Warning! Spoilers for Batman Secret Files: Peacekeeper-01 #1
DC Comics has revealed that Batman’s greatest failure isn’t what it seems. The Dark Knight is known for his consistent success, and even his shortcomings aren’t so bad.
Often parodied for managing every situation with skill and precision, Batman doesn’t need powers to outshine his fellow Justice League members. However, there have been numerous times in which Batman has struggled. When Bane broke his back, the Dark Knight was decommissioned for a season, but any real failure has come from his inability to save innocent people. While Peacekeeper-01 is under the spell of Scarecrow’s fear toxin, the recent Arkham Asylum fire is referenced in Batman Secret Files: Peacekeeper-01 #1, written by Ed Brisson with art by Joshua Hixson.
In a new turn of events, it seems Batman wasn’t at fault in the way that many had perceived during the explosion at Arkham. The Joker had thought he was framed by the elite, but now everything has been called into question. It turns out, Sean Mahoney AKA Peacekeeper-01 rescued Arkham staff because he had flammable materials in the records room which he intended to burn down. Since then, Mahoney had been turned into a poster boy for the anti-Batman agenda, as he was injured in the fire. The coverage framed Peacekeeper-01 as a hero who saved people that Batman wasn’t able to save, but Mahoney is also responsible for what happened.
It’s far from the first time that Batman has been framed in such a negative light as a menace to Gotham City. They should know by now that he’s a hero who intends to protect and uphold justice. Formally a police officer and Arkham guard, it was simple for the media to paint Mahoney as a heroic example. Although Batman has been written as a villain in the past, his depiction as a failure for not saving as many staff members as Peacekeeper-01 is inaccurate. Similarly, Peacekeeper-01’s representation in media coverage isn’t credible in the slightest. As any fan knows, Batman blames himself enough when he’s unable to save people, so he doesn’t need the additional blame of the public. As a child, Bruce Wayne vowed to prevent such tragedy to occur to anyone else like it had to him. When he does fail, he takes it personally.
Now that his public image has been exonerated, Batman’s alleged failure doesn’t look so bad. To some extent, the Dark Knight might see the good that Peacekeeper-01 does, as he’s also an imperfect vigilante with high ideals. The ends might not always justify the means to the caped crusader, but even Batman can admit that Gotham needs all the help it can get.