Batman and His Family

[me_ya_ri]

Batman: The Ultimate Loner

Comments

[bradygirl_12]

Very well done, Meya! :)

It always amuses me that people think Bruce is a loner when he's got the biggest family in the DCU. ;) Though who knows after the Reboot? *shrugs*

I loved the section on Dick, of course. He is a ray of sunshine who brought life and laughter back to the Manor. :)

I also agree with your descriptions of the other kids, too. All had parts to play in Bruce's family. And it makes sense that a man who lost his family in one horrific moment would seek to replace that family the rest of his life.

While people can make their case for Bruce-as-Loner, I don't buy it. To me, the evidence of his family is enough to counter that argument.

Good job! :)

[me_ya_ri]

Thanks Brady!

He really does surround himself with people, doesn't he? I really can't say much about the DCnU as I'm not reading very much of it (and less as time goes by).

Dick is very much a ray of sunshine made incarnate. He's such a wonderful character that way. :D

Glad that you liked my descriptions of the kids. They do all play a part in who Bruce is, how he thinks of the world, and I really do believe that Bruce tries (conciously or unconciously) to replace what he's lost through them.

Thank you for the comment--so glad that you liked this one!

[cycnus39]

I disagree with the idea of Bruce thinking of any of the Robins* as his children except for maybe Dick -- whom I agree with Bruce adopting in a move that was good for both of them. However, I do agree that Bruce is not a loner because he does like being with people he likes

[me_ya_ri]

I can definitely see your point (especially with Tim and Steph). Canon is open enough for both interpretations IMO. Either way, Bruce certainly seems to surround himself by the best and brightest people.

Yes! He really still is that shy boy who doesn't quite know how to relate to others. He can fake it when necessary of course, but it's not ever going to be something that comes naturally to him.

I truly can see that. I like interpreting them as his children personally (partially because I have a hard time shipping Bruce with anyone other than Clark and maybe Lex) but yes, that does work with my understanding of canon too. Comics are lovely that way. They're always open to interpretation. ;)

*snort* I so don't blame you! Damian in canon absolutely drives me nuts with his horrible behavior. I only like certain fanon versions of him.

Thank you for the comment--glad that you found this interesting!

[cycnus39]

Thank you for your quick response

[me_ya_ri]

You're quite welcome! I do try and respond promptly (otherwise I get overloaded with it and anxious about it).

Heh, I think Damian could be a very interesting character if only he were handled well. He just... isn't. >:|

Ah, I see what you mean! Honestly, that's a lot like me. I really have very little need to socialize with people and it's not something that bothers me until significant amounts of time go by without contact.

XD I'd love to see that table! It would be so interesting.

Thanks again!

[bk03]

Excellent read. While I'm more familiar with the DCAU Batman universe over the comics, I agree with almost everything you wrote. I think too many people don't fully understand the good ways the "children" have impacted and helped Bruce and Batman better.

[me_ya_ri]

Thank you so much! I'm much more familiar with the comics than the animated universe so I'm glad that this transfers over well. Each of the kids has had a huge impact on Bruce, even if he does his best not to show it. Thank you for the comment--so glad that you liked this!

[mithen]

You've done a great job here of (IMHO) having a really even-handed summary of each of the Robins and what they bring to Bruce's life, as well as the ways that he cherishes each of them. I do really wish someone at DC would re-commit to Bruce and Talia being consensual--it's far from my favorite pairing, but the way O'Neil wrote them they were plausibly attracted to each other and decently matched, and that seems the right way to do it to me. The tension between Bruce as this sort of "lone wolf" that crops up so often while he also has these passionately intense bonds with a variety of people is part of what makes the character so fascinating to me, and I like the way you've detailed the social side of him here!

[me_ya_ri]

:D Thank you so much! I was trying really hard to be fair about covering the Robins and their effects on Bruce. It would be so nice if Talia and Bruce's relationship went back to consensual, yes! I really dislike their having made it nonconsensual but I'm not in charge so... *sad shrug* That tension between Bruce's tendency to push people away and his intense bonds to those around him really is a wonderful part of him. I'd love to see someone's take on the opposite side, the ways he pushes people away. *sighs*

Thank you for the comment and for letting me ramble here! *big hug*

[mithen]

Interestingly, I just finished the most recent Batman & Robin, in which Damian asks Bruce, "Did you love my mother?" and Bruce responds "I believe I did." I was happy to see that it was "believe" and not "believed," which is a very different sort of answer... I don't mind that they don't love each other now, but I'd like there to have been more than just drugs...

[me_ya_ri]

\o/ *throws huge party* \o/

Well, it's about damn time! It always makes me cringe about what poor Damian must think when it's written as fully non-consensual. Poor baby's got enough issues without THAT hanging over his head all the time and lord knows Bruce would resent him that much more if he had been born of what amounts to rape. >.>

[me_ya_ri]

Thank you so much! There really is enough in canon to support pretty much any view you want of Bruce/Batman. He's been written so many different ways by so many people that it's all there for the choosing