Join CLAS, Cuyahoga Community College and Columbus State Community College for a screening of Aztec Batman.
A Q&A will be led by Dr. Fernanda Diaz-Basteris (Department of Spanish and Portuguese) after the screening.
If you cannot attend the screening in person, you can click the button below to register to receive access to a streaming link for the film.
New this year is that CLAS will offer $20 gift cards for the first three students who have a review of each of the films below published on Pragda's Student Critic's Corner. Click here for more information and eligibility.
Synopsis
Set at the height of the Aztec Empire, Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires delivers a bold reimagining of the Dark Knight in 16th-century Mesoamerica. The film follows Yohualli Coatl, a young man forged by loss who becomes Aztec Batman to confront conquest and injustice. Directed by Juan José Meza-León, it constructs an authentic and immersive world through meticulous attention to architecture, rituals, social structures, and belief systems. Encounters with figures such as the fierce Jaguar Woman and Hernán Cortés enrich the narrative, while the protagonist—driven by grief and vengeance—maintains Batman’s moral complexity.
Visually striking and deeply respectful of Indigenous worldviews, the film transforms history, myth, and superhero cinema into a thrilling experience that ranks among DC’s most compelling animated entries. Beyond its narrative power, Aztec Batman has sparked debate on colonial narratives and historical representation—from accusations of demonizing Spaniards to controversies surrounding the Spanish Black Legend. These reactions underscore its relevance as an educational tool, opening critical discussions on cultural perspective, historical memory, and the role of popular culture in shaping how we understand the past.