#batfam discourse

[p1tufina]

I'd like it if Bruce's parental figures / legal guardians (Alfred, Leslie) were depicted more consistently in an negative light when discussing Bruce's upbringing. Not bc I necesarily think these characters are horrible, irredeemable characters, but because it makes for a more compelling, and logical story beat

People looove depicting Bruce as cold and psycopathic and paranoic and all these terrible traits but nobody likes exploring the reasons Bruce is like this, aka his upbringing after his parents' death

it reminds me of the quote "I have to believe our worst moments don't define us". Alfred's behavior after the death of the Waynes is his worst moment -- he let a grieving child turn himself into the Batman. Later in life he tried rectifying his worst moment with the children Bruce brought in.

I think Bruce's life can be best described as the result of a series of worst moments; Joe Chill shooting the Waynes, Alfred Pennyworth and his lack of parenting, Justice League allies (Zatanna, Green Arrow, Hawkman, etc) mindwiping him, Jason Todd and the Red Hood, himself and Zur-En-Arrh, etc

None of the characters above are crucifed over the acts they committed in their worst moments, bc at the end of the day it makes for a more compelling story beat. Its frustrating when Bruce isn't given the same mercy

Its especially frustrating when comics keeps using the consequences of these worst moments, such as Bruce's increased paranoia after Identity Crisis and the creation of Brother Eye and... never mentioning the reasons behind them. Now Bruce looks like an asshole when he was the one betrayed first. He's reduced to his worst moments time and time again which, frankly, makes for a less compelling story

[princess-from-the-stars]

I really really absolutely HATE that dc is still so dead set on Barbara being batgirl in the year of our lord 2025. like set my girl FREEEE. they're trying to act like being disabled makes her lesser but it really doesn't. Sure she can't walk, but guess what? My girl is a MENACE with an internet connection and a workable device. Seriously. Oracle is so much better for her character. Let her be independent. Her batgirl days are over, let her be a white hat hacker. Come on dc!!

[webshood]

"Jason Todd is a cop"

So close !! That's actually Dick Grayson 💕

[batfam-confessions]

I really hate when people shit on WFA. Some of us want to have something lighter to snack on.

🌸

[damianwaynesutilitybelt]

If I'm being honest I really hate all those posts and discourse that go somewhere along the lines of "Bruce's favourite or whose the closest to Bruce ect ect"

Just any kind of ranking with the bat kids relationship with Bruce.

They're all very complex relationships and they all bring different things to the table they all understand Bruce in different ways. And Bruce loves them in his own way. They're his kids that's the end of it.

[geekthefreakout]

“Jason only ever gets Dick's hand me downs as friends and love interests”

I feel like when people say this it takes away that these characters belong to a much bigger universe that is outside of Dick Grayson. Like he doesn’t own them and they aren’t characters that only appear in his comics.

Also relationships dynamics can change especially when characters are apart? Like characters can begin to see other characters in a different light and become friends or romantic interest. I honestly find that Jason and Dick end up in that same circle compelling especially when they are said to look like each other, like it adds to a dynamic that writers can explore between would be brothers.

I agree! Especially with the Timeline Compressing that DC does because they REFUSE!!!! to let these characters get older, we now have a Dick and Jason that are only a few years apart in age.

Jason was a Titan too, however briefly while he was Robin. I thought (using JayRoy as my example because I'm me) that Jason and Roy wound up having a great dynamic together, and it was only made better by Roy having been Dick's friend first (focusing on the positives in RHATO and Red Hood/Arsenal and not the nonsense- I admit I'm more accepting of it because it was the first time I read a book with Roy as a main character).

Or how Jason will interact with Kori or Donna sometimes, it's just adding layers. The way Donna sometimes acts like Jason is also her little brother, the way Kori cares. I think people forget that it is entirely possible for siblings to have a similar friend group, and have unique bonds within that group.

It can get frustrating when writers feel like they can only have one or the other sometimes though- note that we haven't had any interactions between Jason and any of Dick's Titans in ages and ages, aside from the DCU digital exclusive that was going for a while. That was fun.

[envysparkler]

every titans tower au is like “what if we destroyed two complex characters with interesting motivations by reducing them to one dimension versions of themselves where self proclaimed genius and literal trained vigilante tim is actually a pwecious wittle baby who cries a lot or is so uwu sassy and lectures at a dead teenager about how stupid dumb he is and jason is a deranged idiot turned mother figure with no brain and no motivations whatsoever <3”

I'm assuming both of these were sent by the same person.

I like those characterizations of Tim and Jason. A lot of people like those characterizations. I have never tried to hide that they're fanon characterizations and I've repeatedly stated that I don't read comics.

You are under no obligation to read my, or indeed anyone else's fics. AO3 has a site skin that enable you to hide stories and users from showing up in your searches and tags; I've made good use of it to curate my experience and you can as well.

No one owes it to you to explain why they like particular aspects of the fandom, canon or fanon. If you don't like something, don't read it.

[garindan-no-numbers]

i don't disagree with this but when i read the first issue i kinda got the vibe that this was done intentionally to set up an arc of growth. been done before, showing all the same signs. plus with all the 'how do i be happy like everyone else' stuff, seems like the run is setting up a major arc of emotional self actualization for bruce. could be wrong tho, hope i'm not.