I never got into the whole superhero thing, or the "graphic novels" multiverse. I have no problem with it, it seems harmless enough, and heaven knows I have guilty pleasures of my own.

But I'm having trouble making sense of the flap over this Batman movie. The hype and the buzz is deafening. I have no doubt it is great entertainment, of artistic merit, and well produced; but the long lines, people staying up all night to get a place on them, the outrageous ticket scalping, just what is going on here? It has become a "political issue" (see posts below). Now I hear that critics who have panned the film are getting death threats.

I hate to get into one of those pointless sociopsychological cultural antropology speculations on what it all means...but it must mean something.

I know there are fans of this genre on the Zone, and maybe they can clue me in to what's happening here. Please note I have nothing against superheroes, or graphic novels, or the X-men or Spiderman. But why now, at this time?

Mr Natural wants to know, what does it all mean?