Many of the inmates of comics' most famous asylum, Arkham Asylum, are there because Batman put them there – but as many long-time DC Comics readers will know, the Caped Crusader has had his share of moments where he looked like he belonged in Arkham himself. These quotes represent some of Batman's darkest and most disturbing lines, which prove that he himself may not be a paragon of sanity.
For most fans, this is a central part of the Dark Knight's character; that is, unlike his heroic counterpart Superman, Batman willingly leans into the darkness, channeling his obsessions, into his sometimes unhinged behavior, into his never-ending quest to make the streets of Gotham City safer.
Still, Batman has had his share of moments that have questioned his mental health and suggested that it wouldn't take much more than a simple twist of fate to find him in an Arkham cell in his own right.
10
“My name is Fear. And I live inside you.”
Batman: Ego – Written by Darwyn Cooke; Art by Jonathan Babcock
Many Batman stories illustrate how Batman is the embodiment of fear; Few stories exemplify this better than Batman: Egoand few moments in the series illustrate this idea better than when Batman himself states this, declaring: “My name is Fear… and I live inside you.”
Egoinstead, it takes a simple but effective approach to Batman's portrayal, which makes this line even more chilling when it's delivered. This quote emphasizes the idea that, for Gotham's criminals, Batman is an inescapable force, lurking in every shadow; for Bruce Wayne, it highlights the extent to which he sees himself less as a man and more as a force of nature.
9
“I'm going to hurt you a little.”
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #17 – Written by Dennis O'Neil; Art by Trevor Von Eeden
“I'll hurt you for a while,” says Batman in a pivotal DC moment Legends of the Dark Knight seriesan ugly smile on his face. This moment occurred in Batman: Poison arc, which introduced the strength-amplifying drug that would later become closely associated with Bane.
In the story, Bruce Wayne is distraught after failing to save a little girl, determining that he was not strong enough to do so. When he discovers that the girl's father has developed an experimental drug to increase strength, Batman takes a dose and quickly begins to take great pleasure in punishing criminals. What makes this moment stand out is that it seems less like the drug altered Batman's psyche, and more that the surge of newfound power allowed Bruce to become briefly uninhibited, much to the distress of his enemies.
8
“For years, not a day went by where I didn't imagine… Subjecting him to the most horrible and incomprehensible forms of torture”
Batman #650 – Written by Judd Winick; Art by Eric Battle
When Jason Todd came back from the dead in the original “Under the Hood” storyline, he demanded to know why Batman didn't get revenge on the Joker. In a deeply revealing moment of the landmark issue Batman #650, Bruce admits that he thinks not just about killing, but about torturing the Joker – and that “a day hasn't passed“It has been years since he was tormented by these thoughts.
The Caped Crusader's failure to act on these desires is framed as an act of superhuman self-discipline and is intended to be another marker of the character's heroic fortitude. However, the fact that he has these thoughts shows just how dark Batman's psychological profile is, while also making it clear why evil versions of Batman represent some of the most dangerous figures in the DC Multiverse.
7
“Yes Father, I will become a bat”
Batman #404 – Written by Frank Miller; Art by David Mazzucchelli
Over time, the question of Batman's sanity worried many different authors, including the legendary The Dark Knight Returns scribe Frank Miller. The first part Batman's first year The origin story makes this very clear the moment Bruce Wayne decides to become Batman – which occurs during a conversation with his late father.
Throughout your work Batman, Frank Miller offered an in-depth psychological portrait of how and why his character adopted his superhero persona, and this defining quote highlights that in a crucial way. That is, although most people would be horrified by a bat hitting their window, but move on quickly, young Bruce Wayne takes this as a sign and never gives up.
6
“It took a seventy thousand dollar meteor sliver to stop the one in Metropolis. With you, all I need is a penny for a book of matches.”
DC: The New Frontier #3 – Written by Darwyn Cooke; Art by Dave Stewart
Justice League member Martian Manhunter goes undercover while on Earth as police detective John Jones, but not even DC's most methodical actor can hide from the World's Greatest Detective for long. Eventually, Batman confronts him, and although he has yet to decipher his Martian origins, that doesn't stop him from making a horrific threat to the Manhunter's life.
When it comes to preparing to face off-the-wall characters who could step out of line in the worst-case scenario, Batman has no equal. In this case, he explains that he had to go through expensive and extreme means to get a small piece of kryptonite in order to take down Superman. At this point, Batman seems somewhat unhinged in how certain he is that it would take a lot less time and effort for him to get rid of Martian Manhunter, What's a bold threat to make when Bruce still doesn't fully understand what John is or what he's capable of?.
5
“Self-defense.”
Batman: Reptilian #1 – Written by Garth Ennis; Art by Liam Sharp
The first panels of Batman: Reptilian create what is perhaps the most chilling depiction of Batman yet, setting the perfect tone for this horror comic. It all starts with Batman goading a notorious outlaw into a fight. He calls him a coward, meticulously explaining exactly why he is a coward. He even goes so far as to say that everyone in Gotham City, including his wife, knows how much of a coward he is, which is too far for the gangster known as Edgar Licchario. Unfortunately for Edgar, he never stood a chance against the Dark Knight.
Batman's retaliatory strike – which he justifies as “self defense” – it's so horrible that the comic pages can't even show its full extentin addition to the shocked and horrified faces of the citizens watching on the street. This shows how much of a threat Batman can be without picking up a gun. The fact that he goaded this gangster he knew he could dominate into a fight just to humiliate him in public is disturbing in itself.
4
“At least.”
Batman/Superman: the best in the world #32 – Written by Mark Waid; Art by Adrián Gutiérrez
One of Batman's most terrifying quotes comes when he and the Man of Steel are possessed by Eclipso, DC's most underrated villain, and also one of its most terrifying. With the Justice League under Eclipso's control, it's up to the Justice Society to save the day. While trying to control the minds of Batman and Superman, the Specter warns that Eclipso and his new army are capable of killing billions. In response, Batman chuckles and says, “at least.”
It's chilling to see how far Batman is under Eclipso's control. Here is a man who was once so adamant about not killing anyone, now happy with the idea that killing a billion people is the least they could do.
3
“Every breath you take, you owe me.”
Joker: Devil's Advocate #1 – Written by Chuck Dixon; Art by Graham Nolan
In Devil's Advocatethe Joker receives the death penalty, but victory is bittersweet when Batman discovers it is for a crime he didn't commit. Forced to clear the Joker's name because it's the right thing to do, the World's Greatest Detective exercises his skills to clear his enemy's name. At the end of the story, when the Joker wakes up in a padded cell, he sees Batman in the corner of his cell, before having a chance to laugh about having survived another near-death experience.
Batman warns the Joker that every time the Joker laughs, every time he breathes, every time he does something. he needs to remember that he has his enemy. Not only does he need to be grateful, but the Joker owes Batman, which seems even scarier when Batman reminds him that it's something he needs to remember while he sleeps alone.
2
“Do you really want to tell me what I can't do?”
Batman #9 – Written by Tom King; Art by Mikel Janin
In Batman #9, Amanda Waller proposes to the Caped Crusader a way to save Gotham Girl's life, after she is afflicted with a dose of fear manipulation courtesy of the Psycho-Pirate. However, it is a suicide mission, so he goes to Arkham Asylum in search of recruiting his own Suicide Squad to face the antagonist of this “I Am Suicide” arc, Bane.
When the time comes to free Catwoman from death row, Dr. Jeremiah Arkham urges Batman to reconsider. Batman reminds Jeremiah that he is the reason all of Arkham's inmates are there. He doesn't say this to assert that he has the right to see Selina Kyle for that reason, but it is a threat that Dr. Arkham should not anger a dangerous man who is capable of imprisoning dangerous men.
1
“You stop…when they're gone.”
Batman #130, “I Am A Gun: finale” – Written by Chip Zdarsky; Art by Leonardo Romero
If any further proof is needed that Batman needs to be in Arkham Asylum, it's his split personality, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh. Zur-En-Arr was a “backup” personality created by Bruce Wayne who went rogue.
In the “I Am A Gun” backup story, Batman struggles to fight his personality as it takes control, seeking to finally kill the Joker. In the midst of all this, Batman tries to reason with his alter ego, asking when they would stop killing, if they started killing at all. In response, Zur argues that they shouldn't stop until there are no more villains. It's a remarkable moment, one that suggests that if something from Batman mind is capable of such deranged anarchy, so it could be argued that he may need to be in Arkham Asylum as much as anyone in its rogues' gallery.