The problem of NO KILL code

[simbob4000]

The other problem with no kill code and realism its that superhero comics are based on the physiologically inccurate notion you can reliably "knock out" a threatening person without seriously harming them. In reality superheroes would inadvertently kill a hefty portion of those they stop through violence and permanently disable/maim most of the rest. Spider-man and Batman would have to simply work into their nightly patrol equations that for every 10 purse snatchers they beat up, they're, as a hypothetical, killing three, blinding one, paralyzingly two, and brain damaging another. Then you have to think about whether the cost to society to take care of these disabled criminals is worse than the cost of their crimes.

Or you could just remember that superheroes aren't supposed to be realistic and not worry about it, I guess.

If only the people writing the comics would remember that last bit.

[Agent Z]

All fiction needs to conform to some levels of realism. Otherwise it's no more sophisticated than a Looney Tunes episode.

[t hedge coke]

All fiction needs to conform to some levels of realism. Otherwise it's no more sophisticated than a Looney Tunes episode.

Looney Tunes can be pretty sophisticated, but also pretty sure they count as fiction, and fiction enjoyed by many.

But, Looney Tunes don't have a no-kill code, so much as death just gets you wings or horns and then you climb back and get revenge.

[simbob4000]

All fiction needs to conform to some levels of realism. Otherwise it's no more sophisticated than a Looney Tunes episode.

Not really.

And maybe some of these characters just arent built for the level of "sophistication" some writers try to get out of them? Whatever it is you're calling sophistication in this regard anyways. It's not like someone couldn't say something with a character that has their feet dipped more into a cartoony world than a real one.

[Agent Z]

Not really.

And maybe some of these characters just arent built for the level of "sophistication" some writers try to get out of them? Whatever it is you're calling sophistication in this regard anyways. It's not like someone couldn't say something with a character that has their feet dipped more into a cartoony world than a real one.

I think they can be, but it depends on how it's handled. Of course, that's on the writers to not bring up stuff like this if they're not going to resolve it.

[simbob4000]

I think they can be, but it depends on how it's handled. Of course, that's on the writers to not bring up stuff like this if they're not going to resolve it.

Well, what are you calling sophistication in this case?

[Slowpokeking]

The real problem is that fiction is not MEANT to last that long. Batman has been going strong for SEVENTY years. What other form of fiction has even ATTEMPTED to run that long? Star Trek? Doctor Who? They are pretty weak attempts at a continuity... Batman can average 30 issues a year or more... Doctor Who gets maybe 13 a year? and even those retread a lot. Star trek gets a whole new cast and direction every 7 years or so?

There have been a LOT of truly awesome shows out there... that just plain run out of steam after season 5 and limp along to MAYBE season 10... at which point most fans are wishing it would have ended on the high years... but SEVENTY plus years is pretty astounding to be continually published monthly... There just really aren't THAT many stories TO keep it fresh and new and never reuse a villain or idea...

If DC could let time go on, let Batman and his generation die due to age and let the new generation truly take on, then do the same thing when the 2nd generation is running out of ideas, it wouldn't be a problem at all.

[phantom1592]

If DC could let time go on, let Batman and his generation die due to age and let the new generation truly take on, then do the same thing when the 2nd generation is running out of ideas, it wouldn't be a problem at all.

Wouldn't work.... nobody actually wants that.

It was tried with both The Phantom: the ghost that walks and to a lesser extant Zorro. They can't keep books going.

Nobody wants to read about Bruce Wayne the fourth, who's great grandpa watched his parents murdered in the street. They want to read about Bruce Wayne. The problem I see when people suggest this... is that they only want to ruin it for FUTURE readers. They themselves got to read Bruce Wayne... now they're bored.

However, if this was actually the mentality... we would not be on the 2nd generation. We would be on what? 5th Generation? With Bruce Wayne dying/retiring sometime in the 50's?

[Old Man Ollie 1962]

Wouldn't work.... nobody actually wants that.

It was tried with both The Phantom: the ghost that walks and to a lesser extant Zorro. They can't keep books going.

Nobody wants to read about Bruce Wayne the fourth, who's great grandpa watched his parents murdered in the street. They want to read about Bruce Wayne. The problem I see when people suggest this... is that they only want to ruin it for FUTURE readers. They themselves got to read Bruce Wayne... now they're bored.

However, if this was actually the mentality... we would not be on the 2nd generation. We would be on what? 5th Generation? With Bruce Wayne dying/retiring sometime in the 50's?

Properly executed the generational concept could work.

[phantom1592]

Properly executed the generational concept could work.

Not sure what Properly executed would mean...

Not only hasn't it worked yet with the few they've tried... but fans don't even want to let go of their pre-reboot favorite characters, let alone a completely different character.

DC has tried a few times... but it doesn't stick. The Robins have aged up... Wally West was a fan favorite... That's about it. Even in those cases the originals found their way back through heavy demand.

[Slowpokeking]

Wouldn't work.... nobody actually wants that.

It was tried with both The Phantom: the ghost that walks and to a lesser extant Zorro. They can't keep books going.

Nobody wants to read about Bruce Wayne the fourth, who's great grandpa watched his parents murdered in the street. They want to read about Bruce Wayne. The problem I see when people suggest this... is that they only want to ruin it for FUTURE readers. They themselves got to read Bruce Wayne... now they're bored.

However, if this was actually the mentality... we would not be on the 2nd generation. We would be on what? 5th Generation? With Bruce Wayne dying/retiring sometime in the 50's?

If they can create good characters, I don't see why would people abandon it, Star Trek being an example.

[t hedge coke]

However, if this was actually the mentality... we would not be on the 2nd generation. We would be on what? 5th Generation? With Bruce Wayne dying/retiring sometime in the 50's?

I think, most of the time, fans who want the characters to age closer to real time want that aging to start somewhere during their reading experience, not long before they started reading.

[Slowpokeking]

Not sure what Properly executed would mean...

Not only hasn't it worked yet with the few they've tried... but fans don't even want to let go of their pre-reboot favorite characters, let alone a completely different character.

DC has tried a few times... but it doesn't stick. The Robins have aged up... Wally West was a fan favorite... That's about it. Even in those cases the originals found their way back through heavy demand.

But Barry Allen himself is not the first Flash, as with Hal Jordan.

[phantom1592]

I think, most of the time, fans who want the characters to age closer to real time want that aging to start somewhere during their reading experience, not long before they started reading.

Which is what I was getting at. Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Peter Parker... they are iconic. They're timeless. These are the characters you grew up with... it's the characters your parents passed down to you, and it's the ones you can pass down to your kids. The secret ID and the Super hero ID are connected. Their origins made them world renouned.

It's hypocritical to claim that they are old fashioned... or worn out their welcome... or boring... or whatever the current reason to dredge up the generational concept is this time, when these characters were the ones that got us hooked in the first place. The next generation will find them just as amazing as we did.


With as many clones and copies out there... there isn't a NEED to ditch the originals. If your bored with Bruce Wayne... there are a dozen other 'non-powered night time vigilante's' that can scratch that itch... they don't need to be wearing the actual batman costume. You don't like Superman? Try Sentry. Or Supreme. or Invincible... or whatever.

[Slowpokeking]

Which is what I was getting at. Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Peter Parker... they are iconic. They're timeless. These are the characters you grew up with... it's the characters your parents passed down to you, and it's the ones you can pass down to your kids. The secret ID and the Super hero ID are connected. Their origins made them world renouned.

It's hypocritical to claim that they are old fashioned... or worn out their welcome... or boring... or whatever the current reason to dredge up the generational concept is this time, when these characters were the ones that got us hooked in the first place. The next generation will find them just as amazing as we did.


With as many clones and copies out there... there isn't a NEED to ditch the originals. If your bored with Bruce Wayne... there are a dozen other 'non-powered night time vigilante's' that can scratch that itch... they don't need to be wearing the actual batman costume. You don't like Superman? Try Sentry. Or Supreme. or Invincible... or whatever.

I don't think they are boring, but their story has gone too long so many things ran out of sense.

Superman could be written as immortal, why didn't they let time go but let him stick on Earth and Daily Planet?