delve into the enduring appeal of BatmanDespite his aura of a loner Batman truly cares about peopleFor the last two decades Rachit Sharma has been living a dual life A 9 to 5 corporate manager who is a diehard fan of Batman and arguably one of the biggest statue collectors currently he has over 250 in the country His favourite Batman media ldquoComics always comics Thatrsquos what got me into reading into superheroes and Batman TV and movies came much later for me I grew up during the Jim Aparo Batman era and somehow that is always what I think of when I imagine Batman in my head By the time I watched Tim Burtonrsquos movies I was already a massive fan but those movies helped cement the Dark Knightrsquos place as my indisputable favourite characterrdquo Sharma tells usRachit Sharma with his collection of Batman statues Photo Courtesy Rachit SharmaWhile superheroes are often portrayed as invincible what the super fan finds inspiring is Batmanrsquos humanity He shares ldquoTraditionally Batman has always signified grit determination and willpower How a normal human being can overcome all odds if he puts his mind to it That always stood out to me Of course that was before lazy writing made him into a semigod that could defeat anyone given lsquoenough prep timersquo In the greatest of all Batman stories hersquos been battered bones broken spine snapped bloodied and yet he got up and persevered And that to me will always be the most inspiring aspect of BrucerdquoThe super fan reflects a desire for Batman to remain relatable even in the face of increasingly fantastical storylines He dwells on Batmanrsquos brooding personality ldquoThe one thing I always found interesting was how despite his aura of a loner he is truly someone that cares about people and family I mean just look at the number of sidekicks hersquos had over the years This shows us that you can be a people person without being too sweet and cuddlyrdquoWhen asked about his favourite alltime villain the 46yearold cautions us of his cliched answer and admits it to be JokerldquoIrsquom not a Nolan fan that loved Joker because of how Heath portrayed him which was fantastic I have been a Joker fan for the last four decades Every other villain has an ulterior motive they want to rule the town the country the world or even the universe Joker just wants chaos and destruction for no other reason but that itrsquos funrdquoSharma concludes by sharing one of his personal favourites ldquoThe best Joker moment is from the ending of the iconic lsquoThe Killing Jokersquo After all the mayhem he perpetuated crippling Barbara torturing Gordon when hersquos finally apprehended by Batman Joker tells him a joke And the final page THAT final page is both of them laughing together GloriousrdquoAlso Read Itrsquos Batmanrsquos worldHe is arguably the best superhero without any actual superpowersJatin Varma founder of Comic Con India is among the countless 90s kids who grew up with the iconic Batman films starring Michael Keaton He tells us ldquoIm very nostalgic about the Michael Keaton movies and the campy 1960s series with Adam West The best movies were of course the Nolan trilogyrdquo While the Michael Keaton films offered a darker more grounded take on Batman the 1960s series provided a lighter more comedic interpretation The critically acclaimed Nolan trilogy highlights the characters ability to evolve and resonate with audiences in new ways All three approaches have contributed to the characters rich and diverse legacy and reflect the enduring appeal of the character across different eras and styleldquoAs a reader the obvious choices are The Dark Knight series by Frank Miller and The Killing Joke by Alan Moorerdquo shares Varma Both titles offer complex and thoughtprovoking explorations of the character With such diverse storylines which qualities draw him to Batman The pop culture enthusiast sharesldquoEven though I am partial to Superman itrsquos the contrast that Batman provides to him that is interesting to me He is arguably the best superhero without any actual superpowersrdquoContrary to the common portrayal of billionaires as ruthless and aloof Batman stands out Referring to a fresh take by the animates series Varma notes ldquoYou can be a billionaire without necessarily being a jerkrdquoWhen asked what is his favourite moment the 39yearold shares two ldquoThe most recent one is actually from the Justice League movie it is more a Bruce Wayne moment When Bruce tells Clark he bought the bank to save Martha Kents house I also find the Batusi dance scene featuring Adam West from the 1960s series hilariousrdquoHis character made me realize how his childhood trauma shaped him into the hero he isRuchi Nayak partner at The Catalyst swears by Batman movies for her dose of adrenaline and views the superhero as a symbol of hope in a world that is marred by senseless violence Batmanrsquos brooding vigilante style isnrsquot just about thrilling actionmdashitrsquos a beacon of resilience and redemption He isnrsquot just a hero for me hersquos a symbol of badassery channeling his inner darkness into the search for justice DC movies especially those featuring Batman are my goto for thrilling yet fun cinema They remind me that even in the darkest of times adventure and heroism are just around the corner Batman as a character and DC movies shine a light on the power of bravery in a world in chaosrdquo shares the Mumbai residentShe goes on to share how Batmanrsquos backstory is a focal point of inspiration for fans like her ldquoBatman was born in a billionaire family but was also a child who lost his parents at a young age His character always made me realise how his childhood trauma shaped him into the hero he is Batman channels his trauma into a force for good proving that you can rise from your past and transform your pain into strength It is not just about cool gadgets or fights itrsquos about how he harnesses his inner darkness to fight for the ones who canrsquot fight for themselves Ultimately it is also about the pursuit of hope in a world filled with chaosrdquoI often equate Batman to lsquoA Tale of Two Citiesrsquo a duality between the daytime philanthropist and the nocturnal vigilanteA Gen Z admirer of Batman Sahil Mehta grew up reading Batman comics ldquoComics are the only medium through which I truly immerse myself in Batmans world The visual storytelling every meticulously drawn panel and exaggerated punch leaves room for my imagination to run wild It fosters a deep connection as if Im experiencing the story alongside the Dark Knightrdquo he shares animatedlyHighlighting Batmanrsquos duality Mehta says ldquoI often equate Batman to lsquoA Tale of Two Citiesrsquo a duality between the daytime philanthropist and the nocturnal vigilanterdquo The lifestyle creator further shares his favourite memory from the comics ldquoOne unforgettable comic moment was the confrontation between Batman and Superman Supermans attempt to intimidate by revealing Batmans identity was swiftly countered by Batmans meticulous research proving that with sufficient preparation he can overcome any adversary