Comic book fans well-versed in DC’s Golden Age should be aware of a time when Batman was not above taking a life in the name of justice before his opposition to murder became a defining quality. However, some later cinematic adaptations of Bruce Wayne’s adventures would infamously ignore this aspect of the character.
Of course, that is no longer the case today and, in fact, the superhero’s no-kill rule and the opposing philosophy of another certain vigilante serve as a major theme of a highly anticipated upcoming animated DC movie. CBR’s exclusive first look at Batman: Knightfall Part 2: Knightquest dives a bit deeper into that dynamic and how fans influenced the source material.
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Batman: Knightfall Was Bred From Criticism Over A Tame Dark Knight
Jean-Paul Valley as Batman in Batman: Knightfall Part 2: KnightquestImage via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
These days, most modern DC fans fervently reject the idea of a Batman driven to give up on his moral high ground and bring his enemies to the point of no return. However, it is a bit ironic to consider this since, in the early 1990s, most readers were demanding a Dark Knight with a bit more of an edge.
That response to the wave of more violent comic books would lead to the development of the famous Knightfall storyline, which sees an injured Bruce Wayne pass down the responsibilities of being Batman over to a vigilante with homicidal tendencies named Jean-Paul Valley. That turn of events from the arc is brought to life in Batman: Knightfall Part 2: Knightquest, which becomes available for home viewing in Dec. 2026.
Among the special features from the new film’s physical media release is Knightfall: To Kill… Or Not to Kill, which explores the moral dilemma at the center of the original comic book arc and how it was inspired by changes in the industry at the time. CBR is proud to exclusively present the debut of a clip from the featurette.
DC Archivist Benjamin Le Clear recalls how fans had begun to see Batman as “corny” in comparison to what was popular in comic books in the early 1990s, which was not only defined by heroes with a more aggressive or deadlier MO, but also larger and absurdly muscular appearances. The hulking Bane is even a reflection of this, which explains his larger-than-life design in Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall.
Former DC animator Mike Carlin then adds why it is important not to allow Batman to become a murderer, seeing as how witnessing his own parents’ murder is what led to his vigilante evolution in the first place. However, as Le Clear then explains, legendary DC editor Denny O’Neill decided to give the fans what they wanted by putting Jean-Paul in the cape and cowl, but as a cautionary reminder of the value that non-lethal heroes bring to comic book fiction.
Considering how highly regarded Batman’s no-kill rule is today, the late O’Neill’s trick appears to have worked. And to think, this is also the same person who put the fate of Jason Todd in the hands of the fans, only to receive backlash after they voted in favor of letting the then-Robin die in the A Death in the Family storyline.
Batman: Knightfall Part 2: Knightquest Follows Azrael’s Rise
Azrael in Batman: Knightfall Part 2: KnightquestImage via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Knightfall is an epic told through more than 100 issues of comic books and over the course of more than a year, which is why just one movie would not cut it. Thus, Warner Bros. Animation and DC planned to split the story into three animated features, the second of which is about to release soon.
Batman: Knightfall Part 2: Knightquest picks up where the last installment, released in August, leaves off, with Bruce Wayne suffering from a broken spine, courtesy of the brawny and brainy Bane. While he recovers, he chooses Jean-Paul Valley to take his place, but the decision proves controversial when the vigilante also known as Azrael begins using more reckless tactics of justice that threaten to do more harm than good.
Batman: Knightfall Part 2: Knightquest, from director Jeff Wamester and writer Jeremy Adams, stars Anson Mount in the title role, Emmy nominee Pablo Schreiber as Jean-Paul Valley, and Michael Mando of Better Call Saul and Spider-Man: Brand New Day fame as Bane. The trilogy will conclude in 2027 with Batman: Knightfall Part 3: KnightsEnd.
Batman: Knightfall Part 2: Knightquest releases on digital, 4K UHD™, Blu-ray™, and DVD on Dec. 15, 2026.
Release Date
December 8, 2026
Runtime
76 minutes
Director
Jeff Wamester
Writers
Jeremy Adams
Producers
James Krieg, Michael Uslan, Sam Register, Rick Morales
Cast
Anson Mount
Batman / Bruce Wayne (voice)
Michael Mando
Bane (voice)
Pablo Schreiber
Jean-Paul Valley / Azrael (voice)
Jack Griffo
Robin / Tim Drake (voice)