by Nadra Enzi
Somewhere in Gotham City, 1956:
For Unusual Stories Magazine.
So far my latest interview has gone fine, considering tonight’s subject is a big guy dressed up like a bat.
Batman is reputed to hit harder than Joe Louis, is smarter than even J. Edgar Hoover when it comes to crime, and — plainly — a bit weirder than Bela Lugosi of Dracula movie fame. He’s a holy terror against gangsters and seems to have spawned more than a few costumed psychos and friends.
As I’ve said earlier, Batman is a big guy, but he moves around like some sort of dancer, at least until he lowers the boom — then it’s lights out all the way around.
Earlier in his career, the word was he seemed eternally grim. These days, his hooded face wears a big grin as if what he does is one helluva lotta fun! So I asked him about it.
“Turning the tables on overgrown bullies is always fun,” Batman told me with a big smile.
His answer to why he does this was interesting.
“Let’s just say I have a personal stake in seeing justice done,” was his answer, a hint of sadness showing beneath the big grin.
Quickly switching topics, I asked him about some of his super-friends.
“Superman? It’s great having a bulletproof buddy in this line of work. Batwoman and Bat-Girl? The prettiest one-two punches in crime-fighting.”
I followed up with some questions about his social life.
“Believe it or not, dating isn’t too hard dressed like this. I go out when work permits.”
I asked him if he ever drinks.
“Not much. Definitely not while swinging several stories above the concrete.”
Winding things up, I decided to inquire about how someone becomes a Batman.
“Lots and lots of work. But I’m not so special. I just decided to be the best I could and then did something about crime in my city,” he said with a grin.