In a classic DC story, Hawkman and Hawkgirl‘s son becomes Batman‘s protégé; an angry and vengeful hero who effortlessly breaks Batman’s rule against killing. In The Dark Knight Strikes Again, the sequel to Frank Miller’s incredibly influential The Dark Knight Returns, Batman returns from his self-imposed exile to recruit some of the world’s jaded and broken heroes to help fight the good fight again, taking the battle to the villains who secretly control the world. Visiting the son and daughter of the slain Thanagarian heroes, Batman promises retribution, and he means it.
In Frank Miller and Lynn Varley’s series – set in a dystopian DC future – Batman has returned to shake up the status quo once again as he and his new army of loyal recruits work to free some of Bruce’s old Justice League teammates, showing little to no regard for the consequences of his actions. While having an intense argument with Barry Allen, they’re notified that the Pentagon has launched a military strike on the Costa Rican rainforest, codename Thanagar, which stops both heroes in their tracks. When the Flash goes to verify this, he confirms the rainforest is indeed on fire, and discovers the children of Hawkman and Hawkgirl sheltering from the blaze. It emerges that when the world turned against its heroes, Carter and Shiera tried to return to their home planet but were shot out of the sky, crashing into the rainforest, which became their new home until they were killed in the strike.
In The Dark Knight Strikes Again #3, Batman follows through on his promise following his confrontation with Lex Luthor, the secret puppet master behind the world’s slide into ruin. The new Hawkboy appears swinging a chain mace as Luthor tries, and fails, to intimidate the young hero with his power and reputation. Lex Luthor’s words fall on deaf ears as Hawkboy kills him, getting the retribution for his parent’s death that Batman never did. This receives praise from Bruce Wayne and when Flash expresses shock, the Dark Knight simply explains “Get used to it, Barry. These youngsters play it rough.”
This moment is surprising considering Batman’s traditional stance on killing, which extends to those he works alongside and trains. In The Dark Knight Returns, this older Batman was not afraid of brutally beating his opponents but still couldn’t bring himself to kill others regardless of how much they deserved it. He was even quick to criticize the Sons of Batman for their use of firearms, believing that a combination of their minds, fists and his weapons were far superior. Taking place years later, it would appear that Bruce’s position has softened with age as he sees an opportunity to give another hero something he never got. When Hawkboy is finished, Batman not only congratulates him but dismisses his lethality as part of superheroics in this new world the original heroes couldn’t prevent.
Although other versions of Batman have been portrayed as having no problem with employing firearms or lethal force, this version has tossed out the rulebook, believing that all is fair in love and war as long as he’s in control. While Miller’s version of the Dark Knight has been equally influential and controversial, the story does serve to take Batman’s conviction and righteous sense of authority to their logical extreme. In encouraging Hawkman and Hawkgirl‘s son to cross the line that once defined his own heroism, Batman declares his former principles unfit for purpose, embracing something much darker in their stead.
