Why The Arrowverse Needs To Copy Titans Approach To Batman

Both Titans and The CW's Arrowverse introduced distinct versions of Batman — but Batwoman and friends really should share the teen Titan group's view of him. After hanging over the show like a spectral figure, Bruce Wayne was introduced during Titans season 2. Played by Iain Glen, he met with Dick Grayson in the wake of Trigon's defeat. There, Bruce asked that Jason Todd be taken under the wing of Titans 2.0. As Batman's alter-ego, Glen returned multiple times in either a helpful or a hallucinatory tormenting capacity.

Over in the Arrowverse, neither Bruce Wayne nor Batman has made their official debut. However, in the Batwoman season 1 finale, a version of Bruce Wayne was portrayed by Warren Christie when Alice gifted Tommy Elliot the ability to pass as the wayward billionaire. Christie returned as Faux-Bruce in Batwoman season 2, episode 1, "What Happened To Kate Kane". Despite managing to wound her with a Kryptonite bullet, he was ultimately defeated by Ryan Wilder's iteration of Batwoman. In the process, the real Batman's fate and location have remained generally unknown and the subject of fierce speculation.

Related: Batwoman: Every Clue To Batman's Arrowverse Disappearance

Regardless of his absence, much like in Titans, the Batman of the Arrowverse has hung over proceedings like a shadow. In Batwoman season 1, Kate Kane returned to Gotham in order to save the life of her former love. While in town she learned that Bruce was actually Batman and opted to follow in her cousin's footsteps. Viewing him with reverence, Kate fought to honor Bruce's legacy and even kept a journal of those efforts. Even those working with Kate, such as Luke Fox, viewed Bruce similarly. Luke often saw Bruce's efforts as flawless and mentored Kate in the importance of living up to his example. However, given everything Batwoman has revealed about the Arrowverse's Batman, that idolization has felt more than a touch incongruous.

Batwoman season 1, episode 17, "A Narrow Escape" saw Kate struggle with her vengeful killing of Dr. August Cartwright. In order to console her, Luke revealed that the Arrowverse's Batman had actually murdered The Joker. Alongside that, several crimes that hit close to home for some characters went by without Batman getting justice. He never solved the abduction of Beth Kane. He never solved the murder of Lucius Fox. Instead, Bruce abandoned his post and left the heavily corrupt Crows to swoop in.  Given all of that and more, the reverence has felt somewhat misplaced. After all, to paraphrase Oliver Queen's famous words: Bruce Wayne has failed this city.

Conversely, the heroes of Titans have been far more jaded with Batman. That's mostly been conveyed through Dick Grayson — who, for the most part, has viewed Batman with aggressive scorn. Realizing that the path Bruce Wayne set him on had only driven Dick to a dark and violent place, Dick sought to find his own way and evolved into Nightwing. Though he and Bruce reached a more amicable accord, he remained disillusioned with Batman as a hero figure. Similarly, Bruce Wayne contributed to Jason Todd's abandonment issues. As such, Jason's evolution into Red Hood will likely be fuelled by equal disdain for Batman and his seemingly being immediately replaced by Tim Drake. The other Titans have only had limited interactions with the caped crusader, but have nonetheless been unimpressed.

Fortunately, Batwoman season 2 has been less about honoring Bruce's legacy and more about Kate Kane's. Still, Faux-Bruce's return emphasized that the universe might be okay with Batman waltzing back in rather than calling out his obvious failures. Equally, instead of encouraging Ryan Wilder to live up to those benchmarks, the characters (and the show) would benefit by pushing her to be a better hero than he turned out to be in this universe. Ryan herself already shown a commitment to that, and other characters, like Nightwing and team, should get on board with her forging a unique, better path. That goes double given the evident fact that Batman will likely never feature directly and atone. In short, the Arrowverse could learn a lesson or two from Titans by simply saying, "F**k Batman!"

More: Titans Should Retire Its Batman In Season 3

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March 16, 2021 at 05:21AM