Warning: Spoilers for Future State: Catwoman #2 ahead

Batman is well known for his steadfast no-kill rule, but in Future State: Catwoman #2his commitment to it is being challenged. Although Bruce's golden rule has had some inconsistencies over the years, it remains an important part of his character nonetheless. But now, after being freed from the Magistrate's clutches, his morality is getting put to the test once again as he faces his captors head-on.

Anyone who's read any Batman comics, or followed any media featuring the Dark Knight, knows that he abides by a directive not many other comic heroes are as fervent about: no killing. It's one of the reasons the Joker has been able to cause havoc for so long. To Bruce it doesn't matter what they've done, if he can avoid a lethal alternative, he'd rather bring justice to them through a system created for it. But what happens when that rule is applied to a dystopian future where Gotham has been overrun by a fascist regime and Batman comes face to face with the very people oppressing the city he once sought to protect?

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While Catwoman faces off against some angry Magistrate guards, taking quite the beating in the process, Talia al Ghul has broken a imprisoned Bruce free from his cage and released the Batman back into the world. Almost immediately they end up engaging in combat with Magistrate soldiers. Although Talia has no issue with murder, and is rather straightforward about not caring too much for his "idealism," Bruce reiterates, with a very serious tone, that under no circumstances should there be any killing. Of course, he says this before he realizes the woman he loves, Selina Kyle, is also on the same train where he was being held for her own rescue mission. A true test of integrity is whether or not he can contain his anger even when watching someone he cares about so deeply get hurt. In this case, he held up. He let out his anger, but didn't let it consume him. He took down the enemy without putting them down. Despite his steadfastness in this scenario, his record hasn't been as consistent.

FS Catwoman #2_No Killing

There have been multiple occasions throughout Batman's history where his dedication to not killing has ended up taking a back seat. A few of these instances were near the beginning of his run, when DC was still fleshing out what kind of hero he would be, and for the most part those discrepancies can be forgiven. But there have also been times he's killed in alternate timelines, in darker series runs, on the big screen, and so on. So what does this have to say about his golden rule and the continuity of his character as a whole? What makes him so devoted to his rule in this storyline if he's already broken it so many times in others?

It could be DC attempting to re-solidify Bruce's stance on the issue; reminding fans of the rule which has been so integral to his character for decades. Or it could be as simple as a disregard for continuity errors that either aren't applicable due to alternate universes or were poorly received to begin with. Either way, it seems this Batman is as loyal to his rule as ever and has no desire to break it anytime soon. There may be a military regime tormenting the people of Gotham and sidelining justice, but he doesn't need to silence them, he just needs them to know that Batman is still there to keep his city safe..

Next: The Next Batman: Luke Fox Proves He Wasn't Worthy