We hate to say it, but theory or not, if you transported John Doe (Kevin Spacey) out of this miserable metropolis and over to Gotham City, he’d fit right in with the most feared foes of the Dark Knight. Establishing his own rules and leaving cryptic crime scenes for detectives to break apart, Doe displays heinous habits that match the likes of The Riddler, Calendar Man, and Victor Zsaz. Diaries, dedication, and the “logic” to his insanity are something that Batman would undoubtedly be able to wrap his head around. And, if the Caped Crusader was around at the time of the killings, he possibly could have even thwarted them before the film’s heartbreaking finale.
Instead, the theory suggests that Doe’s deeds sparked the rise of extravagant criminals and their activities. The death of Doe led to the birth of Batman’s boldest bad guys, who all came with their own schtick and modus operandi. To quote Mills himself, “Who knows? So many freaks out there doin’ their little evil deeds they don’t wanna do…’The voices made me do it. My dog made me do it. Jodie Foster told me to do it.'” But while the likes of Edward Nygma were taking notes and making sure to get their question marks just right, Doe’s final act led to one of his opponents understandably reeling from loss and into a level of insanity that only the Dark Knight could compete with.
