Superhero settings where the heroes have a realistic appoach to killing

[1505627]

While I've already brought up Goku before, does anyone remember how as a child, he did kill quite a few people? Something I never really got, what made him suddenly care if people who crossed him would die?

he realized that half his friends were evil douches once and that if they could change so could anyone

[Len Ikari145]

he realized that half his friends were evil douches once and that if they could change so could anyone

"Half?" Are we talking about his normal clique or every person he's ever befriended? Because the only ones out of his core group of friends who wasn't an evil douche that was out to kill him at some point was Bulma and Yajirobe. Krillin tried killing him, Yamcha tried killing him, Chiaotsu tried killing him, Tien tried killing him, Piccolo tried killing him in both of his incarnations, and Vegeta has tried killing him numerous times.

[abmccray]

While I've already brought up Goku before, does anyone remember how as a child, he did kill quite a few people? Something I never really got, what made him suddenly care if people who crossed him would die?

He got madder when he was a kid because the dragonballs were harder to get and manipulate, so when people were dead, he pretty much thought there was a possibility for them to be dead for good.

When he's an adult, he's just like "oh how annoying, I'll have to get one of the Dragon Ball sets again, sigh, that will take 5 minutes."

Also, yeah, once The Devil becomes your friend, you think pretty much anyone can end up being redeemed.

[Surtur]

he realized that half his friends were evil douches once and that if they could change so could anyone

Well sure, but then one could also wonder how many people would die before said friend made the change.

I could at least see sparing Vegeta given he was one of the last members of the race left in the universe. Frieza..not so much. It was 100% guaranteed that the only way Frieza will never take another innocent life is if you send him to the next dimension.

I mean do you think Frieza didn't stop to kill a single person/planet on his way to Earth? I don't.

[Len Ikari145]

I find superman's stance on killing to be realistic "If i don't need to kill, i won't kill".

I tend to agree. Given his resources, he truly doesn't need to kill unless it's absolutely necessary.

Batman, OTOH, needs to let the Joker die. I don't even mean kill. Just go by the Dark Knight's philosophy "I won't kill you, but that doesn't mean I have to save you." Either that or render him into a coma. There's a myriad of ways he can incapitate the Joker that won't necessarily require him to dirty his hands.

Well sure, but then one could also wonder how many people would die before said friend made the change.

I could at least see sparing Vegeta given he was one of the last members of the race left in the universe. Frieza..not so much. It was 100% guaranteed that the only way Frieza will never take another innocent life is if you send him to the next dimension.

In Frieza's case, he thought the act of devastating his pride by proving his superiority over him would immobilize him from performing any further acts of genocide and tyranny knowing that Goku would be able stop him. It wasn't so much that he believed he would change as much that he thought that Frieza would have no choice but to give up if he wanted to live. Sadly, Goku underestimated just how egomaniacal Frieza was.

[Dark Soul # 7]

While I've already brought up Goku before, does anyone remember how as a child, he did kill quite a few people? Something I never really got, what made him suddenly care if people who crossed him would die?

Fewer and fewer people could actually match him in a fight, and the dude loves fighting in life and death battles, sohe might just want to have as many sparring partners as possible around.

[Surtur]

I tend to agree. Given his resources, he truly doesn't need to kill unless it's absolutely necessary.

To be fair though..how many innocent people have died because a villain he didn't kill escaped prison? Granted it might not be his job to imprison them and keep them that way, but then again it technically isn't his job to fight villains in the first place.

In Frieza's case, he thought the act of devastating his pride by proving his superiority over him would immobilize him from performing any further acts of genocide and tyranny knowing that Goku would be able stop him. It wasn't so much that he believed he would change as much that he thought that Frieza would have no choice but to give up if he wanted to live. Sadly, Goku underestimated just how egomaniacal Frieza was.

That still doesn't make much sense to me. For all his power Goku wasn't omniscient. He also can't be everywhere at once and he didn't even know the IT yet. I could see if Frieza lived on Earth and had no means of space travel, but that wasn't the case. Dude had an entire empire, hurting his pride is only going to set him off not shame him into being a good guy.

Granted Goku has never been much of a thinker when it comes to things that aren't battle strategies.

[Len Ikari145]

That still doesn't make much sense to me. For all his power Goku wasn't omniscient. He also can't be everywhere at once and he didn't even know the IT yet. I could see if Frieza lived on Earth and had no means of space travel, but that wasn't the case. Dude had an entire empire, hurting his pride is only going to set him off.

Goku was kinda banking on Frieza's fear of him. I mean, let's remember that he was dealing with the guy who wiped out an entire planet just because its inhabitants had the potential of opposing him and was terrified of a legend of dubious origin. Goku was playing on Frieza's irrational, superstitious fear of him since he was the equivalent of the Boogieman to Frieza and thought that would be enough to prevent him ever terrorizing people again.

[Surtur]

Goku was kinda banking on Frieza's fear of him. I mean, let's remember that he was dealing the guy who wiped out an entire planet just because its inhabitants had the potential of opposing him and was terrified of a legend of dubious origin. Frieza's reaction to superstition isn't what we would call rational and Goku was playing on that.

I guess, it just seems like Frieza never really came off as the type who would go crawl into a corner and never kill again, crazy superstitions aside. It might make him think twice about certain things, but I guess that just goes to show you another example of Goku being a bit naive.

Also while he wasn't immortal wasn't he still incredibly long lived? I thought it was implied the Saiyans had worked for him for generations.

[Shellhead]

Elementals: both Morningstar and Vortex were comfortable with using lethal force against dangerous opponents. Morningstar was an ex-cop and Vortex was a Vietnam veteran. Their teammates were more squeamish about killing.

[Surtur]

Not sure if it counts as a "superhero setting" but Merlin from the UK series usually has no problem killing people. Except for Morgana..and Mordred. Ok so I guess he does have some problems.

[1505627]

"Half?" Are we talking about his normal clique or every person he's ever befriended? Because the only ones out of his core group of friends who wasn't an evil douche that was out to kill him at some point was Bulma and Yajirobe. Krillin tried killing him, Yamcha tried killing him, Chiaotsu tried killing him, Tien tried killing him, Piccolo tried killing him in both of his incarnations, and Vegeta has tried killing him numerous times.

piccolo succeeded in killing him.

also both bulma and yajirobe tried to kill him. Yajirobe comtemplated eating him

Goku was kinda banking on Frieza's fear of him. I mean, let's remember that he was dealing with the guy who wiped out an entire planet just because its inhabitants had the potential of opposing him and was terrified of a legend of dubious origin. Goku was playing on Frieza's irrational, superstitious fear of him since he was the equivalent of the Boogieman to Frieza and thought that would be enough to prevent him ever terrorizing people again.

actually the reason he feared the super sayian so much was because a super sayian shitstomped one of his ancestors

[Hazard]

actually the reason he feared the super sayian so much was because a super sayian shitstomped one of his ancestors

We don't talk about that.

No one should talk about that.

[Siriel]

It is the worst thing.

[Sound Silence]

It was Bardock.