Batman #420

[iamrman]

How about that no killing rule, huh?

Okay, the KGBeast did end up returning, but that doesn’t take away the fact that Batman left somebody to die.

Comments

[lbd_nytetrayn]

In theory, he could have checked on him after a few days or so.

I'm more surprised that in the DCU, someone who is effectively Batman's equal would be easily overcome by a pair of 2x4s.

[shakalooloo]

It's surprising that the Beast just lets Batman finish his speech and close the door before trying to get out. Batman doesn't even have the planks in his hand at the time, so he closes the door, walks over to the pile, gets one plank to put in place, then walks back for the second... The Beast waits until he's done, then goes over to bang on the door.

[mastermahan]

That's basically how they retconnned it so Batman didn't leave a man to die. Years later, they established that Batman told the authorities where KGBeast was, but naturally the unstoppable murder Russian escapes.

[shakalooloo]

Never mind the no killing, does Batman destroy the Beast's left eye?

[huntleyhaverstock]

This storyline got me into Batman comics. You kinda need some context: The Beast has killed SO MANY PEOPLE at this point, just absolutely mowed down tons and tons and tons of innocent people. Batman has nearly killed himself multiple times trying to apprehend the Beast, including once nearly falling to his death when he snares the Beast by one hand, only to have the Beast sever his own hand with a fire axe to escape. The Beast is incredibly dangerous, absolutely unstoppable, and unlike the Joker, who at least plays by his own twisted rules, is just a straight line of murder directly to his next target. So yeah, I think Batman’s doing the smart thing here. He’s exhausted and beat to hell. He’s not killing the Beast. He’s just letting the consequences of the Beast’s actions catch up with him.

I never liked how, after his portrayal as an intelligent, formidable threat here, the Beast has been reduced to a dimwitted Boris Badenov stooge in his subsequent appearances.

If you’ve never read this story arc, I think it’s a minor masterpiece — one gripping set piece after another in a relentless ticking-clock story structure.

[obsidianwolf]

Ah yes Starlin's Batman who was quiet a bit less bothered by criminals dying cause of their own actions/his inaction. The arc where Jason may have killed a Rapist featured a scene where Batman intentionally dodged two machien gun wielding mooks in a way that let them take each out fatally.

Though even for Starlin's Batman the above was a bit more directly him taking action to get someone killed but IIRC in story it was framed as KGBeast was just that dangerous and later writes used this in various ways..

When Tim Drake was introduced Wolfman used this incident as one of the examples of Batman spiraling and needing a kid sidekick.

I also want to say a later Batman never kills even later said Batman's plan was to go back and get him once he was too weak to fight back but when he got back for him KGBeast was gone.

[lego_joker]

Do be fair, deadly dodging has always been on the lighter end of "Don't have to save you" for Batman writers. I think even Adam West's Batman did it once.

[obsidianwolf]

Yeah true but this one stands out because of how it was drawn both men approaching rapidly and being in range for the typical Batman jumping double kick when he actually jumped. Not to mention Batman being really not that broken up only thinking he wanted to end it without more deaths. All in all it ads to the vibe of hypocrisy that IMO always kind of ran through Starlin's Post Crisis Jason stories.

[cainofdreaming]

Bruce can just call the cops and let them know where Beast is, you know?

[lego_joker]

Jesus Christ, with every single page you can tell how very badly Starlin wants to be Frank Miller.

(NGL, I'd be very interested to see what the actual Miller scripting over Aparo art would look like, but an imitation's an imitation.)

[sabertoothlotus]

Where was Killer Croc at this point? I half expect him to show up and jump one, the other, or both of them every time I see this.

[scorntx]

"A very good joke indeed - an excellent jest. We shall have many a rich laugh about it at the mansion - He! He! He! - over our amontillado!"

Good thing all those planks were there just ready to go in case someone needed a door propped shut, I guess?

[blues32]

For the love of God, Batman!