The Allure of the Man in Black: Vader and Batman are the gifts that keep on giving
Nothing gets entertainment pop culture's attention more than the men in black.
Remember when Warner Brothers Pictures torpedoed a sequel to “Man of Steel” and instead had Henry Cavill’s Earth-crashed alien duel with Ben Affleck’s tired yet angry Batman. A heroically awful decision, but one that proved a point. When the chips are down, call the man in black.
Or in this case, the men in black.
Johnny Cash may own the official moniker, and for good reason, but anytime WB Pictures is in need of a surefire hit, they shine the bat signal in the sky or call for the dude with the red lightsaber. You get all sizes and tempos. Restrained. Maniac. Understated. Poised. Lovestruck. Depressed. Keaton. Kilmer. Clooney. Bale. Affleck. Pattinson. Will Arnett’s voice should have been Bat’s all along.
In the 80’s, they shined it in the sky and got Tim Burton’s artsy yet edgy Keaton. In the 90’s when the other wells dried up, it was Kilmer’s sleepy and Clooney’s bored Bruce Wayne “too much time on my hands” crimefighting. Then came along Christopher Nolan, who changed the game with his trilogy. You’d think a decade or so off would be in order.
NOPE! Affleck put on the protein powder Bat suit in 2016, and Pattinson finally got to show the world his oppressed vigilante this past spring. When he is done wearing the suit that may have a way to pee, someone else will wear the cowl. On and on, followed by more on and on rotation. It’s maddening and inevitable at the same time.
Darth Vader is the same thing for the “Star Wars” galaxy of films and shows. His latest reprisal, a twisted Frankenstein type riff, in Disney Plus’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi” was a wicked delight--one that built steadily with white knuckle suspense. This isn’t the first time since the original films they have tapped the Vader shoulder.
After becoming an iconic villain with a heartbreaking backstory, Vader popped up again in the ill-fated “Phantom Menace” set of films. Ill-fated at least after first viewing. Forgettable in too many aspects, it represented the Darth origin tale, a journey that included Ewan McGregor’s Kenobi.
But remember “Rogue One,” the brilliant one-off years back, and its thrilling finale? Vader slaying a room full of opposition with the ease of a jazz musician.
Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren modeled himself after Vader, so his presence was all over those films. Next to the Bat and the Joker, I don’t think anyone has been more reliable than James Earl Jones’ soulful-sounding killer Jedi (embodied by Anakin himself, Hayden Christensen).
He’s the double breath menace that keeps on giving. Can you picture it? Cash, Joker, Bat, and Vader just cutting through all sorts of decrepit souls. I’m ready for it, and it will never happen.
They are endlessly interesting. A rich kid who lost his parents and his tolerance for bad guys at a young age, becoming a symbol for hope yet bringing more despair than intended. Vader is the former up and coming good Jedi being taught the ways of the force by Obi-Wan, so easy and comforting… before it wasn’t.
They ended up dueling, with Anakin losing a limb and being severely burned. His arc in the original trilogy was more commanding and titanic in its own right, from choking out a disappointing employee to cutting off his son’s hand to giving his life for the same man. Whew! I’m ready for more already.
Sometimes, more can be a good thing--especially if it’s done right.
Due to George Lucas, Nolan, Matt Reeves, Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, and James Mangold (no one else can touch Cash’s tale), we have seen the top of the mountain with these characters. How long can they keep doing this?
The answer is probably out there, only a galaxy or five away.