Batman is perhaps one of the darkest superheroes in comic books. He's incredibly Gothic and just a bit twisted, but there have been so many creators and interpretations over the years that have demonstrated that Batman doesn't need to be these things to be an accurate portrayal of the character. While Batman was born from trauma, trauma isn't the only thing that this hero has to offer the world.

Sitting down with the Comics Beat, long-time Batman writer Scott Snyder - and current writer of Absolute Batman, alongside artist Nick Dragotta - gave his feelings on Batman and how he doesn't necessarily need to be dark and twisted to be true to the character. It's a great point that most people overlook.

After all, Batman is a character who spends most of his time in a dark cave deep below the world. He witnessed the death of his parents. He's got a huge amount of trauma and darkness in him, but that can be explored in so many different ways, and not all of them have to be dark and twisted.

There's More to the Batman Character Than His Misery

His Biggest Motivation Is Saving People

The major thing that Snyder calls out about Batman is that he's "a winning machine." No matter what trauma Batman experiences or disadvantage he has, he always turns it into a victory. Batman wasn't born with superpowers, and he didn't come from a place of emotional stability. While Bruce had all the financial advantages he needed, he still had to transform himself into someone who could save lives. Because of this simple truth, there are tons of adaptations of the Batman character that aren't as dark and miserable as some fans might think is necessary.

While there are plenty of people who love Batman's darker stories, and many of them take place in the comics, there are still other, brighter tales that are true to the Dark Knight. One of the best examples is the Adam West-starring Batman show. While it was absurdly goofy and light-hearted, it still brought attention to Batman and showcased almost his entire rogues gallery. Even with his goofiness, this version of Batman was still fueled by trauma, as evidenced by his mentioning the murder of his parents in the first episode.

One of the interpretations that Snyder specifically calls out is also the beloved Lego Batman movie. While this interpretation is also silly, it speaks to a core component of Batman: that he never loses and uses his tragedy to fuel him. Batman overcomes every problem and turns it into something that helps him, even if it's just the trauma fueling him to keep moving forward. This aspect of his character can be used in dark and gritty stories as well as light-hearted ones.

Batman's Brighter Stories Are Just as True to the Characters

Despite Being Goofy, These Tales Understand Batman's Core

The important part of Batman's mythos isn't that he's some dark and twisted billionaire hiding away in his mansion. While there are undeniably major Gothic elements to Batman, the most important part of his character is being able to help people. Batman is a character whose tragedies define him, but Batman wants to do everything he can to prevent anyone else from going through that same tragedy. That's why he goes out every single night and fights crime. It's also what defines his no-kill rule.

Being hopeful and wanting to save people is far more important to Batman's character than darkness.

Being hopeful and wanting to save people is far more important to Batman's character than darkness, which Snyder seems to truly understand about the character, which is ironic as he's also written some of the darkest Batman stories, such as Batman: Death of the Family with artist Greg Capullo​​​​​​. The new Absolute Universe version of Batman also heavily relies on the idea that Batman doesn't need to be twisted and miserable; he simply needs to be a character who is willing to stand up and fight against corrupt people when no one else will.

No one could possibly argue in good faith that Absolute Batman isn't Batman. He has everything that he needs to be a great version of the character, and the best part of it is that Absolute Batman isn't nearly as dark as his Prime Universe counterpart. There are so many moments in the first four issues where Absolute Batman seems to be truly enjoying what he's doing, with an almost mischievous sense of glee, including when he drives down Gotham City in the largest Batmobile that anyone has ever seen.

Batman Has Never Needed to Be Miserable to Be a Great Character

Bruce Wayne Has itted That He Is Happy

Absolute Batman is still fighting to save Gotham City, but it would be extremely difficult to argue that Batman is being fueled by misery. He clearly wants to make the city a better place, and that desire is born out of the idea that Batman doesn't want anyone to suffer through tragedy as he did. That desire is the most important part of his character. The darkness and misery that he often goes through is an important part of his character, but it's a part that can be easily shed while still keeping the core message of what Batman stands for.

For another "bright" take on Batman and the Bat-Family, check out the official DC webcomic Wayne Family Adventures, available now on Webtoon and in collected editions.

Even in the main DC Universe, Batman isn't entirely miserable. He still sulks around in the darkness, but by and large, he isn't totally unhappy. At the end of Ram V's Detective Comics run, Batman outright states that he's actually happy with where he is in life. He's still the Dark Knight of Gotham City, but he's content with his family and his lot in life. It's very easy to show a Batman who isn't completely broken and consumed by his trauma; he's a character who can do so much more than just be miserable all the time, and some of the best interpretations have always managed to show this.

One of the greatest animated Batman movies, Mask of the Phantasm, actually addresses this idea head-on. During his early years, Bruce meets a woman named Andrea, and, for the first time in his life, actually considers not becoming Batman. Andrea makes Bruce happy, and the pain of his parent's death was so long ago that it had begun to fade. Bruce thinks that without that pain, without that misery, he didn't need to be Batman. Ultimately, he still ends up becoming Batman, but this beloved movie grapples with the idea that Bruce Wayne could exist as a chaarcter separate from his pain.

Batman Is So Much More Than Dark and Twisted

Batman Is Primarily a Hopeful Character

There are tons of different interpretations of Batman: some are darker than others and some are truly silly. But the important part is that Batman always tries to help people and make the world a better place. As long as Batman is trying to save people and make sure that no one goes through the same trauma as him, then the interpretation will likely be able to stand on its own two legs. While Batman will always be related to dark visuals and twisted stories, that's not the only thing that Batman has to offer the world.

Absolute Batman is available now from DC Comics!

Source: The Comics Beat