Just when you thought the hoards of comic book fanatics were easing up a bit, allowing their favorite franchises to sun themselves under Hollywood’s bright lights, they go and make a big fat petition to strip Ben Affleck of his newly appointed Batman crown.

"He's not intimidating enough for the role of Batman," said John Roden, the man who started the petition. "I would like to add that this petition was not meant in any way to harm Ben Affleck or his career. I respect Affleck's work, I just feel he is inappropriate for the role," added Roden.

Affleck was handed the role after a remarkable year saw him turn from a joke to a hero with Argo. The film landed him Oscar success, but, more importantly, it reinstated him to the pantheon of Hollywood royalty; a luxury stripped from him due to a heady couple decades involving bad films and public relationships. He overcame that road and is now a hero, anyone see the Batman similarities or do we have to write some more?

Some people aren’t happy though; 80,542 have signed the petition over at Change.org at the time of writing. Although we get the impression that website was created for a slightly different, more worldly purpose. “Batman is someone that strikes fear in the hearts of men. His portrayal of Daredevil was atrocious and he's not remotely close to an action star or a superhero. Please find someone else and deliver to the fans what they want,” continues the petition’s blurb, penned by Roden.

For us, Affleck’s a good call to play Gotham’s hero. With a strapping chin of facial hair and a newfound dedication to the art of cinema, we think he’ll do a Heath Ledger and surprise everyone with a startlingly good performance. Remember, no one wanted the late actor to play the Joker and look how good he was!

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