Batman begins, all over again

Heavy are the shoulders that don the cape. Playing Gotham’s famous vigilante comes with intense fan scrutiny. Just ask Ben Affleck. The actor’s choice as Batman for the next sequel in the Man of Steel franchise was received with angry tirades last year.

On May 13, director Zack Snyder finally offered the world a glimpse of Affleck as Batman. Which is a good enough excuse as any to look at the other greats who made their mark as the iconic caped hero.

1. Christian Bale (2005, 2008, 2012) The actor’s intense portrayal put the dark in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.

2. George Clooney (1997) Clooney can take a joke but even he must be tired of his version serving as a punchline for his early career choices.

3. Val Kilmer (1993, 1995) Kilmer is the middling Batman. The movies fared well but in posterity, his is the ultimate also-ran performance.

4. Michael Keaton (1989) Keaton’s turn as Batman was melancholic and understated.

Today it’s a certified classic.