I had to join to reply to this. Before I start I'd like to say Punisher is one of my favorite characters because I grew up around his comics and have only really read Marvel so I am not going to act like I know Batman or what he is all about. please take it easy on me haha. also, sorry in advance about grammar.
from what I think I see, Batman is a hero and is doing what he does because he truly wants to make his city a better place and be a moral symbol doing it, which means rising above the actions of the ones he takes down. (please correct me if I am wrong). nothing wrong with that at all. great character.
The Punisher is is NOT a hero. he doesn't kill the scum of NY because he wants to help his city. he does it out of vengeance and needs an enemy to fight against. he obviously wouldn't hurt an innocent, but his objective isn't to protect, it's to punish. he knows that he isn't going to save NY, he just wants to take down as much scum as he can before he dies. his moral compass is much different than Batman's. So people get into a debate about which method is most effective. which justice is best. which character is better.
it's hard to pick a side, but I'd look at it like this- who would I want to protect my city? short answer is the Punisher. I'd feel safer in a city where I don't have to worry about the serious criminals breaking out every time they get caught. but I also remember in an issue where a huge crime boss died and the city went to hell because there was a hole in the top and all the baddies wanted to be the boss and things got bloody for everyone. so it's not always the best idea to kill. I wouldn't be fighting either one of them. although, It would be cool to run with Batman though. all that tech and information. dang! I'd choose Batman because as a person, I couldn't imagine killing another human being.
really though, this wouldn't be a good a good war between them. Batman would see Punisher's acts and try to convince him to change and maybe even join him. when that didn't work, Batman would have to bring him in. Punisher would fight back, but wouldn't use lethal force at all since Batman is a good guy. after a great battle he'd eventually get caught and sit in Arkham where he'd clean up the serious offenders Batman brought in. also, Batman has a group of allies. Punisher is a solo act. he would refuse help from bad guys (remember in Civil War he wasted some bad guys that wanted to help out Captain America)
one last thing, I used to like to argue that Punisher was a better character than Batman, but then I grew up and realized it wasn't about better or worse, it was comparing apples and oranges. it's silly to argue that Batman is stupid because he doesn't just kill Joker. that's not who he is. that's the point. it's his character. are all other heroes that don't like to kill stupid too? Punisher rarely has a bad guy he doesn't end up killing. honestly, I can see how people would get tired of that. there's never really a good dynamic or relationship between him and an enemy. like one time this lady sent 7 assassins after Frank and he just wasted em like it was nothing. I was a kid when I read that and was like "well that was kind of lame" anyways, we all enjoy different things. that is all.
Log in to comment