Batman--We Always Need a Hero!
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by: batman4oz
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Word Count: 599
Yes, Batman is once again popular...as he should be. And I'm not just saying that because my name is Bruce Wayne! But, if you are a child of the 50's or 60's, you will remember that there is much more to 'The Batman' legend than just a campy TV series, cheesy cartoons (although many have been very good, such as Batman Beyond!), and finally, all of the glitzy and glossy...and high-budget...theatrical incarnations--and often strange interpretations--of Batman.
I recently picked up a comic book in a store and was stunned...first by the price, and then by the lack of content. It consisted of only 16 pages, eight of which were advertisments! At home, I was relieved to be able to hold a REAL comic--one of the many that I wisely (luckily) saved from the 1960's--and it felt substantial and reassuring to me. There were enough pages to actually tell a story! And it was a rare page that was without dialogue or description, merely a frame or two of 'action,' with no clear exposition..unlike the comics of today whose authors must really believe that 'a picture is worth a thousand words.' It's more likely that the current crop of comic creators are from the same school of thought (?) that has produced 'reality tv!' Sorry, but That's NOT Entertainment!
Now, for those who have not lived long enough to fondly recall the comics of yesteryear, they actually had '80-Page Giant' issues! Sadly, in time, those came to be called merely, 'Giant,' when cost-cutting also sliced out a few pages. At the rate present-day comics are shrinking, they may soon be called comic pamphlets! Stories...Good stories... often spanned 2 or 3 issues, and we eagerly awaited each and every one, with great anticipation. How much interest can 16 pages...excuse me, EIGHT pages...hold?!
But...aside from these 'temporal anomolies'...I don't mean to be comparing the 'then' and 'now' of comic books. It's painful enough to acknowledge it, so why state the obvious? What I really want to point out is that Batman is much more than 'The Dark Knight' that has become so prominent today. During The Golden Age of comic books, he was a strange and costumed crime-fighter...first introduced to the eager masses in 'Detective' comics. Soon, he was not just an oddity, a mystery...he was 'The Batman.' Eventually, and into The Silver Age of comics, he was too big for just one comic, and he spread his, uh, wings in 'The Brave and The Bold.' Sure, we saw him previously partnered many times, with various and equally-tough battle-mates...Robin, Batgirl, and sometimes Catwoman, in her own purr-fectly lovely way! And, of course, our Other Favorite--Superman! But, in 'The Brave and The Bold,' we saw some inspired and unique pairings...Batman and The Atom, Batman and Sgt Rock, Batman and The Green Arrow, Batman and Deadman and others.
These kids today...oh, don't get me started! I only hope that if you are under 30 (okay...50! Isn't that the 'new 30?), and you didn't experience first-hand the Silver Age of comics, understand the significance of those comic years with respect and appreciation for the pure talent of the artists of pen and ink, that you are lucky enough today to learn--from the internet, from other collectors (yes, those of us who are older!), and, ever-so-gently, from actually holding a piece of history in your hands. They are out there...in the dark. Comics from The Silver Age. MY age. Please, be kind and handle with care. And, I promise...50 years from now, I will hold the comics that you have saved with respect and listen to you speak, in awe, of the Bronze Age and Copper Age of comics!
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About the Author
The author (Bruce Wayne...Really!) has been a collector and rescuer of all things Batman, Superman, Movie and TV Memorabilia...and so much more. Get a sense of what it means--'Nothing Ever Leaves My House'--by spelunking through the dark recesses of the Bat Cave at www.thebatcaveofoz.us. The Silver Age of Comics is Well-Represented in one special corner...mind the Bat Guano!
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