Robert Pattinson New Batman? | Is Robert Pattinson the New Batman?

For decades, the role of the Batman has remained fairly consistent. For most of the time, the Dark Knight has been portrayed as a laconic figure who dresses in a plain or austere manner and relies on his wits and his fists to fight crime. More recently, however, Hollywood has toyed with the idea of updating the Batman’s look and feel.

The latest example of this is the newest Batman film, which is set to hit theaters next month. If you’ve never heard of it, the Batman anime movie is based on the popular dark comic book series created by author Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso.

The film’s director, Matt Reeves, has tried to modernize the Batman character by giving him a more anime-like appearance. This has not gone down well with purists who want to see a more traditional Batman movie.

They are, however, probably over-estimating the staying power of old habits. While Matt Reeves’ Batman may not look like the traditional one, it still has that edgy charm that would make anyone nostalgic. In other words, it has the classic elements of a Brian Azzarello comic book – with an added dash of manga.

This is the story of how anime and manga influenced the new Batman and how he became the hero we know and love. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn about the incredible history of the Dark Knight.

Traditional Vs. Modernized Batman

The new Batman film takes place in an ambiguous present day where traditional notions of good and evil have been blurred to the point of nonexistence and the lines between civilian and military are blurred – just like the Batman himself.

The Dark Knight is played by Robert Pattinson, an actor best known for playing the romantic lead in the Twilight Saga. The role marks a big step for Pattinson, who, until recently, had mostly played comedic parts and was known for his bad luck with women. Now, however, he’s playing a character who is essentially a cross between Albus Dumbledore and Bruce Wayne – a wise old man who happens to be very good with a bow and arrow.

Pattinson’s performance has been widely praised and the film has even won awards (including an Oscar) for Best Adapted Screenplay. Indeed, in many ways, it is hard to imagine how the film could have worked without Pattinson’s involvement and charisma. And yet, despite all this, the movie still divides opinions. Some people can’t help but compare him to the original Batman and even go so far as to say that he doesn’t match up to the iconic Frank Narkless.

This brings us to the question: is Robert Pattinson the new Batman? Is he the best Batman yet? Let’s examine the evidence and decide for ourselves.

The Evidence

For decades, the role of Batman has remained fairly consistent. For most of the time, he’s been portrayed as a laconic figure who dresses in a plain or austere manner and relies on his wits and his fists to fight crime. More recently, however, Hollywood has toyed with the idea of updating the Batman’s look and feel.

How Did Traditional Values Influence The New Batman?

Although the new Batman film looks significantly different from previous adaptations of the Dark Knight, it still harbors a sense of tradition. The main influence behind the design revamp was Japanese anime and manga, which have made an enormous impact on pop culture in the west over the past few decades.

These are typically graphic novels where the emphasis is on action and adventure rather than brooding psychological drama. The stories are often set in a contemporary setting but feature characters who dress in anime-inspired gear and wield awesome power through magical abilities or futuristic technology. What’s not to like?

One of the most famous and successful examples of anime-influenced fiction is Akira, which was named after its main character, who is a modern-day super-hero. The film received rave reviews upon its release in 1988 and is often cited as one of the greatest animated movies of all time. In 2019, it was even chosen to be shown in the prestigious Japanese cinema festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, which screens only the best films from around the world.

In the original Batman, the Dark Knight is often shown using gadgets that are based on technology from the 30s or 40s. The new Batman also makes frequent references to other heroes and villains from that era. For instance, the film’s opening scene features a homage to the original “60s Batman” animated series. The Dark Knight races up to the camera in a fantastic car chase, which is reminiscent of a scene from the classic show.

The influence of Japanese anime and manga is clear throughout the new Batman film. When the Dark Knight first appears on screen, we are treated to a dazzling display of graphics and special effects as images of Japanese animation – including characters from Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon – burst into life around him.

There’s also the stylized hand-drawn drawings that adorn the movie’s opening and closing credits, which are a nod to the manga artists who inspired them. These graphics are paired with a dramatic classical piece performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Traditional animation is, of course, not limited to Japanese origin. The creators of the new Batman film cited Disney movies as an inspiration for the look of their hero, which is not too surprising. The House of Mouse is one of the world’s biggest creators of cartoons and their influence can clearly be seen in everything from the characters’ designs to the lush, colorful world they inhabit.

Modernizing The Brand

In 2015, Warner Bros. acquired the movie rights to My Heroes Have Always Been Astronauts, a critically-acclaimed graphic novel by Simon Hanselmann. This is the story of a young man who decides to become a superhero after his favorite comic book series is canceled.

The basic idea of updating the Batman’s look and feel was not a new one. The character was originally designed in 1939 by artist Bill Drapper and the story behind the redesign can be traced back to the original Batman comic book. In that story, Batman’s original equipment consisted of a gray suit with black piping and a white T-shirt. He also wore wooden wrist and leg ices and a fake tan – all of which were inspired by American film star, James Mason.

This content is imported from YouTube.

In many ways, the original Batman was ahead of his time. His inspiration for blending modern and classic style was already showing two decades before the film’s release in a 1968 story where Batman dresses up as the singer Frankie Vaughan.

The updated Batman movie is set for release on April 19th and it will be interesting to see how audiences respond to the new version of the Dark Knight. Of course, we’ll have to wait and see how the reviews pan out before we can make a call (spoiler: they’re mostly positive).

The Evolution Of Batman

Just because the Batman has evolved doesn’t mean that he’s changed from being the edgy, adventure-seeking superhero that we all know and love to being a pale imitation of someone else. Far from it.

The Dark Knight continues to be the inspiration for many other filmmakers and graphic novelists. Notable creators who’ve drawn inspiration from the Batman include Will Eisner, whose work includes the Spirit, The Avengers, and the Eisner Award-winning series, The Decoy – the inspiration for the 2019 Liam Neeson thriller, The Hunt.

Although the original Batman was created in 1939, the superhero’s popularity hasn’t faded in the least. As much as pop culture may have changed, our reverence for the Dark Knight has not.