So Batman Finds Himself Outside Gotham--And Police Want to Arrest Him...Then What?

[Basement Cat]

Note: I don't read DC comic so this is a curiosity on my part.

I had a thought yesterday: Say Batman found himself stranded in the middle of nowhere U.S. of A. He's in full costume but has no functional communicator or phone. Blame Mister Mxyzptlk or somebody.

The how is irrelevant. What matters is Batman triggers some law enforcement person's danger sense and suddenly Batman finds himself being told to put his hands up and to come quietly for questioning--and that includes taking off his mask.

Whatever the reason the police officer/officers' behavior is completely on the level.

But Batman, naturally, doesn't want to expose his identity.

So here's the question...what would happen if perfectly honest law enforcement personnel wanted to arrest Batman or had good reason to take him in for questioning? If he resists he's basically a fugitive from justice. Because he isn't in Gotham he can't count on Commissioner Gordon to cover his but with any "Get Out of Jail Free Card".

So, what would happen? If the police recognize that, yes, this is the real Batman and he resists lawful arrest that would make him a fugitive from justice throughout the nation--including Gotham. Since Gordon is so "By the book" and has the Bat signal everybody knows that Gordon's Batman's buddy so wouldn't Gordon have to go after him or face calls to resign for refusing to do his job?

Mostly it's the "Batman resisting arrest by Honest Cops far away from Gotham" that has me curious but if anyone knows the rest of the answers I'd be interested to hear from you.

 

[DarthCoercis]

This exact situation has been covered in both the comics and a couple of animated movies (check out Batman: Year One. It's really quite good).

[Edit] Batman: Year One the animated movie, I mean. Not the comics.

 

[Bob_McMillan]

He would most likely try to get away in any way he can, and if police officers get in his way he'll deal with them as peacefully as possible. In first All Star Batman arc, Batman finds himself under attack by literally everyone (even Alfred). He isn't afraid to bruise civilians if they get in the way of his brooding.

It's not really a new thing for him, the tolerance of the GCPD changes on a dime. Even Gordon himself sometimes comes after Batman.

 

[Basement Cat]

He would most likely try to get away in any way he can, and if police officers get in his way he'll deal with them as peacefully as possible. In first All Star Batman arc, Batman finds himself under attack by literally everyone (even Alfred). He isn't afraid to bruise civilians if they get in the way of his brooding.

It's not really a new thing for him, the tolerance of the GCPD changes on a dime. Even Gordon himself sometimes comes after Batman.

So, basically he's already a fugitive from justice in general? Wouldn't the government go after the Justice League for harboring a wanted man?

 

[Saelune]

I was gonna post a video of when Adam West Batman got a parking ticket, but then the cops were like "We cant give Batman a parking ticket!" and Batman was like "No, Batman or not, it is your duty" and he even had a Driver's License AS Batman.

Oh well.

He would most likely try to get away in any way he can, and if police officers get in his way he'll deal with them as peacefully as possible. In first All Star Batman arc, Batman finds himself under attack by literally everyone (even Alfred). He isn't afraid to bruise civilians if they get in the way of his brooding.

It's not really a new thing for him, the tolerance of the GCPD changes on a dime. Even Gordon himself sometimes comes after Batman.

So, basically he's already a fugitive from justice in general? Wouldn't the government go after the Justice League for harboring a wanted man?

Batman vs the Law is really only a Batman solo thing. Solo Batman (ie without Superman and the greater DC universe) and Justice League Batman are essentially different characters.

 

[bastardofmelbourne]

The problem in your hypothetical is in assuming that a regular police officer could arrest Batman. He's a super-ninja. He'd like...use a smoke bomb.

I would actually recommend going and reading the Punisher: MAX imprint. The Punisher is a much more legally unacceptable version of Batman - because he's a mass murderer - who basically has an arrest-on-sight warrant everywhere in the US, and at several points, he runs afoul of the law and has to escape/beat up a cop in order to get away. He doesn't even have a secret identity; everyone knows that he's Frank Castle and his family got shot and now he periodically conducts terrorist attacks against organised criminals.

In one arc, he goes to Miami to shoot up corporate raiders. In another one I think he ends up in Louisiana and fights some cannibal redneck rapists and their inbred Jason Voorhees-clone. The point is: he gets away with it, from a combination of just being super good at avoiding arrest and from police maybe not being super enthusiastic about arresting a serial killer with a 2,000+ body count who only targets criminal psychopaths.

 

[Basement Cat]

Batman vs the Law is really only a Batman solo thing. Solo Batman (ie without Superman and the greater DC universe) and Justice League Batman are essentially different characters.

Wow, that's some seriously pathetic writing! I mean, if the only way they can make it work is by "pretend" then that...geez, I don't even have the words. That's, I mean...

Here, lemme look up a meme.

Okay, I feel better now.

The problem in your hypothetical is in assuming that a regular police officer could arrest Batman. He's a super-ninja. He'd like...use a smoke bomb.

I've no doubt Batman could stomp a regular. I'm wondering about the ramifications.

 

[bastardofmelbourne]

Wow, that's some seriously pathetic writing! I mean, if the only way they can make it work is by "pretend" then that...geez, I don't even have the words. That's, I mean...

That's not really what happens. It's more of a thematic difference. It's the same Batman in-universe; he's just written differently.

Like, a typical issue of Batman will have Batman solving a mystery left by the Joker or whatever, and maybe brushing teeth with the GCPD over how badly he's allowed to beat the Joker up before handing him to the cops. A typical issue of Justice League with Batman in it will have Batman working as a sort of mission control guy, directing the League's heavy hitters while avoiding all the alien nuclear lasers that would disintegrate him in a fraction of a second.

A good example is the cartoons, because that's the gold standard for Justice League as far as I'm concerned. The DCAU started as Batman doing his Batman thing, and then they had Superman doing his Superman thing, and then they had a very good team-up episode where each one got to do his thing, and then they had Justice League, and along the way Batman's "thing" sorta changed. Like, he slotted into this role in the team that wasn't necessarily how he behaved when working solo.

I've no doubt Batman could stomp a regular. I'm wondering about the ramifications.

I guess the police officer might have to take medical leave?

There's no real legal ramifications. I mean, Batman's a vigilante. He's already illegal. Beating up a cop wouldn't make him any more illegal. Maybe the FBI might come into Gotham and try to arrest him? Then again, sometimes it's implied that Batman works with the FBI as well. Some adaptations of Amanda Waller imply that she knows who Bruce Wayne is and allows him to continue because he's just too dang useful doing his own thing and trying to arrest him would be a giant hassle.

 

[Bob_McMillan]

Batman vs the Law is really only a Batman solo thing. Solo Batman (ie without Superman and the greater DC universe) and Justice League Batman are essentially different characters.

Wow, that's some seriously pathetic writing! I mean, if the only way they can make it work is by "pretend" then that...geez, I don't even have the words. That's, I mean...

Its not exactly something that happens at the same time. How the police treat Batman varies from writer to writer, story to story, etc. For example, right now Batman is quite the international figure in the world right now and most police officers even in other countries know better than to get in his way. Countries like China and Russia stand up to him a bit more, but Bats doesn't like starting international incidents.

What are the ramifications? Well, usually the police make a statement or whatever and officially they intend to arrest him. But everyone knows it's just for show. Even if you could arrest Batman, it takes multiple EOD teams to remove his belt. And then there's the issue of actually holding him.

The Justice League might berate him for going so far, but considering they do essentially the same thing except they can't pay for collateral damage, they don't exactly have the moral high ground.

So basically people might get mad and all but they know they can't actually do anything about it.

 

[pookie101]

what would happen? thats pretty obvious.. the cop would have a selfie with batman.. like you would

 

[Asita]

He would most likely try to get away in any way he can, and if police officers get in his way he'll deal with them as peacefully as possible. In first All Star Batman arc, Batman finds himself under attack by literally everyone (even Alfred). He isn't afraid to bruise civilians if they get in the way of his brooding.

It's not really a new thing for him, the tolerance of the GCPD changes on a dime. Even Gordon himself sometimes comes after Batman.

So, basically he's already a fugitive from justice in general? Wouldn't the government go after the Justice League for harboring a wanted man?

Would you want to try taking someone from them without their consent?

 

[FalloutJack]

To my knowledge, he wouldn't turn himself over when Gotham hated him, so he wouldn't turn himself over to another district that may be like that or neutral or whatever. His reaction would be the quick vanishing act perhaps later apologies to the local law enforcement, if he's in a generous kind of mood.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

The problem in your hypothetical is in assuming that a regular police officer could arrest Batman. He's a super-ninja. He'd like...use a smoke bomb.

I think the thought exercise is less "could a regular cop arrest Batman" and more "would Batman, who champions law and the courts, resist arrest".

 

[Neverhoodian]

Batman isn't afraid to go on the lam. He's done it before in the comics and cartoons. He tries his best to cooperate with law enforcement, but only if it doesn't interfere with his work. When forced to choose between his personal "code" and the law he'll pick the former every time.


Fortunately for Batman he has plot armor a superior intellect that allows him to plan ahead for any eventuality. He has all sorts of backup plans and hideouts that would allow him to continue his work in such a situation. He'd still fight crime and leave perps wrapped up outside police stations, he'd just do it without interacting with law enforcement until the heat wears off.

 

[DoPo]

The problem in your hypothetical is in assuming that a regular police officer could arrest Batman. He's a super-ninja. He'd like...use a smoke bomb.

I think the thought exercise is less "could a regular cop arrest Batman" and more "would Batman, who champions law and the courts, resist arrest".

Assuming he was in a situation where he doesn't have any of his resources at his disposal and was confronted by the police, then I would guess he would just turn in. And claim he was not Batman but Bruce Wayne on his way to a party of some sort or whatever cover he wants to pull to make it seem like they are two separate people.

I don't really read the comics and I also know that his portrayal varies wildly based writers. Most of my first hand experience with the character comes from the animated series and he pulled a (vaguely) similar stunt.

 

[Baffle]

He'd just shoot them wouldn't he?

 

[shrekfan246]

He would most likely try to get away in any way he can, and if police officers get in his way he'll deal with them as peacefully as possible. In first All Star Batman arc, Batman finds himself under attack by literally everyone (even Alfred). He isn't afraid to bruise civilians if they get in the way of his brooding.

It's not really a new thing for him, the tolerance of the GCPD changes on a dime. Even Gordon himself sometimes comes after Batman.

So, basically he's already a fugitive from justice in general? Wouldn't the government go after the Justice League for harboring a wanted man?

Largely speaking, the only reason the Gotham police don't typically go after Batman is because of Jim Gordon -- without Gordon, Batman is often targeted just as much as the people he takes down. That's not always true; if Gordon is in danger then the GCPD will usually hesitantly work with Batman to get him back, but otherwise they tend to take a pretty hard-line stance against him.

Even with that said, in stories where Batman is well-established in-universe (say the Arkham games, for example) most of the police force knows his deal so they only speak up against him if he starts going off his rocker.

So yeah, Batman is technically usually a fugitive, but because he's Batman they can't really do anything about it. If we were to transplant him to the real world then I highly doubt anyone trying to be Batman could keep their identity secret for very long.

 

[Souplex]

Marvel's solution is that if the police attempt to unmask a superhero that superhero can sue their asses off, so they have to take them in in full costume.