“Superman Was More Human Than I Am”
The fact that Bruce wants to prevent any one person from meeting a grim fate recalls the dialogue in the critically acclaimed Elseworld’s tale Kingdom Come, where Superman cuts through Bruce’s cynical bluster to make a cutting observation about his soul.
Many other traditionally macho heroes would have encouraged Barry to “man up” and complete the task alongside his fellow heroes. However, Bruce doesn’t dismiss it as a foolish emotion; instead he acknowledges Barry’s hesitancy and accommodates into his battle plan. Not only does Batman’s instruction to save the hostages play to the Flash’s skills as a speedster, but his encouragement for Flash to find himself — to “know” — reveals his compassionate, and nurturing nature.
Certainly, Batman’s empathy towards both the Flash and the abducted citizens really underscores how much he’s developed between his movie appearances. In the wake of Metropolis’s destruction, Batman was previously an intensely nihilistic hero. During his quest to gain the Kryptonite in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, the Caped Crusader notably went on one-man assault against Lex Luthor’s goons through the streets of Gotham.
With guns blazing and cars flipping everywhere, Batman had seemingly little concern for who he killed or what property he damaged. Moreover, though he learned his lesson in the much derided “Martha moment,” Bruce still murdered or maimed the majority of her kidnappers in that infamous warehouse scene.
Indeed, we’re all familiar with Batman’s brooding — and occasionally hyper-violent — nature. Yet time and time again, our comics have unveiled the Caped Crusader’s underlying optimism, mainly when he’s fostering the talents of another young hero or two.
