Warning! Spoilers for Batman Secret Files: The Signal #1!
A new villain for Bruce Wayne just laid out why Batman is bad for Gotham, using logic that makes it clear the Flash might actually be capable of helping the city in a far more significant way. In DC Comics, Batman is a vigilante that almost exclusively operates after the sun goes down, and while he does what he can to help the citizens of Gotham to the best of his abilities, it’s abundantly clear his nighttime activities are having a negative effect on the city’s residents. Comparatively, the Flash is nearly the opposite of The Dark Knight in a sense that his heroic actions have drawn the love and admiration of everyone in Central City, proving that Batman may never be able to save Gotham’s soul continuing in the way he is, but Flash totally could!
Tossed around as an idea in Batman Secret Files: The Signal #1 by Tony Patrick and Christian Duce, Batman’s alter ego of Bruce Wayne is having a meeting with a snobby and entitled businessman named Xander Pearl as they discuss business dealings that would have seen Bruce benefit from partnering with Xander – or at least that’s what he’s led to believe. Talking to Bruce about why he’s set up shop in Gotham over anywhere else in the country, Xander explains that there’s untapped potential in the “daytime” market that he plans to capitalize on.
Saying that “OMGs”, or “Old Man Gothams” (like Bruce), have always sold Gothamites on the idea of safety, surveillance, protective gear and more due to the dangers inherent to the city once night falls, Xander explains that, “With all that nighttime-all-the-time, Gotham peeps feel the pressure to live life on ten,” immediately telling fans why Batman’s nightly escapades aren’t actually helping anyone. Further going on to blatantly call Batman out by saying that people will buy anything that will “keep them distracted from the bat and the clowns trying to kill him dead every night”, Xander correctly deduces the reason why Batman can’t save Gotham’s soul, while simultaneously (and unknowingly) giving a reason as to why the Flash could.
Beloved by all in his hometown of Central City, Flash is one of the most charming and upfront heroes in all of DC Comics, possibly second only to the savior of Metropolis and the Man of Steel himself, Superman. Appreciated and admired nearly universally across his city, Flash's home has quite literally built a huge museum dubbed the “Flash Museum” to honor him and all the good he does day in and day out; something that the citizens of Gotham would never do for Batman considering his crime fighting tactics have consistently instilled fear and misery in his city, exacerbating the economic divide in a town that can’t seem to shake its crime and corruption.
Usually synonymous with the night as well as extreme violence and desperate acts of criminality, Gotham isn’t going to be at the top of any “Best Places To Live” lists anytime soon. And while Central City most definitely isn’t carefree in their living, the Flash does a much better job making its citizens feel safe at night and during the day, while Batman kind of just does his own thing and hopes for the best.
So although Gotham City will always need a crime fighter like Batman, his shtick of only coming out at night and striking fear into the hearts of criminals has made his town hell to live in, forcing Gothamites to seek solace in the light of day. Meanwhile, the Flash keeps the citizens more or less happy with his heroic deeds, showing once and for all that The Fastest Man Alive could totally save Gotham’s soul if he needed to.
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