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Who's the more effective hero: Batman or The Punisher?
- Thread starter Deified Data
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Batman's villains are still around because they have to be around for Batman to continue selling comic books. Just like The Punisher is always going to have an endless supply of whatever no-name mob goons he regularly kills.
Suggesting that Batman is ineffective because he hasn't murdered them all is stupid. How many other superheroes have murdered or permanently stopped their long-running arch-villains?
Judging either character's "effectiveness" seems pretty stupid, when you consider that as a necessity for the artform, each one has decades of continuity where the state of their cities has gone completely unchanged.
Suggesting that Batman is ineffective because he hasn't murdered them all is stupid. How many other superheroes have murdered or permanently stopped their long-running arch-villains?
Judging either character's "effectiveness" seems pretty stupid, when you consider that as a necessity for the artform, each one has decades of continuity where the state of their cities has gone completely unchanged.
Mr. Poolman
Member
I'm so adding this to my vocabulary.
I'm not an expert on either, but it is my understanding that Batman has thwarted bigger threats than Punisher can ever dream of. Batman has saved all of Gotham City, the entire planet, probably even the uni- and/or multiverse multiple times each. It is my understanding that Punisher hasn't.
So sure, if Batman killed the Joker, you could argue that all the people the Joker killed would be saved. That's some red ink. But just stopping Darkseid in that one Crisis I heard about but don't really recall, Batman put himself so far into the black that Punisher can't hope to compete.
In other news, now I kinda want to read some Punisher. Any recommendations for trades to check out?
So sure, if Batman killed the Joker, you could argue that all the people the Joker killed would be saved. That's some red ink. But just stopping Darkseid in that one Crisis I heard about but don't really recall, Batman put himself so far into the black that Punisher can't hope to compete.
In other news, now I kinda want to read some Punisher. Any recommendations for trades to check out?
Deified Data
Banned
Start with "Circle of Blood", or start with Garth Ennis's MAX run.
Some do ask that. To see if they know basic info, I been asked to name the last 3 presidents on some of them.
Mister0079
Member
^ There you have it. Joker would've died if it wasn't for that asshole Batman.
So you can get Xtreme answers
Batman has saved Joker's life on multiple occasions. Batman even gave him mouth to mouth and cpr.
Which I don't understand, Batman Begins had the right idea with the "I won't kill you but I don't have to save you"
There you have it. Entire universe would've died if it wasn't for that asshole Batman.
Truly a close relationship for those two
NotTheGuyYouKill
Member
Punisher all the way. I love Bruce, but Bruce is as crazy as his villains that he half the time enables/creates
D
Deleted member 47027
Unconfirmed Member
Punisher has had his share of time fighting things above Henchmen. He was the one to shoot and kill Mephisto in the Hearts of Darkness TPB 
MisterHero
Super Member
Neither, but perhaps Punisher is more practical.
Villains like Joker that keep escaping and killing people is arguably having a negative impact on the livelihood of the general populace.
It would be possible but probably boring for the most powerful characters to help render someone like Joker sane (which has happened a couple times; temporarily).
Villains like Joker that keep escaping and killing people is arguably having a negative impact on the livelihood of the general populace.
It would be possible but probably boring for the most powerful characters to help render someone like Joker sane (which has happened a couple times; temporarily).
revolverjgw
Member
There you have it. Entire universe would've died if it wasn't for that asshole Batman.
Is stuff like this canon? I hate it when Batman is used in this way. I wish DC kept his universe and fiction separate from the superfreaks (same goes for Punisher, though it rarely gets so silly with him)
Supposedly Arthur Conan Doyle had considered the idea of a rogue's gallery for Sherlock Holmes, but rejected the idea because he felt that having villains often reappear would make Holmes look incompetent.
MisterHero
Super Member
Darkseid's ultimate goal was to make humanity submit to him. It was most appropriate for someone like Batman.
This reminds me of one of the Justice League episodes where they fight the Justice Lords and find out that the supervillians there have been utterly neutralized due to Superman giving them a lobotomy.
You'd think with all the technology and crap at their disposal, they could create a better prison to contain those guys. But hey, comics!
DonasaurusRex
Online Ho Champ
There you have it. Entire universe would've died if it wasn't for that asshole Batman.
welp thats gonna end it for Darkseid, you are officially on farm status.
i raise you.
edit damnit already posted.
Yet in the sequel... i called bullshit
But there's a finite number of people in the universe, so the logical conclusion is that that narrative trope *forces* innocent people to turn to crime. And then get killed. It eventually follows that at some point the Punisher will have wiped out humanity. That's a bit of a negative.
Extra Sauce
Member
Batman inspires his city to do good, Punisher perpetuates a cycle of violence.
Of course in the comics, neither actually manage to clean the streets, as that would prevent more comics from being made.
Of course in the comics, neither actually manage to clean the streets, as that would prevent more comics from being made.
Mr. Poolman
Member
anonymous_abc
Member
fallengorn
Bitches love smiley faces
There you have it. Entire universe would've died if it wasn't for that asshole Batman.
Always bothered me that Batman didn't get a better shot. He should've prep timed shooting guns.
In Court of Owls Bruce Wayne is actively building a better Gotham. In Batman Begins the Waynes were given credit for building Gotham's transit system. Stuff like this makes Batman more effective. He cleans the streets just like the Punisher does but his wealth and status allow him to do much more than that.
Also - and I think this is important - Batman sends a message of justice to the citizens of Gotham and especially it's children. They're growing up hearing about a vigilanty who doesn't commit murder. That's more healthy. The Punisher's message is that murder is the answer and it's a question you can ask yourself. No healthy society runs that way or imparts a message like that.
Also - and I think this is important - Batman sends a message of justice to the citizens of Gotham and especially it's children. They're growing up hearing about a vigilanty who doesn't commit murder. That's more healthy. The Punisher's message is that murder is the answer and it's a question you can ask yourself. No healthy society runs that way or imparts a message like that.
TheJollyCorner
Member
The Punisher.
Batman's non-lethal methods mean Gotham City taxpayers have to pay for The Joker to get 3 square meals a day in Arkham. Also take into account the countless cases of property damage when the villains he puts away escape and raise hell.
Batman's non-lethal methods mean Gotham City taxpayers have to pay for The Joker to get 3 square meals a day in Arkham. Also take into account the countless cases of property damage when the villains he puts away escape and raise hell.
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
It would be difficult for Batman to justify his costumed escapades without the scary super-villains running around. Makes you wonder sometimes.
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