"Comic book fans are known for their strong opinions, but one hero in particular seems to inspire more passionate arguments than most—Batman. NPR contributor Glen Weldon explores that phenomenon in his new book The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture. A major theme of the book is that Batman fans—who are predominantly straight white men—have consistently derided any portrayal of the character that was deemed too gay, such as the one in the 1960s TV series or, especially, the one in the Joel Schumacher films.
"This was seen as an affront, a debasement," Weldon says in Episode 196 of the Geek's Guide to the Galaxy podcast. "The version that the hardcore fanbase wanted was the grim, gritty badass
Weldon argues that comic book fans have such strong feelings about Batman because they identify very personally with his solitude and focus.
"[Dennis] O'Neill, back in 1970, made him an obsessed loner," Weldon says, "and I would argue that the notion of obsession resonated with his fanbase."
For years fans felt isolated, marginalized by a culture that ridiculed their love of comic books. But the success of Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins finally made it cool to take Batman seriously. That resulted in a remarkable shift among comics fans, who went from castigating Hollywood for its treatment of Batman to attacking anyone who questioned the value of Nolan's films…"
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