In this book, scholars from a variety of fields-political science, philosophy, law, and others-provide answers to the question: What does Batman have to do with politics?
Contributors use the Batman canon, from the comics to the feature films, to explore a broad range of issues in politics and political thought. What can Batman's role in Gotham City teach us about democracy? How do Batman's vigilantism and his violence fit within a society committed to the rule of law? What's the relationship between politics in Gotham and politics in our own communities? From Machiavelli to the fake news phenomenon, this book provides a compelling introduction to the politics behind one of the world's most enduring pop culture figures. It uses popular culture phenomenon of Batman and the Batman universe to explore issues of politics and political thought; provides a reader-friendly introduction to key issues in political thought and political theory; and compiles together interdisciplinary scholarship at the crossroads of political science, philosophy, film studies, comics studies, and popular culture.