We’ve all seen the viral claim that“Batmanis the TRUE villain,”often backed by convoluted reasons. While it originally began as a joke accompanied by some funny memes, critics have since turned it into a serious talking point that they attempt to pass off as a Dark Knight fact. Clearly, things have gone too far.
If you’repart of the Batman fandom, you’ve probably come across hot takes like“Batman is the real villain who preys on the mentally ill,”or“Batman is just a guy in a Halloween costume punching poor people,”or“Batman should invest more of his money in the city instead of just fighting clowns.”
It’s wild how much traction these criticisms have gained over the years, especially since they’re often tone-deaf and completely baseless. In short,it seems like people are going out of their way to paint Batman as the villain when he simply isn’t.
Batman Targets Crime, NOT Mental Illness
Batman Isn’t Punching Joker Because He’s Unwell; He’s Punching Him Because He’s KILLING People
The claim thatBatman targets the poor or mentally illis honestly blasphemous at this point. He’s never demonized poverty or mental illness, nor does he use those traits to guide his actions. Batman’s mission has always been about stopping crime, full stop. His targets are criminals, not individuals struggling with circumstances beyond their control.
Yes, many of Batman’s villains have documented mental illnesses. But it’s crucial to understand that he doesn’t pursue them because of those diagnoses. He goes after them because they commit dangerous crimes that threaten others. The mental illness is incidental, not the reason for the confrontation.
Saying Batman“beats up the mentally ill”paints a wildly inaccurate picture, like he’s raiding therapy sessions or stalking people with depression. That’s simply not what he does. He doesn’t fight Joker because of his psychopathy;he fights Joker because he murdersinnocent people. It’s the harm, not the diagnosis, that draws Batman’s attention.
Once Again, Batman Targets Crime, NOT Poverty
Some of Batman’s Most Iconic Foes Are Filthy Rich (See: Ra’s al Ghul, Black Mask, The Penguin)
The same argument applies to claims thatBatman targets people in poverty. This simply isn’t true, as Bruce has gone after the extremely wealthy, too (i.e., Ra’s al Ghul, Penguin, and Black Mask). He doesn’t discriminate based on tax bracket. While he has fought individuals experiencing poverty, it was never due to their financial status, only their criminal activity.
The idea that Batman targets the poor is especially frustrating, since Bruce often shows empathy and careful judgment toward those struggling, even in the middle of a crime. The mosticonic example is Jason Todd, whom Batman caught red-handed trying to steal the Batmobile’s tires. Rather than punish him, Bruce showed compassion and recognized the boy’s deeper need for help.
Batman didn’t rough Jason up or drag him to the police. Instead, he bought him food and offered guidance, eventually adopting him as a son. This highlights one of Batman’s core strengths: he considers each person’s situation before passing judgment. That level of empathy and restraint is exactly what makes him a true hero, not a villain.
Bruce Wayne DOES Invest in Gotham Financially
Batman Should ABSOLUTELY Keep Fighting Gotham’s Clowns, Stop Saying He Shouldn’t
The criticism that“Batman should invest more of his moneyinto the city instead of just fighting clowns”is especially tone-deaf. Anyone familiar with the comics knows Bruce Wayne already does this. He’s beloved in Gotham not just for being Batman, but for his extensive philanthropy, using his wealth to help the city in numerous meaningful and lasting ways.
Bruce has created and funded outreach programs, regularly attends and donates to charities, supports mental health services like Arkham (flawed as it may be), and backs efforts to reduce poverty and crime. His contributions include funding hospitals, orphanages, rehabilitation programs, and public infrastructure, all of which show that his impact extends far beyond the cape and cowl.
Not to mention, Batman does need to be fighting the clowns because if he doesn’t, who will? It certainly won’t be the GCPD. People tend to forget that Bruce specializes in his rogues and is uniquely equipped to handle them in ways the police simply can’t. So yes,Batman needs to keep fighting the clowns, and he can also invest in Gotham meaningfully at the same time.
The Batsuit is NOT a “Halloween Costume”
You Can’t Compare a Million-Dollar Suit to a Mass-ProducedSpirit HalloweenCostume
While it’s silly to claim Batman targets the poor, beats up the mentally ill, or doesn’t invest in Gotham, the silliest take of all is that Bruce Wayne is just some guy in a Halloween costume who punches people for fun. That argument makes no sense when you consider both the world he lives in and the purpose behind his actions.
For one, costumed vigilantism is completely normal in the DC Universe. So no, this isn’t a middle-aged man having a crisis and playing dress-up. It’s also wildly disrespectful to compare Bruce’s high-tech, possiblymulti-million-dollar Batsuitto a $12 Spirit Halloween costume. The two aren’t remotely comparable in form, function, or meaning.
Batman’s suit is designedto instill fear in criminals and inspire hope in the innocent. It’s a symbol of justice, not mockery. Dismissing it as a cheap Halloween costume undermines everything the character stands for. So no,Batmanisn’t a guy randomly punching marginalized groups of people; he’s a trained force for good protecting Gotham in every way he can.
