We’ve seen Batman fight his nemesis the Joker countless times over the years. We’ve seen him get his back broken by Bane. Hell, we’ve even seen him indulge in some crossfit before a big showdown with Superman in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice.
But the release of issue one of the new comic series Batman: Damned sees the Dark Knight doing something he’s never done before in all his decades of defending Gotham City: hang out with his wang out.
Batman Damned sees the Caped Crusader struggling with memory loss and a possible intrusive entity living in his head. To figure out what’s wrong, he heads to the Batcave, where he immediately strips down for a full body scan.
This whole sequence is lovingly drawn with several close-ups of Bruce Wayne’s physique, naked butt, and a mostly-in-shadow but clearly outlined shaft which is … looks like a regular, anatomically correct penis. I mean, I don’t know what we expected from Batman’s trouser snake, but it is completely and relatably unspectacular.
I’m actually more surprised at Wayne’s lack of scars and injuries after all his years of fighting crime. Hell, if there is anything that’s unrealistic about the whole sequence, it’s Batman’s blemish-free physique.
https://twitter.com/Undead_Marston/status/1042494509190471680
The sight of Batman’s schlong triggered quite the response online and reactions have ranged anywhere from disgust (grow up, broflakes) to mirth, all of which is probably not too surprising.
But the gamut of online responses aside, this is actually a great step forward in terms of normalising tasteful, non-gratuitous, non-boob-based nudity in media.
Nudity in pop culture, for the most part, is predominantly focused on the (cis) female body. Sure there have been the occasional non-female butt and/or penis shown here and there, but those moments have always been held at an arm’s length away when compared to breasts and (much more rarely) vulvas.
Penises may be generally associated with most things R18+, but they can also be used to express things beyond those of a sexual nature. Just as how some might use a naked woman to represent vulnerability, natural private behaviour, and confidence, a naked penis is a perfectly suitable counterpart to represent those same attributes.
We shouldn’t be so “terrified” of seeing tasteful non-female nudity because it is a simple part of life and we’re all just human at the end of the day. A penis is as beautiful as a set of boobs or a butt, so why shy away from it?
It’s about time we normalise the idea of seeing relevant nudity, sexualised or otherwise, in media and embrace scenes featuring penises (in a tasteful way).
Batman may have finally shown off his Dick Grayson for the first time, but hopefully it won’t be the last.