WARNING: This article contains images that are NSFW.
DC Comics was not messing around when they announced that their new publishing imprint, DC Black Label, would include mature and uncensored content. Case in point: We’ve now got a full frontal image of the batpole. The imagery comes from the first issue of Batman: Damned by Brian Azzarello (Wonder Woman) and Lee Bermejo (Joker).
The comic reunites Azzarello and Bermejo, whose 2008 Joker graphic novel was a disturbing deep dive into the Clown Prince of Crime. They delve into similarly dark material with Batman: Damned, a three-issue miniseries which features Batman teaming up with John Constantine. The description of the series reads:
“On a deserted Gotham City bridge, a body is found. Whispers spread the news: Joker is dead. But is this a dream come true or a nightmare being born? Now Batman and DC’s outlaw magician John Constantine must hunt the truth through a Gotham City hellscape. The city’s supernatural recesses are laced with hints about a killer’s identity, but the Dark Knight’s descent into horror will test his sanity and the limits of rationality, as he must face a horror that doesn’t wear a mask.”
NSFW: Quickly old chums, to the adult content!
(images: DC Black Label)
While the world reacts to Batman’s dick (Grayson—zing!), it’s worth noting the context and reasoning behind the choice. Batman returns to Wayne Manor after having been saved by Constantine. He is disoriented, suffering from memory loss, and is hearing voices. He takes off his clothes so the Batcomputer can scan him for injuries. Batman’s nudity in these panels is meant to show his vulnerability, and by stripping away his batsuit, we see the vulnerable, mortal man underneath it.
While the batdong reveal may not be something we asked for, it is refreshing to see a focus on male nudity. Female bodies are so often exploited in comics, both in their illustration and in character’s lack of agency, that seeing a man’s body on display is frankly refreshing. I say bring it on, if it’s relevant to the story and actually carries narrative weight. But you’ll have to hit up your local comics shop to get it: the batpeen is censored in digital formats.
(via ScreenRant, image: Warner Bros.)
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