The Muslim Batman.

[lars573]

So in the latest tempest in a teacup over a Muslim is fictional this time. Because it's comics, the origins are very convoluted (as only they can be) I'll need to give out some background. I'll try and keep it to a lean paragraph.

Last year Bruce Wayne "died." He didn't actually die he was just sent leap frogging through time by Darkseid's Omega Sanction. In Gotham his role of Batman was eventually taken over by his oldest adopted son Dick Grayson, with his youngest (and natural) son Damian as Robin (5th over all BTW). When Bruce returned from his time hopping adventures. He decided to take Batman global. Publicly declaring that he, Bruce Wayne, had been bankrolling Batman for years. And would now be doing the same for Batmen all over the world. To do this DC used most of the characters from the "Batmen of all nations story" from the 50's. And in the case of the Hong Kong Batman, Batgirl II is the one in the suit. Also creating some all new characters.

Knight and Squire - Great Britain
The Hood - Great Britain
El Gaucho - Argentina
Nightrunner - France
Batwing - Mtamba, Africa
Blackbat - Hong Kong
Mr. Unknown II - Japan
Dark Ranger II - Australia
Wingman II - Sweden

So where does the controversy, and that Muslim Batman I spoke of come in? Nightrunner is where. He's Bilal Asselah, a French Algerian Parkour runner. Because he's a muslim youth from urban Paris. And not as one blogger put "a proper Frenchman."

Here's an interview with the writer who came up with him:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/01/...world-service/
Here's another story with some of the blogger jabs at DC for creating the character:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/12/...-batman-jibes/

The author claims they made Nightrunner a Muslim kid is because Parkour runners are usually ethnic minorities in France. And if that's even remotely true (Louis HELP!) I'll go with it. But said author is David Hine, and Englishman.

After all this a joke about the whole thing.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hawkman is a well know rightwing windbag.

[Slyspy]

World Politics?

[Subotan]

A fictional Frenchman who isn't a beret wearing, foie gras eating, accordion playing stereotype?!?!?!??!

HNNNNNNNNNGG

[lars573]

DC already has one of those. Monsieur Mallah, oh wait he's super intelligent Gorilla. Never mind.

[Hax]

EDIT: Removed hotlinked image. BG

And here I was, thinking we were talking about that guy...oh well.

[Ronin]

comic books....serious business.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Props to the comic authors for getting the character right! “Not a proper Frenchman” of Algerian descent, fits urban Paris perfectly, right?