Why doesn’t Batman use magic?
Batman knows magic exists and knows he could master magic. Why doesn’t he use it?
Batman has trained in a multiple disciplines. He is a master at martial arts, but he is also an expert in marksmanship, infiltration, disguise, swordsmanship, stage magic, escapology, even theft.
To battle threats, Batman has worked with those who use magic such as John Constantine, Etrigan the demon and Zatanna. He knows that magic exists, after discovering that Zatanna’s father was not merely one of the greatest stage magicians in the world, but also a user of magic.
However, Batman does not use magic.
As a young man, Bruce Wayne trained with Zatanna’s father, John Zatarra. Bruce learnt sleight of hand and escapology with Zatarra and it is while training with Zatarra that Bruce is faced with the reality of the existence of magic and the supernatural.
After the loss of his wife, Zatarra stopped using magic. But the weight of his heartbreak made him attractive to a demon who feeds on tragic emotional energy. Bruce and Zatanna arrive just as the demon is getting close to breaking Zatarra.
Having seen that magic exists, Bruce asks to be taught magic. Zatarra refuses and explains why Bruce should never learn magic. Zatanna then suggests why it might be difficult for Bruce to learn magic.
The four reasons why Batman shouldn’t and might not be able to learn magic:
Cost: An idea that is familiar from the pages (and movies of Doctor Strange). Zatarra explains that magic has a cost and that the cost of magic will be a person’s strongest characteristic.
Darkness: In order to practice magic, Bruce would need to use his strengths. Zatarra identifies Bruce’s strengths as his drive and his darkness. It is Bruce’s drive for justice based on the dark tragedy of his past that will be his cost. This would turn his desire for justice into a nightmare.
Surrender: Zatanna explains that in order to learn magic, Bruce would need to surrender. Tis continues from Zatarra’s suggestion that the cost of magic would be his darkness and he would need to surrender to his darkness in order to use magic.
Not a muscle: As Bruce attempts to teach himself magic and is not as successful as he expects. Zatanna suggests a reason why Batman might not be able to use magic. Zatarra and Zatanna effortlessly use magic by talking backwards. But Zatanna makes it clear that magic is more difficult than it appears. It is not a muscle to be exercised. It is not about will but about surrender. Bruce would need to surrender the other skills he has learnt in order to be a magician.
To learn magic, Batman would need to combine together these reasons. As Zatarra suggests, Bruce would need to surrender his darkness. It would be the cost of practicing magic. He would need to give totally into a darkness born of tragedy and forsake all other aspects of his training.
It’s not to say that Batman couldn’t use magic. There are various times when he has teamed up with users of magic and has utilised some aspects of magic to achieve his objectives.
However, to become a magician, Batman would become a completely different character. Zatarra goes so far as to argue Batman would become a horrifying version of himself.
Pick up your copy of Batman: The Knight by Chip Zdarsky and Carmine Di Giandomenico for the full story of how Bruce Waynes to become Batman and the explanation of Batman not being able to use magic (this is a paid affiliate link and as an Amazon Associate I will earn a small income from qualifying purchases, but won’t cost you any more).