#whatever criminal mocked his ears probably got dropped of a building hauled back up before hitting the ground and was told that while

[marchfall]

I posted this as a reblog on my rebloging account, but it bears repeating.

Batman is in fact scary. People ask why other heroes are afraid of him, especially post identity reveal after learning about his civilian “Brucie Wayne” persona. Or how they can even take him seriously in the first place with his little bat ears and everything.

I think it’s all the emerging from the shadows and casually breaking bones. I know that it creeps me out when anyone, even accidentally, appears out of the dark or from my blind spot. Bruce does both, on purpose, constantly. Bruce is deeply unhinged, and from Gotham to boot, and it’s tangible. He’ll start an interrogation off by breaking an arm, freeze an entire river without hesitation, or detonate a bomb simply as a distraction. He has to tell his coworkers that he has no powers and a no kill rule, they don’t know that until he tells them that. Bruce can reference things that are deeply personal to people he’s talking to, like for example their weekly schedule and biggest insecurities, when he’s at most a coworker they barely have conversations with. Usually he’s a complete stranger they’ve never even seen before. He’s extremely passionate, but doesn’t express that in most identifiable ways. Mainly just in intensity and work ethic, but when he does it’s usually rage. Batman keeps pace with Wonder Woman and Superman, two near gods, whom they all respect and admire. His rogue gallery specialize in mental and chemical warfare. Gotham is basically known as crime city. You don’t go to Gotham and expect not to be mugged. All 15 war crimes are constantly being committed in Gotham. Super villains avoid Gotham. Batman can, will, and does get into fist fights with teammates. And he won’t back down even if it’s Superman or Wonder Woman, which would give most others pause. Once he starts pursuing something it’s near impossible to stop him from chasing it down. Losing a fight won’t stop him for long, he shows very little concern for his own well being. The league sees him make threats to criminals, and then he carries them out, that’s what they think about when he makes threats towards them. He straight up doesn’t understand what’s wrong about his ruthless behavior, that’s terrifying.

TLDR: If I ever found out I had worked with Marilyn Monroe in disguise for years and the only time I could ever remember seeing her grinning was after breaking the bones of twenty men in under three minutes, I’d be more terrified, not less.

[fallforfail]

I think it’s all the emerging from the shadows and casually breaking bones. I know that it creeps me out when anyone, even accidentally, appears out of the dark or from my blind spot. Bruce does both, on purpose, constantly. Bruce is deeply unhinged, and from Gotham to boot, and it’s tangible. He’ll start an interrogation off by breaking an arm, freeze an entire river without hesitation, or detonate a bomb simply as a distraction. He has to tell his coworkers that he has no powers and a no kill rule, they don’t know that until he tells them that. Bruce can reference things that are deeply personal to people he’s talking to, like for example their schedule and insecurities, when he’s at most a distant coworker they barely have conversations with. Usually he’s a complete stranger they’ve never even seen before. He’s extremely passionate, but doesn’t express that in most identifiable ways. Mainly just in intensity and work ethic, but when he does it’s usually rage. Batman keeps pace with Wonder Woman and Superman, two near gods, whom they all respect and admire. His rogue gallery specialize in mental and chemical warfare. Gotham is basically known as crime city. You don’t go to Gotham and expect not to be mugged. All 15 war crimes are constantly being committed in Gotham. Super villains avoid Gotham. Batman can, will, and does get into fist fights with teammates. And he won’t back down even if it’s Superman or Wonder Woman, which would give most others pause. Once he starts pursuing something it’s near impossible to stop him from chasing it down. The league sees him make threats to criminals, and then he carries them out. He straight up doesn’t understand what’s wrong about his ruthless behavior, that’s terrifying.

TLDR: If I ever found out I had worked with Marilyn Monroe in disguise for years and the only time I could ever remember seeing her grinning was after breaking the bones of twenty men in under three minutes, I’d be more terrified, not less.

The real reason Batman (derogatory) has to keep his secret identity hidden from the Justice League is because he’d just lose any level of intimidation afterwards.

Like imagine Batman’s being angry at you or being all cryptic but all you can see in your head is that time rich boy Bruce Wayne got so ‘drunk’ at a gala he started following Lex Luther around with an air horn that he could blow every time he started talking (the video got posted to YouTube).

Like there is no way you could take that guy seriously when you know that under that mask it’s Brucie Wayne. If the JL don’t mock him relentlessly every time he tries to be edgy I don’t want it