So That's Why Batman Doesn't Kill The Joker!

Apologies if I've broken any House Rules! Just let me know and I'll clear it up. =D

I agree with Denn1s I think the reason he has never gotten the death sentence is because he pleads insanity.

I think a big part of the reason is that he's afraid of what he could become if he was willing to cross that line. The whole point is that if Batman killed The Joker, that would make Batman like The Joker. It's like, as long as he doesn't kill he can still call himself a "good guy."

airbeyonder@ nice call

philosophers: over thinking common sense.

also something that's been plainly stated throughout all of batman's history in comics, t.v. and movies. this article is for non-comic fans. its true, and it's good. but it's nothing new.

Several reasons. What airbeyonder18 said is right and kind of goes with the ethics thing Denn!s said. There's also an interesting idea brought up in Under the Red Hood (movie, I haven't read the original) SPOILERS Batman tells Jason that he doesn't kill the Joker that it would be to easy to cross that line, but once he crossed it, he feared he could never come back.

lol I was trying to get at how cool it is to use Superheroes to teach Philosophy but I'll join in the convo!

I think I've got to agree with airbeyonder18. It's why he's a hero and The Joker is a villain!

You have been Biel Bombed!!!!

timberlake you [frick]ing bastard. lucky sob

The only good reason for Batman not to kill the Joker is the one about Batman becoming some kind of even worse villain if he crosses that line, and that one is pretty week.

Its a disservice to society that Batman didn't kill the Joker long ago. But then, its a disservice to society that the justice system didn't sentence him to death long ago.

@adamcawa I have to agree with you this time.

Like most of the major elements of Comics there is a mix of the practical and the traditional. But I think in this case the former is mostly responsible. If your Heros kill their Villains then you just have to keep making them up. That has always been a bit of a problem for the Comics since they come out so often.

I think it is really, really hard to justify a Code against Killing when you are talking modern movies though. Batman Begins got around directly confronting the problem with the whole 'I don't have to save you' but honestly that was just a cop out. In the old days the Villains did not actually kill that many people. They menaced and blustered but actual deaths were pretty rare. Back then the Code made sense. But today when you have the Ultimate Magneto killing millions I don't think the Code applies.

@fire59019 I understand the "code", but real heroes are soldiers and police officers, etc. To say that there's some code of honor that seperates heroes from villains totally undermines them and I have never agreed with that about Batman, which is never why I really enjoyed his comics.

@adamcawa - I have no argument about "real heroes" in fact I could not agree more with you about the military and law enforcement. I do not believe that the "code" undermines them at all.

In fact in a recent issue of The Brave and the Bold, Barry Allen faced a dilemma similar to our discussion. He was sent back in time to WWII. He teamed up with the Blackhawks. In the comic he helps fight off the Nazis and he killed, however, he did not do so wearing his Flash costume, he wore a normal solider uniform. He said that as the Flash he could not kill, but as Barry Allen in a war situation he could.

What I believe is that made up heroes, i.e. the Flash and Batman etc., don't kill because of what the hero stands for. These heroes are, as I mentioned before, something for us to aim for, a sort of goal for us as people, to become someone better than we are.

Unfortunately in the world we live in a military is a necessity as is law enforcement, and they are required to use lethal force from time to time. This does not detract from them or their jobs at all. They deserve our respect, for they are true life heroes.

@fire59019 if what you means is that as "heroes" they represent "good" of the population, in the sense that if they started crossing the line, then what's to keep the average joe who looks up to them from doing the same thing, then I would agree with you. That's the real only legitimate excuse I've heard for a "hero" not killing anyone. Since they operate outside of the law and military (generally) it's irresponsible to kill.

However, in Batman's case, since he's already a social periah, it makes no sense for him not to have killed the Joker by now.

If that's not what you meant, then I'm sorry.

@anil Ricky Bruce doesn't kill darkseid he wounds him and the flash finish him off with the black racer and even then he returns and superman has to use the mircle machine to get rid of him

Batman doesnt kill the joker because its against his code as stated clearly in batman begins its separates those who believe in justice from the criminals and he doesnt believe its his right to punish these people he made that clear when ras al ghul wanted him to kill a murderer.