Summary
OneJustice LeagueDark hero has hilariously roastedBatmanto a burnt crisp, delivering pure comedic gold. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the Dark Knight or even a critic, everyone will appreciate the humor in this roast, which exposes Batman’s most ridiculous clichés and highlights just how amusingly absurd the Caped Crusader can be.
The unhinged nature of Deadman’s statement, combined with its underlying truth and grossly simplistic take on Batman’s war against crime and recruitment of child soldiers, makes it comedic gold.
The second installment of Tim Seeley, Kelley Jones, and Michelle Madsen’s Nightwing-centric story,Down the Road, returns inBatman: The Brave and the Bold#14. This supernatural mystery sees Dick Grayson teaming up with Justice League Dark’s very dead Boston “Deadman” Brand as they travel across the USA’s intracontinental rails in search of clues.
During their journey together, Deadman humorously transforms into a Batman form with a cryptid twist, all in jest to mock the Dark Knight. While Boston’s version of Batman is more creepy than funny,his mocking of the Caped Crusader’s most ridiculous clichés is downright hilarious.
Justice League Dark’s Deadman Puts Batman’s Most Ridiculous Clichés on Blast inBatman: The Brave and the Bold#14
Nightwing, now able to hear the voices of the dead thanks to a special coin from Deadman, notes that he can hear them emanating from a nearby graveyard. Without missing a beat, Boston turns Nightwing’s observation into a joke at Batman’s expense, quipping, “Yeah. The whisper of the night. It goes something like this…”He pauses dramatically, transforming into his eerie Batman form, and exclaims, “Let’s wage war on crime, Dick!”The unhinged nature of his statement, combined with its underlying truth and grossly simplistic take onBatman’s war against crimeand recruitment of child soldiers, makes it comedic gold.
What adds to the humor of Deadman’s statement is envisioning Bruce, a grown man dressed as a bat, saying this to an eight-year-old child. A visual that is so wild that it automatically becomes hilarious. Additionally,the comedic effect of the scene builds when Boston then proceeds to exclaim, “Beware the night!” and “Die, you crimes!”playfully mocking Batman’s well-known clichés — his iconic catchphrase “I am the night,” popularized inBatman: The Animated Series, and his relentless dedication to fighting crime. Seeley excels in this dialogue, injecting humor into the issue while also offering a refreshing perspective on Batman’s image.
Deadman’s Roasting of Batman May Mean That He Doesn’t Respect the Dark Knight
Deadman’s jesting could be seen as light-hearted entertainment or a way to ease his nerves during a high-stakes mystery. However, it also hints at a lack of respect toward Batman, particularly in what he chooses to joke about. Bruce Wayne’s dedication to his war on crime is well-known, yet Boston makes two jokes about Batman’s mission, suggesting some skepticism or critique. Given Bruce’s initial recruitment ofDick into crime-fighting as a child, this may be Boston’s way of subtly critiquing that controversial decision. Thus,Deadman’shumor likely stems from a lack of reverence forBatman.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold #14is available now from DC Comics.
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
