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lonelywretchjervistetch · 1 year

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My DC Cinematic Universe: Batman (Part II)

Part II: Parents Lost and Found

First things first: no origin story in this movie, just like Superman. If you don't know Batman's origin story at this point, you're living under a rock. Of the 11 cinematic outings we've been of Batman that were focused around the character (Justice League doesn't count), 4 of them have actually shown us his origin story, while the others have at least hinted at it. Only one, the 1969 Adam West-starring Batman: The Movie doesn't mention the Waynes at all.

It's also established that Batman does indeed have a father figure, which he usually acknowledges as such in the films. One Alfred Pennyworth, of course, is this man, and one of the most important supporting characters in any superhero story, but most certainly in Batman's world. Appearing alongside every cinematic adaptation of the character, Alfred is an iconic character in his own right, who's also recently been oddly sidelined for the sake of drama in the comics. But we'll get to the Butler in the Refrigerator later in this essay.

What you're about to read (if, indeed you do read this, and thank you if you do), is a recounting of the late Thomas and Martha Wayne, as well as perennial father figure, Alfred Pennyworth...and the mother figure that never truly was in the comics, but really should've been. As before, I'll give a real brief accounting of previous versions of the character, then present my own version. First fathers, then mothers. So, let's get started!

Thomas Wayne: Doctored Doctor

Of Bruce Wayne's parents, Dr. Thomas Wayne has gotten far more attention than Martha has. Throughout his comic book history, he's gotten a number of incarnations and revelations, mostly revolving around his relationships and interactions with the seedier portions of Gotham City. Dating back to the Silver Age, he pissed off mobster Lew Moxon, who eventually hired Joe Chill to get him killed. During the Modern Age (and in one of my favorite stories, which we'll get to later), it's revealed that he saved the life of a young Carmine Falcone, leading to a connection there as well. And that particular connection has been adapted in video games and The Batman in particular.

But most incarnations of Thomas Wayne share one thing in common: he's a good man in a city filled with corruption. In some versions, he's genuinely trying to make the city a better place. Batman Begins' portrayal, played by Linus Roache, is definitely the most famous of these, with his philanthropic ideals on the merge of remodeling the city, before being erased with his death. This is also one of the few versions of the character where we actively see him being a good dad to Bruce, and this was a good move on Nolan's part, since we get to like the guy a but more than in most versions.

There are also the...weirder versions of the character. Pennyworth's version is from the same universe as the Gotham TV series, which I'm...not a fan of. At all, actually. Maybe more on that later, but Thomas here is a CIA agent overseeing Alfred. And I haven't watched this series, but this is an...odd version of the character, from what I know of him. Same with Joker's version of the character, which throws in a recently seen politician angle for the character, but makes him considerably meaner and more corrupt, as well as...well, that's a spoiler, so I won't say. Although, to be fair, that could be Arthur Fleck's delusions that make that version of the character.

Look, Thomas Wayne is an interesting character for what we see of him, but for obvious reasons, he isn't exactly present in Bruce's life. But, personally, my version of Thomas Wayne was known for his social intelligence and charisma, having a reputation that's often associated with Bruce, for good or for ill. He was a hard worker and a hard player, inspiring his employees and delighting his friends. Thomas should be likeable, agreeable, and understanding, and was a very good and present Dad. And that last bit is rare for parents as rich as the Waynes were, so this is an important point. The absence of Thomas should be felt by the city, and also by the Wayne household.

And as for his replacement...this one's gonna be much longer.

Alfred Pennyworth: Batman's Father

Weird title, I know. Thomas Wayne, after all is the father of Bruce Wayne. But here's the thing: Bruce Wayne is dead. The very moment that the life left the bodies of Thomas and Martha Wayne, Bruce Wayne died alongside them. That day is the birth of Batman, who was dragged kicking and screaming into the world with a gunshot. And Batman has no parents. Well...not at that point, anyway. Over the years, somebody stepped into the role of father figure for a young Batman. And that someone, of course, is a butler named Alfred Pennyworth.

Alfred is, without a doubt, one of the most important supporting characters in fiction. Which is impressive, because it feels like the comics have sort of forgotten and remembered that simultaneously. In case you didn't know, Alfred is dead in the comics at the moment, killed by Bane after a recent campaign by the Santa Priscan to once again break the Batman and his family. And yeah, I'm still pissed off about it. Alfred deserves more than being made into a Butler in Refrigerator. And thankfully, most adaptations realize that.

Again, I haven't seen Pennyworth, but the fact that he has his own origin story series should tell you something. Traditionally, Alfred Pennyworth is known for his work as a spy and British intelligence agent in his early years, during which he either met Thomas Wayne in the line of duty, or was hired by the Waynes after leaving the service. Yet more incarnations have Alfred as a former actor, or a butler who inherited his father's position as the butler of Wayne Manor, or even a bumbling private detective if you go back to his earliest appearances as "Alfred Beagle". He's worn a few hats, is what I'm saying.

After working for the Waynes, though, Alfred never leaves again. And after Thomas and Martha are killed. Alfred immediately steps into the role of Bruce's caretaker, becoming a father figure for him along the way. The two maintain a semblance of professionalism most of the time, but they definitely see each other as father and son, no doubt.

OK, I'll go through this next bit quickly, even though the answer of my favorite Alfred is probably obvious. Alfred has appeared in every adaptation of Batman since the 1966 television series, where he was played by Alan Napier. After that point, Michael Gough famously played the character starting with Batman, and became one of only two actors to reprise his role from up through Batman and Robin. Great version of the character, and one of my favorites...but not my favorite. He's just a little too detached, and not quite spry enough for my liking. I dunno, he's not as personable as I'd like, although he's one of the only good things about Batman and Robin for his connection to Bruce. Ranks #4 in my list of Alfreds.

Jeremy Irons was Alfred in the Snyderverse films, and is genuinely one of the best parts of those movies. He's actually a good character, and very good support for Batman and the Justice League, and he's also likeable. Plus, he actually criticizes the fucking bonehead that is Batman in these movies, and I love him for that. Another really good version of the character! But he seems more like a contemporary to Bruce, rather than a father figure, so it's not really what I'm looking for. I'd place him at #5. Not as good as Gough, but still quite good.

Goddamn, do I like Andy Serkis' Alfred from The Batman. He lands at my #3 spot, because he not only is placed as the fatherly role that he should be placed in, but he's also clearly a detective in his own right. He helps Bruce with the Riddler's cipher, and watches over Bruce's mission with a worries yet supportive eye. Plus, he's put in real danger during the film, and we see his relationship with Bruce placed full center, in a very meaningful manner. Look, this is a great version of the character...but still only #3. And if you don't know my #1 by now...come on. It's not a surprise.

I adore Efrem Zimbalist Jr.'s Alfred, as seen in Batman: The Animated Series, and throughout the DCAU as a whole. This is honestly my prototypical Alfred, and one of the two that immediately comes to mind when I think of the character. Subtle father figure vibes with heavy butler energy. A lot of snark packed into a sharp mustache and a tailored suit. Ready to give you a talking back to, and a thermos of chicken soup to fight a could. Caring and supportive, but not afraid to stick up for himself and his family. Goddamn, this Alfred fucking rules. And he's very funny, for the record; probably the funniest Alfred.

Also, honorable mentions to Alastair Duncan's version from The Batman TV series, and to Ralph Fiennes' version in The Lego Batman Movie. Also fantastic versions of the character, who I'm putting in this slot as well. Animated Alfreds are very good, honestly. But Zimbalist's in particular is my...#2. Alfred.

Because, come on. There's only one real choice for #1 here.

I mean, come on, it's Michael fucking Caine! This is the Alfred that reigns supreme in my mind when I think of live-action Alfred, and sits alongside the Zimbalist version as my idea version of the character. While we don't know much about his past, he know that his relationship with Bruce is that of a supportive father figure who supports Bruce as best he can, but still struggles with his choices to embrace the night. His departure in the last Nolan film was devastating, but extremely understandable, and gave us some of the best scenes in the movie. I mean, Alfred gave us some of the best scenes and lines in the franchise, for Christ's sake. Everything I said about the Zimbalist Alfred goes here, although he isn't quite as snarky. Still, this version is fantastic, and is absolutely my top Alfred.

Yeah, sorry, Gotham's Sean Pertwee. You're actually a pretty good Alfred, too, but put in a very weird universe. This Alfred leans into the "former intelligence agent" angle really heavily, which is a recent trend in Alfred. Beware the Batman did this as well, and you can see whispers in all Alfred that came after him. And I get why, but I dunno...removes some of the charm of the character for me. That said, though, Pertwee still plays a good character, but he's not really my preferred Alfred. I mean, Zimbalist and Caine also played Alfreds with secret badass pasts. Zimbalist's version was also a British spy, while Caine's was an officer in the British Special Air Services with multiple tours of duty! But that element of the character made Pertwee's Alfred into a gruff, always irritated, and non-trustworthy bodyguard of a character, and not exactly the butler I've come to love.

So, who is my Alfred Pennyworth? I mean, I basically already said it. He's the father figure to Batman, or Bruce Wayne post-parent murder. He's a butler, yes, but also a caring and loyal protector to the Dark Knight. He's one of the only people that Batman doesn't scare, and not just because of their connection. A truly good person who's seen a lot in his past, Alfred believes that what Batman does is right, but acts as a tether preventing him from falling into the abyss below. Criticizing when he needs to be, and uplifting by the same measure.

Alfred loves tea, and is a connoisseur of tea services worldwide. And yes, he's aware that it's a stereotype, but he truly does not care. He knows the right tea for everybody, almost miraculously, just from a brief set of interactions. He's extremely observant and able to detect the needs of those around him very easily, making him not only an excellent butler, but a caring friend and father figure for his family. He gets out once in a while, but usually prefers to stay indoors. Also, he's an absolute cricket nut (again, despite the British stereotype).

Batman truly would be lost without Alfred, but Alfred would be similarly bereft without Bruce. And I do mean Bruce, because Alfred still sees him as the young lad he used to watch over as a child, and the man that he helped to raise up to this day. The two share a deep and unbreakable bond. And even though Alfred wouldn't go out to fight alongside Batman, he's trained on the Batcomputer and other items in the Batcave, as is a valuable support system for Batman and his partners in the field. Alfred is the lynchpin of the Batfamily, and his presence should be felt. Maybe that's why I like Caine's Alfred so much. Because you always know he's there.

OK, that's enough of dads for now. Let's get into moms.

Martha Wayne: Forgotten and Neglected

Yeah, I mean that. Seriously, Martha's barely gotten any attention in the comics, nevertheless in adaptations. As it goes for many female supporting characters of superheroes, and especially mothers, she's just not a well-covered character. Literally, this version of the character in Pennyworth, played by Emma Paetz, is the ONLY LIVE-ACTION VERSION of the character I can find in GIF form. She's just sort of ignored in media, sidelined as the mother, or the love interest for Thomas (or even for Alfred in Pennyworth).

And honestly, that sucks. Martha's only legacy shouldn't be the pearl necklace torn off of her on the last night of her life. That's especially unfair because of the fact that her niece is Kate Kane, AKA Batwoman! She's a part of a notable Gotham family in her own right, so why shouldn't she also be a well-known figure in Gotham. I dare you to find a single Batman story where somebody says they were friends with Bruce's mother. Fuckin' EVERYBODY knows Thomas, but nobody talks about Martha independent of him. Ironic, given that more people know her name than Thomas' in the real world, thanks to...well...

Yeah, THAT stupid shit. Anyway, with all of that said, who is Martha Wayne? In the comics, as I said, Martha Wayne is a member of the Kane family, a very influential Gotham family due to their work in chemicals and industry. She became famous as a socialite and party girl, until eventually meeting Thomas Wayne and falling in love with him. And...that's basically it. I guess she was a philanthropist at one point...her family lost their wealth for a minute due to bad investments, but she got it back eventually...she got involved with some gangsters a couple of times, but never substantially.

She's had a number of tiny appearances, but not much of her own character or history, especially as compared to Thomas. So, because of that, she's basically a blank slate. Although, funnily enough, there is a connection with another character who I'll get into in a minute here. But OK, who is my version of Martha Wayne?

Thomas, according to the above version of him, gave Bruce his social intelligence, business acumen, and name. Martha gave Bruce her compassion and strategic intelligence, as well as her sometimes pensive and thoughtful nature. This Martha did indeed come from a wealthy family, but specifically a military one. Making their fortunes in investments, the Kanes are part of a proud military tradition, which was inherited by Jacob Kane, Martha's brother. However, Martha had more of an interest in philanthropy and investments, working for good causes and helping people where she could.

Martha was a kind and good person, and it surprised many that she started a relationship with Thomas Wayne. Thomas was known as a somewhat self-centered person by reputation, even though that wasn't his actual personality. Martha, being quite wise, realized this quickly, after meeting him at a social function she was told to go to by her family. The two had known each other from school days, before she was sent abroad for her studies by her family. The two were, in essence, starcrossed, with the Waynes and Kanes having a somewhat public rivalry, and their favored sons, Thomas and Jacob, being frenemies of a sort as well. But back to Martha.

The two start a courtship, which builds steadily over time, but Martha is more focused on philanthropic efforts, while Thomas inherits the family business. They both build their reputations, separately and together, and quickly become a beloved power couple in the city of Gotham. Through Thomas' connections as a doctor, Martha made another important connection. This connection would become Martha's best friend, and would serve as a surrogate mother for Bruce in her stead. She was also named the godmother of a young Bruce Wayne, and would care for him after her friend Martha was killed in an alleyway.

Martha Wayne, in my universe/headcanon, is a brilliant woman whose marriage to Thomas Wayne furthered the position of the company through her strategic advice, and also increased both of their reputations mutually, making Wayne Enterprises into the foremost company in Gotham. Yeah, Martha's an important part of the business here, and one of the main reasons why Batman believes in a moral good. Thomas is still a huge part of it, but Martha shouldn't be counted out. Ironically, though, most of Gotham City doesn't quite understand how vital her contributions were, and her philanthropic efforts were mostly ignored due to her choice to take part in a risky investment: the revitalization of Arkham Asylum. Much more on that choice later.

But of course, after that, their lives were taken by a coward in Park Row, leaving behind their son Bruce. He was placed in the care of one Alfred Pennyworth, and under the eyes of his godmother, and secondary maternal figure...

Leslie Thompkins: The Ideal Surrogate Mother

Goddamn it, HOW has this not been an established thing? What's worse is how Leslie's been treated in both the comics and adaptations. Because lemme tell you, one of the main reasons I hate Gotham is because of how poorly they fucked up Dr. Leslie Thompkins. And I'm willing to bet some of you don't know who she is. Well, allow me to share with you this forgotten and mistreated character in Batman lore, and why she really should have been the surrogate mother Batman never had. And I'm not alone in that interpretation, but that role's been largely forgotten, thanks to one horrendous decision that was made with her character.

Dr. Leslie Thompkins, in the comics, was a colleague and friend of Thomas Wayne. Which, yeah, makes sense, considering the fact that she's a doctor. Leslie, however, was a charitable doctor, caring for the downtrodden and forgotten of Gotham, after having served overseas with charitable organizations and the like. She's always cared for the unfortunate, and has therefore been close to Batman's world in many ways. She eventually finds out that Bruce is Batman, and she typically doesn't approve. She actually blames herself for failing to pull Bruce out of the darkness as a role model, and because of that blame...

...she does something completely unforgivable. Leslie Thompkins is the victim of one of the worst character assassinations in comic books, and it all centers around Stephanie Brown's death.

Stephanie Brown, best known as Batgirl, was once the replacement for Tim Drake as Robin. But, during this particularly shitty era in Batman's history, Bruce didn't really care for her as a superhero much, and treated her unfairly compared to the other Robins. It was a real shit time, and Batman didn't really make it out of this era unscathed either. But more importantly, Stephanie didn't make it out because she was grievously injured by criminal Black Mask.

While she was the vigilante Spoiler, and trying to prove herself once again, Black Mask brought her close to death, after which she came under the care of Leslie. Acting under the belief that Bruce should stop bringing children into his struggles, she seemingly lets Stephanie die to teach Bruce a lesson. YOU FUCKING READ THAT CORRECTLY. Leslie Thompkins kills a teenager just to teach Bruce to stop putting teenagers in danger. Yeah. She's a murderer, and literally flees the country to escape Bruce's RIGHTFUL RETRIBUTION. He find her, and states that she's dead to him. Which, yeah, fuck that shit.

The outrage about this was SO VISCERAL, that this was later retconned as Leslie faking Stephanie's death to teach Bruce a lesson. And yeah, it means she isn't a murderer, BUT SHE'S STILL A DICK. This ruined Leslie permanently, and the character who was once a staple part of the Batman Family has never fully recovered. A shame. Because Leslie has way more potential than that.

Oh, look! Another fucked up version of a beloved Batman supporting character! Yeah, Gotham decided to turn Leslie, played by the underrated Morena Baccarin, into a love interest for James Gordon, then a FUCKING CRIME LORD alongside the Riddler of all fucking people, and then eventually had her reunited with and married to Gordon by the end of the series. This was another assassination of a character who, frankly, bears no resemblance to Leslie Thompkins.

There was a version of the character who made an appearance in Titans, but she was a therapist, and only made a single appearance in the series. So, really, there's only one version of the character that's gotten the essence of Leslie right. And unsurprisingly, that's in Batman: The Animated Series.

Making few appearances in the series, where she's voiced by Diana Muldaur, the ones they did throw in got Leslie right. Aware of Batman's identity from the jump, she cares deeply for Bruce and his family, and is a member of the small Batman alliance to the modern day. She clearly cares for Bruce, but also cares for the other people in Park Row and the neighborhood surrounding it, becoming a predominant doctor for the disadvantages. Again, as she should be.

So, who is my Leslie? Definitely more critical of Batman and his mission than Alfred is, but still loyal and interested in supporting him. Not the mission, Batman. However, she also recognizes that he's doing good, and while she absolutely disagrees with bringing children into this, she also recognizes the reasons behind these actions. After all, Dick's also an orphan; Jason's a runaway; Tim, Barbara, and Stephanie are basically independent, and Damian is his literal son and a child assassin. Sort of makes sense when you pile it all together like that. So, while she's critical, she's also compassionate.

Oh, and one more thing here: Leslie is Martha's friend, obviously. Yeah, I get that both she and Thomas are doctors, but my version of Martha has far more in common with Leslie than Thomas does. They're the ones who become close friends, and Leslie is the one who acts as a surrogate parent. Now, unlike Batman and Alfred, I don't know that Leslie and Batman consciously acknowledge that bond. But nevertheless, the bond still exists between them.

And there you have it: Batman's parents, living and dead. Now that that's done, let's talk about the other staple character in Batman's life. Oh, and you might be wondering about the Robins. We'll get there, I promise, but I'm focusing more on Batman than anything else. For now, though, let's talk about the other crimefighters in Gotham. Or, at least, the people who are supposed to fight crime.

Part One: Batman Part Two: Alfred and the Waynes Part Three: James Gordon and the GCPD (Coming Soon) Part Four: Gotham City (Coming Soon) Part Five: Joker (Coming Soon) Part Six: The Usual Suspects (Coming Soon) Part Seven: And the Rest (Coming Soon) Part Eight: The Story - Act One (Coming Soon) Part Nine: The Story - Acts Two and Three (Coming Soon) Part Ten: The Story - Climax and Ending (Coming Soon) Part Eleven: Epilogue (Coming Soon)

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