Superheroes are role models. They teach us how to be everyday heroes ourselves. We may not have super strength or super speed, but powers aren’t all superheroes have to offer.

Superman is a champion for truth and justice. Spider-Man reminds us about the importance of responsibility. And Batman teaches us all people have a right to life, including bad people.

True to his word, Batman does not kill. The motivation for his heroics stems from his parents’ murder. Not wanting any other child to face the same trauma he did, Batman vowed to put criminals away to protect the lives of those under his care.

Batman’s care for life extends to his foes. A master of martial arts who lacks super strength, the Dark Knight is a great candidate to non-lethally incapacitate his foes. The only problem is unarmed combat does not ensure non-lethality.

Since 2007, at least 13 competitors have died in official MMA fights. Given how often those fights occur, the number isn’t huge or disproportionate. But it does prove physical prowess and martial arts training can lead to death.

Unlike MMA fighters, Batman isn’t real. There isn’t actually a man dressed in an elaborate costume jumping from rooftop to rooftop beating down criminals left and right. No one is actually harmed by caped crusaders.

Despite his fictional status, Batman still makes a difference. The media we consume affects our tastes and opinions. Movies, video games and comics can desensitize us to violence.

Now, we shouldn’t fall into the trap of thinking violent media makes people violent. This tactic is a witch hunt by paranoid parents as an excuse to restrict what they’ll allow their kids to do.

Seeing Batman kick a man in the spine won’t make you want to do the same. But you might begin to get a romanticized idea of violence when you see him save the day. It often comes down to the portrayal of superheroes in the media.

The silly, campy nature of Adam West’s Batman in the 1960s is too ridiculous and hammy to make anyone think twice about violence. When show producers cover up punches with wacky sound effects, it’s no more harmful than the slapstick comedy Tom & Jerry provides.

In the 1980s, Frank Miller came into the comic industry and worked on reimagining some of their classic stories. Miller took a dark spin on some of the heroes he wrote for, most notably Daredevil and Batman. His stories showed the world of vigilantism to be harsh and dirty.

The darker look at superheroes became popular and influenced filmmakers. Superhero movies since have taken a bleaker outlook. As movies are more popular and accessible, they are bigger influences than comics are.

Now we have movies depicting Batman executing devastating attacks and using guns. These factors don’t sound too forgiving. Regardless, we continue to see these movies and tell the creators it’s what we want to see.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying action-filled fiction. Conflict is exciting to see, and fun choreography is a sight to behold. However, we have to remember to separate romanticized action from real violence.

Kyle Richoux is a 20-year-old sociology junior from LaPlace, Louisiana.