A killer BATMAN? Comic book writer Grant Morrison explains why this should NEVER happen
Should superheroes kill? It’s a question that continues to be hotly debated among comic book fans, but everyone can agree that certain characters should never commit suicide. Spider-Man is one, and Batman is definitely another.
The Caped Crusader frequently killed crooks when first introduced, often in quite brutal fashion. As DC Comics entered the 1940s, Nazis became its primary target, and it took years later for its no-assassination, no-gun rule to be firmly established as “canon.”
On screen, Batman has murdered frequently. Tim Burton’s The Dark Knight didn’t hold back, as much was said about the hero’s decision to let Ra’s al Ghul perish at the end of Batman Begins. Unsurprisingly, Zack Snyder’s Batman killed indiscriminately and, controversially, wielded a few guns.
Comic book writer Grant Morrison has written numerous Batman comics, including the upcoming crossover featuring Bruce Wayne and Marvel’s Merc with a Mouth, Deadpool (Batman/Deadpool #1 will go on sale next month).
During a recent Reddit AMA, he explained why Batman doesn’t – and should never – kill his enemies:
“If Batman kills, he becomes a crazed criminal in a strange costume and Jim Gordon will have to hunt him down and bring him to justice. The glory of Bruce Wayne is that he refuses to be a killer. He has trained in every discipline of martial arts so he doesn’t have to kill and that’s what makes him crazy and magnificent and a superhero.”
“He certainly tolerates intimidation and injury, but killing his enemies would destroy him. He catches the bad guys and leaves them tied up outside the nearest police station, so the justice system can deal with them… if the justice system lets them go, it catches them again…”
There’s been a lot of talk over the years about whether Batman should kill those he locks up in Arkham Asylum, especially when someone like the Joker repeatedly breaks free. Like many villains, not only does the Clown Prince of Crime target those close to Batman, but innocent people often suffer as well.
Yet if Batman crosses that line, it will feel like he becomes no better than those he’s trying to protect Gotham City from. Whether the Caped Crusader must kill in self-defense is another matter, and it’s certainly something we’ve seen many times on the page.
Do you think Batman should kill? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
