“Welcome back to The Gotham Inquisition, the only channel that is talking to Gotham’s experts to find out what makes this city a magnet to so many unique personalities.
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My name is Vesper Fairchild and I’m here today with the city’s leading mind on child psychology, Dr. Jonathan Crane.
Dr. Crane, why don’t you introduce yourself?”
“Thank you, Vesper. My name is Jonathan Crane and as you said I am a child psychologist, and researcher, at Gotham University working to better understand the minds of the young citizens of our society.”
“We certainly thank you for all you do Dr. Crane. Not everyone is thinking about the impact that this brutal city has on developing minds. What made you choose to persue research in this field?”
“That’s a great question, Vesper. When I look at the amount of violence we see in the streets of Gotham, I can’t help but flash back to my own childhood. I grew up in a very specific situation that isn’t all that uncommon here. Violence was everywhere and it left quite the impression on me. I was fortunate to escape but so many others aren’t as lucky and so I chose to try to help prevent that fate for others as best as I can.”
“Heroic. Are you The Batman? Hahaha”
“That’s funny, but no. The Batman isn’t a hero. Especially not for the children of this city.”
“You really don’t think so?”
“Not at all. If anything, he is a villian in many children’s lives. He shows up, beating up on their parents and with the help of that overzealous cop Gordon they break up these families and put the children into a system that forgets they even exist. It’s not right.”
“So you are saying that The Batman isn’t a hero because he is stopping criminals?”
“Petty criminals. I’m not saying that what these people are doing isn’t crime. But what The Batman is doing isn’t legal either.
It destroys family bonds and has a rippling effect that impacts these children now, and for decades.”
“That’s definitely a unique take, but you are the man with the research. Can you expand on what your research shows about the impact The Batman is having?”
“I haven’t finalized my research yet, so I can’t go into great detail. It does have to be approved and peer reviewed of course. But I can give my generalized perspective and analysis of what I am seeing.
My research is showing systemic breakdowns of social values stemming from the loss of traditional family structures due to economic forces outside of the home. More simply put, I am looking at why we are seeing such an uptick of violence in Gotham and whether or not our city’s current strategy is working.”
“That’s a mouthful. It sounds like you are trying to prove that The Batman is bad for Gotham.”
“I’m a scientist, Ms. Fairchild. I avoid inherent biases.
But yes, my current research is leading me to believe that The Batman is not the savior that he is portrayed to be. That perhaps he gives people the illusion of safety, but when you look further down the socio-economic “totem pole” you see more problem than solution.”
“I apologize if I offended you, Dr. Crane. I didn’t mean to insinuate that you are biased. You mentioned that you are looking at the impact of The Batman on generations.
The Batman has only been around for a few years now. How are you able to see into the future?”
“The Batman is new, yes. His methods are not.
Roughly 20 years ago, some of our Gotham “royalty” fell victim to the crime that plagues this city. They were gunned down in front of their young son in an alley outside of the city’s prestigous Monarch Theater.
It’s an unfortunate event that never should have happened.
Because of their name and the high profile coverage the case recieved, the mayor’s office pushed through several bills that created a war on crime to clear the streets of downtown.
It was a political stunt.
The mayor was up for re-election in a few months and if downtown became a “safe” destination for the Gotham elite after what was being plastered all over the news then the mayor would get to stay in office for another term.
Police poured into the streets, started kicking in doors, surveiling every rundown apartment building, and arresting anyone suspected of even the smallest infraction.
It was “broken window policing” taken to the next level.
Fathers were locked away for months at a time over parking tickets. Mothers over petty theft for taking food from dumpsters behind restuarants and grocery stores to feed their families. Youth removed from society for years before they even got the chance to mature.
Punishable crimes were committed, but the punishment didn’t always fit the crime.
Many children grew up in unintentional single parent homes. Many children grew up in orphanages where both parents fell victim to “zero-tolerance” laws. Many people lost their entire futures and chances at fortune so that the fortunate could shop in downtown on a Friday evening and a mayor could keep his job.
Life isn’t fair, but it shouldn’t be that unbalanced either.
The Batman is the new tool of the powerful and elite to sweep the poor under the rug and out of sight so that they feel safe in our city. The city of both the wealthy and the poor. A city that has it’s problems, but a vigilante and a cop with too much power aren’t the answer.
The streets are flooded with young men and women who’s parents have been swept up in the new war on crime and they aren’t willing to lay down and take it. They are fighting back. They are securing the future that belongs to them.
The Batman is new. The method is the same. But times have changed.”
“Wow. We don’t usually get such great rants out of our guests but you make some really good points.
I can’t help but notice that you seem to have beef with the wealthy. And with The Batman. It’s almost as if you see the two as the same. Do you think it is one person under that mask, or many?”
“I can’t give away all my secrets, Vesper. But I have my own thoughts on who is under that mask.
It wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of me to start pointing fingers in such a public forum.
Not without data of course.”
“Of course. Well thank you for logging in to talk to me about all things Gotham.
For everyone watching, don’t forget to comment who you think The Batman might be and subscribe to The Gotham Inquisition to find out if you are right as soon as that news becomes available!”
Yeah, I would love to see this kinda stuff work its way into the Reeves-verse. Having Dr. Crane there to weaponize today's politics like that is a clever move.