I may get to watch Batman: The Dark Knight 4 days before everyone else. I like the idea that I can go to message boards on the internet, and go through a detailed minute-by-minute description for every scene. I also like the idea that I will get to finally see The Dark Knight. I'm so excited. I've got 4 words: Joker and Two-Face.

I read Batman: Year One and The Long Halloween. I notice that Batman Begins has the same gritty feel as those books. I think The Dark Knight will have the same vibe to it. I was reading the Long Halloween for the second time this morning, and there's this image of Batman's rogues gallery:

There's the Mad Hatter, Joker, Scarecrow and yes, Two-Face.

I like how this story arc rethinks the role of supervillains in a comic book. In the Long Halloween, they were mere pawns to the crime families of Gotham. They get to be more major in the third book, Dark Victory. It sort of makes sense when I think about it. It's like, what if superheroes and supervillains exist in real world?

So I was reading Watchmen the other day, and I noticed how it blends contemporary politics of the 1980s with superhero tales. That got me thinking, is there such thing as a supervillain? Is Two-Face a supervillain or a crazed vigilante? Is Ozymandias (from Watchmen) a villain, an antihero, or both? If you are a person with superpowers and an overwhelming desire to bring justice to this world (i.e. The Punisher), would that make you a villain? Even if that means inflicting collateral damage and making sacrifices for the greater good.

Vigilantes in contemporary Indonesia. Discuss.