In the 21st century, superhero stories are often judged on how realistic they are — how “gritty,” how dark, how “adult.” It’s never been more visible than with Batman. Between Christopher Nolan’s take in the Dark Knight trilogy and the still-ongoing takes by Matt Reeves, it seems like the Caped Crusader was built for the Nirvana-scored, brooding tone of tragic flashbacks and smeared eyeliner.
But over half a century ago, superhero media took a much different, but just as realistic, tack. The point wasn’t to make Bruce Wayne feel like a real person, but what he actually was: a comic book character.
