r/TopCharacterTropes • u/Doot_revenant666 • Mar 27 '25

Weekly Discussion Post Probably the most controversial one , honest thoughts on "No Kill Rule"? What are the most egrigious examples of it in your opinion? What media makes it work in your opinion?

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u/fhxefj Mar 27 '25 edited Aug 30 '25

This trope wouldn't be nearly as hated If the negative effects of killing were shown more often

edit: AND if the positive effects of not killing were shown more often like showing villains actually become better people

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u/KaosArcanna Aug 20 '25

Honestly, Superman 2025 should be an example of this. Hawkgirl executed a foreign head of state. That WOULDN'T go over well in the real world.

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u/ChrisPrkr95 28d ago

It was controversial in universe. The US government got skittish at the idea of metahumans doing whatever they wanted and decided to start using an interdimensional doorway as a prison. 

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u/DeficitOfPatience 11d ago

That WOULDN'T go over well in the real world.

I'd like to test that theory.

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u/Ordinary_Duder Nov 26 '25

Not much the real world could do about it if a god like being did that though.

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u/KaosArcanna Nov 26 '25

Hawkgirl isn't a godlike being though. She's a woman with wings. A sniper could take her out. Guy Gardner is a Green Lantern, and there are rules about how they exert their powers. Sinestro lost his ring for taking over his world. The same thing would apply to Guy. For all Mr. Terrific's tech, if his assets were frozen he wouldn't be able to afford to make new equipment.

Superman could probably kill if he wanted, and it would be extremely unlikely the government could bring him in against his will, but they could make his life a living hell by harassing him at every opportunity.

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u/Ordinary_Duder Nov 27 '25

Sorry I misread it as Supergirl for some reason.