There are two words that are probably more fun to say than 99.9% of other words in the English language. What are they?
I’m Batman.
There is hardly any time when it is inappropriate to say those two words. I’m thinking they would be out of place at funerals and other times of severe sorrow, but otherwise, game on. But when you do, you have to do it in the growly voice first brought to the character over 30 years ago.
Michael Keaton and Tim Burton rescued Batman from being an essentially dead property and since they did, the character has been a nearly constant part of our lives. No amount of bad writing or weird costume choices has made us walk away from The Dark Knight.
By now we all know the story. A child who lives through an unspeakable horror and channels his need for vengeance into a barely-legal career doing the dirtier jobs police officers can’t. It’s a ripe subject for commentary in today’s world, and it seems filmmakers can’t leave it alone.
The ultimate compilation
Someone with too much time on his hands assembles what claims to be the ultimate “I’m Batman” compilation. Personally I have my doubts, and to fill four minutes the author strayed a little bit from people saying “I’m Batman,” which diminishes it a bit in my opinion.
But none of that matters. I can guarantee with almost metaphysical certitude that at some point in the next 12 hours, even if you don’t watch the video above, and even if it’s only in a room all by yourself, you will say in a rough and gravelly voice, “I’m Batman.” Such is the power of those two words.
The future of Batman (or is it The Batman)?
There’s a new Batman film on the horizon, and once again it goes back to the beginning. It looks to be even darker than before, and that’s saying a lot. Robert Pattinson takes on Bruce Wayne this time and the trailer carefully avoids saying “I’m Batman,” teasing you and then taking the pleasure away at the last moment:
There’s also the upcoming theatrical release The Flash, in which we expect to see several different Batmen collide in a multiple-universe extravaganza. Think about what Sony did with Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse but not as funny and probably not as innovative visually.
Batman, it seems, is here to stay. He’s just too compelling a character to leave behind. And that’s not a bad thing. As long as we keep finding ways to innovate with the character, as long as he can teach us about ourselves… I for one am up for it. After all, each one of us has the right to stand up and say, “I’m Batman.”
