Don't Stand Next to Batman, Just Support Him from Afar

   Now I shall avoid befriending the hero at all costs. When I glanced upon the title of Chapter 10, I assumed that the author would proclaim that any friend of the hero is deemed practically irrelevant for most of the story. Reading the chapter introduced me to the idea of being merely acquainted with the hero is better than a full-fledged friendship with the hero, particularly in literature. It’s wonderful to establish a relationship with the lead, but the result of a strong friendship with the hero is some form of suffering for the friend(s). Whether it be a minor injury, loss of a loved one, or even their own death, the friends of the heroes seem to suffer for their love and respect of the hero.

   A person becomes friends with someone else out of kindness or out of a common interest. Some friendships even begin during childhood and last a lifetime. These friendships grow and mature and the friends will almost appear inseparable. In literature, the establishment of which character is the lead or hero hints that the close friend of the hero is practically a sidekick only used to further the story. Somehow, the friend ends up suffering even though the story is not about them. This suffering will often anger the hero, which gives the story the push it needs to continue. It is scary to know that any close friend of a hero is subject to some form of torture just to continue the hero’s story.

   This chapter actually made me think about the relationship between DC Comics characters Batman and Red Hood. Now everyone knows that Batman has a faithful sidekick by the name of Robin, but not everyone knows that there is more than one Robin. In total there are about five Robins, but one in particular does not have a great remaining relationship with the Dark Knight. The second Robin, whose real name is Jason Todd, was a rebellious Robin. He appeared to be arrogant and driven, in the sense that he would do anything to dish out justice. Because of his closeness to Batman, Todd is put in the position of standing behind the hero. Sadly, he is the only Robin to face this particular issue of being beside the Dark Knight. When Todd locates his biological mother, he is captured by the Joker. The Joker then beats Todd relentlessly with a crowbar. To end Todd entirely, the Joker plants a bomb in the warehouse in which Todd is trapped. Batman attempts to save Todd, as Todd also tries to escape on his own, but both fail. The loss of his second Robin drives Batman to truly care for future Robins. Surprisingly, Todd is brought back from the dead and experiences the Lazarus Pits. The Lazarus Pits had damaged his mind and brought him to what is believed to be insanity. Once brought back to life, Todd becomes the Red Hood, a persona first created by the Joker. Todd still holds some resentment towards his former mentor, but seeks vengeance against the one that ended his life, the Joker. This comic book story arc connects to the idea that standing next to the hero only leads to one’s demise, while the hero is expecting to rage as a result and continue the story.

   Hopefully, this same idea of not being next to the hero does not apply to the real world as often as it does in literature and films.