Batman has had many men wear the cowl on the big screen over the last 80 years (there have also been some terrifying adaptations). Most recently, before the announcement of The Batman movie by Matt Reeves, Ben Affleck dawned the cape in several films. Ben Affleck's portrayal is full of compliments and controversy, more so than any other who has played the role—first appearing in Batman v Superman and once again in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Ben Affleck’s run as the Dark Knight is coming to an end in the upcoming Flash movie (which will be the actor's final portrayal).
During his time as The Bat, there have been comparisons of his portrayal to the comic book version of the character by long-time fans, and some of those comparisons are spot on. There is so much source material available that Batman appears very different across multiple forms of media. Here are some things only comic book readers noticed about Ben Affleck's Batman.
10 Batman Was Preparing His Contingency Plans For The Justice League
A significant plot point in Batman v. Superman that pushes the conflict between the Dark Knight and the Man Of Steel is Bruce Wayne’s paranoia. In the comics, Batman is a cold and calculating vigilante whose mind is always ten steps ahead of every threat. This is how he has survived on the streets of Gotham and saved the world numerous times.
In the film, Bruce’s paranoia is at an all-time high concerning Superman and others like him as he is seen Hacking Lexcorp files about the Metahuman theory.
9 Batman Had Already Gone Through The Events Of Knightfall
It is no secret that the Batman that appeared in the Batman v Superman film is a much older, seasoned version of the character. Over 15 years on the streets have left the World’s Greatest Detective jaded and barely holding together, having been through tragedy after tragedy in the battle for Gotham’s soul.
The quote “15 years, how many good guys are left? How many stayed that way?" possibly speaks to Batman: Knightfall. After being grievously injured by Bane in the comics, Bruce Wayne relinquishes his cowl to John Paul Valley. Jean-Paul Valley was set to replace Bruce Wayne, but he grew ruthless and murderous, believing that Gotham needed a better Batman.
8 Batman Had Already Lost A Robin
Another plot point prominent in Batman’s history is the Death in the Family storyline. In the story, Batman’s second Robin, Jason Todd, is murdered by the Joker and marked as Batman's first failure. This is seen as one of the darkest times in Batman's career, pushing him closer to madness than he’s ever been.
In Batman v Superman, there is a memorial of a robin suit spray-painted with taunts from the Joker. Although it is not confirmed which Robin lost their life, its effects on Batman are evident as he is more brutal and unforgiving in the film.
7 Peak Human Conditioning
One of the most noticeable things about Batman in the comics is his physique. Batman trains endlessly to always be at his peak performance physically and mentally. This is showcased in Batman v Superman and Zack Snyder's Justice League reasonably well.
During his training for facing off with Superman, Batman pushes himself to his limit. In Zack Snyders Justice League, Bruce Wayne can be seen facing off with a Terra-Demon, strong and fast enough to capture the beast. Ben Affleck's presence in and out of the suit shows his dedication to the character.
6 The Bat Symbol
There was much speculation among comic book fans on how the bat symbol would look and which would be chosen for Ben Affleck's portrayal. Many were hoping for the yellow and black classic symbol; others wanted the symbol from the Nolan trilogy to return.
Instead, what appeared was a call back to the Frank Miller classic, The Dark Knight Returns. The symbol itself is a broader, beefier symbol than usual that fills out the suit's chest to showcase the size of the man wearing it—the Batman v Superman version of the Batsuit is arguably the best suit to appear on the big screen; many fans greatly appreciated the symbol.
5 The Bruce Wayne Persona
One of the most challenging things to portray in any comic book film is the persona and alternate superhero identity. Batman and Bruce Wayne are polar opposites; Batman is a deathly quiet and skulking individual, while Bruce Wayne is a charismatic playboy with a million-dollar smile.
Ben Affleck portrayed both with great accuracy, embodying the World's Greatest Detective in one scene and the CEO of a billion-dollar company the next. Ben Affleck's scenes as Bruce Wayne next to Henry Cavill's Clark Kent (Henry Cavill still wants to wear the cape) and Gal Gadot's Diana Prince were excellent exchanges between the characters.
4 The Long Rifle
Another call back to the Frank Miller classic is a controversial one. Shown early in trailers for the film, there is a scene where Ben Affleck's Batman is perched high on a cell tower holding a rifle with a scope. Naturally, this caused a lot of controversy surrounding Batman's no-gun rule.
Fans of the comics quickly noticed that the rifle and scene were taken straight from the Dark Knight Returns and that the gun was not actually a live firearm but instead a rifle that fired tracer rounds to track his targets.
3 Everything For The Mission
In the comics, one of the characteristics that define Batman is his dedication to the mission of protecting Gotham and serving out justice. For the sake of Gotham and its people, Batman will lay his life on the line without hesitation. This characteristic translated into both Batman v Superman and Zack Snyder's Justice League.
In the latter, Ben Affleck's Batman drives into a nest of Terra-Demons to get their attention so that the rest of the team may infiltrate with minimal opposition. Batman throwing himself to the wolves for the cause has occurred multiple times across multiple different mediums where the caped crusader has appeared, such as the Final Crisis comic and the Justice League Unlimited cartoon.
2 The Dark Knight
If it wasn't obvious enough, many inspirations were taken from the DC comics 1986 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Scenes were stripped directly from the comic and brought to life on the silver screen in both Batman v Superman and Zack Snyder's Justice League. From the Batsuit design, Bruce Wayne's appearance, to the plot points used for the character in The Dark Knight returns, the source material is rich through the films.
Unfortunately, while the dark theme fit Ben Affleck's character well, they were not well received in the joint film of Batman and Superman.
1 The Real Dynamic Duo
Fans of the Batman comics will tell you that Batman is the driving force for justice in Gotham. Still, he would not be anything without the foundation that is Alfred Pennyworth. The retired British special forces member turned butler and surrogate father is the breath that brings life to Batman's mission.
Countless times, Alfred has been the support that gets Batman out of life-threatening situations with a sarcastic quip now and then. The relationship between the two inside the films remained prominent, leaving a solid impression of the chemistry between Ben Affleck and Jeremy Irons. This has caused fans to wonder what could have been in a solo movie.