Terry's reason for being Batman

[superfreak]

I just picked up a book from BN called "The Ultimate Guide to Batman". I went through the book and found that the reason for Kassandra Kane to be Batgirl was to redeem herself of the past crime that she had committed as a child. She murdered a guy when she was little. The idea of redemption is what drives Terry to become the Tomorrow Knight in ROTJ. According to Terry, he broke some laws and his parents' hearts, and as a result, he continued his role as Batman. I found those reasons weak for Terry to be Batman. Then a thought dawned on me; what if Terry had committed far worse act then he lets on. What kind of action you think Terry must have committed to really tainted his soul. My theory is that Terry must have come real close to murdering someone when he was in a brawl or in a gang warfare.

[DarkAngel]

Originally posted by superfreak
I found those reasons weak for Terry to be Batman.

You don't have to kill anyone to be Batman. Bruce hasn't done a single thing wrong, but still carries a tremendous burden. Terry was a "pretty bad kid once" and now wants to make up for "past sins." He's sees the role of Batman as giving him "a chance to look like a worthwhile human being again." That's not a bad reason at all for putting on the costume.

[Calhoun07]

I don't feel the writers of Batman Beyond were ever hinting at a darker past for Terry. He was just a mixed up kid, not a thug or a criminal.

[James]

Originally posted by superfreak
I just picked up a book from BN called "The Ultimate Guide to Batman". I went through the book and found that the reason for Kassandra Kane to be Batgirl was to redeem herself of the past crime that she had committed as a child. She murdered a guy when she was little. The idea of redemption is what drives Terry to become the Tomorrow Knight in ROTJ. According to Terry, he broke some laws and his parents' hearts, and as a result, he continued his role as Batman. I found those reasons weak for Terry to be Batman. Then a thought dawned on me; what if Terry had committed far worse act then he lets on. What kind of action you think Terry must have committed to really tainted his soul. My theory is that Terry must have come real close to murdering someone when he was in a brawl or in a gang warfare.

I think Terry wasn't hinting at some great evil he had commited, but the death of his father revealed to him how futile on non constructive his life had become. That his anti social and thuggish behaviour had helped no one and his attitude had resulted in his final moments with his father being somewhat empty.
Batman offers him a chance to redeme himself. He can't change what has happened - in particular to his father, but it gives him the chance to give something back. To mean something. I imagine he regrets not being more understanding with his father and sees Batman as a way of serving some sort of communuity service. Redemption of the mind and soul.

I don't think you have to have commited a heinous crime to suffer some sort of epiphany. Terry's pain for his actions and his past is very real. Bruce has offered a method to Terry that will help himself give something back to those who need help. Those like his father. Redemption to society. Both Terry and Bruce must have felt inadequete at not being there to help their family. For Terry it was an emotional problem. He wasn't there is spirit for his father. His attitude stunk. That regret is part of his redemption. For Bruce, it was being physically inadequete. He was too small and helpless to stop the death of his parents.

Perhaps Bruce was looking not just for a form of vengence and retribution in the role as Batman, but like Terry, redemption.