Trying To Understand Batman

This refers specifically to an exchange he had during his skirmish with Catman in Secret Six #2. During the fight, Catman says he has an advantage, he doesn't care whether he lives or dies. Batman's response is 'Then you have no advantage at all.' The sequence caught my eye, as small, likely inconsequential things have a tendency to do.

The first explanation that came to mind is Catman has no advantage there because Batman also doesn't care about his own well-being. But I can't picture Batman being so cavalier with regards to his life*. He puts far too much effort into training and preparation to not care. Plus, he has all these proteges that, for as much as I bust on Batman for being a jerk, he does care about, and he probably would like to be there for them as long as possible. Not that he's afraid of death, but neither is he rushing headlong to embrace it.

Then I considered whether he meant that he cares whether Catman lives or dies, and that somehow offsets Blake's supposed advantage. Which would certainly be true to the character. Batman doesn't want anyone to die, not even the Joker. The problem is, I can't see how that negates Blake's advantage. It suggests Catman could do throw himself in front of a train, and Batman would exert energy to save him, and put himself at risk in the process, both from the train, and from a cheap shot Catman would likely take, since the opportunity is presenting itself and all.

Third possibility relates to a similar sequence from Rurouni Kenshin. Kenshin is squaring off with Aoshi for the second time, having promised Aoshi a rematch if it meant that much to the guy. Aoshi is really going to town on Kenshin, intent on killing him, and makes it pretty clear that all that matters is victory, and his continued existence beyond that is irrelevant. Kenshin, who has been down that road himself, says that he has strength beyond that willingness to throw away one's life, because he wants to live, to continue helping others, and to be with the people he cares about, and that's why he'll win. Because he cares more**.

That sounds pretty good to me. Like I said earlier, Batman doesn't want people to die, and that includes whomever he winds up saving later that night after the little donnybrook with Catman is finished, as well as the night after that, and the night after that, and so on. He has to survive, because people need him, and that makes him stronger than Catman, who is doing his damndest to give off an air of not caring about anyone or anything, beyond trying to prove (to himself) that he isn't intimidated by Batman.

I've got a few other thoughts swirling about right now, related to what this might mean for Catman, but I need a little time to try and put them together. Until tomorrow then.

* By superheroic standards. I would say he's certainly putting himself at greater risk than most of us, but not so much compared to his allies.

** There's also the reason the reader is aware of: That Kenshin will win because he's the title character. It's annoying how he seems to at least partially defeat his foes by chipping away at their reasons for fighting, until they're no longer as certain of themselves. Believing in yourself and what you're fighting for is a big part of that whole series.