general media The source of Batman's fear?

[Steel Accord 6,660]

That is to say, the source of the fear he causes not holds in his heart. One of Batman's most powerful weapons is his use of psychological warfare. 

 

"Criminals are a superstitious and cowardly lot," and all that. For the most part I get how this works, he allows and actively contributes to his reputation and legend, making his enemies more likely to panic and loose confidence at the prospect of facing him. This works most in stories where he is just starting out or information about him is sparse.

 

What I don't get is how this is supposed to work for his more regular rogues or when he's an active member of the Justice League, or basically anytime when he's seen in broad daylight and has been operating for a few good decades. I mean sure it's Batman so your defeat is all but a metaphysical certainty but how does he create that same level of fear in his foes when they know for a fact that he's not going to kill them? Or that for all his menace and tricks, he is just a man of flesh and blood?

[Number62 1,258]

Killing the criminals wouldn't help since he'll get no information if he already didn't get any beforehand. I don't know if the villains know that he won't kill them, but then if Batman hasn't killed anyone ever for a long time, that's reason enough to believe he won't try to kill the next criminal he finds.

 

So what else can he try? He can threaten physical harm instead of death because the victim will have to suffer through the pain instead of feeling no pain while being dead. Of course, they'll have to not scream in agony for a period of time to be able to answer.

 

Also, even though Batman is known among criminals to not kill, that doesn't mean he won't start at some point, and not many are willing to risk their lives to find out if he's had a change of heart.

 

Or maybe some interrogation techniques are so elaborate that they can't be shown, like in this video. You'll have to skip through a bit of it, though. I don't know how to put Youtube videos in a post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PETk8eBbfN0

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@,

 

Oh trust me, I knew what part you were referring to just with the first image of the link.