It is surely inevitable that the discussion must come around to the Batman this weekend.  There are only two names one tends to regularly hear with the phrase “world’s greatest detective” associated  with them. One is Sherlock Holmes. The other, of course, is Batman.

For the literary man, it might be easy to dismiss the latter fellow as a mere comic book superhero.  And yet, with his latest movie outing The Dark Knight  taking in more box office receipts this weekend than any motion picture ever,  the detective/crime-fighter in the black cape and mask is certainly hard to ignore.  And why should we? He shows us things about Sherlock Holmes that might be worth seeing.

Sherlock Holmes and Batman haven’t been seen together  too much recently.  Perhaps their most memorable outing was in 1987, in the fiftieth anniversary issue of Detective Comics. Both appear on the cover, as Batman points out something to Sherlock Holmes in a profusely illustrated hardbound book.  Holmes himself shows up to meet Batman and Robin in the tale, very aged but still alive and detecting.

Less well known  is a 1978 outing in The Brave and the Bold Special, in which Batman is helped by Sherlock Holmes, but never meets him. In that comic,  a superheroic ghost named Deadman is sent to 221B Baker Street where Sherlock Holmes gives him an important tip. In this tale, however, as Holmes himself explains: “Though men now say I never really existed, I am more real than many who have lived! For now, Boston Brand, I am . . . like you . . . a spirit! But while you are the ghost of a man, I am much, much more! I am the stuff of which myths are made!”

This spirit Sherlock Holmes also gives a clue in a copy of The Sign of the Four to Batman’s butler Alfred. Sherlock Holmes is apparently both real and fictional in Batman’s world. The “fictional” aspect is probably necessary – or else Batman could never truly be called “the world’s greatest detective” in his comic book world.

But this weekend  is not really about Comic Book Batman as Movie Batman. Movie Batman is not nearly the detective that Comic Book Batman is, and in that we might find a clue as to why Sherlock Holmes hasn’t done as well in movies of late, as well as what might be coming.

The Batman of the comics is a very, very intelligient man who  must use his wits to keep himself on a par with such super-beings as Superman, the Flash, or Green Lantern.  His best moments are often not punching muggers in the face, but in the masterstrokes of his ingenious plans. He does the research, he gets the resources, and he uses them in ways no one expects.  He is very much a Sherlock Holmes with unlimited resources, both in funding and technology.

The Batman of the movies is a brawler, and  in his most recent incarnation, a trained ninja.  Physical violence seems to lend itself more easily to popular films than ingenious plans.  A punch in the face is something everyone understands.   A genius stroke requires a certain amount of brains to appreciate.   One has to wonder if movie Sherlock Holmes needs to punch more people in the face to make popular films.

Guy Ritchie, who’s working on one of the upcoming Holmes movies, has  said that his take on Sherlock will be as more of a street-fighter.  A Sherlockian’s first reaction to this thought might be negative, but considering the medium, maybe Mr. Ritchie knows exactly what he’s doing.

It would be truly ironic if, after years of having Sherlock Holmes as a mentor  and example, Batman winds up being something of a role model lfor Holmes.

Your humble correspondent,

Brad Keefauver