First a vocabulary lesson.

1) Fan: A person who regurally views/reads/listens to a certain something. Be it comic, novel, show, cartoon, movie, etc. A fan must have at least basic knowledge of said subjects.

2) A member of fandom: fans who actively participate in fandom. People who draw fanart, write fics, make essays, fan-vids, etc.

A member of fandom must be a fan, but you don't have to participate in a fandom to be a fan.

In case you haven't figured it out yet I am mostly talking about Batman. Like I've said I never really read much as far as Comics go. Not that I didn't like them but let's face it most of those came out a bit before my time. I had to be happy with Batman: the animated series. (This is one of the best cartoons of my childhood. Batman and X-men all the way!) I've also seen pretty much every movie and really, who can forget Adam West?

Playgrowns were battlefields. Because for some reason I can't even understand some kids wouldn't listen and still said Spiderman was better than Batman. (Don't even try it Kiddies, I will vertually kick your ass. Batman wins hands down.)

So even though I have loved dear Brucie with my little fangirl heart for a very long time I never participated in the fandom. Because, well, there was no need to. I loved Batman and I was happy with that. But it really is wierd now that he's suddenly so popular. It's like an entire generation who had to live with The Batman cartoon (No that's not the same as Batman the Animated Series OR Batman Beyond. It's another one. No it isn't Teen Titans either.) became Batman fans over night.

Not that I have anything against the new fans. Welcome I suppose. The only problem is now... now the tweens and young teens have gotten their tallons into poor Batman (or, more accuratly The Joker). Seriously kids, you do know there was a Batman before 2005, right? And that Christian Bale *did* actually star in films before he was The Bat? (Seriously you all must have seen American Psycho and Equilibrium plus many more?) And before he was Scarecrow Cillian Murphey was kick ass Jim. (If you don't know Jim you have't seen the best "zombie" movie ever.)

Personally I love the Nolan universe. I adore what he's done with the characters and story lines. It's so powerful and amazing and well... I'm seeing it for the fifth time this weekend so you all can guess who much I must love it. (Movies sure as Hell ain't cheap and I've already put in over $60 into this one.)

But back to the new fans. Like I said I don't really mind them. New fans are great, the more popular the more press pressure. The more likely Nolan will give us a third movie. The more likely that Batman won't be lost to Terry McGunnis (or however that kid spells his name. God can't even believe I know it...) or The Batman cartoons that sprang up around the time Batman Begins came out.

It's the Heathe Ledger mourners I don't like. Look, I liked him as an actor too (I have seen 10 Things I Hate About You so much I can quote it.) and I am pretty much willing to sacrafice a small child to bring him back so he can play the Joker again but... but...ugh! Would it really have killed you to learn a little about Batman (or God at least have seen the first Nolan movie) before you went to the midnight showings and such and squeeled like the fangirl we all know you are?

My inner Batman geek cried all those weeks ago while I sat in line for four hours waiting to be let in and seeing two ten year old girls who clearly had never bothered to learn a damn thing about the Caped Crusader.

It's like walking into Hot Topic and seeing Rainbow Bright T-shirts on the 8 year olds. That show doesn't even exist anymore. How the hell does that kid even know what it is???

UGH. It makes me want to cry. I nearly did when I was watching TV and a kids meal ad came on and the toy was for The Dark Knight. THE DARK KNIGHT. That's PG-13 (although it seems like it should be R based on how F-ed in the A it is.) Last I checked kids meals were for kids under 10. That's some mixed messages there.

ANYWAY

I guess that's all. Got WAAAAY carried away there. I've been holding that in since the damn midnight showing. Pent up rant of doom.

Oh, and one last thing.

BATMAN IS NOT BUMPING UGLIES WITH ROBIN.