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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Serge" data-source="post: 2620389" data-attributes="member: 4049">I am currently collecting comics and The Batman has always been my favorite character.  I am currently collecting all the Bat-titles (not the peripheral stuff like Birds of Prey, Robin, Nightwing, etc).I don't think this would ever happen in the hands of a continuity-based book written by  someone who understands the character.  Heck, even in some of the best "elseworld" style tales, The Batman never kills The Joker because the character is incapable of killing (in Kingdom Come, The Joker is offed by someone else and in The Dark Knight Returns, The Batman didn't "have the nerve" despite the final killing spree The Joker undertook).I think that this dichotomy of The Batman recognizing that he has the power to kill men and women like The Joker but doesn't is one of the most essential limitations and traits of the character to make him interesting.  It reflects that heroes only rarely cross certain lines and that, for some, such a line can never be crossed.  The nature of The Batman is that he doesn't want other people to die.  This is what limits him and motivates him.  To allow him to kill The Joker moves him, in his mind, a step closer to the darkness that threatens to consume him.  Incidently, in continuity, The Batman (Wayne) has tried to kill The Joker at least once:  In A Death in the Family (which, as a result of the silly direction in resurrecting Jason Todd, has lost much of its punch).  The Batman didn't get the chance, but he did have ample time to take The Joker out before their final (and awesome) confrontation in that story.  I don't think that, if push came to shove, The Batman would have done what he said he wanted to do because it's not in his nature.This would be asinine.I think a lot of people approach comics more like soap-operas or novels than mythology.  In myths, heroes rarely die.  In most cases, they live on and on, their deaths temporary (like King Arthur and most messianic figures) or else a signal for a new era (like the Norse gods or Robin Hood).  The Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman are in the vein of the former.  To kill The Batman off would not only be dumb from a marketing perspective, it would be -- IMO -- antithetical to the nature of comics' handling of iconic characters.If The Batman were "killed," there would be a massive story-arc that would result in his return.I don't think that Wayne will retire.  The excellent use of the character in Batman: Beyond aside, Wayne is damned near obsessed.  He's a control-freak.  He needs to know that he is doing something to prevent others from dying and to punish criminals.  And, phyisical limitations aside (which is what was done in BB), nothing's going to stop him.  Frankly, the best handling of this aspect of The Batman was done in Ross and Waid's Kingdom Come; despite his age, The Batman is still combating crime and working behind the scenes.Most of these decisions, while pursued by those that want so-called realisitic/grittier comics, are antithetical to iconic characters.  These characters change and adapt based upon what's happening in the world, but they don't go away.  They are immortal and their heroism is such that it makes it difficult for some people to accept them... which is why they're so essential.  Even Wonder Woman rarely kills and when she does, it brings to the fore many important questions about heroism (like what's recently happened in the whole Infinite Crisis prequels).  DC would be making a monstrous mistake with any of these directions, even something as seemingly innocuous as Wayne retiring (which I hear is a popular rumor).  Bruce Wayne died at the age of 8 along with his parents; The Batman is all that exists now.  Even were Dick Grayson to assume the mantle (and he's the only character that comes close to having such a right), he would be Dick Grayson playing as Batman; he wouldn't be The Batman.  Despite what some have promoted since the mid and late 90s, the "mantle of The Bat," is not something that can be worn by anyone.  Sure, its shadow may mark others (like the various Robins, Nightwing, Spoiler, the Batgirls, etc.), but it only lies with one individual in the same way that the "S" Shield only rests on one particular man's chest and only one woman is worthy of the Lasso of Truth.  These are icons and icons do not change.Would any of these stories pique your interest enough to read them? More importantly, would any of these stories make you want to read what happens next?</blockquote>[/QUOTE]

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