False Idols

          Like many of his contemporaries, Batman has seen many iterations, changing to better suit his audience. Superheros are a product of the time in which they exist, and Batman is no exception. He still fights for justice, addressing current problems. However, most of the popular superhero comics shifted their frame of reference only slightly, allowing for a modern audience to connect with the material but preserving the intention. I do not think Batman experienced change in the same way as his contemporaries. Batman of old seems to be an entirely different entity with very few consistencies outside of basic plot elements and his name. Nearly every other elements seems to have shifted, including character motivation, art style and intention.
          As far as character motivation, Batman started out as a father-like character. He's always used fairly violent tactics, but he was subdued into an acceptable role model in order to fulfill cultural expectations. He fought with Robin, a child, for whom he served as a mentor and father-figure. The original use of guns was eventually phased out, a feature explained by the shooting death of Wayne's parents. However, in much more recent comics, he has returned to morally ambiguous violence. Robin does not serve as a foil for the child reader nearly as much in modern comics either, removing batman's responsibility to set an example for him.
          The art style used in order to construct the comics has drastically changed as well. There have been general changes over time in the way comics are drawn, including a transition to digital media. Aside from the obvious larger shifts in the industry, Batman comics in particular have shifted style fairly drastically. Originally the dark noir style was tempered by a heavy dose of camp and kitsch. Recently, the moral ambiguity present in the comics has pushed the art more towards straight noir style, even bordering on classic horror comics.
          These changes are related to the intention of the comics. The contrast between the development of Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman is not a coincidence. Superman and Wonder Woman did not provide a good pathway for expressing the post modern fascination with the destruction of iconic idols. Batman allowed for the writers to explore a much darker side of comics. It came with a built in noir element, the pre-existing vigilante story and crazy villains with the ability to cross the valley between a normal comic book baddie and something very sinister and morally much more challenging. Batman provided an excellent opportunity for the writers to bring the superhero into the 20th/21st century consciousness. The delicate interplay of personal vendetta and justice seeking was only possible in a hero like Batman. However, this means that over time, Batman changed more than other superheros. The reconstruction of Batman over time creates a similar story with a totally different intention.