Why Batman?
Superherologist | May 29, 2012

“Why Batman?” Most people who interview me ask that question, meaning either “Why is Batman so popular?” or “Why did you write a book about the psychology of Batman?”
Superherologist | May 29, 2012

“Why Batman?” Most people who interview me ask that question, meaning either “Why is Batman so popular?” or “Why did you write a book about the psychology of Batman?”
Superherologist | September 6, 2009
It’s amazing how much information a single experience might yield. A few months ago, Peter Coogan – who, with my colleague Dr. Randy Duncan, co-founded the Comics Arts Conference, the academic conference-within-the-convention held in conjunction with both WonderCon and San Diego Comic-Con International – asked if I’d like to help moderate a CAC panel on [...]
Superherologist | August 31, 2009

Continued from “Comic-Con Excerpts: The Joker’s Relationship with Batman.” Concluding our report on the San Diego Comic-Con International panel “Is the Joker a Psychopath? You Decide!” which our own Papa Llama, in his secret identity as psychology professor Dr. Travis Langley, moderated and co-organized. Other panelists: Dr. Robin Rosenberg (therapist and editor – The Psychology [...]
Superherologist | August 29, 2009

Continuing Papa Llama’s report of his San Diego Comic-Con International panel with fellow psychologist Dr. Robin Rosenberg, comic book writer Steve Englehart, The Dark Knight producer Michael Uslan, and Batman himself, Adam West: After Steve Englehart discussed via telephone why he felt that the Joker is insane, I asked my fellow panelists for quick thoughts [...]
Superherologist | August 11, 2009

One topic I wanted to introduce during our San Diego Comic-Con International panel on the psychopathy of the Joker was how the role affected the actors. We’d lined up the Joker’s creator Jerry Robinson and “The Laughing Fish” author Steve Englehart to discuss the comic books and producer Michael Uslan to discuss filmmaking, but didn’t [...]
Superherologist | August 9, 2009

During our Comic-Con International panel on the psychopathy of the Joker, one panelist had to attend via remote. Back when comic book writer Steve Englehart had expected to attend Comic-Con in person, he was going to sit on the panel with us. When his travel plans changed so that he would not be coming to [...]
Superherologist | August 8, 2009

Toward the end of our San Diego Comic-Con International panel on the psychopathy of the Joker, an audience member asked the panelists whether we thought the Joker’s association with Harley Quinn has been good or bad for the character’s mental health. I’m not going to point out every time the audience laughed because nearly every statement that appears below got a big laugh. Plain text cannot convey the entertaining quality of Jerry’s delivery – his simple “I would” cracked people up – or how Adam was clearly engaging in tongue-in-cheek humor and knew darn well what was going on every step of the way.
Superherologist | August 5, 2009

Part two: Jerry Robinson discusses the Joker’s enduring qualities with Drs. Robin Rosenberg (The Psychology of Superheroes) and Travis Langley (Papa Llama) in preparation for a San Diego Comic-Con International panel with film producer Michael Uslan and actor Adam West on the psychopathy of the Joker. Jerry refutes the long-standing story that Bill Finger created the Joker based on actor Conrad Veitch from the silent film “The Man Who Laughs” while fully acknowledging Bill’s importance as the character’s co-creator, with a nod to Bob Kane.
Superherologist | July 21, 2009

This Saturday at Comic-Con, our own Papa Lama (Dr. Travis Langley) and his fellow psychologist Dr. Robin Rosenberg (editor, The Psychology of Superheroes) will delve into the psyche of Batman’s arch-nemesis, the Joker, with the help of an illustrious panel of industry professionals, starting with the man who created the Joker back in 1940. Recently Travis and Robin enjoyed speaking with Jerry for the better part of an hour.