No other superhero has as impressive and extensive of a villain’s gallery as Batman. Throughout the years, the Dark Knight has battled sociopaths (The Joker, Zsasz), assassins (Deathstroke, Deadshot), mystics (Ra’s Al Ghul), villains relying on technology (Firefly, Mr. Freeze), the superstrong (Bane, Killer Kroc) and the supersmart (Two-Face, The Calculator). Batman has fought every type of villain on the evil-spectrum.
Batman’s ability to deal with a variety of villains has been a major reason he is one of my favorite comic book hero. According to Dwight K. Schrute, “A hero is born out of a childhood trauma, or out of a disaster that must be avenged.” Bruce Wayne’s transformation into Batman began on the fateful night his parents were murdered. Losing your entire world could easily make a person go over the edge of sanity.
Leading up to Detective Comics Issue #1000, the writer/artist team of Peter J. Tomasi and Doug Mahnke provide a fast-paced, original, and mystery-driven plot in Batman: Mythology. The Dark Knight sheds light on how humanity can grow in the face of adversity (Shouldn’t we have a tactical plan against the craziness this year has thrown at us?).
Suffering Teaches
Despite our various experiences we all undergo pain (and taxes and death). Suffering unites humans. Saint Gemma Galgani wrote, “If you really want to love Jesus, first learn to suffer, because suffering teaches you to love.” Such a powerful statement! Unless you suffer you won’t be able to comprehend this truth. It appears as a mystery.
As the “world’s greatest detective’”(sorry Sherlock!) Batman learned suffering teaches you about people. Never take a life. His refusal to kill is reflected in his weaponry choice (grappling gun, batarangs, and swords as opposed to firearms). But the Dark Knight also seeks to understand his villains’ point of view. In Mythology, he goes to the lengths of conducting interviews at Arkham Asylum of the inmates. Batman does not fear the psychological (or emotional) pain when facing the mentally disturbed inmates. He said tells the villains, “I’m looking for a little illumination. I have one job in Gotham. To hold the line. To keep as many innocent people from harm as I possibly can.” Batman witnessed the cold-blooded murder of his parents. From that day on Bruce Wayne strove to protect the citizens of Gotham city.
Every year on his birthday, Bruce Wayne tested himself psychologically and physically. His son Damien (Robin) asked, “Why would you subject yourself to that?” Batman replied, “To honor the oath I took meant striving to be the best I can be. Honing each and every skill set to be the best I can be.” Life is a great teacher and the more one endures various aspects of living the more one can learn. Batman’s experiences taught him how to defeat the most sinister and intelligent villains.
Suffering Strengthens
Pain not only provide you with information about how to react in certain situations, but suffering strengthens you. Batman Mythology opens with a murder scene of two victims physically altered to look exactly like Bruce Wayne’s parents. The story cascades forward when a mysterious protoplasm being starts attacking Batman’s mentors (Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Alfred Pennyworth, Mister Miracle, and Dr. Silas Stone).
While the mysterious monster gains in strength with each encounter, so too does Batman. A pivotal scene at the end of this series featured Bruce facing a younger version of himself. Young Bruce detailed out how the various battles and pain strengthened Batman into a better version of the Dark Knight. Visiting a cemetery, young Bruce told his adult self, “Three people were murdered that night outside the Monarch Theater. But one was reborn. Baptized in his own blood.”
Whether or not Tomasi intended for a deeper meaning I couldn’t help thinking about how death occurs in the sacrament of Baptism. Plunged into the sanctifying waters the stain of Original Sin is destroyed. The old way of life is killed and a new life emerged. The Christian life involves sacrifice and carrying our crosses. Saint Ignatius of Loyola wrote, “If God sends you many sufferings, it is a sign that He has great plans for you and certainly wants to make you a saint.” More suffering (endured in love) leads to an increase in character and holiness.
Batman Mythology not only offers a compelling plot (I finished the volume in an hour) and beautiful artwork but makes readers wrestle with how heroism often requires embracing hellish experiences. Suffering transforms you—for better or worse. Batman is an excellent example from comics of how embracing life’s pain changes you to the best version of yourself.
“Trials and tribulations offer us a chance to make reparation for our past faults and sins. On such occasions the Lord comes to us like a physician to heal the wounds left by our sins. Tribulation is the divine medicine.” – St. Augustine of Hippo
Matt Chicoine
Matthew Chicoine is a free-lance writer, a life-long Catholic, and an avid truth seeker. He earned an M.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2014 and enjoys binge reading Tolkien, Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, Fulton Sheen and comic books. Visit his blog at https://thesimplecatholic.