Superhero films are very much du jour these days, but there was a time when good ones were hard to find. Among those good ones, The Dark Knight Trilogy is arguably the best. While not without their flaws, these movies present Batman’s career in its entirety, from his origin to the conclusion of a crime-fighting saga. Masterpieces in many ways, the three films provide fertile fodder for analysis and criticism.

• The Importance of a Symbol: Batman uses symbols all the time, and even becomes one by the end of the saga.
• Elemental Forces: A heroic epic needs to draw from the elements of life and humanity, and The Dark Knight Trilogy delivers.
• Alfred: A look at the development of Batman’s iconic butler and father figure.
• Rogues Gallery: Examining the villains that make the Batman.
• The Why of Batman: What makes the Caped Crusader tick?

_{Featured Image: Warner Brothers}