KILLER INSTINCT: Did Batman Kill In ‘BATMAN RETURNS’?

We all know that Batman abides by one rule: no killing.

It’s what makes the Dark Knight one of the most intriguing comic book characters of all time. Despite his seemingly dark personality, Batman’s unwillingness to cross that immoral threshold is what separates him from the villains he hunts. Criminals have even tried to exploit this fact and label it as a weakness for Batman: Ras al Ghul in Batman Begins and the Joker in The Dark Knight.

It’s always been interesting to see just how far Batman can be pushed without killing. Now of course, there are instances that leave one wondering if Batman did in fact “kill” someone, albeit incidental. Whenever a car flips over or explodes you question whether or not anyone inside died, and even in The Dark Knight you wondered whether Batman could actually be labeled as the one who killed Harvey Dent or if Dent was just a victim of circumstance. Regardless, we’ve never seen Batman actually kill somone, right?

WRONG!

This past weekend I was watching Batman Returns with my wife and saw a scene that made us both do a double take. I think it shows definitive proof that Batman actually kills someone, and not only that, he enjoys it! Take a look at the screen grabs below.

1.) Batman is engaged in a battle with Penguins’ circus gang and is seen here walking with a bunch of dynamite with an alarm clock detonator (original, right?).

2.) A circus gang member jumps out of the shadows and Batman delivers a classic punch. You can see the dynamite more clearly now in his left hand.

3.) After knocking out the scrawny gang member, Batman is confronted by a larger, bouncer-looking man. This guy would probably be the strongman of the circus sideshow.

4.) Batman tries to knock him out with a single punch, but…

5.) …of course it doesn’t work (nice Mike Tyson face tattoo by the way, good sir). The strongman laughs at Batman and his feeble attempt to knock him out.

6.) Batman gives him a cold stare…

7.) …and looks down.

8.) The strongman follows Batman’s gaze and looks down at his belt.

9.) He sees that Batman has shoved the dynamite into his belt and the detonator is about to go off.

10.) Shit.

11.) Batman gives him a menacing smile! What’s worse, it’s clear he is enjoying this. Even the Joker would find this smile creepy.

12.) Batman punches the strongman again and knocks him down into an open manhole, the dynamite still in his belt.

13.) Batman walks away as the dynamite goes off. Well, maybe the guy survi–

14.) –oh, nope. He’s definitely dead.

I don’t think there’s really a debate here about whether or not Batman (willingly) killed this guy. Even if the strongman somehow survived, it’s clear Batman shows no remorse whatsoever for leaving him for dead. Granted, there was a lot wrong with Batman Returns, but I feel this scene was an egregious oversight. No matter what kind of movie you make with the Dark Knight, you have to follow the same rule as Batman: no killing.

So, as Bane would say: Let the games debate begin!



Did Batman kill the strongman in ‘BATMAN RETURNS’?

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