Melle

"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.

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.✨️

"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.

(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.

(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):

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.