Third time’s a charm – we finally get around to analyzing Ra’s al Ghul! Anthony & Doc discuss the value of legacy, reference Hamilton for a second week in a row, and Ra’s turns into Grampa Simpson on the couch. Listen now!
SHOW NOTES:
- Introduction
- Background
- Created by Julius Schwartz, Dennis O’Neill, and Neal Adams in Batman #232 (June 1971)
- Name translates from Arabic to “the Demon’s Head” or “Head of the Ghoul”
- Born 600 years ago in the Arabian peninsula to a tribe of nomads – became a doctor who discovered Lazarus Pits which physically rejuvenate the user, but take a mental toll
- Over centuries, he becomes a genius and capable fighter, but comes to hate humanity because of their destruction of the environment – becomes an eco-terrorist whose goal is to eliminate much of the world’s population through a virus
- Deduces Batman’s secret identity and determines he is the most suitable heir to his empire, so he creates a trap to kidnap Robin and test Bruce
- Daughter Talia was also used as part of the trap – she falls in love with Bruce, and he reciprocates her feelings – they have on-again/off-again relationship that culminates in the birth of a son, Damian
- Ra’s is integral part of the Tower of Babel story, where he discovers Batman’s contingency plans for Justice League and uses them with stunning efficiency – steals corpses of Thomas & Martha Wayne to keep Bruce distracted
- Death and the Maidens – pits daughter vs. daughter – he manipulates Talia and another daughter, Nyssa, into turning on Batman – Nyssa stabs Ra’s and Batman cremates the body
- Resurrection – Ra’s spirit wants to return to a physical body and plans to use grandson Damian – his father, the Sensei, dies fighting Batman, so he wants the body of another son, the White Ghost, Dusan – Ra’s succeeds, but Dusan dies – Batman battles Ra’s, and has him imprisoned in Arkham
- New 52 – head of the League of Assassins, and plans to create super-humans inside the bodies of sperm whales – steals the body of Damian Wayne to use for his own nefarious purposes, but Batman recovers his son’s corpse
- Issues (14:07)
- Insanity as a result of Lazarus Pits
- Betrayal of everyone he’s ever worked with has left him alone (22:34)
- Nostalgia bias (30:55)
- Treatment (35:26)
- In-universe
- Out of universe
- Skit (43:00)
- Ending
References:
- “Finally, the Rock has come back…” – Anthony – 0:35
- Batman – “Where does he get those wonderful toys?” – Anthony – 6:31
- Geek History Lesson – Anthony – 14:02
- Energizer Bunny – Anthony – 16:54
- “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” – Anthony – 34:58
- Hamilton – “The World Was Wide Enough” – Doc – 42:34
- Hamilton – “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” – Anthony – 42:44
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