It’s funny cause Superman often does fight for the cops and their system of justice while Batman, at least in his first years in all continuities, fights corruption and against the cops. I always think of the line from Arkham Origins when Gordon says “we’ve earned the people of Gotham’s respect”
and Batman responds: “if that was true, I wouldn’t be here”
Year One is so full of commentary on the police, especially in the trade’s additional “Gotham crime blotter”. Sure it goes in a somewhat reactionary punisher direction, and shades of later Miller are 100% there, but the heart of it is angry at the police.
Wonderful article on the limitations even in Batman stories that do show corruption and try to address real issues. Honestly I would love to see this kind of dive into the Riddler’s militia guys because there is a LOT to be said there
Spidey I have come to really appreciate for never really being not antagonistic with cops in the comics. The video game is insane in how much it fellates the police at every turn. It hit me that Spidey in the comics as default is hunted by cops, he cannot even hand criminals over without getting shot at. Makes him super unique
Wonderful article on the limitations even in Batman stories that do show corruption and try to address real issues. Honestly I would love to see this kind of dive into the Riddler’s militia guys because there is a LOT to be said there
Supposed to be a link for this?
Spidey I have come to really appreciate for never really being not antagonistic with cops in the comics. The video game is insane in how much it fellates the police at every turn.
Videogames have a real problem not turning “do jobs for the cops” into a gameplay loop. It’s an incredibly easy gameplay loop to do so they often fall into it.
brains
Not every superhero has to be woke.
There is a real contradiction between the people that want heroes of the nation state vs heroes of the people.
Or if you prefer, bourgeois heroes and proletarian heroes.
Batman is a bourgeois hero. Spiderman is a proletarian hero.
Fighting for the poor vs fighting for the cops.
Bourgeois heroes are essentially just super cops.
It’s funny cause Superman often does fight for the cops and their system of justice while Batman, at least in his first years in all continuities, fights corruption and against the cops. I always think of the line from Arkham Origins when Gordon says “we’ve earned the people of Gotham’s respect” and Batman responds: “if that was true, I wouldn’t be here”
Year One is so full of commentary on the police, especially in the trade’s additional “Gotham crime blotter”. Sure it goes in a somewhat reactionary punisher direction, and shades of later Miller are 100% there, but the heart of it is angry at the police.
My point is Batman says ACAB…to a point https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pkR6fnAlWQ
Wonderful article on the limitations even in Batman stories that do show corruption and try to address real issues. Honestly I would love to see this kind of dive into the Riddler’s militia guys because there is a LOT to be said there
Spidey I have come to really appreciate for never really being not antagonistic with cops in the comics. The video game is insane in how much it fellates the police at every turn. It hit me that Spidey in the comics as default is hunted by cops, he cannot even hand criminals over without getting shot at. Makes him super unique
Supposed to be a link for this?
Videogames have a real problem not turning “do jobs for the cops” into a gameplay loop. It’s an incredibly easy gameplay loop to do so they often fall into it.
How TF did I miss the link, sorry https://bloodknife.com/batman-copaganda/
Or vigilantes that border on being paramilitaries.
Captain America: but I wanna stand like a tree and be firm, fuck international law and accountability.
God he really did become a wonderful embodiment of America in a way they didn’t intent
Like Avatar Korra lol.