Why are criminals afraid of Batman?

There was an episode of Batman the animated series, I think it was called legends of the dark night. I thought it did a nice job of establishing how legend or myth can take on greater proportions and grow. There was one scene at night from the perspective of one of the bad guys, and he sees Batman raise his arm towards another guy who's running away, and sees that guy fall. Later the students telling others about it, and he says "batman just pointed him, and he fell!" In reality, Batman had thrown his grapple thing to wrap up the guys legs, but under the cover of darkness, this guy misinterpreted what he saw. I think the same episode had a scene in which Batman was crouched on top of some boxes with his cape hanging down, draped over the boxes, and a bad guy shoots right into the cape thinking he's shooting Batman in the body, when reality he's getting the boxes. He runs thinking Batman's impervious to bullets. Things like this can have people thinking he's more than just a man.

As far as the killing thing, I heard a thug in Arkham Knight saying he knows about the supposed no kill rule, but was still doubting it or having some certainty, having heard the Batman was stepping up his game and after the rumors about jokers death. hearing that he has this rule is one thing, hanging over the edge of the building with him threatening to drop you is another. If I was the guy lying on the ground with the Batmobile tire right on my head, I don't think knowing about a no kill rule would've given me any comfort.

I often wondered that myself, but you have to remember that, while Batman may not kill, he is willing to hurt you really, really bad. Plus, some criminals have their doubts about his "no killing" rule.

I read this somewhere that in the comics, one henchman mocks Batman that he never kills. Batman scares him by saying "What makes you think I would leave behind any evidence ?"

Between what is said and not meant, and what is meant, and not said, most of love is lost - K.Gibran

He may have his no kill rule but he does give his enemies a good beating: broken bones, missing teeth, broken noses, or concussions/traumatic brain injuries...

Why are criminals afraid of Batman? Because having your head slammed onto a concrete sidewalk hurts.

They know Batman won't kill them, but he'll straight up break their bones if it gets him what he needs. Would you be calm about the possibility of a man in an armoured Bat suit dropping out of the sky and snapping your limbs? I know I'd be terrified.

Kiss my face

Remember, the criminals of Gotham City do not know Batman is actually the good-at-heart Bruce Wayne.
They don't know anything about his mission, or his morality on life and death.

most criminals probably don't ever get a good look at him, mostly a shadow lurking in the dark or flash that goes by and kicks the living crap out of you.


To most, Batman is something incomprehensible. They can't know for sure he's just a man. Or even alive.

they know he's incorruptible and untouchable, he might not kill you, but he'd beat and break all of your limbs that the point where you might never walk again.

now combined with the fact that you're working for a homicidal and sadistic crime boss that doesn't tolerate failures, I can understand why most criminals identify as "nervous" or "terrified" on my detective mode.

Because they are a superstitious cowardly lot