We've all seen various scenarios of super heroes going rogue like Superman in the recent Injustice game and comics or in other series where Superman perhaps loses Lois and thus loses control. Given how powerful Superman is many think it's easy for him to lose it. The scenario I'm sure has also been done on other characters in and outside of the DC universe.
But Batman is always seen as the example. True he may not be as big of a boyscout as some characters but Batman strives to be incorruptible that he can never be brought down to the level of the criminals and super villains he faces. It's why he never takes a life, not even a criminal life because of his belief that Gotham needs him to be better than those who do. Also I want to point out I strictly mean Bruce Wayne and not the glimpse of Batman we saw in Flash Point when Thomas Wayne wasn't afraid to kill.
But I can't help but be curious, what if Batman could be corrupted? What would it take to turn the dark knight rogue? The loss of loved ones doesn't affect him the same way as it would Superman since after all, this is what made Bruce Wayne into Batman to begin with. Of course his parents wouldn't be the only loss as he lost Jason Todd at the hands of the Joker. Regardless how you feel about Jason Todd, he's still someone that Batman cared about and was stricken with grief over his death so much so he didn't want another Robin anymore. Yet he was still Batman doing what he did before though some would say he was coming apart and needed a Robin which is why Tim Drake came along proclaiming as such.
Recently we've seen Batman lose not only another Robin but his own flesh and blood, his own son Damian. This of course sent him into fits of anger and in an amazing silent issue decided to take it out on some crooks prowling the streets. Course he did not kill a single one as he left a nice little pile of bad guys for Gordon to take care of. He's still stricken with a lot of grief and a lot of pain but none of it has been enough to push him to going rogue.
But what about many of the disagreements Batman has had with the Justice League members and how distrusting he is of all the various meta humans? Anyone who's watched the Justice League animated series may have even seen this where Bruce comes right out and says what he thinks of all the gods up in their tower and how the governments of the world have every right to be scared. Again this is territory that's somewhat being covered in the recent Injustice comics as well as other stories and why Batman makes it a point to be prepared for any one of the JL members to go rogue.
But imagine if anyone in the JL had to worry about a rogue Batman? I know many would think someone like Superman would simply crush him but I know very well it would not be that easy. It's easy to look at Batman as "the one who doesn't have any powers" but any character who'd think that about Batman has already lost to him. Batman's greatest strength is how prepared he is for almost any contingency and in a pinch has been very resourceful to get out of it.
But now I'm just rambling, to sum up what do you folks think it would take for Batman to go rogue? Is it poosible to ever corrupt the Dark Knight? What if Bruce Wayne decided he wanted to take over the world? Who would stop him?
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