Illogical comic book logic

[Bob Karo]

Back to the orignal post: Reed Richards is useless. That's you answer.

As far as Bruce Wayne owning guns... why wouldn't he? Wouldn't a rich playboy with no day job shoot clays from time to time? Didn't Bruce and Dick practice with firearms occasionally to maintain their familiarity with the weapons commonly used against them? Hell, Batman used one to kill a God. He understood his own personal hang ups weren't a reason to not save the world.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Actually no my friend would never see that movie because he wouldn't know about it until I told him...he's not a comic book fan and only sees this them when I mention them to him or if he thinks they're cool.

Indeed, the fact of the matter is that Bruce did use guns over the period of his career, for a brief time and most fans have chosen not to recognize that period of his career or filtered it out of their own idealized version of the character. I'm not saying those fans are wrong for having that opinion, indeed my Batman does not kill but in the case of Darkseid where it has been explained and rationalized as part of a larger arc and plot I accept it. Morrison was acknowledging that part of the character's past. So did the first issue of "Batman: Odyssey". It is even explained in that mini-series as the poster above stated that Bruce and Dick trained themselves in combat weapons to familiarize themselves with the weapons and how they work. It doesn't mean that Bruce doesn't still hates them, indeed he respects them for what they are and that is why he won't use them. Batman is always prepared. Always.

 

[Silvercrest]

No but see that's where my friend would argue about the science and tech. He as a scientist and an engineer that isn't a fan of comic books has a hard time trying to comprehend a "realistic" world that has fantastical science. I'm not explaining his point of view very well but basically he has a problem with Superman shooting lasers out of his eyes and flying. He can't comprehend how that is possible.

It isn't possible. This is fantasy. He's gotta leave it at that.

As far GL, just tell him, "A wizard did it. A short, blue wizard wearing a red dress."

 

[Admiral_Young]

Trust me I've argued every possible way with him...and he loves science fiction and fantasy, he just doesn't like when someone attempts to introduce them in a realistic way. It's going to be an exhausting night after "Green Lantern" lol. Hell, I'm going to probably have to start after the trailer. He'll let it go if he doesn't see the film. His intellectual engineer mind can't wrap around the concept, and the more I attempt to explain the more he rejects it and we end up in an argument and I get frustrated and drop it.

 

[Christopher]

Trust me I've argued every possible way with him...and he loves science fiction and fantasy, he just doesn't like when someone attempts to introduce them in a realistic way.

Then he must not have much experience with actual science fiction, much of which is highly realistic. Must be one of those people whose experience with SF is mainly from the fanciful sci-fi stuff in TV and movies.

I mean, really, it always surprises me that anyone would think a genre that has "science" right there in the title would not be expected to be believable, realistic, intelligent, or the like. It seems like a contradiction in terms. But the problem is that most people have never actually read the literature and just know the half-baked semi-fantasy stuff that passes for SF in the mass media.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ That would be an accurate assessment of him Christopher...he's not exactly what you would call a film buff. He likes blockbusters and soft sci-fi concepts but hasn't really been introduced to hardcore sci-fi and doesn't really have time to read either, I blame myself for not opening his mind.

 

[Myasishchev]

Another comic book logic, "in general, our hero will not face a villain that is out of his league.", above or below.

You don't see batman show up to stop a villain and get tagged by a shot that would stun superman, which of course would turn Batman into mush. Or you don't see Superman show and hit a villain so hard that he turns him into a fine red mist.

I like that one. Although sometimes it is turned on its head (Acts of Vegeance, for example.)

Batman is pretty Goddamn lucky he has the Joker, Two-Face, and Simon Hurt, rather than the Weather Wizard, Professor Zoom, or freakin' Abrakadabra.

I mean, what, is there some kind of anti-metahuman field that surrounds Gotham and keeps any criminals there from getting the wicked awesome powers that seem to arrive like Mana from heaven in cities which have actual superhuman protectors?

I'd also like to know why Batman doesn't just ask one of the eighteen billion Flashes currently in the DCU to devote a day a week to helping out in Gotham. You think the Penguin can fuck with Wally West?

On the other hand, of course, there's Alan Brennert's classic "To Kill a Legend," where the Phantom Stranger gives Batman a chance to visit an alternate reality 20 years behind Earth-One (just as Earth-One was 20 years behind Earth-Two) and prevent the Waynes' murder. He succeeds, but that Earth's young Bruce is inspired to emulate the bat-costumed hero who rescued his parents and grows up to become Batman anyway, a Batman based on hope rather than pain.

Oh man, don't let Geoff Johns know. Blue Lantern Batman. :x

 

[Admiral_Young]

I think it's already self explanatory why none of the other heroes help Batman, he likes to be in control of what he calls HIS city. The super-criminals in Gotham are his problem and no one else's. It's often argued and it was touched on at the end of "Batman Begins" that Batman himself attracts the criminals and in some cases this would be a true theory...for instance Hush and Dr. Hurt as of late have been obsessed with destroying Batman because he exists. The Joker has often derailed other rogues plans or been jealous of being left out of them because he wants the Bat to himself for the kill. In fact the current arc of "Batman and Robin" has him targeting Dr. Hurt because of their deal in "R.I.P." Batman is his to kill and play around with no one else.

 

[Thestral]

Was that a Morrison story? I'm really not fond of his take on Batman.

Man you must hate the current state of the Bat-books then. And much of the DCU for that matter (depending on your opinion about Geoff Johns)

Since Miller however, the trend has been to play Batman as nearly psychotic in his obsessiveness and paranoia. It was a fun break with tradition when Miller did it - now it's become kind of tiresome in its own right.

And of course Frank "I'm the goddamn Batman!" Miller has descended into self parody, while Dick Grayson as Batman seems to be sticking around longer than expected.

Oh man, don't let Geoff Johns know. Blue Lantern Batman. :x

Everybody knows Batman would be a Yellow Lantern. Although you have to give Johns props IMO for making Scarecrow a Yellow Lantern, if only briefly.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Bruce rejected the Yellow Lantern ring didn't he, through sheer force of will? In fact didn't it conflict the ring when it searched him out? He's also wielded Hal's Green ring I believe and is supposed to be a White Lantern this month as well.

 

[kkozoriz1]

Another comic book logic, "in general, our hero will not face a villain that is out of his league.", above or below.

You don't see batman show up to stop a villain and get tagged by a shot that would stun superman, which of course would turn Batman into mush. Or you don't see Superman show and hit a villain so hard that he turns him into a fine red mist.

I like that one. Although sometimes it is turned on its head (Acts of Vegeance, for example.)

Robin taking out Mongul in the classic "For the Man Who Has Everything".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_man_who_has_everything

 

[Stevil2001]

Oh, come on. It's only Mongul.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I have no problem with Jason taking out Mongul in that story...that's what he's been trained to do.

 

[Myasishchev]

And, in fairness, it's a Mongul who's been fighting Wonder Woman, and is presently locked in combat with Superman. Not a Mongul setting out specifically to kill Robin.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Yep...I think the point of that was that Mongul would not suspect a child to be the one to take him out while he was dealing with the big guns. One of Jason Todd's finer moments as Robin if you ask me.

 

[Christopher]

^Yes, but was he thinking clean thoughts?

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ I don't get what you're inferring, please enlighten me.

 

[kkozoriz1]

"Think clean thoughts chum" was a comment Batman said to Robin when Robin commented on Wonder Woman's costume.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Oh right, sorry...was having a brain dead moment there lol. It's been a while since I've read the comment. Knowing Jason probably not.

 

[Myasishchev]

Screw clean thoughts. I want a Black Mercy.