Morality question: Are superheroes mass-murderers?

You know the drill:

Villain hurts innocents...superheroes comes in to save the day...they fight...both give longwinded speeches throughout their fight...villain loses and is sent to some prison where he is undoutdely able to escape and wreak havoc another day

superheroes (exceptions exist such as Frank Castle) generally have misgivings about killing, so in effect, they 'allow' villains to commit further crimes.

So, my question is, should they be held responsible for much of the killing committed by villains who otherwise could've been terminated previously?

No.

Originally posted by Starscream M
You know the drill:

Villain hurts innocents...superheroes comes in to save the day...they fight...both give longwinded speeches throughout their fight...villain loses and is sent to some prison where he is undoutdely able to escape and wreak havoc another day

superheroes (exceptions exist such as Frank Castle) generally have misgivings about killing, so in effect, they 'allow' villains to commit further crimes.

So, my question is, should they be held responsible for much of the killing committed by villains who otherwise could've been terminated previously?

Morality is relative to the observer and the situation. Without getting too philosophical, I don't believe that absolute yes/no answers to these questions exist.

That said, most of us would cross the line and kill when many heroes don't. I don't know if I'm among them, but I'm also glad I don't know. But I'd defy anyone, for example, to read "Maximum Carnage" and not second-guess Spidey in the series. Yet I don't condemn his logic either, since I think killing or simply trying to capture him would both be "moral" in my standing.

Originally posted by DigiMark007
Morality is relative to the observer and the situation. Without getting too philosophical, I don't believe that absolute yes/no answers to these questions exist.

That said, most of us would cross the line and kill when many heroes don't. I don't know if I'm among them, but I'm also glad I don't know. But I'd defy anyone, for example, to read "Maximum Carnage" and not second-guess Spidey in the series. Yet I don't condemn his logic either, since I think killing or simply trying to capture him would both be "moral" in my standing.

I remember Spiderman's argument against Venom, it seemed pretty idiotic to me. He seemed to be willing to potentially allow hundreds of innocents to be killed as long as he could stand on his high moral soap box preaching against killing.

Spider-Man wouldn't kill Carnage .... but he ATE Morlun.

😐

Originally posted by Mr. Slippyfist
No.

Originally posted by Scoobless
Spider-Man wouldn't kill Carnage .... but he ATE Morlun.

😐

I actually applaud such logic because it speaks to the ideal, which is (again, ideally) what a hero represents....the most desirable action in a situation.

Yet if forced into a similar situation, my guess is that I'd be more than ok with killing.

So it's a double-edged sword. I see it as moral while simultaneously not agreeing with his decision. That requires a more comprehensive spectrum approach to morality, not a black and white yes/no answer. There are varying grades of morality. Spidey was moral, imo, but not as moral as he could have been.

Originally posted by Scoobless
Spider-Man wouldn't kill Carnage .... but he ATE Morlun.

😐

😂

You have the dilema of characters like Black Adam/Victor Von Doom.

If killing Black Adam/Victor Von Doom is the best thing thing to do since they're murderers. Then you affect the lives of citizens from their nations.

You also have the dilema on what is consider a villain or a threat.

Many Anti-mutant groups perceive all mutants as threats. So by all means killing The X-men would seem justified.

It's a tangle debate. Leave it as it is....

Regardless of the subjective nature of something like 'morality,' you cannot hold the superheroes any more responsible than the judge for not issuing capital punishment.

Actually, one would have to hold Superheroes LESS responsible.

Originally posted by WrathfulDwarf
You have the dilema of characters like Black Adam/Victor Von Doom.

If killing Black Adam/Victor Von Doom is the best thing thing to do since they're murderers. Then you affect the lives of citizens from their nations.

You also have the dilema on what is consider a villain or a threat.

Many Anti-mutant groups perceive all mutants as threats. So by all means killing The X-men would seem justified.

It's a tangle debate. Leave it as it is....

Originally posted by llagrok
Actually, one would have to hold Superheroes LESS responsible.

Originally posted by Soljer
Regardless of the subjective nature of something like 'morality,' you cannot hold the superheroes any more responsible than the judge for not issuing capital punishment.

Originally posted by Bardock42
Not really. Judges [b]have to operate by the laws of a country, Superheroes already chose to disregard at least parts of it. [/B]

Exactly.

Originally posted by llagrok
Exactly.

...

Did I just convince you that you were wrong or did you misunderstand what I said?

Originally posted by Bardock42
Punisher is awesome 😐

No

Originally posted by WrathfulDwarf
No

Originally posted by Bardock42
He is too, man. You read the Ennis stuff?

Ever since the death of Microchip the Punisher went down the hill for me.

Then again, it was a good thing since the character was too much adapted to image of Alfred Pennyworth.