There are reasons not to kill. We've discussed these before. To say that murder is immoral is too vague. Killing, even once, even with reasons, strips you of your humanity. I do not mean this in an abstract way. Though we move about the world as individuals, the human race as a whole is spiritually-- necessarily, scientifically-- a single entity. You cannot afford to revoke that citizenship. You cannot work meaningfully for humanity from outside of it. I know you know this. I know you. 
Batman: Gotham Knights #26 is an issue of the series Batman: Gotham Knights (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 2002. It was published on February 20, 2002.
Synopsis for "Innocent Until"
Nightwing and Robin stare at Blackgate Penitentiary across the river and they argue because Robin thinks that Bruce might have murdered Vesper and Nightwing can't stand thinking about it.
Meanwhile at Wayne Manor, Alfred removes the silhouette of the murdered woman in the middle of the manor's lobby floor when someone knocks the door. Alfred opens the door and finds that iis Leslie Thompkins. Alfred lets her inside and they start talking about Bruce's latest actions and the possibility that he might have taken a life. Leslie is worried for the sanity of Bruce, and Alfred has to admit that Bruce does seem a bit changed ever since No Man's Land. However, they decide that they can't deliver judgement about something they don't know and they agree that they must wait and see how it all goes.
Nightwing goes to Barbara's place to tell her about his discussion with Tm about Bruce's innocence. Barbara remembers Dick that Tim has always looked up to Batman and Nightwing, and that he is different from Dick Grayson as he wasn't raised by Bruce as a father, friend and partner; and thus, he needs support from him instead of anger. Robin arrives at the place moments later and Nightwing tells him that they need to talk.
Nightwing and Robin go out and stop a bunch of street criminals while Nigtwing apologizes with Robin for being so hard on him and then he tells Tim that Batman and himself would never let anything happen to him, that everybody in the Batman family has always stood their ground even after being taken down and that Batman doesn't kill, ever. However, Robin reminded Dick of Jason Todd and James Gordon, the opposite examples of what Dick just told him and again, Robin showed his lack of faith in Bruce. Nightwing can't understand how is it possible for Tim to wear the Robin costume and doubt the man who gave it to him. He leaves Robin because he can't stand anybody who can believe that Bruce can kill.
At Wayne Manor, Alfred gives a soliloquy on murder to the Batsuit in the Batcave. When he is finished, Dick comes inside and tells him how disappointed he is on everyone's position against Bruce. Dick can't believe that Bruce commited murderer because he loves Bruce so much, and as a father to him, it's impossible for him to deal with people who thinks bad of Bruce. Dick asks Alfred what he thinks about the situation and Alfred replies that he is doing what's best for Bruce as his employee and as a friend and that he doesn't believe that Bruce would put him or any of them in a conflictive situation.
Meanwhile at Blackgate, Leslie visits Bruce and tells him to get home soon and his family is worried for him and that she has not given up on his soul, depite of whatever he might have done. However, Bruce seems to be colder and grimmer than ever before.
Appearing in "Innocent Until"
Featured Characters:
- Nightwing
- Alfred Pennyworth (Flashback and main story)
Supporting Characters:
- Leslie Thompkins
- Oracle
- Robin (Flashback and main story)
Antagonists:
- Gotham Criminals
Other Characters:
- James Gordon (Flashback only)
- Template:Apn (Flashback and main story)
- Spoiler (Flashback only)
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for "Bruce Wayne is Batman!"
A girl is making some ritual to some dark entity and she summons the being into the room she is in. The entity tells her that she can have anything she ask of him and the first thing she ask is to know Batman's true identity. The dark being gives the girl what she wants and reveals to her the face of Bruce Wayne. The girl is overwhelmed with joy and the entity disappears. The girl keeps repeating the sentence Bruce Wayne is Batman! over and over again.
A couple janitors outside her cell listen to her and the young one asks the older one what happened to her. The old man tells him that the girl was placed in that cell because of her obsession with Batman and that every night she keeps screaming different people are Batman. The young janitor feels bad because of the girl, so pretty and yet so sad, and how she is caged like an animal. The elder laughs at him, but as he turns to reply to the young man, he is gone. Somewhere in the shadows, there is a janitor outfit and a mask on the floor.
At that moment, Batman leaves Arkham Asylum, probably with a feeling of guilt, while the young girl looks at him through her window and sheds a tear.
Appearing in "Bruce Wayne is Batman!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Janitor (Single appearance)
- Inmate Girl (Single appearance)
- Dark Entity (Single appearance)
Locations:
Notes
- This is the tenth part of the storyline Bruce Wayne: Murderer? The previous chapter is Nightwing (Volume 2) #66 and the story continues in Robin (Volume 2) #99.
Trivia
- There are some flashbacks from the storylines Batman: No Man's Land and Batman: Officer Down.
- Despite the reading order, the events of this issue take place some time after Robin (Volume 2) #99.
- In the second story, there are references to Bill Clinton, Mick Jagger and George Clooney, as a joke about the girl claiming that they are Batman. However, as it is known, Clooney was Batman.
- Batman's disguise as a janitor in the second story is related to another if his well known undercover names. The janitor name was Malone, much like the usual disguise of Matches Malone.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Batman Recommended Reading
- Batman (Volume 1)
- Batman (Volume 2)
- Batman (Volume 3)
- Batman and Robin (Volume 1)
- Batman and Robin (Volume 2)
- Batman and Robin (Volume 3)
- Batman Confidential (Volume 1)
- Batman: Gotham Knights (Volume 1)
- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (Volume 1)
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat (Volume 1)
- Batman: Streets of Gotham (Volume 1)
- Batman Incorporated (Volume 1)
- Batman Incorporated (Volume 2)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 2)
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest (Volume 1)
- Batman: The Dark Knight (Volume 1)
- Batman: The Dark Knight (Volume 2)
- The Brave and the Bold (Volume 1)
- Detective Comics (Volume 1)
- Detective Comics (Volume 2)
- Superman/Batman (Volume 1)
- World's Finest (Volume 1)
