Posted on 08/16/2018 8:04:05 PM PDT by Simon Green
It’s not often that we think or talk about the religious beliefs of our favorite superheroes, barring the times when writers blatantly state from where these characters are coming. For example, we’re all aware of how Daredevil’s a devout Catholic, or how Batwoman’s Jewish.
Speaking of which, the latest issue of Batman really hammered home the point that the Dark Knight is, in fact, an atheist. I mean, it’s technically nothing new and has been somewhat explored in the past (I believe it was Broken City that briefly touched on this before), but the latest entry into Tom King’s ongoing saga has really gotten people talking.
You see, this all came about in the concluding chapter of “Cold Days,” an arc that saw Bruce Wayne sit on a jury deciding the fate of Mr. Freeze after he was apprehended by Batman himself. To me, it played out like 12 Angry Men, only with the Caped Crusader being involved.
Though various other interesting things happened, it was in the opening pages where Bruce discussed his standpoint with a Christian juror, basically saying he was raised as such by his father, but abandoned it once his parents were murdered. Considering how this guy always approaches situations from a rational and scientific standpoint, none of us should really be surprised about his atheism.
This was but one item on a laundry list of introspection following his being jilted at the altar by Catwoman last month, as the issue finished with him jettisoning the costume he’s worn since the Rebirth era kicked off because he doesn’t want to wear anything that reminds him of his time spent with Selina Kyle. As such, the suit introduced during the days of Hush is back – trunks and all.
Batman #53 is now available in comic shops.
Damian Hellstrom, The Son of Satan. Marvel character who first showed up in the mid-1970s.
Robin does wear tight, shorty shorts.
I can believe that bat man thinks he is an atheist but the reality when you read between the lines he is angry at god.....That’s my take and if I were a writer for DC I think it would be interesting to explore unfortunately DC is not ran by people that would explore this idea.
Really???
Rationalism and Science were founded and dominated by Theists, mostly Christian with a very good representation of Jews.
Don't believe me? Check out this 17 minute video on what the major contributors to science believed.
Rene Descartes rigorous forms of the Cosmological and Ontological proofs of God are about as rational and well reasoned an epistemology as mortals are capable of. Those at the peak of human rationality are convinced Theists.
Aren’t most comic-book “authors” Atheists and Communists too? No surprise their heroes reflect them.
The world of super-heroes is no place for Christian Americans who believe in the Constitution....which is why adolescents should be discouraged from reading that trash.
Gee, how did I miss Son of Satan back in the 70’s? Was probably reading Conan and King Kull.
discussion of different religious associations in the various portrayals in 80 years of history.
time-lies-warner-turner
what do you expect?
cultural revolution, destroy the past
Batman is just a prick who likes to kick the crap out of people. He’s got his wealth and operates outside of society’s laws.
>>Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy was the finest work of comic-book adaptation in film history, with the Dark Knight hands down the greatest comic-book movie ever made.
not all comic books are men in rubber suits.
Daniel Clowes Ghost World is a fine adaptation.
And “greatest comic book movie ever made”?
Have you seen fanboys on IMDB? The overall vote shows it is the third single best film ever made in the whole history of film. I find that claim to be incredibly dumb.
and the so-called cartoonists (in newspapers, comic books, and animation) cannot draw anymore. Gone is any sense of anatomy, proportions, or articulated drama.
Marvel went there in the 70s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daimon_Hellstrom
Encouraged by the success of the titles Ghost Rider and The Tomb of Dracula, both of which starred occult characters, Stan Lee proposed a series starring Satan, to be titled The Mark of Satan. Editor Roy Thomas had reservations about this idea and suggested a series focusing on the son of Satan instead.[1] (Due to an oversight, "The Mark of Satan" is mentioned in a blurb in Ghost Rider #1.[1][2])
...The character Daimon Hellstrom first appeared in Ghost Rider #1 (Sept. 1973), then was spun off into a feature, "Son of Satan", in Marvel Spotlight #12–24 (Oct. 1973 – Oct. 1975).[4] During the "Son of Satan" run, Marvel Spotlight was a controversial series, with numerous readers writing to object to the depictions of Satanism and Wiccanism as being either inaccurate or furthering the cause of evil. Nonetheless, sales were strong, prompting Marvel to launch the character into his own series, Son of Satan, written by John Warner.[1] The character's success faded soon after the series launch, and Son of Satan was cancelled with issue #7, though an unused fill-in was published as Son of Satan #8 (Feb. 1977).[1][5]
Hellstrom became a recurring character in The Defenders, Steve Gerber having added the character to the team during the time he was writing the "Son of Satan" feature in Marvel Spotlight, and Hellstrom continued to appear in Defenders following the cancellation of Marvel Spotlight. One of the later writers on Defenders, J. M. DeMatteis, featured a number of subplots focused on Daimon Hellstrom, commenting that he "was absolutely my favorite character. Characters like Son of Satan are a wonderful metaphor for what we all contain, good and evil, high and low aspirations. He's literally the son of the Devil, trying not to be what his father is. For a writer like me, how can you not feast on that?"[1] Hellstrom's story reaches a resolution of sorts in The Defenders #120-121 (June–July 1983), as Hellstrom is freed from his satanic heritage and marries teammate Hellcat.[6]
So how is it Batman #53?
Hard to imagine he would change his beliefs that his mother respected so much.
Daimon Hellstrom wasn’t a Satanist, though: he fought his father (like Ghost Rider).
Yes, this is the recent writers retconning the character to suit their own anti-religious views.
Far as I know the Donald (Batman) is not an atheist tho...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQsjBLPBB8M
With all the killing these folks do, they probably don’t want to think about a judgement.
If the camera showed the carnage that WOULD take place in one of their battles, the movies would be X rated. (Yes, I understand they are pretend.)
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