Batman and Jesus

Batman is Jesus. Weird statement but its true, allegory and mythology are supposed to illustrate for us truth. Whether it succeeds or not is a different question, but allegory has always been around and its purpose was to point us to reality or give us something outside of ourselves for which to frame our experience. When it comes to allegory there is no doubt that DC Comics seems to more clearly point to Christ than does some modern (or ancient) stories and myths.

In the Movie Man of Steel, Super Man (Henry Cavil) has his origin story played out before us; a child from the heavens sent to earth to be raised by human parents who do not fully understand what he is and want to hide him from the world and the world from him. He grows in the eyes of his parents and his ‘heavenly’ father who eventually gives him the sign that his purpose is clear on earth (much like a baptism of Jesus when God speaks and says this is my son with whom I am well pleased). He then is handed over to the enemy and once there falls out of the space ship in the shape of a cross into order to save humanity from the ‘heavenly forces’ by fighting a battle they could never win. He is called “Cal El” throughout the movie meaning “son of god” and ultimately is the savior of the world - both god and man. Now this is an allegory and analogous to Christianity. In an almost typological way its like many great books and art as it mirrors truths about Christ.

We must be careful to not read into the movie what the director or read into a book what an author did not intend. This is bad interpretation and is essentially adding our own bias into something that might have been intended to do the opposite of what we are seeing or reading. There is indication however, that all great myths and allegory are pointing to an ultimate truth - good verses evil - right verses wrong - God defeating sin and rescuing people from the fate that awaits them. This could be considered a meta narrative to all good stories and the framework from which we are able to delve into mythology and allegory. The chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings are both allegories and like these classic works the super heroes today are supposed to represent something that we know. Something about us that we realize is lacking and something outside of us that we need. We are not super, we are in need of super.

In the newest Batman starring Robert Pattison, which seems to be an attempt to go back to the 1930’s Detective series of comic books which is where the batman was started, there is a lack of the allegory that seems to define the character now. In the Chris Nolan series of Batman films we see a representation of the messiah figure. Most notably in the Dark Knight as Batman claims to be the hero that Gotham needs but not the one it wants. And then, in an act of heroism, turns the scarred side of Harvey Dents face over to where you only see the “good side” and He tells Gordon to call in the cops on him. Essentially imputing his own righteous act onto Harvey Dent and taking Harvey’s sin onto himself to be chased and condemned by the law he never broke in order for those who do not deserve it to walk away free. Those who should be punishing Harvey Dent — a murderer — end up trying to kill the hero. They ultimately send into hiding (burying if you will) the dark knight himself. This is then followed by the third movie in the trilogy that sees batman rise from the grave and make the city good to fight against enemy powers who want to enslave them. Within these movies it is clear that the main intent is not to preach the gospel, but the gospel is displayed, in the meta narrative over arching themes of redemption, resurrection, imputed righteousness, and removing sin for the good of his people.

In contrast to that fantastic trilogy of movies, the new Batman movie with Robert Pattison (2022) does not offer a savior motif. But rather shows young batman inexperienced and learning how to do the role of beings Gotham’s savior. A stark contrast to the Nolan trilogy which begins with Batman - Brace Wayne - in a Chinese prison already yearning for something more and filled with experience through ninja camp with Ra’s Al Ghul before returning to Gotham. Batman is more of a prophet in the Pattison version as we see that the most he can offer is a dim light as he leads the people out of the flooded stadium. He can lead them to safety, but he cannot save them. He can guide them using hope (the light) but he is not there hope.

There is no evidence that Chris Nolan or Matt Reeves are Christians and may not even be happy that their work is compared to the christology of which I am referring. But its important to me for multiple reasons:

1. It is incumbent on us as Christians to engage culture and art with wisdom and discernment and the beginning of that is to see ultimate objective truth (the truth of the gospel, Scripture, the character of God, etc.) in those things in which we partake.

2. Being able to see the connections to Biblical doctrines, or the gospel in art (movies, music, comedy, etc.) is a launching pad for conversations with those who don’t — lost people. And using things we enjoy together, to talk about the most important thing we will ever talk about (the gospel), is a good thing.

3. Having categories for allegory and analogies, are helpful in communicating and in life. We as Christians can get very nervous about being around or engaging with our culture as we rightly want to be separate from the world as obedient followers of Christ. But being separated from the world does not mean that we can’t watch movies, or read books, or listen to music that isn’t distinctly labeled Christian. It means that we are not pursuing the things that the world is pursing when we engage those things. We don’t need movies or TV or music in order to fulfill us, we are free in Christ - so we get to enjoy things without being enslaved by them. We get to engage and think without being a slave to our sinful mind which will bend and twist what we see into something sinful. Instead our engagement is for enjoying God - which when we see Truth in those things with which we engage we are enjoying God from whom all truth flows.

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