BATMAN’S MORAL CODE

Batman’s essential rule of no killing came before the formation of the Comics Code Authority in 1954. Early DC comics weren’t bound by the constraints of these rules and when Batman first appeared in 1939, he was ruthless and had little concern for the lives of his enemies. In Detective Comics #27, his first appearance, Batman punches Alfred Stryker into a vat of acid after the man assassinates his business partners. It wasn’t until Batman #4, when Batman instructed Robin not to use the blade of a sword against pirates, that the moral code of Batman was introduced. According to Bob Kane, the inclusion of Robin interested children in the early graphic novels, and the new audience elicited complaints from parents that Batman was too violent. This shaped Batman’s character and became a common plot device in many stories to come. Batman has rarely broken his own law since the early 1940s, but it doesn’t stop him ignoring some of Gotham’s laws like breaking and entering, using excessive force and many other crimes Bruce Wayne himself commits while seeking justice as a masked vigilante. This issue of non-killing is one that is relevant in our own justice systems in the real world. While some governments allow execution of certain extreme cases, others like Batman, vow to never cross that line. It is an issue widely debated in our society. One may ponder if there are crimes committed that are unforgivable, or if a person is so evil that they have no chance of rehabilitation. An irredeemable crime does not necessarily require the death sentence, as indefinite incarceration might be a worse punishment than death itself. However, being so unremorseful that one has no hope to change their evil ways, leads society to make a decision to protect themselves for fear of what this person may do in the future if left to remain among us.

Bruce Wayne has most likely never forgiven his parents’ murderers as it has shaped who he is today. However, it has not forced him to execute those who he believes are guilty of similar or worse acts. The Joker, for instance, is one of Batman’s fiercest enemies who is defined by his love for chaos. He is a true psychopath driven by his desire to prove philosophical points without regard for human life. His mere existence in the universe puts everyone in danger, yet Batman locks him up rather than ending his life. One may argue that this is naive of Batman because it is likely that the Joker will just escape as he has time and time again to cause more destruction.

Why then does Batman continue to make this decision? Is it because he feels responsible for making the Joker who he is today? Is it that he seeks to undo what transpired all those years ago when his foe fell into a vat of acid while trying to flee Batman’s violent justice? Perhaps, he feels that everyone, even the worst of us, should be given the opportunity to change, and he believes that The Joker has the capacity to be a different person. Maybe this belief that one can change is something that he hopes society itself can adopt so they can forgive Bruce Wayne for his own mistakes.

BY JENNIFER ARIESTA