Warning: Major Spoilers For The Batman Ahead!
The Batman has proven to be a major success among critics and audiences, finally solidifying DC’s Batman moving forward, after several missteps on their part. The film proved to be an enjoyable detective story, as well as a thrilling first outing for Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader.
Matt Reeves’s vision truly shines throughout The Batman for each of the major characters, giving them distinct and fun personalities that fans are sure to want to see more of in the near future. Though many of the film’s characters are uniquely captured, some of them can’t help but remind viewers of certain counterparts from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Gil Colson – Jasper Sitwell
Peter Sarsgaard plays the selfish Gotham District Attorney Gil Colson in The Batman, whose corruption is exposed by the mysterious Riddler. Colson finds himself caught up in the Riddler’s sprawling scheme, becoming another pawn in his bid to cleanse the city of its double-dealing politicians.
Many MCU fans might recognize certain similarities between Colson and SHIELD agent Jasper Sitwell, played by Maximiliano Hernandez. Both put on a public appearance of nobility, only to be revealed as selfish and sinister in private. In the end, both are killed shortly after their true colors are revealed.
Joker – Kang the Conqueror
In one of the closing scenes of the film, the Joker makes a surprise appearance in the Arkham mental hospital, played by Eternals actor Barry Keoghan. It seems likely that the Clown Prince of Crime will be the main villain of the sequel, unless The Batman 2 features the comic villain Hush, as many rumors claim.
Regardless of whether or not he is the main antagonist of the next Batman film, Keoghan’s Joker shares some similarities with the MCU’s Kang the Conqueror, as portrayed by Jonathan Majors. Both villains have merely been teased, portending dark days to come upon their arrival at a future date, and both appear to be major threats on the horizon for the heroes they will one day face.
Bella Reál – Matthew Ellis
Bella Reál is the mayoral candidate promising to bring “Reál change to Gotham.” Jayme Lawson’s character is perhaps the only politician in the entire film not revealed to be corrupt, eventually winning the mayoral office by default after her only competition is killed by the Riddler.
In some ways, Bella Reál mirrors the MCU’s U.S. President Matthew Ellis, played by William Sadlier. Both politicians are caught up in the corrupt schemes of those around them, but maintain their morals in the face of such danger. While neither plays a particularly large role in their respective films, both offer a ray of hope for the common man by the time the credits roll.
Carmine Falcone – Alexander Pierce
John Turturro’s Carmine Falcone is a reclusive mob boss that is revealed to be the real “mayor” of the city, having the majority of politicians and police officers in his pocket all along. It is he who was the “rat” that leaked information to the cops about his rival Sal Maroni, leading to his increased power over the city of Gotham.
Falcone is eerily similar to Robert Redford’s Alexander Pierce, the Secretary of the World Security Council in The Winter Soldier. Like Falcone, Pierce is revealed to be secretly in control of a faction of corrupt agents, attempting to run the world from the comfort of his chair. However, both of these villainous leaders are shot down unceremoniously, ending their bid for control.
Jim Gordon – Nick Fury
The Batman is a detective story well worth the 3-hour runtime, as the World’s Best Detective struggles to unravel the mystery behind the Riddler’s actions. Aiding the Batman in his sleuthing is Detective Jim Gordon, played by Jeffrey Wright. Gordon proves to be the only cop that Batman can trust in this case, who is only willing to break the rules that will help bring justice to the citizens of Gotham.
Gordon shares some similarities with Samuel L. Jackson’s iconic MCU character Nicholas J. Fury. Like Gordon, Fury is one of very few who is willing to trust superheroes to do the things that regular citizens cannot. Both Fury and Gordon break the dearly held rules of their superiors when it comes to these heroes, trusting that these “remarkable people” can make the world a safer place.
The Penguin – The Kingpin
The Batman features a secondary villain in the form of the Penguin, played by the almost unrecognizable Colin Ferrell, who redeems himself greatly after his previous superhero role as Bullseye in 2003’s Daredevil. The audience is treated to a Penguin origin story of sorts, as the character becomes the most powerful criminal in Gotham by the film’s end.
Though the Penguin in this film appears to be in the infancy of his career as a mob boss, he certainly bears some resemblance to Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin. Both characters are larger-than-life mob heads with no powers other than their keen sense of survival in a dangerous world. Similarly, each character may indeed have a long future ahead of them as a recurring villain in their respective franchises.
Alfred Pennyworth – J.A.R.V.I.S.
Andy Serkis takes on the role of Bruce Wayne’s butler, partner, and father figure in Alfred Pennyworth. Though Alfred has few scenes in the film, much of the heart of the story revolves around him. It is he who reveals the real truth behind the death of Bruce’s parents, and he who encourages Bruce to be more than a symbol of fear.
Alfred is certainly reminiscent of Tony Stark’s AI butler, JARVIS in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Like Alfred with Bruce, JARVIS is at times the closest confidant to Tony Stark, and one of the few who know the gruesome details of his superhero life. Both are loyal and unshakeable in their service to their respective heroes and continue to be major players in their franchises.
The Riddler – Ultron
The various riddles and clues that are hidden throughout the film make The Batman one of the top superhero films of all time, courtesy of Edward Nigma, the Riddler. Throughout the movie, the Riddler exposes the corruption of the Gotham Elite in a bid to remake the city in the way he sees fit.
In relation to carrying out a “holy mission” of sorts, the Riddler echoes the Avengers villain Ultron, who attempted to wipe out humanity and pave the way for a new world order devoid of mankind’s mistakes. Both villains attempted to cleanse their target areas by manufacturing “natural” disasters but ultimately failed as a result of the heroic intervention.
Selina Kyle – Nebula
Zoe Kravitz becomes the latest actress to take on the role of Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman, in The Batman. Later revealed to be the illegitimate daughter of Carmine Falcone, Selina is on a mission of murder and revenge, seeking justice for all the wrongs done to her and her mother.
Selina’s story arc is not unlike that of Karen Gillan’s Nebula, the daughter of the Mad Titan Thanos. Like Selina, Nebula has been broken by a cruel father figure that couldn’t care less for her well-being, turning her into a murderous assassin with few morals. However, both of these characters manage to find redemption through the bonds they forge with those less hardened by the trials of life and relent from their misdeeds.
Bruce Wayne – Moon Knight
Robert Pattinson sees his debut as the eponymous superhero in The Batman, setting up a promising future for himself in the role. Throughout the film, Bruce Wayne struggles with his identity as the Batman, unraveling what it means to save a city.
The MCU’s soon-coming hero Moon Knight, as portrayed by Oscar Isaac, mirrors Bruce Wayne’s journey in The Batman well, as he too struggles with the question of identity–who he is in the midst of a fantastical life. While Moon Knight has yet to premiere on Disney+, viewers are sure to see the similarities between another nocturnal crimefighter struggling to learn who he truly is, both as a person and as a hero.
