Comments on: Comic-Con 2009: The Nasty, Brutish and Short Life of (Bat)man

By: sgMarshall

sgMarshall — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:09:40 +0000

Dr. Zehr, I agree with you in principle. Though it shouldn’t be shocking that dedication and training leads to success.

When I was a kid, way back before ‘Dark’ became the defining and perhaps now the only perceived trait Batman needed (other than toys and leet ninja skills), he was billed as the World’s Greatest Detective. I wonder how many years you would suggest for that skill and how you would break down the training.

By: Eric Wolff

Eric Wolff — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:08:20 +0000

Actually, MartyM, Zehr specifically sidesteps the techno toys. Not that he doesn’t like them, but they’re not a part of his analysis. I suspect if you added in the time needed to get the necessary PhDs in electrical engineering, computer science, and materials science, Batman would become impossible. But let’s figure, as Romeo Vitelli does, that Alfred does that work (ignoring the comics that show Batman programing stuff).

And Dr. Zehr, thanks for pointing that out. I plan on finding a copy of your book, even if only to find out how you came to the conclusion that Batgirl would defeat Batman, in a best of 7 matchup.

By: MartyM

MartyM — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:46:51 +0000

and he forgot about the engineering expertise, time, and resources to develop all those techno-toys. I don’t think you can go to any GM dealer and buy a bat-mobile.

By: Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources - Covering Comic Book News and Entertainment » SDCC ‘09 | Batman has been lying to you about his age, health

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:01:50 +0000

[...] probably a good thing that Batman was dispatched into pre-history and replaced by a younger man: Bruce Wayne didn’t have long to live, [...]

By: E. Paul Zehr

E. Paul Zehr — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:52:43 +0000

Thank you for attending my talk and for posting your summary. I think you definitely captured the major take home message. However, I would like to comment that I think it might be useful for people to actually look at my analysis before concluding that it is incorrect. Or, for that matter, concluding that it is correct. I tried very hard in the book to provide the background that is needed for understanding my own conclusions– or for the reader to consider and perhaps formulate a different opinion. Despite that, one thing I have found interesting since writing my book last year and seeing it subsequently discussed on thousands of blogs around the world, is that many people are keen to express opinions without actually even knowing what is said in the source! I am not trying to pitch this at people to please buy the book (although that would be nice, of course). Get it from the library or borrow from a friend if you like, but please read it before making sweeping conclusions.
In my book, I don’t actually say that Batman wouldn’t do martial arts training from early on in his progression. (Mr. Wolff indeed correctly identified this when he mentioned above about “punching heavy things”.) However, I do emphasize that the specific technical focus of Batman’s training changes over the years. In many ways this is somewhat similar to concepts such as periodization of strength and cross-training in sport science but applied to the whole pursuit of Becoming Batman.
Best wishes,
Paul

By: Gadfly

Gadfly — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:04:03 +0000

His analysis is incorrect. There is no reason martial arts training cannot take place at the same time that weight training does. Millions of martial artists do it all the time. Poise, experience, etc also could, and probably would, run concurrently. There is no reason he couldn’t accomplish all of the above in the 12 years listed for martial arts training. Since he witnessed his parents’ murder as a child he could easily have determined his life’s direction and begun training in his teens and be ready to hit the streets in his late twenties.

By: Romeo Vitelli

Romeo Vitelli — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:00:14 +0000

You forgot the Alfred factor. It’s Batman’s butler who manages the Batcave, does emergency first aid (including minor surgery), and generally manages Bruce Wayne’s dual identity. Considering that Alfred also acts as Wayne’s chauffeur, cleans that big mansion all by himself (do we ever see any other staff there?), and still has time to dust the Batcave. You’d think he’d burn out faster than Bruce does.