Batman: A Hero Unmasked : Narrative Analysis of a Superhero Tale
File(s)
Date
1995-08Author
Berg Nellis, Kelly A.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, College of Fine Arts and Communication
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Comics are an integral aspect of America's development and culture. The
comics have chronicled historical milestones, determined fashion and shaped the
way society viewed events and issues. They also offered entertainment and
escape. The comics were particularly effective in providing heroes for Americans
of all ages. One of those heroes -- or more accurately, superheroes -- is the
Batman. A crime-fighting, masked avenger, the Batman was one of few comic
characters that survived more than a half-century of changes in the country.
Unlike his counterpart and rival -- Superman -- the Batman's popularity has been
attributed to his embodiment of human qualities. Thus, as a hero, the Batman says
something about the culture for which he is an ideal. The character's longevity and
the alterations he endured offer a glimpse into the society that invoked the
transformations. This study examines, through narrative analysis, the ways in
which the Batman changed during the past 50 years. Two Detective Comics comic
books featuring the Batman -- one from 1939 and another from 1987 -- are
analyzed, focusing on characters, setting, events and participants. Investigation
reveals that while the Batman character remains essentially unaltered for more
than 50 years, the narrative that continuously reinvents the heroic archetype
changes as society evolves. This duality may provide a key to the longevity of this
cultural icon. In turn, that key may open the door to what is important to
Americans.