Zack Snyder, director of Batman v Superman, highlighted that DC Comics is making Batman irrelevant by upholding his moral code.
Zack Snyder, director of ‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’, sparked controversy with his description of Batman’s character in the DC Comics universe. In a recent episode of the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Snyder argued that restricting Batman from killing his enemies would make him “unrelatable.” This challenging perspective has sparked debate among fans about the hero’s identity and moral limits and suggests a deeper interpretation of the hero.
Snyder’s Developer Vision: Batman Unchained
Snyder describes himself as a deconstructionist, seeking to explore the depth and limitations of Batman by placing him in a more extreme context. He argues that the limitations of Gotham’s crusader take on murder, though canonical, should be questioned and examined in detail. “You’re waiting for your God in a different way,” Snyder commented, hinting that the real test of Batman’s relevance lies in his ability to confront high moral dilemmas.
Snyder’s performance from ‘Batman v. Where Superman uses extreme violence against his enemies, including the use of weapons and deadly techniques. These actions divided the fan base, with some criticizing the hero’s departure from non-killing. Snyder, however, strongly defends his approach by drawing comparisons to his work on ‘Watchmen’ and challenges critics to embrace a more complex and sophisticated version of superheroes.
DC’s Future: A New Beginning From Snyder’s Vision
With the end of the Snyder era in the DC Cinematic Universe and the disappointing box office receipts of the latest films, DC Studios is under the new direction of James Gunn and Peter Safran. This new phase is expected to begin in late 2024 with the television series ‘Creature Commandos’ and a new Superman movie directed by David Cornswright on July 11, 2025. This change marks a new chapter for DC, one that may move away from the controversies that marked Snyder. Era
Snyder’s vision for the Gotham superhero sparked debate about the nature of heroism and the ethical boundaries of iconic characters. While some applaud his courage in exploring the complexity and darkness of the character, others lament the loss of the traditional ideals that defined the character for decades. The evolution of the film character continues to be a reflection of our own struggles with morality, justice and relevance in an ever-changing world.
Batman’s moral code in the comics
Throughout Batman’s long comics history, the code against killing has been a pillar of the character, although there have been exceptions. In the year Since his creation in 1939, the character has evolved from one who does not hesitate to use lethal force to a symbol of justice who refrains from killing. He had no qualms about letting villains meet their end, as seen in Detective Comics #27 in the past, where he put criminals in a vat of acid.

As the character developed, DC enforced a strict moral code that refused to kill off one of his most defining characteristics. However, specific moments in modern history have challenged this code. Alternate stories and certain story arcs, such as Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, feature a black Batman who comes to end life under dire circumstances, sparking debate among readers, but taking the risk of changing the character. A comic classic.
These episodes highlight the complexity of Gotham’s hero by reflecting on the moral debates and years of the character’s evolution. While Batman’s instances of killing are rare, they serve to explore the limits of his code of conduct and the tension between being a symbol of hope and confronting Gotham’s darkness.