She Likes to Watch

Consider this your first lesson  

For Batman newbies, the long, complicated history of the Dark Knight might seem a bit daunting.

Who is this dark, brooding superhero? Where did he come from? And what’s the deal with all these flying rodents?

In honor of “The Dark Knight,” which opens today in theaters, I bring you “Batman: My Parents Are Dead.”

I love how Scott Kurtz, creator of the Web comic PvP (Player Vs. Player), reduces the Batman story to its very essence. Brilliant stuff.

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Still confused?

Theme song scholar Goldentusk recounts the Caped Crusader’s origins in this song, set to the tune of Danny Elfman’s stirring “Batman Theme.”

Priceless, no?

It’s as if he’s combined the musicality of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus with the artistry of George Lucas and the lyric-writing ability of Randy Newman.

Add a thrift-store Batman costume and several hours of green screen set design, and you’ve got geeky magic.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

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My apologies for not crediting the creator of the above comix panel.

So far I haven’t been able to find the source of this funny, funny one-panel spoof. Does anyone know?

To console myself, I’ll include this link to a very Batman Christmas. Happy holidays.