January 16, 2008

• Awesome. Me likey.
• Whoa.
• Always knew that tights-wearing pervert would end up a really twisted sicko. Is that Catgirl or Batgirl?
• Ooh, rather Gorey.
• I think Catwoman, but not for any explainable reason. Many comics/graphic novels I've read make me feel sorry for Batman, driven as he is by his obsession. It wouldn't be a surprise if he finally went crazy. In this one, when he mentions the phrase "final solution" I was half expecting an unsubtle nazi/Batman analogy.
• What the fuck did I just read?
• THAT'S why Batman is the best of all the super-heroes. Keep it up, Bruce.
• It wouldn't be a surprise if he finally went crazy. As if running around in a black rubber cape and mask was normal behaviour...
• where's Robin?
• Is Batman crazy? From a psychological POV that's a good question. He's clearly able to distinguish reality from fantasy, as he's a high-functioning individual who can navigate himself in society and deal with high level stress in both compartmentalized parts of his life, so there's no serious organic illness such as schizophrenia; no impairments in perception, delusions or disordered thinking, in fact quite the opposite, as he's considered to be one of the finest if not the finest criminal investigator of his milieu. Plus, he's able to manage the Wayne fortune in such a way as to maintain his unique lifestyle, so either he can delegate effectively or manage finance to a high degree of efficacy. However, he's clearly dysfunctional in his social interaction. The trauma of seeing his parents violently murdered in front of him as a child has inarguably initiated a serious emotional disorder, and he definitely has not processed that grief in any healthy way. He does not have any normal emotional relationships with other human beings. He cannot allow outsiders into his life, unless they become aware of his dual existence and thus become part of it, which itself is highly unhealthy as he's only allowing them in if they become accessories to his life, under his control to a large degree, and in those cases (cf. Dick Grayson) initially, at least, against their will. While this is not necessarily irrational, it is alarming from a mental health POV, as a normal, healthy human being needs unfettered interaction with a wide variety of other people in order to maintain psychological balance. That is, unless there's another disorder there, akin to autism, which allows and requires him to function at this level, with this degree of isolation from 'normal' human society without psychological fallout. Then again it could be argued that his activities as the Batman are the psychological release valve for his pent-up emotional blocks, allowing him a measure of stability, as long as he can find an outlet for his problems in what often appears to be rage-driven vigilantism. One wonders what would happen to Bruce Wayne if he was unable to continue his secondary life as the Batman? Would he collapse emotionally or psychologically? Almost certainly so. Mind you, that's just a pat diagnosis made without first obtaining his full medical history. /hands over yoghurt.
• What about this idea of "successful psychopath"?
• fingernail pain!
• Fascinating, roryk. Kind of the old "fine line between genius and madness" saw, but with actual measurement and evaluation.
• That's pretty effed up. But awesome.
• Great art, but something missing in the tone.