Bat-rant!

One of the things which set apart the Bat-clan from most other 'human-heroes' was their intensive training.  For example, Batman once said to Dick, with regards to the kind of physical training he would have to do: 'triple it (Dick's acrobatic training in the circus) and then triple it again'.

I remember when I read that years ago, my mouth fell wide open and I just thought 'dang...'.

Those of us who have done gymnastics or (most forms of) martial arts are readily aware of how intense the training is, and to crank it up to what Bruce was outlining...well, it's no wonder the Bat-clan were 'the best of the best of the best'.

Barbara donned the cape and cowl without training from The Bat, but that didn't last long.  She, too, underwent the intense physical training the job she was aspiring to do required.

Nowadays, though...it seems all one needs is a couple of months (sure, Jason says 6 but that includes the other disciplines the Bat-clan embrace and he was nowhere near Dick's base-level (and neither is Tim, even with his 'Olympic-scout-attracting' level of gymnastics (Teen Titans #0))) and they're 'ready'.

Is this an attempt to make them 'relatable'?

Is this something people feel works?

Back in Blind Justice, when Bruce used someone else's body while his own healed from various injuries, the 'fit' person was nowhere near Bruce's level, now a few Crossfit, P90X and Insanity sessions and 'regular'-folk, too, could do Bat-clan stuff?

oh dear...



(yes, yes, I'm 'underselling' but so are the current writers...)


I'm all for having them have a 'base level' and for Tim to have a certain 'just above base level proficiency' in certain things but, personally, when Tim and Jason are shown to be more 'physically able' than Dick there's a part of me that just rejects that portrayal.

Their deductive skills are different (Tim, for example, doesn't have Bruce's 'blindspot' (or, rather, reluctance to acknowledge), Dick is more immediately intuitive, Jason's able to mingle with the underbelly) but they're all smart.

Personally, I'm hoping for something in the upcoming Bat-arc that showcases these differences - a scene similar to the Robin #0 one, for example, would be great.

They are 'the best of the best of the best', but they're different - and there are no Mary Sues!!


(rant over)