mellebabbles

[mellebabbles]

There are two types of reactions I've observed to Batman stans when confronted with Bruce's less than ideal behaviors.

"UM. THAT'S NOT MY BATMAN. BATMAN WOULD NEVER— YOU JUST HAVEN'T READ THE RIGHT COMICS!"

And

"OK, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A GOOD REASON HE DID THAT TO HIS TRAUMATIZED KIDS AND BY THE WAY, THEY WERE ASKING FOR IT BY—"

1. Some of y'all really REALLY need to realize that when most people talk about Bruce's abusive behaviors, they're literally criticizing the writers. Guys, they KNOW it's weird for Batman to act like that??? Literally no one wants a crazy Batman who beats up his kids? And y'all screaming "He's not abusive!" only to turn around and say "UM, THAT'S NOT MY BATMAN!" when people give you examples is a weird way to go about it?

2. Those of you who justify it are even weirder. I saw a post the other day talking about how the fans "infantalize Jason" and I legit laughed. As if every single popular fictional man doesn't get infantalized, BRUCE ESPECIALLY. Hell, you guys and DC infantalize Bruce by making his parents death the excuse for everything he does? Most other Batfam members fans I've met are WELL AWARE that DC has screwed over their writing, Jason fans in particular.

"UM JASON HAS—"

WE KNOW. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO JUSTIFY IT BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S THE WRITERS.

The writers of DC don't even read the stuff they're supposed to follow up on half the time. Look up on how they decide what to do with plots and it's fckin odd. They just use all this drama in the Batfam because they know y'all will make it more popular by arguing about it?

[mellebabbles]

Out of the many issues DC has with its own writing, how they use dialogue and convenient narration to manipulate audience perspective is the one that makes me question why I keep reading these comics. Obviously, this isn't limited to DC, but it is one of the worst cases I've seen.

Let's take Batman and Red Hood, for example. Comics from Jason's perspective often portray the Dark Knight as being a distant, controlling, emotionally neglectful and even physically abusive as a Father/mentor-- And before any Batman stans come for me, he isn't the only one writers do this with. Bear with me and you'll see why this is a problem.

DC almost always purposely uses this as drama at the cost of inconsistent character writing. Most have agreed that the way Bruce gets written when any of his kids are in the picture is messed up. Read enough of them and you'll notice a pattern: He does something borderline abusive, the plot progresses, and you can practically feel the writers realize this might make their cash cow Bat look bad (God Forbid.) But instead of the comics calling him out or changing his behavior, they shift dialogue to try and manipulate the narrative as if Batman was correct the whole time, and anyone not doing things his way is just wrong.

This doesn't just happen to Red Hood, but staying on him as an example, there will be a turning point in the plot where every other character involved is suddenly adamant that Jason is being immature, stupid, reckless, etc, and whatever trouble he's in was his fault to begin with, even when he's been doing things Batman's way. Heroes, neutral parties, and even villains start mocking and condescending to him, sometimes for doing the exact same thing that Bruce gets praised for. However reversibly, Batman does something just as bad (or even worse) and the narrative is that it was completely justified or the outcome is retconned/changed in his favor. Yet when this hypocrisy does get called out in comic, Bruce gives his usual edgy "Exactly, I don't want you to be like me." As if the writers are trying to look directly at the audience and say "See? He's just a flawed character! He's relatable!"

This leads to people hyper-defending every action of Batman instead of criticizing the writing behind it. "Bruce respects his kids! He says so in issue #467889999--" Just because the writers put the words in Batman's mouth doesn't mean anything when his actions don't back it up.

There's a reason why Show, don't tell is such a crucial writing rule. Portraying Batman as controlling and abusive, only to twist the narrative that he was "right all along," by

- changing the rules last minute

-having everyone verbally discredit his opponent

- emphasize how "badass and right Batman was" in every goddamn exchange

is lazy and poor writing. "I respect Nightwing," means nothing when Batman undermines him, insults him, criticizes his choices or punches him for the sake of ✨️the drama.✨️

It would be like telling the story of Snow White, where everything is exactly the same except she regularly kicks small animals, and bullies the dwarves. But the magic mirror, the Hunter and the dwarves still all emphasize what "kind and gentle Princess" she is without ever addressing her actions. Inconsistent character writing means the drama loses its effect. If your character can just sidestep their convictions for the sake of the plot, especially in a character driven story, then there is no character. A game with no rules, roles or directive isn't a game. That's why DC fanon is usually more popular, because somehow an entire fandom has managed to create more consistency than a team of writers.

[mellebabbles]

its just embarrassing when you make a fandom related post and it doesnt get any notes like okay. so no one want to play tuoys with me. no one wants to play with our little guys together. okay thats fine. yeah its cool... puts my hands in my jacket pockets. kicks a beer can that was on the side of the road a little

[mellebabbles]

"Bruce and Jason are the worst communicators! They'd find common ground if they just sat down and talked!"

I know it varies from comic to comic, but I can't get on board with this take for how many times I've seen Jason be so incredibly real with Bruce, only for him to come at Jason with the most irreparable emotional gut punches, regardless of how he meant them.

This isn't even the only time I've seen Jason speak very openly about his feelings. And this is proceeding what Bruce always does, which is bring him into these situations, only to tell him "Get out" as soon as he's outlived his use.

[mellebabbles]

The Unpopular Truth About the Batfam and DC as a Whole.

*TW brief mention of CSA*

(Edited for clarifications)

DC is inconsistent on its best days. There are infinite universes, and literally every timeline and AU that DC creates is technically canon, no matter how terrible it is.

For example, when I was a kid watching Teen Titans, I thought Slade was awesome! He was my favorite villain for a long while. Low and behold, I get older, read more comics, and realize that he’s a pedo. While I still think he’s a fantastic villain, that certainly took him down a few pegs in my brain.

(Edit: this is just a me thing. You are still allowed to like a morally bad character so long as you recognize that what they do is bad.)

If someone says their favorite villain is Heath Ledger’s Joker, I don’t bat an eye. If someone says that Alan Moore’s Joker is their favorite, I get concerned.

(Edit: this is in reference to the dudebros who relate to the Joker a little too much. You know the type.)

Same thing goes for the Batfam.

The characterization of the Batfam members is so inconsistent that it’s honestly hard to keep track of sometimes. You read one version of Damian Wayne and he’s talking about blood purity. You read a different version, and he’s using “chickens” as a curse word. It is a problem. No one has consistent character writing.

(Edit: Damian didn’t use “chickens as a cuss word. Many people, myself included, misread it as such. But my point still stands that Damian’s characterization is hella inconsistent.)

I could say “Batman is an implied pedo,” and every single Batman fan would want to argue. I want to argue!! But it’s true! In Frank Miller’s All Star Batman & Robin, Bruce, he kidnaps Dick Grayson and abuses him severely. It’s heavily implied that Bruce is attracted to Dick, it’s straight up shown that he grooms him, and it’s implied that he abuses him in that way. I absolutely loathe Frank Miller’s Batman for many reasons, but this is at the top of the list.

(Edit: Frank Miller probably didn’t intend for Batman to come off as predatory, but the actual content still heavily implies it regardless.)

Batman isn’t the only one.

There are versions of every Batfam member that I dislike for one reason or another. I have to live with the knowledge that Devin Grayson’s Nightwing exists, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

DC canon is a nightmare amalgamation of inconsistency, unsatisfactory storylines, unaddressed and mishandled trauma, and terrible behaviors from our “heroes.”

Don’t get me wrong; I love DC. I wouldn’t have read thousands of their comics, sat through all of their movies, and I wouldn’t be writing this post if I didn’t. But they are very very far from perfect.

All this to say, I don’t agree with a lot of comic fans who shame others for preferring fanon character depictions over canon ones. If you prefer fanon over canon, good for you! So do I! A lot of the time, the fanon comes from combining the best aspects of a character from different canons.

So don’t shame fans who haven’t read the comics, or who prefer fanon over canon. Because when it comes to DC, what is canon anyways?

(Edit: Yes, I’m aware that poor-taste fanon interpretations exist. Just like canon, fanon isn’t always going to be good. Don’t go harass people over it.)

TLDR: Death of the Author FTW

[mellebabbles]

Batfam Favorite Disney Princesses:

(Disclaimer: I'm using the official Disney Princesses list. These are my personal HCs)

Bruce Wayne:

Cinderella. A lover of the classics, Bruce has a weakness for the kind orphan girl who chased her own destiny by disguising herself after dark-- with the help of an elderly "Godparent." He remembers watching it as a child with his Mother, when he asked her if fairy Godparents were real. To which she responded, "What do you think Alfred is?"

Alfred Pennyworth:

Snow White. Alfred remembers seeing the film for the first time in theaters as a lad, and it's been a favorite of his ever since. To this day, Snow White herself reminds him of a young and whimsical Martha Wayne. From the dark locks, to the red lips and ability to charm everyone around her.

Richard Grayson:

Ariel. This movie practically fueled Dick's love of redheads from a young age. And coming to Gotham's high society from the circus, he felt a connection watching the little Mermaid try to find her way in the human world. (Extra: Put Dumbo on in front of this boy if you wanna watch him sob uncontrollably)

Barbara Gordan:

Also Ariel. Not only because it felt nice as a little girl to see a Princess who looked like her, but because guilt over keeping a secret double life from her protective Father, and losing her ability to walk hit almost too close to home.

Jason Todd:

Belle. A normal yet sassy girl with big dreams living in a poor village who loved books, was pretty much the reason the dark romance genre is thriving, showed forgiveness and compassion for a guy who severely fucked up? He was smitten from the moment she started singing about books and adventure "in the great life somewhere."

Tim Drake:

Tiana (and Lottie) from The Princess and the Frog. Apart from his weakness for people who aren't afraid to sass him, who go after what they want, kooky blondes and just being a big nerd for Keith David, he didn't really need much else.

Stephanie Brown:

"Superman."

Yes, she says this with 100% seriousness. Has never changed her answer.

Cassandra Cain:

Also, Ariel. Barbara Gordan showed her "The Little Mermaid," when she first came to stay with her. She still can't take her eyes off the screen when it's playing.

Damien Wayne:

Jasmine. Even though he complained about the historical and cultural inaccuracies of the film when he saw it for the first time, she's been his number #1 ever since then. Strong, fierce, she has a pet tiger??? (Something he's still begging Bruce for.)

Duke Thomas:

Rapunzel. No, not because she also has abilities related to "Light." He claims that's a coincidence, but the rest of the Batfam have pointed out how she was also a "mistreated foster child" who rebels against her abuser to pursue her own dreams, and ends up finding her parents in the process. He refuses to clarify if that's also a coincidence.

[mellebabbles]

- I'm not fond of Morrison's portrayal of Jason or Batman, or anyone really. And most of it has been retconned. It still doesn't change my preference for or that every portrayal of his main origin shows him with dark hair.

- DC is a mythos. There are so many writes/rewrites/universe resets/AUs/adaptations/writers that don't follow their own canon that people can pick and choose what they want from it, I myself have rewritten half of the canon based on what I like from which universes.

As previously stated, i just don't like misinformation being spread as if it's 100% fact. I would have posted the same thing if people were saying "Jason's hair was never red or blonde."

To the people who keep trying to say Jason Todd is a ginger, I wanna make something clear:

(Disclaimer. I do not hate ginger!Jason Todd or think it's more or less canon, I just hate misinformation and people who weaponize it to tell others what is or isn't canon.)

Jason Todd was a ginger/blonde BEFORE "Crisis on Infinite Earths." As in, back when his origin was IDENTICAL to Dick Grayson's. Literally, he was part of a circus performing trapeze family known as "The Flying Todds." And he wore his circus costume to fight crime until Dick gave him his old Robin suit. This origin hasn't been revisited since the Crisis revamp.

This is considered the first version of his canon origin of meeting Batman, tires and all (Note the black hair and Bruce actually laughing at the audacity of this little twerp's audacity, i really wish they would use this as source material more often):

[mellebabbles]

To the people who keep trying to say Jason Todd is a ginger, I wanna make something clear:

(Disclaimer. I do not hate ginger!Jason Todd or think it's more or less canon, I just hate misinformation and people who weaponize it to tell others what is or isn't canon.)

Jason Todd was a ginger/blonde BEFORE "Crisis on Infinite Earths." As in, back when his origin was IDENTICAL to Dick Grayson's. Literally, he was part of a circus performing trapeze family known as "The Flying Todds." And he wore his circus costume to fight crime until Dick gave him his old Robin suit. This origin hasn't been revisited since the Crisis revamp.

This is considered the first version of his canon origin of meeting Batman, tires and all (Note the black hair and Bruce actually laughing at the audacity of this little twerp's audacity, i really wish they would use this as source material more often):

[mellebabbles]

There's a rule in the Kansas Kent household that is known by almost every neighbor, friend, or family member who comes to the farm for parties or holidays.

And that rule is

Don't let any of the Bats/Waynes near the grill.

Years later and Bruce still insists he was playing "Brucie" Wayne the first time it happened, but Clark knows better.

"Bruce, you set my parents' porch on fire. It happened. It was an accident. You paid for the damages. It's fine. Just admit you didn't know what you were doing."

To which he never does.

Some years later, at a Kent farm Summer BBQ, the porch is once again in flames as a 12-year-old Dick Grayson looks on with a horrified thousand yard stare, holding a near-empty bottle of lighter fluid.

Bruce: Dick, what the hell happened???!!!

Dick: I don't know!!!! Mrs. Kent told me to watch it for a second, I was worried the fire wasn't hot enough!!!

Bruce: ....... (Pulling out his checkbook and writing yet another check to Clark for his parents, not even daring to make eye contact as he hands it to him.)

Another few years later; a 13-year-old Jason Todd simply walked over to watch Mr. Jonathan Kent grill a couple burgers, before his eyes locked onto a particularly mean looking wasp flying just a little too close to the precious food. Forgetting the power of a well-trained Robin's kick, his attempt to scare the wasp away sadly ended in a tipped grill and another fire. Bruce was already handing one of his credit cards to Clark, still unable to make eye contact.

By the time the next one rolls around, a confused 15-year-old Tim Drake is blocked, snatched, and pulled away by a well-cautioned Connor every time he came within twenty feet of the grill. A task the young Kryptonian clone took very seriously after being warned of every prior case of accidental arson caused by a Wayne boy.

Two years, another Kent BBQ. 17-year-old Stephanie feels she is owed the chaos she was promised. So she spins a tale to 11-year-old animal lover, Damian Wayne, that the Kents have a tradition of picking a random cow from the barn to cook on the barbecue. Damian's response? Pushing over the grill, setting yet another fire to the porch and running to the barn to "rescue" the cows. Bruce never even came back for his credit card this time.

16-year-old Duke Thomas might have been the one to break the cycle... if he hadn't accidently nearly blinded grill cook, Jonathan Kent, while attempting a party trick with his Photokinesis. To his credit, he was trying to show off for a few younger guests from forty feet away. Mr. Kent's glasses coupled with the blinding light, all while he was pouring lighter fluid, was just very unfortunate timing.

Since then, Cassandra Cain has been officially tasked as the "Grill Guard." Using her amazing powers of perception and standing as a bouncer against any Bat boy that comes close to the barbecue. There hasn't been an incident since.