Batman and Guy Gardner (JLI era), part 6
[part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5]
Guy being constantly compared - and losing by comparison - to other superheroes is a repeating pattern in comics. This is an especially visible part of his rivalry with Hal Jordan, the original Green Lantern that, if not all then at least the majority of characters openly like and trust. However to some degree, this applies also to Batman:
Guy: Is that bozo a royal pain or what? Mr. Miracle: I admit I'm not overly comfortable with Batman's style-- Guy: Yeah. Well, that makes two of us. Mr. Miracle: -- but next to you, he's Mother Theresa.
Guy: What the hell d'we need him for? Catherine: For his brains, his skills, his wisdom. Guy: Fer cryin' out loud -- that's what ya got me for! Catherine: Puh-leez Guy...
As the source material showed, Guy’s feelings toward the Dark Knight are complicated, driven both by anger, insecurity and need for validation.
Thus we have extremely different examples. Like:
A) Guy lied to Kilowog about being popular member of the JLI, implying to be leader and specifically, about beating Batman to keep him in line on a daily basis (when in reality, it was Batman keeping Guy in check and they physically fought once and Guy was knocked down with one punch).
Kilowog: So what's with you? You still beatin' Batman up every week like you said in your letters? Guy: Uh... yeah. But I'll tell ya, he's been gettin' really outt hand since they put out that movie about him. Kilowog: Howcum they haven't done a movie about you? Guy: Oh... well... they are doin' one! Gettin' Sly Stallone t'play me, too! Kilowog:Y'know, I'm never sure when you're serious.
(And please, note this is another example of Guy being compared to Batman. How come there is a movie about Dark Knight, but not about Guy, Kilowog asked and Guy immediately lied he is getting one soon, with a famous action movie actor starring as Guy. Gardner is compensating here, not for the first or last time.)
B) When Guy’s evil clone was created to replace Gardner and in long run, to destroy other superheroes, he at first comforted himself with this prospect, imagining evil!Guy beating Batman (with some superheroes already laying defeated in the background),
then Hal Jordan and finally impressing Ice:
Guy: Actually it might be kinda fun. An evil, mean and nasty Guy Gardner let loose on Earth. A Guy without my sensibilities and moral code and solid family values. A Guy who can let his hair down. That’d show all the do-gooder wimps and flying wussies that Guy was pulling his punches all these years. They’d find out what a no-holds-barred Guy Gardner could do. It might be sweet. Might be fun. I might like that. King of the Hill. Guy Gardner: Earth’s mightiest mortal. Too cool. A Guy who takes no guff when he struts his stuff. A Guy who does what he wants, takes what he wants. But hold on a second. Maybe it’s not such a great idea. It wouldn’t be me having all the kicks.
Ultimately Gardner rejected the brutal dream with the conclusion that “it wouldn't be me” to enjoy all of this.
C) When Guy was chosen over Hal Jordan and officially appointed the protector of sector 2814 by Guardians, he tried to share the news with his fellow team members. First, Fire and Ice did not believe him and Fire even joked that the only reason Gardner dared to call himself the chosen Green Lantern of Earth was because Hal Jordan was out of earshot.
The further argument was shot down by Martian Manhunter, who told Guy “would you mind keeping it down? Some of us here are trying to be real superheroes” and then slammed the door in his face. Said real superheroes included Blue Beetle (laughing, presumably at Guy?) and Batman (whose reaction to the commotion is not visible). Gardner being excluded from/not invited into J’onn’s meeting implies he is not considered a real superhero.
Guy went next to Maxwell Lord to “set up a new system”. However Max clearly was not interested in whatever Gardner had to say, being busy with his own things. Guy specifically told Maxwell he was chosen as Green Lantern of Earth, but since Maxwell didn’t pay attention to what Guy is saying, he assumed Hal Jordan decided to join their team.
This short interaction with Fire, Ice, J’onn and Max showed well how the team didn’t pay attention to Guy and it is not the first or last example of Guy being ignored by his teammates. This attitude actually got him down, as seen in following scene:
Guy: So. Is this the curse of the hero? To be surrounded by dumb-butts? I gotta read me some o' that Joseph Campbell stuff. Maybe he's got some tips. Kilowog: Not going good, huh, buddy? Guy: I can't believe it. I finally get what I been wanting all along. I'm finally it. And nobody'll buy it! There's gotta be somebody. Justice League Europe, maybe. That Power Girl's got a coupla nice attributes. Maybe she'd... naw. Too macho for me. Kilowog: So what d'you care? Didn't you tell me other heroes was all jerks anyway? Guy: Well, yeah, but... Yeah! It's the little people who make the legends! [...]
Kilowag asked an important question - why Guy cares, if he said the other superheroes were jerks anyway? Indeed, Guy may present himself as not caring for other people’s opinions but in truth, he seeks validation from them.
In regard to Batman, this is double fascinating as at this point in the story, he does not lead Justice League anymore. He is not even a full-time member. The comics did not show his reaction to Guy’s official promotion to Green Lantern of sector 2814. Yet Batman still takes a special place in the power ring-generated image of Justice League. He is almost placed in the center of the group, while Blue Beetle (attending the meeting of “the real superheroes” and one of core members of JLI) is nowhere to be seen here. Technically, J’onn is in the middle, but he is standing behind Batman, which is an interesting look at Guy’s idea of team dynamic. J’onn is de facto the leader, but it is Batman that takes the most prominent place.
