Comics, Cartoons, and all things related

By Eric Barrett

It seems appropriate that I was watching Batman Begins on TV last week.  As you’ve heard by now Heath Ledger, who played the Joker in the upcoming Batman movie died this week.  Whenever I see someone who doesn’t live out their full potential, I find this to be a tragic event. And unfortunately that describes Ledger. 

However, enough commentators have said far better, and more interesting things than I can say in this space.  So let me turn my attention to somewhat related note: Ra’s death in Batman Begins.

Batman is a character who walks that fine line between good and bad, light and dark, as well as any other cliché you can think of.  That’s partly what makes his character so compelling.  How does someone who gets so close to becoming a criminal, not actually cross that line?  People like the Punisher have similar backgrounds to Batman, and yet they have become just as bad as the people they hunt. Why is Batman able to stay away from that?

In my view it’s because of Batman’s rigid value system.  There are some things, no matter what the situation, that he simply won’t do.  He could have killed the Joker or a dozen other villains hundreds of times over.  And yet he never does.  It’s part of what makes Batman, Batman.

So when he willingly allows Ra’s to die in the movie, this goes against his entire nature.  Batman would never allow someone, even Ra’s, to die if he could prevent that death.  If he allowed it, he would be just as guilty as the people who murdered his parents, or any other person. In Batman’s mind, he would become just as evil and corrupt as they are. 

Taking that hard, unbreakable stance is what keeps Batman from going “rogue.”

In many ways this is the most interesting aspect of his character.  For someone who deals in “shades of gray”, he has very “black and white” views. 

As I think about Batman I have to wonder, is the only reason he spares villain’s lives is so he doesn’t cross this line?  Or does he hope, in some small way, that by sparing their lives, they can redeem their own?

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