Batman

This essay basically summed up another authors beliefs. It was full of assumptions and projected Batman in a homosexual light to serve his own means. I didn't read this entire essay because it was way too long and I have other things to do. However, I did read the first section and was slightly annoyed. I believe Wertham is homophobic. He claims that because two men live together, sit on a couch next to each other and have a butler named Alfred, that they are living the gay mans dream. Seriously? If the two fictional characters were women, they would be labeled as best friends. We are socialized to believe men should be rough, emotionless, strong and independent. When men are portrayed bonding with each other or being close with another man, they are assumed to be homosexual. Men and women both share emotions on an equal level. Yet, because of our societies gender roles, we are taught to show and express them in entirely different ways. Batman and Robin can share a very close relationship without being homosexual.

Batman and Robin are bonded through their secret identities. This may subconciously remind people of many homosexual couples who keep their sexuality hidden from public. Just like batman and Robin keep their super hero identity hidden from public and only shared between themselves. But this still does not make them a gay couple.

Batman and Robin also fight villains. The author made a point of noting how the women are evil and the men bond together in their disgust of women and their gay connections with each other. That is so sexist. There are many evil men villains as well. Women can be villains too. It shows they are just as capable of power as men. If we are using this same logic, Batman should be asexual since he fights both sexes in disgust. Even if Batman was homosexual, I would be down with it. But if he was, the creators of Batman would probably make it a bit more evident and actually give clear reasoning and examples of this claim.