I found this user editorial on comicbookmovie.com about Batman's non-killing "moral code":
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/ImTheGoodGuy/news/?a=75847
I've seen a lot of people making conflicting arguments about how they're either in favor or against the idea of Batman killing. Some argue it would be logical for him to kill only the worst kind of villains (i.e. Joker and Zsasz) for the sake of saving lives, while others argue killing would only make him just as bad as the villains he confronts, regardless of the circumstances.
The problem I have with the moral code is it feels contrived. It was an excuse to ensure children could be allowed to read comics because of censorship back in the 1940s, while at the same time making sure that Joker and major villains never get killed off forever. A lot of fans argue that Batman's code separates himself from his enemies, and even use this to argue that it what makes him "human" and "relatable". It's all well and good if it's only for the sake of escapism, but the problem is the stories are becoming more violent, darker, humorless and even desperately trying to be "realistic". Unfortunately, black and white morality doesn't always work like that in real life. There are times when using lethal force is necessary if the circumstances are that dire, and unfortunately most Batman stories nowadays constantly remind me of that. There's got to be a better way to explain why Batman can't kill, without making him look reprehensible for keeping the worst killers alive at the expense of innocent people.
Thoughts?
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/ImTheGoodGuy/news/?a=75847
I've seen a lot of people making conflicting arguments about how they're either in favor or against the idea of Batman killing. Some argue it would be logical for him to kill only the worst kind of villains (i.e. Joker and Zsasz) for the sake of saving lives, while others argue killing would only make him just as bad as the villains he confronts, regardless of the circumstances.
The problem I have with the moral code is it feels contrived. It was an excuse to ensure children could be allowed to read comics because of censorship back in the 1940s, while at the same time making sure that Joker and major villains never get killed off forever. A lot of fans argue that Batman's code separates himself from his enemies, and even use this to argue that it what makes him "human" and "relatable". It's all well and good if it's only for the sake of escapism, but the problem is the stories are becoming more violent, darker, humorless and even desperately trying to be "realistic". Unfortunately, black and white morality doesn't always work like that in real life. There are times when using lethal force is necessary if the circumstances are that dire, and unfortunately most Batman stories nowadays constantly remind me of that. There's got to be a better way to explain why Batman can't kill, without making him look reprehensible for keeping the worst killers alive at the expense of innocent people.
Thoughts?
