To me the reader he's a hero.
But if he existed in the 'real world' I'd be very suspicious of him--as I am of vigilantes in general.
----- Original Message ----
From: jacquesdebierue <jacquesdebierue@yahoo.com>
To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 5:51:53 PM
Subject: RARA-AVIS: Re: Super Heroes, Comics, and Noir
--- In rara-avis-l@ yahoogroups. com, Sean Shapiro <ssshapir@.. .> wrote:
>
> I like your definition of noir -- it's what gives your books their
muscle.
>
> Dressing up like an animal so you can get your rocks off beating
criminals up is not exactly resisting your baser instincts. Especially
when it gets a sidekick crippled and another killed.
>
It depends on whether you believe in heroes. If you absolutely don't,
then Batman takes on an entirely different meaning, I think, as do
most westerns and quite a few PI stories. But can someone who
disbelieves in heroes be a fan of Batman? Well, for one thing the guy
is _different_, he does not follow convention. That's an attraction
for me, anyway. That, and deconstructing the ideology behind the
exploits. Dick Tracy is a very good one for that, too.
Best,
mrt
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