Because you cannot have an endless comic if you kill off the villains. Stuff like Batman needs an endless cycle to churn through its plotlines.
Of course, I think introducing casual murder by villains was a mistake. This sort of cycle made more sense when the worst that villains did was steal 40 pies and paint moustaches on statues.
The in-universe explanation is that it's not that Arkham isn't secure, it's just that the villains are that good at escaping. Put them in another prison and they'd just escape faster. They really needs to stop having villains escape so often, though, since it leads to endless rehashing of that tired old "just shoot the Joker" shtick.
The upcoming game Arkham City, as you can guess, has part of Gotham walled off and left to criminality, more or less, as orchestrated by new warden Hugo Strange.
This sort of revolving door comic book prison used to be at least vaguely believable. Right up until the real life creation of supermax prisons. Where we somehow manage to hold high ranking members of Al Queda without them escaping every week. And then there's the bit where most prisons these days are owned by private, for profit, corporations. You know, like Wayne Enterprises.
I think that's something everyone wonders every now and then.
ReplyDelete"Arkham's just a big revolving door. You saw what that guy painted on the wall? Gone to Arkham, will be back after lunch".
ReplyDeleteSomething like that. I think it was in Arkham Asylum: Living Hell.
In the Flashpoint universe, that version of Batman throws them off rooftops. Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteBecause you cannot have an endless comic if you kill off the villains. Stuff like Batman needs an endless cycle to churn through its plotlines.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I think introducing casual murder by villains was a mistake. This sort of cycle made more sense when the worst that villains did was steal 40 pies and paint moustaches on statues.
As opposed to what? Not locking them up at all? Executing them in the streets?
ReplyDelete"As opposed to what? Not locking them up at all? Executing them in the streets?"
ReplyDeleteYes, those are the only valid alternatives.
And I suppose dangling them feet first in the Batcave is out of the question?
ReplyDeleteThe in-universe explanation is that it's not that Arkham isn't secure, it's just that the villains are that good at escaping. Put them in another prison and they'd just escape faster. They really needs to stop having villains escape so often, though, since it leads to endless rehashing of that tired old "just shoot the Joker" shtick.
ReplyDeleteThe upcoming game Arkham City, as you can guess, has part of Gotham walled off and left to criminality, more or less, as orchestrated by new warden Hugo Strange.
ReplyDeleteWhat a groundbreaking and original observation.
ReplyDeleteShe has a point.
ReplyDeleteI've heard theories that say that Batman keeps them alive because he needs a villain to fight. Without them, he'd be just as crazy as the villains.
ReplyDeleteThis sort of revolving door comic book prison used to be at least vaguely believable. Right up until the real life creation of supermax prisons. Where we somehow manage to hold high ranking members of Al Queda without them escaping every week. And then there's the bit where most prisons these days are owned by private, for profit, corporations. You know, like Wayne Enterprises.
ReplyDeleteColton has it right. Batman keeps them around because he NEEDS them around in order to justify his existence.
ReplyDelete