Batman is a vigilante in that he works outside the justice system (if you stick with the Dark Knight Batman rather than Silver Age Batman).
Illyria: Wesley's dead. I'm feeling grief for him. I can't seem to control it. I wish to do more violence. Spike: Well, wishes just happen to be horses today.
'Not Fade Away'
Natter 67: Overriding Vetoes
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, nail polish, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Spidra Webster - Oct 26, 2010 8:39:33 am PDT #2003 of 30001
I wish I could just go somewhere to get flensed but none of the whaling ships near me take Medicare.
DavidS - Oct 26, 2010 8:40:14 am PDT #2004 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Semantics question: Batman--vigilante or no?
Depends on the era/canon.
I know some times during the fifties and sixties he was officially deputized. That, of course, negates much of Batman's dark essence and he's been a vigilante ever since Miller's reboot with Year One.
Vortex - Oct 26, 2010 8:40:52 am PDT #2005 of 30001
"Cry havoc and let slip the boobs of war!" -- Miracleman
Adam West Batman - no, because he was deputized by Commissioner Gordon. Modern Batman, yes.
§ ita § - Oct 26, 2010 8:42:14 am PDT #2006 of 30001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Someone (elsewhere) is saying that since he does not dispense punishment, he is not a vigilante. He just delivers bad guys for their judgment and eventual punishment. But I don't want to not call him one. It doesn't seem to fit.
Spidra Webster - Oct 26, 2010 8:43:59 am PDT #2007 of 30001
I wish I could just go somewhere to get flensed but none of the whaling ships near me take Medicare.
The thing that will answer it is "Would you get in trouble with the law if you tried to make a citizen's arrest using Batman's methods?"
Polter-Cow - Oct 26, 2010 8:47:55 am PDT #2008 of 30001
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Someone (elsewhere) is saying that since he does not dispense punishment, he is not a vigilante.
What about when he beats the crap out of them? Or maybe that's more Daredevil's style.
§ ita § - Oct 26, 2010 8:48:56 am PDT #2009 of 30001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
What about when he beats the crap out of them?
Subdued for delivery? But I agree with you--that and the police don't think he's on the up and up are most of my argument. But I haven't read Batman since Cassandra went bad.
Polter-Cow - Oct 26, 2010 9:00:22 am PDT #2010 of 30001
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Plus, he's always breaking and entering. Working outside the law!
tommyrot - Oct 26, 2010 9:00:41 am PDT #2011 of 30001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
The 50 Most Hated Characters in Literary History
1.) Bella Swan and Edward Cullen
Heh.
Also, three are from Gone With the Wind and two are from Wuthering Heights.
49.) Godot
Heh.
Gudanov - Oct 26, 2010 9:01:13 am PDT #2012 of 30001
Coding and Sleeping
But I haven't read Batman since Cassandra went bad.
Probably Cassandra knew she was going to go evil but nobody believed her.