Summary
One of the most iconic pieces ofBatmanlore is his no-kill rule, which has always applied to theJoker. No matter how rough and dark Batman gets as a hero, his abstaining from murder is the one line in the sand Batman has maintained to separate himself from those he’s fighting against. And he won’t budge on this issue, even when it comes to the maniacal super-criminal Joker.
While there is a lot of debate as to thetactics of Batman, he may be justified in preserving the Joker’s life. Back in the Golden Age of the Dark Knight,a futuristic (and heroic) descendant of the Joker debutedin the story “Batman in the Future!” by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Lew Sayre Schwartz, Charles Paris, and Ira Schnapp from 1950’sBatman#59. This descendant is a complete surprise to the Caped Crusader and Robin.
In this future timeline,Rokej is a super-heroic chief of police intent on stopping criminalswho are just like his villainous ancestor.With Batman and Robin’s help, this backward Joker saves the day, to the surprise of fans from both 1950 and today.
Batman vs [SPOILER] Justifies Every Anti-Superman Contingency He Ever Designed
Batman has accidentally fought Superman many times, but thanks to a familiar (and ugly) face, Batman’s anti-Superman plans just might save the world.
Batman’s No-Kill Rule Keeps the Joker Alive
The Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime
Batman has been time traveling and crossing dimensions since the fifties, meaning that even in a goofy story like this one, there’s a lightheartedness to Batman that is all but forgotten about in modern continuity. Today, the Joker’s devastation is only matched by Batman’s brooding nature, and what is left by the wayside is the pact the two share: neither one should kill the other. While Batman isn’t the only hero thatwants to break his no-kill rule, he never does,resulting in a future where the Joker’s wrongs are put rightwith the existence of a heroic descendant.
Maybe it’s this deep memory from the past that is keeping Batman from killing the Joker.
Allowing the Joker to live is a testament to how Batman puts his faith in the long game. Everyone else sees the Clown Prince of Crime’s carnage, andBatman, as if he has a special super-sight, sees into a future where things turn out all right in the end.And he may just live to see it, if all turns out well with his modernBatsuit that literally beats death.
Batman Believes in Legacy Over Justice
Batman’s Decision to Not Kill the Joker Is His Belief in Hope
Maybe it’s this deep memory from the past that is keeping Batman from killing the Joker. Maybe it’s just Batman’s hope for some such future, one where thechildren can become better than their fathers. Batman’s own children are the very evidence of this, as they complete the work he failed to accomplish. Dick Grayson as Nightwing has all but become the light side of the Dark Knight and a version of him that has completely healed from his trauma. After all, Nightwing only neededtwo words to heal his relationship with Batman.The very idea of Batman is perfected in Nightwing.
The same can be true of the Joker. Maybe Batman believes that the Joker’s children will do the same work as Batman’s own. If this is true, then Batman just might be a greater symbol of hope than Superman. Every time he drags the Joker back to Arkham Asylum instead of ending the battle right then and there, he’s hoping for a different world: one where theJokercan change and where his descendants can do what’s right.Batmanis the proof that the night is long and dark, but it will get better and brighter — it always does.
The Joker
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
