Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman: Dark Age #3!He’s rationalized his no-kill rule several times before, but Batman’s latest justification for not taking a life is his smartest yet. Batman: Dark Age has showcased a different kind of Caped Crusader who has been molded by real-world events. This Dark Knight also believes in not killing, but for a much more wise reason.

In Batman: Dark Age #3 by Mark Russell and Michael Allred, Bruce Wayne is back from Vietnam and actively patrolling Gotham as its new Dark Knight. Unfortunately, the False Face Society has a stranglehold on the city. After defeating a crew of gangsters, his new pal Superman asks if Batman ever kills.

Narration boxes from Batman’s perspective reveal that Bruce doesn’t kill because killing invites speculation as to why. Bruce fears that people would presume that he kills for the reasons they support. Worse, Batman believes that he’d accidentally inspire people to think they’d get away with killing.

Batman Doesn’t Kill So That Others Aren’t Inspired By Him

Killing can be a contentious subject among heroes. Some, like the Punisher, have no problem with it. Others like Captain America or Wonder Woman will kill, but usually only as a last resort. But some outright refuse to take another person’s life under any circumstances. Batman is arguably the most famous hero who refuses to kill and his ‘no-kill’ rule is known to all. Batman has given a lot of reasons for why he doesn’t kill over the years. Sometimes it’s a personal line he refuses to cross. Other times it’s because Batman fears he wouldn’t be able to stop.

Batman explanation here makes a lot of sense. As a vigilante, he doesn’t get the chance to explain his motives to the city and his work often has to speak for itself. If Batman were to kill a criminal, that’d leave a lot up to interpretation and in a place like Gotham, there’s no doubt someone would take it the wrong way. The city is awful enough without having other vigilantes try to follow in Batman’s steps. Rather than risk emboldening people’s worst thoughts, Batman simply doesn’t kill to ensure Gotham doesn’t become worse than it already is.

Batman’s No-Kill Rule Makes Gotham Safer

It’s no secret that Gotham has a lot of problems. Batman knows the people in his city and he knows that if he were to suddenly start killing, others would feel justified to act in similar ways. Batman’s no-kill rule wasn’t made arbitrarily. Bruce weighed every potential impact killing could have on the society he’s trying to protect and knows that murdering will just create more murderers. Some may think that Batman’s life would be easier without a no-kill rule, but it’s actually making Gotham a much better place.

Batman: Dark Age #3 is available now from DC Comics.