Batman is defined by his unwavering “No-Kill” rule, a moral boundary he refuses to cross and one that shapes his entire identity. He won’t kill, and he claims he won’t tolerate anyone who does. Yet time and again, Batman has turned a blind eye when his allies cross that same line. Whether it's selective justice or willful hypocrisy, the fact remains: for someone so devoted to his code, Batman has a surprising habit of letting his friends get away with murder.

...Batman’s “No-Kill” rule functions less as a moral absolute and more as a flexible guideline.

Batman is often portrayed as a relentless force of justice, committed to making sure those who commit crimes, especially violent ones, face the consequences. His stories frequently center around solving murders and bringing killers to justice, with little room for mercy.

This approach is understandable, even irable, for someone who watched his parents be murdered in front of him as a child. Which makes it all the more baffling that Batman routinely allows his friends to get away with murder. One of the most recent to receive a free from him is James Gordon.

Surprise! Batman’s No-Kill Rule Doesn’t Apply to Commissioner Jim Gordon

Main Cover by Tomeu Morey for Batman #154 (2024)

In Batman #153–157's "Dying City" story arc by Chip Zdarsky, Tony S. Daniel, Jorge Jiménez, and Tomeu Morey, former police commissioner and now private investigator Jim Gordon shoots Mayor Nakano after being confronted about his affair with the mayor’s wife, Koyuki Nakano. The confrontation escalates quickly, ending with Jim shooting Nakano point-blank and killing him. For longtime Batman fans, this was a shocking moment. Gordon has been part of the Dark Knight’s world since Detective Comics #27 (1939), once seen as a pillar of moral integrity and virtue. This marked a steep fall from grace.

As the story unfolds, Batman learns that Mad Hatter’s mind-altering tech had been used on Jim. However, this doesn’t fully absolve him. As Jim himself points out, his glasses (where the tech had been hidden) were broken during the scuffle, before he pulled the trigger. That means he wasn’t under mind control when he fired the fatal shot. Jim even its, “I felt anger. Such righteous damned anger. I pulled that trigger. Not Tetch, not Nygma…” In this moment, Jim fully accepts responsibility. He chose to kill out of rage.

One would think that such a confession would be more than enough for Batman to hold Jim able. Yet, in a not entirely surprising twist, the Dark Knight essentially shrugs it off: “Mistakes were made. Mistakes will always be made. Both of us are human, Jim. Flawed. There’s no way around that.” Batman reducing an anger-fueled killing to a simple “mistake” is baffling for a hero who constantly upholds a strict “No-Kill” rule. It highlights the glaring double standard he maintains when it comes to that rule and the people he considers his friends.

Batman’s No-Kill Rule Only Applies in Gotham & Never to His Friends

Cover D 1:25 Nicola Scott Variant for Batman #154 (2024)

Some may argue that this is the result of poor, “out of character” writing on Zdarsky’s part, but that argument quickly falls apart when you consider that Jim Gordon isn’t the only ally Batman has let get away with murder. In fact, letting his friends off the hook has become a recurring habit for the Dark Knight, one that spans across multiple creative teams. One of the most prominent and well-known examples is Jason “Red Hood” Todd. While Bruce and Jason have had their fair share of explosive fights over Jason’s willingness to kill, Batman has repeatedly forgiven his second son, with no long-term consequences for the lives Jason has taken.

Even when Batman does physically confront or berate Red Hood for killing, it’s usually only when the killings happen in Gotham. Bruce rarely, if ever, goes after Jason for murders committed outside the city. As a result, Batman has given Jason endless second chances, even turning a blind eye when the killings occur elsewhere. This unofficial “not in Gotham” loophole to the “No-Kill” rule isn’t exclusive to Jason either. It also applies to Ghost-Maker. Minhkhoa “Khoa” Khan, both an ally and rival of Batman’s, openly kills when he believes it's necessary, yet Batman has never held him to the same standards he applies to villains who take lives.

Perhaps even more damning is that Batman regularly serves alongside Justice League heroes who are killers. While Bruce often states that there’s to be no killing on missions he leads, he has still allowed heroes with violent histories or no “No-Kill” rule to remain on the team. Wonder Woman, for instance, has taken lives when she believed it was necessary. Hawkwoman and Hawkman have no problem slaying their enemies. Other with blood on their hands include Black Adam, Katana, Huntress, Arsenal, and more. At this point, it feels less like a contradiction and more like a defining part of Batman’s character. He preaches “No-Kill,” but only enforces it when it suits him.

Batman’s Forgiveness of Killers Exposes a Dangerous Double Standard

Cover F 1:50 Nimit Malavia Variant for Batman #155 (2025)

At this point, it is hard to deny that Bruce’s “No-Kill” rule functions less as a moral absolute and more as a flexible guideline. It seems to apply only within the borders of Gotham, and even then, only to those outside his inner circle. If one of his allies takes a life but expresses regret, Batman often accepts that remorse without question and assumes they will try not to do it again. Even when they continue to kill, he still gives them another chance. This creates a repeated cycle of forgiveness that directly contradicts the one principle he claims defines him. On the surface, this forgiveness might seem like a virtue. However, the pattern reveals a more complicated truth.

Examples such as Jim Gordon, Red Hood, and various Justice League demonstrate that Batman is more likely to forgive killing when it comes from someone useful to him. In such cases, forgiveness begins to resemble less comion and more convenience. If someone plays a valuable role in Bruce's mission or holds personal significance for him, they are often excused for actions that others would be punished for. It is difficult to imagine Batman showing the same grace to a random criminal in Gordon’s position. This contrast reveals a clear double standard, raising the question of whether Batman’s selective mercy is actually harmful to Gotham.

Batman #155 is available now from DC Comics!