Despite having no real superpowers, Batman has spent a lot of effort cultivating an almost supernatural reputation, causing even some heroes who know him to wonder if he’s something more than human. Aside from some Elseworlds stories and temporary brushes with metahuman abilities, Bruce Wayne remains a mortal man, but what if he wasn't?
What if the rumors surrounding Batman were actually true, and The Dark Knight was a supernatural creature of the night? Remarkably, acclaimed comic book writer Kurt Busiek actually explored these possibilities in his creator-owned comic book Astro City for the award-winning story arc “Confessions.”
For those not familiar with Busiek’s fan-favorite comic book, Astro City explores the world of superheroes from multiple unique perspectives. Each issue of the series delves into a universe as rich and varied as the Marvel or DC Universes, with characters who take inspiration from the better-known superheroes (for instance, Astro City’s greatest champion is an incredibly powerful being who flies around in a red and blue suit and calls himself “Samaritan”).
Rather than tell all the stories of these heroes from their point of view, however, some issues let readers view the world through the eyes of a civilian who lost a loved one in a superhero battle, a criminal hungry for recognition, or even a cartoon lion who has to adjust to life among humans after being brought to life by a mad scientist’s invention. Such offbeat stories keep old comic book tropes fresh and interesting thanks to the way Busiek can explore them.
When it came time to introduce readers to heroes take him on as a sidekick.
And he gets his wish – that night, the Confessor, a mysterious figure cloaked in pitch black priest robes and a mask, approaches Brian and makes him his partner, Altar Boy. Sounds silly, but the story plays it all straight as the Confessor refines Brian’s combat skills, drills him in crime investigation techniques, and takes him out on regular patrols. Initially, this is all great fun for Brian, who hopes to become a superhero and gain the respect he feels his father – a good-hearted doctor who died broke after treating too many patients for free – never received.
Over time, however, Brian starts noticing strange things about his mentor – like the way he only appears at night, seems capable of vanishing at will, and is apparently capable of mesmerizing crooks with a glance. Although Brian asks the Confessor to tell him the truth about himself, the enigmatic hero only taunts Brian and tells him to use the deductive skills he’s been learning to find the answers out for himself.
Brian soon finds himself embroiled in additional mysteries, however, when the city’s heroes begin apparently committing crimes, turning the local politicians and public sentiment against them. Simultaneously, a mysterious serial killer with possibly supernatural powers begins slaughtering innocent people in Shadow Hill, Astro City’s more mystical locale. Troubled, Brian investigates and discovers that the Confessor is a vampire… but that he is not behind the murders as some people suspect.
Congratulating Brian on his deduction, the Confessor reveals that he was a former priest who was bitten and transformed by a vampire who had arrived long before Astro City was even built. After decades of self-loathing, the priest learned of the existence of superheroes and decided to adopt such an identity himself – even wearing a large cross on his chest to intentionally cause him pain and keep his mind off his bloodlust. While the Confessor claims he took Brian as a partner to fulfill his priestly duty to teach, Brian suspects his partner also wanted a confidant after so many years of isolation.
Tragically, after just days of sharing his history with Brian, takes on the mantle of a new Confessor in honor of his mentor.
More than a mere re-imagining of the Batman and Robin story, “Confession” delves deep into the true nature of heroism and the responsibility of superheroes. While Brian came to Astro City with the hopes of becoming a superhero the public would ire and respect, his experiences with the Confessor teach him that public sentiment can change very quickly, making the strength to do what’s right in difficult times all the more important.
When Brian considers quitting the hero life after the people he tries to protect throw garbage at him, the Confessor quietly asks if they do what they do so that people are appropriately grateful to them, or because it is the right thing to do. His observation reflects the dilemma of heroes like Batman, Spider-Man, and the X-Men (who are regularly villainized when the general public needs an easy target to blame for their problems) and makes the reader question what real heroes have to go through when they aren’t so celebrated.
Moreover, the Confessor’s own approach to heroics is unique among superheroes – where Batman uses his bat symbol as a way to strike fear into the criminals he goes after, the Confessor’s cross symbol turns that fear and pain inward, reminding the vampire of the sin that led him to his role. Constantly reminded of his monstrous identity, the Confessor still strives to be a better person and lead by example.
By the end, Brian has followed the Confessor’s example by taking up his mantle – knowing that he will be hated and feared by the public who know about the original’s vampiric identity. However, he embraces this as well – realizing that criminals will come at the now-human Confessor with garlic, holy water, and crosses instead of guns and knives, making Brian’s job easier. It’s a surprisingly uplifting end to a dark take on the Batman legend, but typical for the type of stories told through Astro City.
