Comparison Of Batman And A Christmas Carol

Written and illustrated by Lee Bermejo, the publically appreciated graphic novel Batman: Noël is an adaptation of Charles Dicken’s cherished story “a Christmas Carol”. Both novels are written basely on the subject of a man- a very unique man: Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge. While Batman: Noël focuses on Bruce Wayne and His personal journey, Mr. Scrooge is identified with Batman in this tale; having Batman be the representation of our infamous protagonist. A tale of love, hope, and redemption, this story’s theme centers chiefly around one vital question: is change possible? Can one really be changed? Can a re-centering of values, a re-ignition of action, and an abandonment of passivity really be achieved? The tales of Batman Noël and “A Christmas Carol”

wrestle with this notion, and the narrative intently looks to find the answer. After close inspection of the novel, I believe that indeed- our story does find its answer, and I believe that when Lee Bermejo was writing this story, he believed that Batman would be able to find his answer, too. Through a vivid look into his past, close analysis of his present, and a terrifying vision of the future, our hero Bruce Wayne was able to make a serious heart-change; resulting in the redemption of his cause, the re-working of his priorities, and the blooming of his hope once again.

Initially, Bruce Wayne is a destroyed character. His life exists as a collection of tragedies; endless moments in time where his heart is saturated yet again by the memory and repeating experience of losing all of his hopes and dreams to death and despair. This repetition of tragedy and pain began when Bruce was a young boy; in an instant his family, his future, his entire life was ripped apart from him by the will of a man with a gun. He recounts this chilling event constantly- he details the way that the gun sounded when it fired at his loved ones, the wretched horror filling the alleyway, the visual of pearls (from his mother’s broken necklace), falling like raindrops towards the pavement, and splashing in the dead water. This life-event marked the spiritual death of the child known as Bruce Wayne, and was the instant birth of his alter-ego -- arguably his true spiritual identity -- known as “the Batman”. As his faithful butler (and undeniable father-figure) Alfred Pennyworth recounts,

There would be no grieving for this child. No time would be lost time wishing he could change these events. There would only be the promise. That very night, on the street stained with his mother and father’s blood, he would make a vow to rid the city of the evil that had taken their lives… He would become the Batman. (Jeph Loeb)

This would not be end of his suffering, though, for the Batman experienced even greater terror, greater pain, and greater suffering throughout his lifetime. All of this in perspective, what is intriguing about the character of Batman is that he epitomizes the idea of pushing through pain. Batman is the master of grasping his bull by the horns, and making the most of his situation- Batman knows how to take action whilst laboring in the dark pit of despair. In fact, this is the very point and purpose of the Batman, and this is what he remembers about himself as He looks into his past during our story. When the tale begins, Batman is no longer being characterized as the kind of person described previously; but rather as someone who has fallen into emotional darkness. Batman’s attitude towards life, in the beginning of our novel, is one that looks at life as something that is simply happening to him... rather than something to be lived. “His early life seemed so full of vigor, full of accomplishment and triumph! He bit into life with a hunger, a need to be the best man he could be…” (Lee Bermejo). During the look into his past, Batman is surprised at how differently he approached his situations- and he questions whether he may have just been young and naive- or perhaps, he really has changed, for the worse.

Following Batman’s reflection, (which took place during the daring chase of his friend / adversary, Selina Kyle, AKA Catwoman), our protagonist encounters an ally: Clark Kent, the Man of Steel known as Superman. Clark, engaging in conversation immediately, recognizes his friend’s Scrooge-esche mentality, and believes that he can help Batman view his present with new perspectives. Taking Bruce up into the cold, night-time sky above the city, Clark presents his case to his friend: “he knew there was still a chance for ol’ Scroogey to see something he might have stopped looking for long ago” (Lee Bermejo). Clark recognized that Bruce was no-longer living life for something, but rather he was approaching life as something that was just simply happening. Life had become simply a collection of tasks to be done. Instead of being driven to take charge, instead of having the conviction to make things better, and instead of fighting for peace, justice, and restoration… the task of Batman became a chore for Bruce Wayne. Unmerciful, ungraceful, and without reason or drive, Batman had become the very thing he once despised: a selfish predator, relentlessly preying on the fearful. “Look at your people. Take a second and look as hard at your lambs as you do your lions. Sometimes I think that helping people, saving people, can be just as easy as showing them your face. The face of someone exactly like them” (Lee Bermejo). Clark expresses to Bruce that his current attitude towards the community he is supposed to be serving has become an unhealthy one; where people are just assignments to be accomplished, rather than human beings to be cared for. Bruce initially scoffs at his friend’s case, as he typically does towards Clark: "Deep down, Clark's essentially a good person... and deep down, I'm not." (Jeph Loeb). However, Bruce indeed wrestles with Clark’s concerns towards him; and this leaves him in reflection of his present. Is he really accomplishing what he had set out to do so long ago? Is he really creating more problems rather than fixing them? Has his approach to the mission of Batman become selfish and diluted? Our hero wrestles with these questions, and in turn, reflects forward; to see where his life may take him, should he continue to approach it the way that he has been.

“As those clammy hands pushed down on Scroogey’s chest, he thought about the future for the first time and realized… the only legacy he would leave behind is pain” (Lee Bermejo).

At this point in our story, Batman is now clinging to his life as he lies buried under a tombstone. After being caught in a trap set by the Joker, Batman is left unconscious underground- and this is where he has a vivid (but perhaps exaggerated) look into his future. In his vision, Bruce sees that the current legacy he will leave behind will not be one of hope, or healing, and it will not leave Gotham in any better state that it had ever been. However, Batman looks into the future and he realizes that his legacy will be nothing less than that of utter ruin- because of his inability to be compassionate, because of the distance he continually drew between himself and others, because of his sheer lack of love for anybody or anything. After looking into his past, and analyzing his present, Batman took a look at the road ahead and saw it taking him somewhere he didn’t want to go. “They say you’re born alone and you die alone. But even if that was true, would you want it to be? If you had the chance to change, to get it right- would you fight for it? Sometimes it takes dying… to teach a fella how to live” (Lee Bermejo). Charged with new drive in his lungs, our hero bursts out of the ground with deep determination on his face- determination to get it right, determination to change for the

better.

Being an adaptation of Charles Dicken’s beloved story “a Christmas Carol”, Batman: Noël is written basely on the subject of the man known as the Batman; for whom the character known as “Mr. Scrooge” is precisely identified with. Both of these tales being tales of love, hope, and redemption, Batman: Noël’s theme centers chiefly around one pivotal question: Can one really be changed? Our narrative intently looks to find the answer, and concludes: “I believe that a man can change. But change is such a powerful thing, such a big idea, that I gotta believe there’s more to it then just makin’ a choice” (Lee Bermejo). As a commentator, I believe that the narrative is right; only after a vivid look into his past, a close analysis of his present, and a terrifying vision of the future, did our hero have the drive make a serious heart-change. This is what it takes: not simply an out-of-the-blue decision that one makes because they feel like it. Change is a process… one that takes a lot of courage to go through. This is the theme of the story: and I believe that this process is one that we may embrace joyfully, for this it is one that we surely all must go through in our own personal journey.”