Batman Day 2018: The Dynamic Duo Awards

DC's Caped Crusader might be the world's number-one favourite superhero, and today is the time of year where we take a moment to appreciate just how awesome this character is. Since his debut in spring 1939, Batman has starred in an abundance of iconic stories, some of which have been the topic of posts on this blog. 

For this reason, I thought I'd make it an annual tradition to round up all of my Bat-favourites on the Dark Knight's special day. However, I'm a strong believer that Batman needs a Robin, so I'm naming it the Dynamic Duo Awards and accompanying the winner of each category with a runner-up. Without further ado, let's light the Batsignal and begin!

In a previous blog post, I declared Grant Morrison's run the ultimate Batman comic - but which parts did I like best? Well, it's Batman & Robin that I believe provided the greatest take on the Bat-mythos. Colourful and campy yet also dark and violent, this masterpiece is the prime example of why the world of Batman is so captivating. I would happily have had Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne as the new Dynamic Duo for much longer.

Luckily, Bruce Wayne's return didn't come with a dip in quality. Morrison's subsequent arc, Batman Incorporated, was an all-out war between an international army of vigilantes and the criminal organisation Leviathan. This big finale of Morrison's story is every bit as breathtaking as it should be, and delivers a powerful message about the never-ending legend of the Bat.

Batman is also a prominent figure in film, including the massively successful Dark Knight trilogy - but it's the animated feature Mask of the Phantasm that I consider the best adaptation. Bypassing the limitations of live-action, everything feels just like in the comics, albeit with an original plot that captures the heart of Batman like few other stories ever have.

A year prior, Tim Burton gave the world Batman Returns, my favourite live-action Bat-film. It's thematically similar to Phantasm, giving us the closest we might ever get to a real-life depiction of Gotham. With Michael Keaton's awesome Batman against three compelling and entertaining villains, this movie is a delight from start to finish - Matt Reeves should be taking notes.

I've found people are generally very opinionated on this topic - but if one man deserves the title of best Batman, it's Kevin Conroy. He's starred in multitudinous cartoons, films and video games across decades, cementing him as the definitive voice of Batman for many. Whenever I read a Batman comic, it's Conroy's voice I hear, and will continue to do so even after he retires.

However, I'm not confident that he could pull off wearing the cape and cowl, and that's what the big debate is really over. For me, the only thing Ben Affleck is missing is Conroy's voice. He looks and acts just like Batman should. Returns might be my favourite live-action outing, but Affleck gives us some of the best Batman scenes that will ever be filmed in Batman v Superman.

It's only fitting that the Dynamic Duo Awards include the best sidekicks - and who can compare to the two that formed their own Batman and Robin team? Dick Grayson, now Nightwing, serves as the perfect counterpoint to Batman. Optimistic and impulsive, Bruce sees in Dick the young man he wishes he had become. "The original is best" is pretty cliche, but in this case I agree - where would the Batfamily be without the first Robin?

Bruce's son Damian Wayne began as Dick's own Robin. Introduced in Batman and Son, he was initially an audacious (albeit hilarious) character who proved problematic for Bruce. Over the course of Grant Morrison's run, he developed into a captivating hero just as worthy of the Robin title as his predecessors, and my favourite since the first.

Thank you for reading my first Dynamic Duo Awards - have a great Batman Day! Be sure to check your local comic shop and Comixology for sales and freebies.