My mother made an excellent point...
I just got a Batman poster, which is really cool, having Bruce surveying Gotham on a gargoyle with his cape swirling around him. My mother took one look at it and said, "Why does he have to be so muscle-y? He favors stealth, right? He can be strong and do that without looking like a bodybuilder." And of course I jumped to defend the almighty Batman, but the more I thought about it, she was right. Batman as he was drawn was ridiculously muscled, and with Bruce's training he should be utilizing speed and agility rather than just brute strength. (which he does, to my knowledge. it just doesn't show in this instance). It made me wonder why the picture was so obviously graduated when it makes little sense for the character. Is the illustrator afraid that by not having uber muscles Batman would somehow look weak? Batman doesn't loose his badass factor when it looks like he spent twenty minutes lifting weights instead of fifty. Batman is as powerful as he is because of the amazing mind behind the symbol.He could be a guinea pig and still be fucking badass for crying out loud. Is the only way to prove that he's strong to slap exaggerated bulk on him? Is this really what we need from out male role models?