BRUCE WAYNE appears to have installed a weight-bench in the Batcave. In a promotional poster for “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, you might be surprised by the imposing brawn of Ben Affleck (the latest to interpret the role of orphan-billionaire-turned-nocturnal-vigilante), who sends a steely glare across to Henry Cavill’s Superman. Superman has always been bulky—but in their first Hollywood appearance together, Batman looks the physically superior of the two. A recent red-carpet interview with Mr Affleck revealed why: “This isn’t the Adam West days. You can’t just roll out of bed and put the suit on. Audiences expect you to look like a superhero.”

Ironically, data collected by Moviepilot suggest that since Batman first appeared in feature-length films 50 years ago, Mr West has been the closest in physique to the Gotham crusader as specified in the comic books: 6'2" (1.88m) tall, and weighing 210 pounds (95kg). Yet few would name Mr West’s portrayal as the best. It is hard not to scoff at his unflattering spandex getup (the moulded Batsuits were only introduced with Michael Keaton’s 1989 version) and his unrealistic scrapes with death. By contrast, the muscled-up Batman of the Christopher Nolan trilogy—played by Christian Bale—was lauded by critics, despite being a little undersized.

Not meeting the exact physical blueprint of Master Wayne is not a catastrophe in modern cinema. Mr Keaton was the most diminutive of the actors to play Batman, weighing just 159 lbs and reaching only 5”10. To compensate, the slight superhero was shot in narrow doorways (giving the illusion of breadth) or near to the camera, and other characters constantly referred to a “six-foot bat”. George Clooney was also a little short for the role, but appeared bulky and imposing in the ill-fated “Batman and Robin” (1997). He never shared screen-time with the “super soldier” Bane, and only fought the hilarious Mr Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) hand-to-hand at the film’s climax.

Later Batmen did not require such choreography. Val Kilmer’s sturdy build spoke for itself, with some help from the script: Nicole Kidman, his love interest, lasciviously implored us to gaze at his “eyes, [his] lips, [his] body”. Mr Bale trained topless in “Batman Begins” (2005) and “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012). Not to be outdone, Mr Affleck stars in a semi-nude and perspiration-filled training montage featuring tyres and chains.

The villains have also become more physically imposing. Where Mr West tussled with explosive sharks, Mr Clooney contended with a frozen Gotham, and Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning anarchic Joker “want[ed] to watch the world burn”, recent enemies have been henchman-like. Tom Hardy’s Bane, in the final Nolan film, achieves his malicious goals by crushing windpipes and smashing skulls. For once, we saw the caped crusader outmuscled, as his opponent lifted him into the air and crashed him to the floor, wondering aloud: “What would break first… [his] spirit, or [his] body?”

To conquer his latest nemesis—a superhuman from the planet Krypton—Mr Wayne has piled on even more pounds. Yet the role of Batman demands stealth as much as strength. Mr Affleck is certainly physically impressive and achieves his goal of looking “like a superhero”, but lumbers around like a human bull in a Gotham china shop. In the past 50 years, Batman has foiled evil plots by using his brain as much, if not more than, his brawn. His battles have been less physical, more psychological. Perhaps it is time to put the weight-bench away. When it comes to Batman, bigger isn’t always better.