Batman famously refuses to kill, even when pushed to the limit. A common criticism is that he repeatedly captures villains like the Joker, only to have them escape Arkham Asylum and commit further crimes. Despite this, his unwavering moral code is what defines him as a hero – he consistently chooses to remain above the actions of his enemies. Unfortunately, this principle often leads to a tragic consequence: some citizens of Gotham believe Batman’s refusal to kill allows dangerous criminals to live and ultimately cause more harm, making him indirectly responsible for the deaths of their loved ones.
Certain Batman villains have either been given too many chances at redemption or are simply too dangerous and powerful to be allowed to continue existing, even if they repeatedly escape consequences.
7) Joker
The Joker is central to discussions about Batman’s refusal to kill. Batman consistently captures the Joker and sends him to Arkham Asylum, but the villain repeatedly escapes and commits further crimes. It’s often argued that Batman bears responsibility for the resulting deaths, as permanently eliminating the Joker would prevent future tragedies.
It’s strange, but Batman nearly killed the Joker during their first encounter. DC Comics decided to keep the Joker alive, though, because he quickly became a very popular character. The Joker has come close to death in several fights since then, but never because Batman intentionally tried to kill him. Even after the Joker committed terrible acts like killing Jason Todd and paralyzing Barbara Gordon, Batman refused to cross the line. However, many believe that the only way to truly protect Gotham City is for the Joker to be stopped permanently.
6) Bane
Bane is a compelling and incredibly dangerous villain in the Batman universe. Although his difficult past makes him somewhat sympathetic, he’s still a ruthless killer who has caused Batman more trouble than most. He’s set to play a major role in the upcoming 2026 Batman film, and hopefully, it will showcase his full power to viewers who aren’t familiar with the comics.
Despite any personal principles he might have, Bane is a repeat offender who consistently causes destruction. He’s harmed a lot of people, including Batman, and Gotham would likely be better off if he were permanently stopped.
5) KGBeast
Batman once came very close to killing KGBeast, believing it was the only way to stop him. He didn’t want to directly kill him, so he trapped KGBeast in an underground bunker, intending for him to die of starvation, which Batman justified as serving justice. However, because this was essentially murder, DC Comics later revised the story to change what happened.
Batman should have finished KGBeast once and for all. After Batman spared him, KGBeast came back seeking revenge and seriously injured Nightwing. Even after Batman disabled him again, breaking his neck and leaving him helpless in the snow, KGBeast somehow survived. He repeatedly demonstrates he’s a deadly threat to everyone except Batman and Nightwing, yet they continue to let him live.
4) Killer Croc
Okay, this might be a bit of a hot take, especially considering what’s been happening in the comics lately. But I’ve been thinking about the Killer Croc storyline, and it really struck me when Batman found Waylon Jones in those tunnels. It wasn’t a fight, though! Waylon actually *asked* for Batman’s help, admitting he couldn’t control his impulses and was desperate to stop hurting people. And honestly, the way Arkham Asylum handled it afterwards was surprisingly compassionate – they promised to continue helping him, which was a really powerful moment.
I truly believe Killer Croc deserves a chance at life. He *knows* he’s done terrible things and, deep down, seems to want to be better. But it’s heartbreakingly clear he’s trapped by his own nature. He just can’t control the beast inside, and I don’t think he’ll ever be able to. It feels like true freedom or peace will always be out of reach for him. He’s a monster, yes, but even knowing that, Batman still holds onto hope, always believing there’s a glimmer of good left. It’s sad, because maybe peace for Croc would only come with death, but Batman would never be the one to give it to him.
3) Darkseid
As a huge DC fan, when we talk about villains who are *completely* beyond saving, Darkseid is right up there. Seriously, this guy isn’t just bad, he’s a full-on galactic conqueror. His whole deal is taking over every world and forcing everyone to do what he wants using something called the Anti-Life Equation. People used to call him the God of Evil, but ‘God of Tyranny’ is more accurate. He won’t rest until he’s ruled *everything* – the entire multiverse. There’s just no talking him down.
In a surprising turn, Batman seemingly broke his strict rule against killing, shooting a tyrannical villain with a Radion bullet just as Darkseid unleashed his Omega Beams. Though it looked like Batman died immediately (he was actually thrown back in time), Darkseid survived, though wounded. Darkseid is relentless and won’t stop until he’s destroyed, but even if someone *could* kill him, no hero seems capable of doing so.
2) Barbatos
Barbatos is a relatively recent enemy of Batman, but he appears to be connected to every major tragedy in Bruce Wayne’s life. This powerful being, known as the Bat-God, was created to destroy universes that are failing. He even claims to be the bat that young Bruce Wayne saw, the event that inspired him to become Batman. Barbatos is ancient, existing before the entire Multiverse, and his actions are responsible for the creation of the dangerous Dark Multiverse.
Barbatos is potentially Batman’s greatest enemy, even surpassing Darkseid in power. He boasts responsibility for every major Crisis event in DC Comics, highlighting the massive danger he poses to the entire universe. Because he’s invulnerable, immortal, and all-knowing, it seems impossible to defeat him, meaning his destructive rampage may never stop.
1) The Batman Who Laughs
The Batman Who Laughs is a particularly dangerous villain because he’s a version of Bruce Wayne from another universe. In his world, Batman killed the Joker, but a chemical released during the fight transformed *him* into a twisted, Joker-like figure. Combining Batman’s intelligence with the Joker’s cruel outlook, he eliminated the entire Bat Family, Superman, Wonder Woman, and anyone else who opposed him, then turned his attention to conquering other universes.
Although Batman eliminating the Joker might improve things in Gotham, The Batman Who Laughs is an even greater and more dangerous threat. Batman managed to defeat him, but stayed true to his rule against killing. This means The Batman Who Laughs could return to cause trouble again, and each of his crimes will ultimately be Batman’s responsibility.
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2025-10-20 20:49