Directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, John Turturro, and others, the DC hard-boiled detective hero film 'The Batman' can be said to be a 'true Batman' film that combines essential elements from various past Batman works (films, animations, TV series, comics, video games, etc.) with a film noir detective style. What hidden secrets from the original comics or other Batman works are contained within it? If you're still craving more after watching the film, where can you find the complex atmosphere of Gotham City—corrupt, damp, yet containing a glimmer of hope? Let this article inform you!
I. Characters and Character Settings
1. Hush
A crucial turning point in 'The Batman' film lies in the Riddler exposing the Wayne family's dark secret: a reporter named 'Elliot' uncovered Mrs. Wayne's psychiatric history and intended to publish it extensively in the newspaper. To protect his wife, Bruce Wayne's father, Thomas, sought out crime lord Carmine Falcone after hush money proved ineffective. Unexpectedly, reporter Elliot died under Falcone's orders.
Image credit:Screen Rant
Speaking of 'Elliot,' one cannot help but mention the classic Batman villain 'Hush.' Hush's real name is Thomas 'Tommy' Elliot, also from a prominent family like Bruce, and was Bruce's childhood best friend. However, Tommy suffered severe abuse from his father, leading him to orchestrate a car accident for his parents to quickly inherit the family fortune. Although his father died, his mother was saved by Dr. Thomas Wayne, leading Tommy Elliot to resent the Wayne family.
Image credit:Heroic Hollywood
Tommy later became a world-renowned surgeon and even discovered the secret that Bruce Wayne is Batman! Leveraging his knowledge of Bruce and his hatred, Tommy transformed into 'Hush,' becoming one of Batman's significant adversaries. He even once used his superb plastic surgery skills to alter his appearance to look like Bruce Wayne! 'The Batman' director Matt Reeves is also very interested in the character of Hush. If we're lucky, we might get to see a live-action version of Hush on the big screen.
▼ In the Dark Multiverse, Bruce, having lost his parents, was adopted by the Elliot family, which only worsened his trauma. He later became the vengeful 'Batman The Silenced' (from 'Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Batman: Hush'). Image credit:Superhero Database
2. The Riddler and the Zodiac Killer
While the Riddler's real name is more commonly known as Edward Nigma, his earliest name was actually Edward Nashton. He later changed his surname from Nashton to Nigma to be closer to the word 'enigma'.
The Riddler's appearance in 'The Batman' film is starkly different from his widely recognized classic look of a bowler hat and suit. Instead, it draws inspiration from the real-world serial killer, the 'Zodiac Killer'.
3. Peter Savage
Police Commissioner Peter Savage, one of the symbols of Gotham City's corruption, is an original character from the 1966 Batman TV series. However, the Peter Savage played by Albert Carrier at the time was not the Police Commissioner, but rather Pete Savage, a noble scion who established one of Gotham City's three prominent families.
4. Dory
The Wayne Manor we are accustomed to is Bruce's sanctuary, where he lives with his loyal butler Alfred Pennyworth. However, 'The Batman' film introduces an original character who looks after Bruce—'Dory,' played by Sandra Dickinson. This character could potentially be inspired by Harriet Cooper, a character from the 1964 comics and the 1966 TV series, or perhaps Leslie Thompkins, an old doctor friend of the Wayne family.
▼ In the TV series 'Gotham,' Morena Baccarin's portrayal of Leslie Thompkins married Police Commissioner James Gordon / actor Ben McKenzie, both on and off-screen. Image credit:ComicBook
5. Alfred Pennyworth
If you are more familiar with the background of Alfred Pennyworth, it's often mentioned in recent years that Alfred has a military background. For instance, the TV series 'Pennyworth' and the New 52 era comics both incorporate SAS (Special Air Service) into Alfred's character profile. Michael Caine also imagined his portrayal of Alfred as a retired SAS soldier, and 'The Dark Knight' briefly touched upon Alfred's military career.
Interestingly, Alfred in 'The Batman' might not just be SAS. While helping Bruce decipher the Riddler's code, Alfred mentioned reliving memories, using the word 'Circus.' In the works of master spy novelist John le Carré, 'The Circus' is a codename for the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). This suggests that Andy Serkis's version of Alfred might also have a background as a retired intelligence officer.
▼ Andy Serkis's more rugged appearance is quite similar to the 'Earth One' version of Alfred. Image credit:CBR
6. Robin, Is That You?
Jay Lycurgo, who played 'Robin' Tim Drake in 'Titans,' also had a small role in 'The Batman' as a kind-hearted street kid. Will we see him again in future Robert Pattinson Batman films?
Image credit:Distractify
Do you think Jay Lycurgo's role here is also Tim Drake? Or is he the street-born Robin—Jason Todd? Perhaps he could be "The Signal"—Duke Thomas?
▼Duke Thomas and Batman also first met in "Zero Year," from "Batman: Zero Year" Image credit:DC Comics
7. The Joker
Before "The Batman" movie was released, news spread like wildfire that Irish actor Barry Keoghan, who appeared in Marvel's "Eternals," would portray the classic Batman villain—"The Joker"—in "The Batman." In fact, this news was not far from the truth.
▼Fan-made composite image of the Joker. Image credit:HOT MOVIES NEWS
According to interview content, director Matt Reeves believes Barry Keoghan's character is conceived as "a person who will become the Joker," and has already developed a certain level of archenemy relationship with Robert Pattinson's Batman. In this new film series, the Joker is expected to bring exciting drama to Batman and Gotham City, something fans can greatly anticipate.
II. Earth One
Although the film primarily references "Batman: Year One" for a nascent Batman, "Zero Year" from the New 52 era with the Riddler as the primary antagonist, and the eerie city of "The Long Halloween," many traces can also be found in "Batman: Earth One." For instance, in this story, Bruce Wayne's maternal lineage is the Arkham family, deeply troubled by mental illness; the Riddler is a significant adversary, and so on.
Most importantly, key scenes in the film also find echoes in "Batman: Earth One." In the movie, Batman selflessly uses a Batarang to cut high-voltage cables, bravely rescues trapped citizens, and lights a flare to guide the crowd. This can be considered the climax of "The Batman," where Batman truly begins his journey towards heroism.
▼From "Batman: Earth One." In "Batman: Earth One," Batman similarly desperately prevents the Riddler's bomb trap installed on a tram, extending a helping hand to all trapped citizens. Image credit:DC Comics
III. Arkham Knight
Besides rewatching the film, how can movie lovers relive that atmosphere of a perpetually rainy, fallen city? (Thinking about it, Taipei with its non-stop rain in the past few weeks felt quite Gotham-esque!) "Arkham Knight" is definitely your best choice; the moments in the game battling Scarecrow and other supervillains also take place on a night of incessant rain.
▼From "Batman: Arkham Knight." Image credit:GameSpot
If you want to confront a serial killer, that's even less of a problem. If we were to choose the most chilling villain in "Arkham Knight," it probably wouldn't be the big boss Scarecrow, or the Joker lurking within Batman's mind, but rather "Professor Pyg" Lazlo Valentin. Unable to accept human imperfections, Lazlo, under the guise of "treatment," brutally murdered disabled individuals one by one. Batman had to constantly compare the characteristics and data of each victim to bring Lazlo to justice, but not before several victims had already perished at the hands of Professor Pyg.
▼Professor Pyg, Lazlo Valentin, from "Batman: Arkham Knight" Image credit:GameSpot
IV. The Flood that Drowned Gotham
The Riddler's final trap in the film was to instruct his followers to shoot up the Gotham City mayor's victory ceremony and to detonate the seawall, flooding Gotham City. In the comic "Zero Year," the Riddler also unleashed a water attack on Gotham.
▼From "Batman: Zero Year." Image credit:DC Comics
V. The True Batman Suit
In addition to blending past Batman works into its narrative elements, the Batman suit in the film also exhibits a similar tendency: the chest and shoulder armor feature lines reminiscent of the Batsuit from "Arkham Knight"; the collar and mask stitching evoke the style of Gaslight Batman.
▼(Left) Arkham Knight's Batsuit; (Right) Gaslight Batman Image credit:Prime Video
VI. Class Struggle in "The Batman"
It's quite interesting that several recent Batman and related films seem to have inevitably involved elements of "class" and even "class struggle." "The Dark Knight Rises," "The Joker," and this year's "The Batman" are among the stronger works in this regard. It can only be said that Batman's identity as a wealthy heir is an unavoidable and deeply rich narrative source for creative exploration.
Image credit:IMDb
Image credit:IMDb
VII. Soundtrack Titles
1. Can’t Fight City Halloween
The "Batman" film directly opens with "Halloween," echoing the classic Batman story "The Long Halloween." Across the 13 issues of "The Long Halloween," various factions in Gotham City—the mob, villains, police, and prosecutors—along with the hard-boiled detective Batman, and the "Holiday Killer" who strikes on every major holiday, are all involved. Amidst an atmosphere of unknown truths and cunning calculations from all sides, "The Long Halloween" portrays the tragedy of a city where trust cannot be found.
▼ "Batman: The Long Halloween" cover. "Can’t Fight City Halloween" possesses a thrilling, cinematic melodic style, conveying the imagined fear of street criminals towards Batman. It concludes with Batman's own theme slowly emerging within the music, underscoring the psychological pressure of the avenger stepping out into the dark night. Image credit:DC Database
2. It’s Raining Vengeance
Robert Pattinson's Batman's most famous line in the film is undoubtedly "I am vengeance." This line is drawn from "Batman: The Animated Series," a classic delivered by the legendary Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy: "I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman!" In the Batman video game "Batman: Arkham Knight," Kevin Conroy can also be heard interpreting the same line with a different tone, a testament to his superb skill!
Furthermore, in "Batman: Earth One," a reimagining of the Batman mythos with a new-generation style, there's a scene where Penguin questions the intruder's identity, and Batman responds with "Vengeance."
▼ From "Batman: Earth One." The melody of "It’s Raining Vengeance" is based on Batman's theme, but with added unstable elements, much like Batman's seemingly stoic exterior concealing suppressed rage beneath. Image credit:DC Comics
3. Escaped Crusader, World’s Worst Translator
Batman has many aliases. Besides "The Dark Knight," widely known due to the films, he is also called "The Caped Crusader" and "The World’s Greatest Detective." However, in the soundtrack titles, these have been playfully altered to "Escaped Crusader" and "World’s Worst Translator."
▼ From "Batman: The Animated Series" Image credit:La Cueva del Lobo
4. Riddles, Riddles Everywhere
The title of this piece is very simple, as the name suggests, "Riddles Everywhere." The melody also contains a strong sense of conflict, with seemingly peaceful tunes constantly clashing with frantic, sharp notes, easily reminiscent of Paul Dano's Riddler's terrifying screams.
However, speaking of the word "everywhere," one cannot help but mention the infamous "Riddler Trophies" from the Batman Arkham video game series. Riddler Trophies are a collectible element in the Arkham series; players must solve the Riddler's puzzles and mechanisms to complete his challenges.
▼ From “Batman: Arkham Knight.” While the puzzle designs, hidden Easter eggs, and ingenious mechanisms are all very interesting, their sheer number is overwhelming. We believe most players would love to give the in-game Riddler a Paul Dano-esque scream, letting him feel the players' frustration. Image credit:IGN
5. Bonus: Catwoman's Theme Song
Catwoman's theme song is a rare gentle piece of music in "The Batman" film's soundtrack, which is predominantly based on horror and tension. Beyond feeling the enchanting tenderness of Catwoman Selina Kyle, it also incorporates a hint of a bar atmosphere, and even echoes of "The Godfather's" classic gangster film theme, bringing out Catwoman's complex background in the movie.
▼ The casting for Catwoman in "The Batman" film is truly outstanding (Left: Arkham City; Middle: "The Batman"; Right: “Batman: Year One”)
