If DC Needs New Movie Material, Batman: The Cult Is Ready For the Spotlight
Almost all the Batman movies loosely adapt one comic book story or another, and The Cult would make for great source material. Christopher Nolan's iconic The Dark Knight, after all, is a vague adaption of The Long Halloween. DC currently has a whole slate of new superhero movies coming out, and if DC needs any new ideas on what Batman story to adapt next, Batman: The Cult would make an amazing big-screen adventure.
Batman: The Cultby Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson is a surprisingly dark story that almost no one ever talks about. It challenged Batman in new ways and was one of the very first times that a villain seemed to truly break Batman.
This defeat was especially surprising as the new villain hadn't been seen before. An original character just for this story, Deacon Blackfire defeats Batman in a way no one else had. Batman was beaten so badly that he ended up fleeing Gotham City, with no real intention of returning. This story would be a challenge for a live-action Batman that fans hadn't seen before.
Batman: The Cult Could Be the Perfect Story for Jason Todd's Movie Introduction
Batman: The Cult by Jim Starlin, Bernie Wrightson, Bill Wray, and John Costanza
Batman: The Cultexplores what most comic book movies don't: Batman's failure. There are several moments in this story where Batman is forced to face his inability to solve everything and save everyone. The entire story revolves around the cult leader Deacon Blackfire slowly gaining more and more power in Gotham, even managing to brainwash Batman into serving him at one point. In the end, the Deacon completely takes over Gotham, even having Gordon shot to prevent him from interfering and killing the Mayor in a car bombing attack.
Every hardcore comic fan wants to see Robin in live-action, a depiction that hasn't really been done well so far. This possible movie could be the perfect way to introduce Jason Todd, the second Robin, as it specifically deals with one of Batman's darkest adventures, which seems only fitting for his "darkest" Robin. Since Batman spends the majority of the story completely brainwashed, it's up to Jason to try and save him. That's already a pretty interesting plot, one where Batman is taken hostage and Robin needs to come save him. That's certainly something that hasn't been done in live-action yet.
But even if Robin is removed from the story, there's still plenty here for Batman. He has to deal with the loss of his mind, the loss of his city, and the loss of his biggest rule. While under the control of Deacon Blackfire, Batman breaks his no-kill rule and uses a gun to slaughter a criminal who was standing in Deacon Blackfire's way of complete city domination.
Deacon Blackfire Is a Batman Villain That Audiences Have Never Seen Before
Blackfire Turned Batman Into a Monster
The ramifications of Batman's choices when faced with Deacon Blackfire aren't really explored fully in the comic. Batman moves on pretty quickly, considering he was brainwashed, but this problem would be a fantastic thing for Batman to try and come to terms with in a movie. Every live-action Batman so far has either been a bloodthirsty maniac or someone who adamantly refuses to kill. Viewers have never seen a Batman who gets caught in the middle. In addtion, while Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises loosely adapts No Man's Land, viewers have rarely gotten to see a Gotham City that was completely overrun by villains.
Because of these overwhelming odds, it's amazing to see Batman return to Gotham in a decked-out Batmobile to take back his city.
What makes Deacon Blackfire so formidable is that he pretty much took over all of Gotham. He assassinates the mayor, puts Gordon in the hospital, and brainwashes everyone else in his way, Batman included. If it wasn't for Robin, Deacon Blackfire would have won. Because of these overwhelming odds, it's amazing to see Batman return to Gotham in a decked-out Batmobile to take back his city. It's a major moment that would undoubtedly translate amazingly into live-action.
Batman: The Cult Is the Dark Story That Batman Needs on the Big Screen
It Would Challenge Him Like Never Before
Finally, Batman: The Cult explores the reason why Batman first became Batman. While most fans may think that Batman simply did it to avenge the death of his parents, Bruce admits in this story that this assumption isn't the case. Batman may claim that he became the Dark Knight for vengeance, but in reality, he did it to overcome fear. Witnessing the death of his parents deeply traumatized him, and he wears the Batman persona like armor to try and protect himself from that trauma - a fact that also hasn't been explored in live-action.
The best part about Batman is that no matter what happens, no matter how dark a situation seems, he will always overcome it. Viewers have seen this again and again in the movies, but that core character tenet has never been pushed as far as it could really go. Loss defines Batman; he was created because of loss, which is why Batman: The Cult would make the perfect movie. It's all about how Batman loses everything, and he still manages to save the day.
Batman: The Cult is available now from DC Comics!
- Created By
- Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- First Appearance
- Detective Comics
- Alias
- Bruce Wayne
- Alliance
- Justice League, Outsiders, Batman Family
- Race
- Human
- Franchise
- D.C.
One of DC's most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world's leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
- FIRST APP
- Detective Comics #27 (1939)
