'Sad Batman' takes over Twitter

Why so sad, Batman?

That’s the question that countless Twitter users were asking this week after director Zack Snyder released the first image of Ben Affleck’s Batman online:

black-and-white photo, taken by Snyder, shows a bulky and brooding Caped Crusader posed next to the Batmobile. Fans were quick to note the “Dark Knight Returns”-style Batsuit, complete with stubby ears and oversized insignia.

But people also remarked on how sad Affleck’s Batman looks. Naturally, this quickly spawned the #SadBatman hashtag on Twitter, with users digitally altering Snyder’s photo to put Batman in various sad or serious situations. Here are some of the highlights:

Inevitably the #sadbatman and #sadkanye memes met head on, with a little help from “Star Wars":

We get it. Sure, Bruce Wayne has a lot to be upset about (dead parents, violent crime taking over Gotham City, super villains running amok, etc.), but we’ve always thought of Batman as more a scowling character. The Dark Knight should be sporting a determined grimace, not a disappointed frown. Work on it, Affleck!