Batman and Identity...

Claiming the cowl – Dick Grayson’s Batman as seen by the online community ‘Scans_daily’ 

Abstract

To fight his war on crime Bruce Wayne created the identity of Batman, but decades of publication history led to several other characters donning the legendary cape and cowl. The latest of those was Dick Grayson, once the first Robin and later Nightwing, who claimed the Batman’s mask in 2009, after his predecessor disappeared and writer Grant Morrison explored the idea if Batman can truly be more than the man behind the cowl.

But how did the fans react to this change? A comprehensive analysis, based on a sample of thematically relevant comments and postings written during Grayson’s time as Batman at the webpage of the comic book fan community ‘Scans_daily’ tries to both answer this question, as well as identify distinctive groups of fans reacting especially strong to the changes in the Batmen’s world. 

Download the Article here:

Dick Grayson as Batman, as viewed by Online Communities

Cite as: Prandner, D. (2012): 'Claiming the Cowl’ at Popculturesociologist.

Originally planed for a peer-reviewed, non-scientific publication I decided to post it here and offer it under creative commons guidelines for everyone. Be aware that while it was reviewed and adjusted to peer-feedback it is only scientifically informed, but in no way a scientific article!
All copyrights for the variant cover of 'Battle for the cowl' lie with DC comics and the responsible artists and the picture is only used as an illustration.