DC Officially Validates Batman’s Harshest Critics: “Gotham Without Batman and Robin Was Better”
WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for BATMAN AND ROBIN #20!
The harshest Batman critics have long argued that the Dark Knight makes Gotham worse instead of better. This sentiment has remained one of the most enduring debates among critics and fans, and now, DC has officially validated the criticism, outright stating, “Gotham without Batman and Robin was better.”
Robin and longtime critics are on the same page: Batman is making Gotham worse.
Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Miguel Mendonça, and Juni Ba’sBatman and Robin #20 continues the Memento-centric storyline but takes a unique turn after Robin’s kidnapping. In an effort to find both Memento and Damian, Bruce (who is hallucinating after being dosed by the villain) searches his son’s room for clues, knowing Damian had been investigating the case.
There, he discovers a comic written and illustrated by Damian, titled "The Adventures of Batman and Robin." It offers rare insight into Damian’s perspective, including the surprising revelation that he believes Gotham is worse off with Batman and Robin on the streets.
Damian Wayne Admits Gotham Is Worse Off With Batman and Robin
Cover C Chris Stevens Variant for Batman and Robin #20 (2025)
Damian’s comic follows his inner musings about his and his father’s work as Batman and Robin, as well as the conclusions he’s drawn from reading Thomas Wayne’s personal journals. One of his most notable takeaways is the realization that normal people can be heroes too, that heroism and legacy aren’t exclusive to capes and tights, with doctors being a primary example. Damian goes on to narrate that the journal gave him a glimpse of who his father could have been, along with a hard truth:“Gotham without Batman and Robin was better.”
The art that accompanies this sentiment depicts a gruesome cycle of violence, making it clear that Damian believes his and Batman’s brand of ‘heroism’ has reached the point of only making Gotham worse. This is a particularly interesting perspective, as it mirrors that of some of Batman’s harshest critics, who argue that the Dark Knight’s mission and actions ultimately do more harm than good. That argument has now gained significant traction, given that one of DC’s own characters shares the belief.
“I Am Not Robin”: Damian Wayne Is Officially Done Being Batman's Sidekick
There comes a time when every Robin needs to move on and forge their own identity, and it seems Damian Wayne has finally reached that point.
The “Batman Makes Gotham Worse” Argument Explained
Cover B Juan Ferreyra Variant for Batman and Robin #20 (2025)
Critics often argue that Batman amplifies the chaos in Gotham rather than reducing it, a sentiment even echoed in Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, when Commissioner Gordon says, “We start carrying semi-automatics, they buy automatics. We start wearing Kevlar, they buy armor-piercing rounds. And you're wearing a mask and jumping off rooftops.” The implication is clear: Batman’s war on crime has only escalated the violence, inspiring villains to increase the scale of their own crimes. This ties into the valid point that many of Gotham’s deadliest villains (such as the Joker) didn’t appear until after Batman emerged. In that sense, it seems Robin and longtime critics are on the same page: Batman is, in fact, making Gotham worse.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #20 is available now from DC Comics!
- Alias
- Bruce Wayne
- FIRST APP
- Detective Comics #27 (1939)
- Created By
- Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Franchise
- D.C.
- Race
- Human
- First Appearance
- Detective Comics
One of DC's most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world's leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
