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Batman may just be the most timeless superhero, and the latest edition in the canon, Batman Ninja (2018) further reinforces this. Batman literally becomes displaced through time and sent back to Feudal Japan after a Quake Engine accident while battling Gorilla Grodd at Arkham Asylum. While there, he learns that all of the major villains have set up as feudal lords in Japan in the 1600s and are attempting to change history. Batman, with his newly acquired ninja-esque skills, must stop them.
The movie was designed by Afro Samurai creator Takashi Okazaki and directed by Junpei Mizusaki. The American release – written by Leo Chu and Eric Garcia – is admittedly a complete rewrite of the story from Kazuki Nakashima’s version, essentially creating two different movies that share the same visuals. The Japanese elements of the movie and the setting itself provide a fresh battleground for the Dark Knight and act in tandem with the latest Batman movies to show a different side of the caped crusader.
In all forms and media, Batman still has a considerable amount of fan engagement. From the DC-based movies that capitalize on the hero – fresh off November 2017’s Justice League, and gearing up for the Matt Reeves-directed The Batman, which will take a noir look at Affleck’s portrayal of the superhero – to the armada of games available, such as DC Universe Online, an MMO set in the DC Universe and utilizing Batman as well as almost every single other major character in the DC canon, the William Hill Batman Begins slot game, that features motifs and iconography from the Christian Bale era Batman series, and the Telltale Games episodic point and click mobile adventure Batman: The Enemy Within.
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Regardless of where Batman does battle with his villainous cohorts, audiences know what to expect from the narrative. The fact that the time period and setting are different to Gotham City makes no difference to the enjoyment – and taking Batman out of his comfort zone even helps up the stakes against him. His ‘powers’ are weaker in Feudal Japan, especially while pitted against a host of criminals who have made the Edo period their home. The movie will give audiences – especially Western audiences who may be completely unfamiliar with Japan’s history – a chance to learn and connect with the past. By pulling on a time in history when Japanese culture was stronger, modern audiences can appreciate what has gone before and how it affects their everyday lives – all while watching Batman. Plus, the samurai and ninja connections are enough to give any action fan a reason to watch the movie.
The movie’s success already pre-June 2018’s Japanese release – a strong 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and a favorable review on pop-culture-centric IGN – shows that the Batman character can be applied to almost any setting and is still a formidable draw as a protagonist and hero. The movie also poses an interesting crossover between the more traditional Japanese manga and anime and the original comic book source material – both mediums share similarities, but by combining the pulling power of each one, producers can reap the benefits.
