Comic Book references in movies Part V: 'Batman Begins'

Every writer of the Batman movies had either an extensive prior knowledge of the Batman comic books or did an extensive research before writing the script. Each and every one of the theatrical Batman movies has numerous subtle and not so subtle nods and references to the comic books and reveals an impressive knowledge of the comic book back catalog.
One of the last posts focused on differences and deviations from the comic books from each movie, listing the number of things which were changed to fit the story more and serve it better (http://gothamalleys.blogspot.com/2011/03/list-of-changes-in-movies.html). This time we'll focus on all the references and similarities to showcase the writers' knowledge of the Batman stories and to point out what was taken from the comics

BATMAN BEGINS

The previous Batman movies drew either primarily from 1940's, 1970's or 1960's. Batman begins focuses most on graphic novels, one shots and limited series' from 1980's and early 1990's. The cited influences on Batman Begins are Year One, The Man Who Falls, The Dark Knight Returns, Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale's Batman stories (Haunted Knight, The Long Halloween, Dark Victory), and the 1970s Dennis O'Neil with Ra's Al Ghul. This representation of Batman is very faithful and very referential to the Bronze and most primarily, Modern Age (1985-present day). To read about the portrayal of Batman in Christopher Nolan's movies check http://gothamalleys.blogspot.com/2011/01/batman-in-movies-part-iii-christian.html

David Goyer: We based a lot of it on Year One. Ra's Al Ghul we pulled from the '70s Denny O'Neill and Neil Adams stuff (grouchoreviews.com) 

1. The opening shot is very reminiscent of the imagery in 1987's Batman: Year One 

2. The idea of young Bruce falling into a bat cave and being attacked by the bats comes from 1986's The Dark Knight Returns

3. 1989's The Man Who Falls was the first to depict Bruce falling through wooden planks

4. The same story also has Bruce growing a beard

5. It is worth noting that the trip to the top of the mountain in order to find a mentor is an homage to Batman #431 and The Man Who Falls.

6. The Gotham monorail, featured on the first panel of Year One, makes its debut in the movie

7. Very often when Batman's origins are retold, there is an image of young Bruce kneeling among his dead parents (panel below from Batman: Year One)

8. When Ra's Al Ghul first appears in 1971's Batman #232 , his hidden base is in Himalayas

9. When Bruce was about to kill Joe Chill, somebody else beat him to the punch in 1987's Batman: Year Two

10. Bruce leaves among the common pure people. He did the same in The Man Who Falls

11. The first time the League of Assasins/League of Shadows appeared, there was a Sensei present who was in charge despite the fact that it was Ghul's group. While in the movie he was just a decoy, the inspiration is clearly there

12. Ra's pick Bruce to be in charge of the League of Shadows just like in the comic books Ra's chooses Bruce to be his successor in leading the League of Assasins (panel from Batman #232)

13. In Year One, Bruce makes a comeback to Gotham City after a long absence. The media picks up on it immediately

14. Bruce's speech during his flight is very reminiscent of his dialogue in 1980's The Untold Legends of the Batman. David Goyer admitted to copying some dialogue verbatim from some comic books

David Goyer: But in some cases, I literally took this line of dialogue from this issue, and this line of dialogue from that issue. And then wove it all together. (grouchoreviews.com) 

15. Bruce disguised in tattered clothes as a transient worker in order to spy comes from 1999's Batman: War on Crime

16. While Gotham City has been depicted with a lot of Gothic architecture, it has also been depicted in Modern Age as a regular looking city

 

17. In 1996's Long Halloween, Scarecrow and Carmine Falcone briefly worked together

18. In 1994's Detective Comics #0, Bruce Wayne takes a tour of Wayne Enterprises’s science division and tells Lucius Fox to shut it down. Then he and Alfred disguised as delivery men steal all the equipment. While Batman later modifies everything , the idea of his gadgets originating from Wayne Ent. was there

19. The tumbler resembles The Dark Knight Returns' Batmobile in look and overall theme

20. Bruce gets the idea for becoming the Bat-Man after a bat flew into his house

21. The use of Bat shurikens is also taken from Year One

22. Year One: Flass harasses others and gladly abuses his power. Sickened Gordon watches and doesn't hide his disgust

23. The interrogation upside down in the rain comes from The Long Halloween

24. The short ears on the cowl and the big and wide bat logo were always the characteristics of the first Bat costume in Batman's earliest days, depicted as such in every era. His early belt also consisted of compartments rather than pellets that he had in latter years of his crime fighting career.

25. Batman is often shown watching over the city on rooftops and most often statues in crouching positions

26. Bruce is spontaneously exercising while Alfred talks to him and informs him on what he read in the newspaper. That is also from Year One

27. When Bruce gets gased with Scarecrow's poison, he sees flashbacks of his parents' murder. This comes from 1996's Batman: Haunted Knight. Another example posted is from 1990's Detective Comics #457

 

28. After getting poisoned by Scarecrow Bruce wakes up and Alfred is on his side. This is also from Haunted Knight

29. Very soon after, Bruce is visited by Jillian/Rachel who thinks that his worn out condition is a result of heavy partying. Also from Haunted Knight

30. The ambush on Scarecrow's hideout and goons comes from Haunted Knight as well. It also featured the line "Its the Batman"

31. Crane's line about making an appointment also comes from Haunted Knight

32. Batman uses a sonic device from his boot to call the bats for distraction. This comes from Year One

33. The whole story about Ra's trying to poison Gotham's water supply in order to bring "balance" is taken from 1982's Batman Annual #8

34.  From the outside Arkham looks very much like the comic book Arkham looked like for most of its long history. Throughout the 70s, 80s and early 90s, Arkham was an old, long building

35. Ras Al Ghul freed all the prisoners from Arkham in Batman 1986's  #400

36. The imagery of Scarecrow on the horse comes from The Long Halloween

37. Ras was a physically tough opponent for Batman

38. The movie ends with the mention of the Joker, as did Year One

39. While not a comic book reference, Batman looks like the Batman from "Batman Beyond" series when seen through the eyes of the toxed Crane

Special acknowledgement for fellow Batman historian BatmAngelus