Ben Affleck: Should we really hate the new Batman?

Written by George D. Verlander

Batman began against Scarecrow, The Dark Knight thwarted the psychologically-damaged Joker, and in his final showdown rose up against a broken back, a tainted reputation and a colossal juggernaut of a villain Bane, as Christopher Nolan's trilogy came to an end last year.

Since then millions of fans across the globe have laid in wait for the next chapter, with dozens of questions left unanswered. Who would take over Batman? Will Christian Bale return for the 2015 Justice League movie? How did Commissioner Gordon not realise it was Bruce Wayne all along? As an avid comic book fan, and super-hero stalker, I like thousands of other people around the world can say that in comparison to other comic-book characters Batman himself is in a league of his own. Whilst Marvel may contain a higher quantity of awesome characters; Spider-Man, Captain America and Thor, DC comics seem to really hit home with Batman.

I have often wondered what it is about our Dark Knight that makes him so loveable. Perhaps it is down to the vast range of gadgets at his disposal, like his famous Battarang and Batmobile. Maybe it could be due to the costume itself, that seems to stand out against other super-heroes and seem somewhat menacing, in the black cape hung around his shoulders and cowl shielding his identity. However,  beneath that costume and behind all the weapons to hand we must remember the one thing that makes him so iconic. He has no real "super-power".

Unlike other superheroes that occupy this alternative universe, Batman was never bitten by a radioactive spider, caught in a gamma radiation blast, or born a demi god from another realm. At first glance he was a kid, like every one of us at a time, who suffered a traumatic experience when his parents were murdered in front of him at gunpoint. Scarred from this memory Wayne vowed to use his wealth to fight crime, creating Gotham's vigilante that would make a difference. I think that Batman is important to the average Joe on the street, as just like the Bat symbol that looms over his city, Batman too acts as a light in the Dark, urging people that they too can be heroes, and that you don't need super-powers to stand up for yourselves, for the poor, and for the people who need help.

"Anyone can be Batman" quoted Bale in his final instalment of The Dark Knight trilogy. So why could Ben Affleck not reprise this role? Since his confirmation to be the next one to step into the boots of this figure there has been an uproar from fans to uproot him from this character. Affleck has been derogated before we have even given him chance. Don't get me wrong, Bale, in comparison to previous Batman's has been the best one, providing audiences with moments of heart-stopping compassionate emotion, in concordance to awesome, fist pumping, kick ass, cashing cheques breaking necks action, fighting the goons of Gotham, and the villains that seek to destroy it. But, as a fan of both Batman, and Ben Affleck himself (Yes, I am a Daredevil guy) I urge fans like myself to give him a chance.

Bale was great for bringing Batman into the 21st century, and moving far away from the cheesy one liner days of Adam West and George Clooney. Of course Affleck's Batman will take a new perspective on this caped crusader, and that's exactly why fans are scared. "You always fear, what you don't understand." (Batman Begins.)

I personal think Warner Bros, although no details have been released as of yet, will go down the route of recent Arkham Asylum and City console games, and build Affleck's Batman in a way similar to the ones shown there, already an established super-hero, well into his days as Gotham's only hope. But, lets see what happens.

Ben Affleck will star as Batman in the sequel to this years, surprisingly entertaining "Man of Steel" in 2014, when DC's two iconic characters face off. Superman may be almost undefeatable, but he hasn't got his own car now has he. As for Ben Affleck, it won't matter who he is underneath, but what he does to define him.