Batman is Partially Responsible for the Crimes of the Joker

Many thanks to Con for his prompt reply and clarification concerning source materials. My arguments will dabble in multiple canons chiefly to demonstrate prevailing themes within the Batman mythos. ::Arguments/Rebuttals:: I intended for the first round to consist of opening statements. Still, Con has accurately pinpointed the three issues I wished to discuss and I shall maintain the format he has established. 1. Batman Helped Create Him The scenario Con described is indeed the most common version of the Joker's origin. Now, my opponent claims that because the Joker (known then as the Red Hood) was committing a crime when the encounter took place, he is responsible for the consequences. Of course, if illegality is the condition by which responsibility is determined, Batman must share the blame. Despite his intentions, Batman held no jurisdiction in Gotham and had no authority to trespass, assault, or apprehend. Both men broke the law that night and thus both are responsible for the outcome. To suggest Wayne was justified in his vigilantism is to ignore not only his overt law breaking but also the whiplash effect he has had on Gotham's underworld. After all, what was the body count of the Red Hood before that night? What was the prevalence of costumed killers in Gotham before the bat's debut? Streets once plagued by thugs and desperate thieves are, following Batman's appearance, terrorized by villains of an entirely more vengeful and murderous nature. The Gotham PD may have done a lackluster job, but they fell short of creating monsters. 2. Batman Motivates Him As my opponent pointed out, the Joker has a deeply rooted fascination with Batman. A great bulk of the clown's crimes are perpetrated largely (if not solely) to antagonize, demoralize, or otherwise engage the Batman. Given that this cat and mouse dynamic is understood by them both, Wayne's continued donning of the cap and cowl means he is partly accountable for the innocents who fall in the process. Should Wayne simply give up his own criminal activity, his arch nemesis would likely follow suit. The ongoing Batman comic depends on the hero's presence, so it is difficult to accurately determine just how potent his long-term absence would be on the Joker's activities. However, nearly every other canon available demonstrates the Joker's reliance on Batman in order to operate. The Dark Knight Returns [1], a graphic novel following a retired Bruce Wayne, finds the Joker crime-free and nearly catatonic for the ten years Batman was absent. Batman Beyond [2], an animated series about an older Wayne training a replacement, shows Joker similarly missing until Batman re-emerges. Even the recent motion picture, The Dark Knight [3], describes the Joker's creation as a product of Batman's arrival. These sources, while non-canonical, all demonstrate the same message: a world without the Batman means a world without the Joker. 3. Batman Refuses to Stop Him Con argues that killing the Joker would accomplish the villain's ultimate goal: destroying Batman's spirit and sending Gotham City into chaos. Firstly, a comprehensive look at Batman's history shows he has purposefully breached his self-imposed limits before. He has wielded guns [4][5], maimed [5], and killed [4][5] in efforts to protect his own life and dispatch with various foes. These experiences, paired with the knowledge that this villain cannot be contained or satiated, clearly show Batman is sparing the Joker for some reason other than his personal code of ethics. Secondly, even if we ignore instances of Batman ‘crossing the line,' why wouldn't he make an exception here? He has the skills necessary to mask the act and there would be no love lost among the public or law enforcement. It is clear that Wayne's long running vendetta against the Joker has demanded he keep him alive, be it to punish himself for his role in the Joker's schemes or to prove to himself that his Batman persona is necessary and effective. However, is one vigilante's grudge worth more than the lives of countless innocents he swore to defend? I would say not, and place the blame for their deaths squarely on his shoulders. ::Closing:: Batman's responsibility for the Joker's crimes is three-fold. By taking the law into his own hands, he played an integral role in the creation of Gotham's greatest villain. By refusing to end his megalomaniacal crusade, Batman serves as fodder for the mad man's games. By stopping short of the logical end to their rivalry, he fails in fulfilling his sole promise to the city. ::References:: – WARNING – Read Final Crisis #6 before clicking on 4. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org... 2. http://en.wikipedia.org... 3. http://en.wikipedia.org... 4. http://www.wizarduniverse.com... 5. http://www.comicsbulletin.com...