The Batman Within

For me, the most enduring image of Batman hails from the 1943 fifteen-chapter serials of Columbia Pictures-- the first Batman live action film ever. These serials were intermittently shown on Philippine television as fillers in the mid-60s. It was a bit confusing and I had a hard time connecting a “resolution” episode to a “cliffhanger” episode because they were not shown sequentially. With its low production value, over-the-top action and dialogue they came across as laughable campy

entertainment. It is as if they were begging not to be taken seriously. Batman’s physique was un-athletic and thick about the middle while his voice was a tad too high. Worse still, the Batman costume was baggy and topped by a pair of limp devil’s horns. But, in spite of its shortcomings, the serial spawned a sequel in 1949.

As a boy, I caught a re-run of the 1965 “Alyas Batman at Robin” with Bob Soler as Batman and Lou Salvador, Jr. as Robin. The movie, or so the production company claimed, was “inspired” by the DC Comic hero and the story “based” on a Horror Komiks-- a local comic, serial of the same title. One thing I give the movie credit for is that it pre-dates the campy Batman and Robin television series (hammily portrayed, respectively, by Adam West and Burt Ward. Film historians say that the television series, and perhaps Adam West’s acting as well, was inspired by the 40s serials.). While we could not discount the possibility that “Alyas Batman at Robin” could have been “inspired” as well by the 40s serials, the Philippine version could very well be the first ever feature length film of Batman and Robin (--Notably, the Batman and Robin 40s versions were actually serials-- over extended movies that were cut up into 15-minute episodes, and not feature length movies.).

The appeal of Batman to me as a boy growing up is his utility belt from which he could pull out a gizmo that is appropriate for whatever tight fix he might find himself in. More tools are secreted in his boots and cape. Batman is the most accessorized among costumed superheroes; he has loads of cool weapons, all sorts of vehicles, gadgets, tools and perhaps the first superhero to use computers. While it has often been noted that Batman’s uniqueness among costumed superheroes is that he possesses no super-powers, I think more than that is how he compensated for being just an ordinary and regular guy by becoming the ultimate techie and gadget/tool user. Kind of like a walking Swiss Army knife with a cape. That, to me, is what really made him a superhero. A bit of the Batman still lives inside each of the eternal children of my generation. You could still see them doddering about. They are the few who doesn’t carry a sissy bag like almost everybody else. They cut a silhouette of an ordinary man with nothing on him but his clothes yet, magically, they would whip out a pack of cigarettes, a cell phone, an iPod, a PDA, a balisong, a box cutter, a pepper spray, a ball pen, a lighter, or even a comb or other contraband out from their socks, their waistband or some hidden compartment unto which they have secreted away other stuff you wouldn't have imagined they could carry around discretely. Alyas Batman at Robin movie ad photo courtesy of Mr. Simon Santos video48.blogspot.com