DC's preview for Detective Comics #1090 – written by Tom Taylor, with art by Mikel Janín – shows Batman being offered a body on the precipice of death by a mysterious villain called Asema. She calls it a "gift", saying that they can watch the man die together.

When Batman shoots this down, instead immediately launching into an effort to save the victim, Asema attacks him and makes a bold claim that changes everything: "Fighting for the monster isn't noble, it's madness."

Batman's Latest Enemy, Asema, Calls Out His Iconic No-Kill Rule

Detective Comics #1090 – Written By Tom Taylor; Art & Color By Mikel Janín; Lettering By Wes Abbot

Asenma's words in the preview Detective Comics #1090 serve as a critique of Batman's rule to avoid killing at any cost, which he has long held as a moral limit in his endless war on Gotham's criminals. From Batman's perspective, sparing even Gotham's most vile individuals is an act of mercy. From Asema's perspective, however, it just allows criminals to roam free when they might not deserve it. This moral conflict between Batman and his new villain introduces a long-awaited moral dilemma to his clear-cut code.

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Batman first mentioned his no-kill rule in 1941's Batman #4, by creators Bill Finger and Bob Kane. Since then, the character has made it abundantly clear that he will never kill. He has justified this rule in various ways over the years, in an effort to explain his refusal to cross that line. One such explanation is that Batman killing would inspire others to do the same, considering his status as a symbol. As brutal and violent as Batman can be, he chooses not to stoop to the level of the criminals he fights by refusing to murder them.

Batman's Newest Villain Poses A Dark Threat To His Moral High Ground

Asema Challenges Batman On A Deeper Level

Asema's ominous words to Bruce about not making "the same mistake" as his father, Thomas Wayne, hint at this no-kill rule having consequences. The flashback of Thomas proves this, as his adherence to the Hippocratic Oath parallels Batman's own code. When presented with an abusive man near death, Thomas refused to even entertain the possibility of not helping him. Like Batman, he stuck to his no-kill rule and showed mercy to a monster. This unearths the flaw of Batman's core philosophy, as Asema points out that protecting monsters isn't as heroic of a choice as Bruce thinks.

Asema's appearance in Gotham will challenge Batman in ways he rarely has been. With scalpels for fingers and shocking knowledge of his family, Asema has what it takes to get under Batman's skin in more ways than one and push him to the limits of his beliefs. If Asema can that Thomas showing mercy was a mistake, then that means Batman's mercy may not be just either. In the latest Detective Comics, Batman contends with his own morals, as Asema critiques everything he thought the DC Comics stalwart knows about himself, his father, and his sacred no-kill rule.

Detective Comics #1090 will be available October 23, 2024 from DC Comics.

Batman

Alias

Bruce Wayne

FIRST APP

Detective Comics #27 (1939)

Created By

Bob Kane, Bill Finger

Franchise

D.C.

Race

Human

First Appearance

Detective Comics

One of DC's most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world's leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.

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