Is Comic Book Justice Really Just?

Superheroes; they’re a paragon of virtue, the most moral of us all and those whom we can hold up high as something to strive for. At least, that is the intention behind the vast majority of them, but in reality, is comic book justice really just?

Perhaps an appropriate place to start in this journey is with a look at the current state of the real world. It is easy to feel as though we are beset on all sides by great evils, be it fundamentalist terrorists such as ISIS or the very people elected to lead. In such an age, it comes as no surprise that people would see these defenders of all that humanity (read: some western cultures) stands for as being an ideal. Would the world not be a better place with a figure such as Batman standing up for the vulnerable, or The Punisher doing what no one else is willing to do?

Well, no, it wouldn’t.

Take a step back for a moment and consider not just the actions of these figures but also the intricacies that can lead to a life of crime. Men such as Batman and The Punisher, to name just two, are written to ignore the factors that lead to each individual becoming the criminal that they seek and instead simply launch headlong into a war against them, be it to send them to Arkham or to put a bullet between their eyes. These factors are not something that can be ignored in real life.

Criminals, no matter how monstrous they appear to the general public, are largely put on a path to that way of life through factors outside of their control such as their upbringing, mental health issues, and the socio-economic environment they find themselves in. These are very important to keep in mind as the level to which they play a role in the offender’s nature can indicate how likely they are to respond to rehabilitation. Outside of the pages of comic books, that should always be the end goal when it is possible but it ceases to be an option if you, like The Punisher, simply kill each nameless crook put in your way.

Now, of course, it cannot be ignored that some criminals are simply not able to be rehabilitated and that does throw up a more interesting quandary: What do you do with such individuals? There is certainly a vocal component who would champion the idea of killing these people as, to their mind, they do not hold any value to society and to warehouse them would be a needless cost. That then throws up the issue of wrongful convictions and ignores the possibility that, despite never being a candidate for re-entry to society, these people can contribute to prison life. Take David Berkowitz, for instance. He is better known as the Son of Sam killer and, due to the horrific nature of his offences, will never see the outside of a prison. However, he is making a positive impact by working as a pastor within prison. Such a thing would not be possible had he simply been disposed of.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is that it is often portrayed within the pages of such publications that once a big evil, such as The Joker, is dealt with, the city they inhabited will go through a period of calm, all thanks to one intrepid warrior. That is simply not the case. If there were a lone gunslinger patrolling the town and he or she just so happened to take down the biggest mob boss around there would not be a calm period but rather a rush of criminal activity as each rival gang capitalised on the vacuum caused by the fall of their opposition. This is to say that the actions of your hero would lead to more civil unrest than before and it is a perfect example of why such matters are far better off being left to a dedicated law enforcement team with the proper training and resources to effectively fight back against criminal elements.

All of this is not to say that there isn’t still a certain appeal to knowing that there is a guardian angel of sorts watching over you. The average Joe can often feel forgotten about in such a populous world and to think that there is one person out there who is actually willing to stand up for you can be a tremendous comfort. Although the whole watching over you shtick hasn’t gone too well for the NSA.

That isn’t just an offhand joke either, as privacy issues would also enter into this discussion. Think, if you will, how you would react if you discovered that a billionaire dressed as a bat was watching you for the first sign that you were up to no good. Would you be okay with that or would you, like many, be outraged at such an invasion into your personal life by one so far removed from the everyday goings on of normal people?

A final thought for you to ponder is that crime is not always inherently bad. Yes, there are vile people who commit atrocious acts simply because they can but then there are also those reduced to illegal acts simply to get by in a society driven by wealth and status. All too often man separates itself into the haves and the have nots and then condemns those who take shortcuts in a desperate attempt to not just keep up but to survive. "Heroes", as you see in comics and on TV, wouldn’t usually differentiate them from the mass of dangerous criminals but you can and that’s what makes real people more moral and just than the heroes we’re supposed to emulate.