Subject: There's also the fact that a detective would need a reason
Author:
Posted on: 2010-04-30 20:39:00 UTC
...to investigate (ran out of room). Even if Batman were to become vaguely aware of the agents, he'd need some way to connect them to the PPC itself and a reason to want to look into who they are.
Would Batman be among the canon characters who are aware of the PPC, due to his being the World's Greatest Detective?
WARNING: there are some spoilers in this paragraph. Make sure you are up to date with the death note canon before reading this post. Are you ready? Because this is, a pretty big thing, y'know. Something you wouldn't want to know if you wanted to enjoy death note. here goes:
L GETS PWNED BY KIRA, TERU MIKAMI IS A DUMBASS, MELLO REALLY FREAKIN LIKES CHOCOLATE
This technically makes Near the best detective in the world. Do you want to claim THAT obnoxious little runt is the greatest detective in the world? No, you don't. The correct answer is that Columbo is the greatest detective in the world.that is the simple, unalterable truth. COLUMBO WILL FIND YOU AND END YOU.
Yes, I am aware that "little runt" is a tautology. Don't make fun of me! :(
L knew it was Light. He was just trying to figure out how to pwn him legally. L did not get pwned, because Light Yagami is a pussy.
Near is still annoying and a hobbit, though.
...besides not being L?
Poor Near. It's tough being the successor of a fan favorite. I like the poor kid, although not as much as L. (Although if Near were an albino hobbit, that would actually be pretty awesome).
Also, backing up Maudlin on L. He only lost because the deck was totally and entirely stacked against him, and Near only succeeded because L laid the groundwork. He said as much at the end speech (at least in the manga) - he couldn't measure up to L, but with him, some sorta-kinda-halfway-intentional assistance from Mello, and what L already did, then he could do it. L is the greatest.
/end babble.
Since I'm in a mood to glomp everyone who shares my fandoms today, apparently.
I would say no. So far, canons who know about the PPC have been either a) god-like beings, or b) Gaspode the Wonder-Dog. The latter works because no one ever listens to Gaspode anyway, so who's he going to tell? It's funny and not a security breach.
There is another way, in that sometimes characters who are particularly resistant to Suefluence (e.g. Elrond, Gimli, Eowyn) sometimes vaguely recognize PPC Agents as such, but that's only due to the canon being warped by the Sue. Once the Sue goes away, they are neuralyzed and forget all about it (until next time). However, I don't think Batman would fall into that category, since I doubt if he would tend to be either ignored or vilified in Suefic, like the aforementioned examples.
One thing to keep in mind is that the PPC's stated goal is to protect the plot continuum from outside disturbances. Knowing about the PPC could potentially BE an outside disturbance (extreme example: the Assimilation Crisis), so it's in everyone's best interests that the PPC remain incognito. On the other hand, if a character knowing about us would be funny and not upset the balance of power in the universe, there's no reason why not.
~Neshomeh
Which has Batman in.
*will not divulge plans*
Which Batman? There's a bunch to choose from. Early Golden Age "I shoot people with Guns" Batman wouldn't be able to and neither would Modern Age "Greatest Detective" Batman. Movieverse Batman wouldn't either.
Late Golden Age/Silver Age "I fight clown powered apes" Batman would able aware of the PPC due the inherent chaotic and somewhat fluid nature of reality for him. Frank Miller's Batman would too, because Frank Miller writes Batman as the single most perfect human ever to walk the earth.
DCAU "I fight my Evil Self from a different universe and win" Batman.
If you can use him knowing for comical (or dramatical) effect in a story, go for it.
Greatest Detective alone is probably not enough. There are other characters that can contest for that title (Sherlock Holmes). But being a detective is not a good explanation why he would be able to see past the SEP field or be able to withstand the neuralizer flash. But if you can explain that reasonably enough, go for it.
Picture this: Batman being rescued from a plothole by two agents. Rather than remaining shellshocked by most characters, he promptly asks what TOOK them so long. The agents' expressions would be *priceless.*
Okay, comic book geek equivalent of a Chuck Norris joke, but you have to admit...
...He could probably piece it together.
But assuming that everything in the mission goes smoothly, he shouldn't be tipped off. Since missions rarely go smoothly though...
...to investigate (ran out of room). Even if Batman were to become vaguely aware of the agents, he'd need some way to connect them to the PPC itself and a reason to want to look into who they are.
...yeah, the mission I have in mind would definitely *not* go smoothly.