Batmanis one of pop culture’s most recognizable heroes. Although his methods often fall into a morally gray area, most fans would agree that the Dark Knight is certainly a force for good in Gotham City. However, there have been times in the comics whereBatman’s actions were downright questionable at best.
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After all, Bruce Wayne leads a complicated life, and not every action he takes can be considered unabashedly noble. There are several instances in the comics where Batman’s actions can be seen as quite villainous. Whether it’s being unnecessarily brutal to his enemies or acting like a jerk to his sidekicks, these examples show the Dark Knight at his darkest.
6Abusing Robin – All-Star Batman & Robin
Frank Miller’s interpretation of Batman is far grittier and more violent compared to his canonical depiction. The violence, however, is taken to a bit of an extreme inAll-Star Batman & Robin: The Boy Wonder. Set during the early days of Batman’s career, the comic showcases a Dark Knight who proves to be wantonly reckless in his methods. There’s a scene where he even sets a group of thugs on fire!
However, Batman’s most reprehensible action is in his treatment of Dick Grayson, a boy who has just been recently orphaned. Bruce treats Dick like a military recruit, verbally abusing him and offering the boy little inthe way of sympathy. In one famous moment, he essentially tells Dick to fend for himself when the latter is hungry, suggesting the rats in the Batcave would suffice. Internal monologues in Bruce’s mind reveal he does these ignoble things to prepare Robin for the grim realities of fighting crime. Many fans, however, thought Bruce went a little overboard.
5Killing Robin – The Dark Knight Strikes Again
Poor Robin. He can’t catch a break when Frank Miller is at the helm.The Dark Knight Strikes Againis the sequel to Miller’s critically-acclaimedThe Dark Knight Returns. The story focuses on an older Batman as he, along with other superheroes, tries to topple the tyrannical regime of Lex Luthor. At the same time, a mysterious figure who resembles the Joker is killing various superheroes.
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At the end of the comic, it’s revealed that this mysterious figure is actually Dick Grayson, driven mad and seemingly invulnerable. Dick’s mental deterioration stems from the abuse he suffered at Batman’s hands, actions that were partially described in the previous entry. If fans thought that Batman makes amends with his former sidekick, they would be wrong. Instead, Batmanhurls both himself and Dick into a fiery chasm of lava. Bruce survives, but poor Dick is disintegrated.
4Spying On The Justice League – JLA: Tower Of Babel
One of Batman’s defining characteristics is his genius-level intelligence. It’s Bruce’s brilliant strategic mind that keeps him on par with his superpowered peers. However, Bruce’s aptitude for being prepared for any eventuality sometimes borders on paranoia. This leads to some unfortunate consequences inJLA: Tower of Babel.
In this story arc, it’s revealed that Batman has been keeping close records of his allies, studying their weaknesses in the event they ever decide to betray him. Unfortunately, these detailed reports fall intothe hands of Ra’s al Ghul, who uses them to gain the upper hand over the Justice League. Spying on your own friends? Not exactly a heroic activity.
3Implanting A Bomb In Alfred’s Neck – The Grim Knight
Everything about the Grim Knight is, unsurprisingly, morbid. The Grim Knight is a resident of DC’s Dark Multiverse, a collection of universes where bleak alternate backstories characterize the lives of familiar heroes. In this universe, Bruce opted for more lethal methods in his war on crime. The result is an intimidating amalgamation of The Punisher and Batman.
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No one is more disgusted withBruce’s exceedingly brutal methodsthan Alfred. To keep his butler in line, Bruce implants a bomb in Alfred’s neck, ensuring the latter’s acquiescence. Batman’s ghastly treatment of his enemies is one thing, but to treat a member of his family in this manner is perhaps his worst offense.
2Stuffing Pills Down The Joker’s Throat – Batman: White Knight
The neverending battle between Batman and the Joker is legendary. Both combatants have fought and harmed each otherusing a variety of gruesome methods. One such example can be witnessed inBatman: White Knight, a comic that toys with the idea of role reversal. In this case, the Joker is depicted more sympathetically, while Batman is portrayed villainously.
Fans can see Batman’s questionable decision-making at the beginning of the comic, where he brutally beats the Joker to a pulp behind a pharmaceutical facility. There, Batman almost crazily forces pills down the Joker’s throat. Meanwhile, Batgirl and Nightwing look on in understandable horror. It’s not exactly one of Batman’s finest moments.
1Leaving KGBeast To Die – Batman #420
KGBeast isn’t one of Batman’s more well-known villains. Anatoli Knyazev, aka KGBeast, is a Soviet-era assassin whose physical abilities rival those of Bruce Wayne. During theTen Nights of the Beaststory arc, Knyazev goes on a killing spree, eliminating political opponents deemed a threat to the Soviet Union.
Eventually, Batman and KGBeast have their showdown in the sewers beneath Gotham City. However, instead of engaging each other in a climactic battle, Batman refuses to fight and instead locks KGBeast in the sewer, where the latter is presumably left to starve to death. This event was later retconned, but the Dark Knight’s actions here are morally questionable, to say the least.
