Warning: Spoilers for Detective Comics #1091As a member of the Justice League and a formidable fighter in his own right,Batmandoesn’t fear much in the DC Universe, but his dreams have unveiled a shocking death that could shake him to his core.TheJoker’spotential death keeps Batman up at night, not Robin’s, proving that his loss would break Batman more than even his loved ones'.
In apreview forDetective Comics#1091 by Tom Taylor and Mikel Janín,Batman is plagued by nightmares after his impulsive actions lead to a young man getting murdered on his watch by the mysterious Asema. His chilling dream sequencefeatures an older Bruce Waynebattling the Joker, with the dead boy - Sam - as his new Robin.
Robin kills the Joker, much to Batman’s horror, believing that the villain deserves to die. Batman smacks Robin in a fit of anger as a result of him defying his no-kill rule, and this reaction to the Joker’s death exposes the extent to which that loss would affect him.
Batman Fears the Joker’s Death More Than Any Other (Including Robin’s)
Robin Killing Joker Haunts Batman’s Nightmares in an Unexpected Twist
When trying to figure out what Batman’s darkest nightmares entail, the obvious answer would be harm coming to those he cares about.Batman’s Robinshave faced their share of perils, so it stands to reason that he would be haunted by the possibility of losing them. Here, though,Batman appears to be more afraid of the Joker dying than of the same fate befalling Robin. This death would impact him so deeply that he would even turn on Robin, striking him with a ferocity that is unlike modern iterations of Bruce Wayne’s paternal dynamic with his sidekicks.
DC’s Terrifying New Villain Is the Ultimate Challenge to Batman’s ‘No-Kill’ Rule
In “Detective Comics,” Batman faces a frightening new foe, one who calls his oldest rule into question, forcing him to confront his moral codes.
What makes Batman’s nightmare so surprising is thathe should fear Robin being killed by the Joker, not the other way around.Jason Todd, the second Robin, faced an untimely demise due to an explosion caused by the Joker in 1988’s"A Death in the Family" storyby Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo, and Bruce has worried about his Robins suffering similar fates since then. As such, one would expect his subconscious to produce vivid scenarios of Robin’s endangerment - yet instead of Robin dying in Batman’s horrific dream, it’s the villain who took one of his Robins from him.
Batman’s Longstanding Rivalry With the Joker Prevents Him from Ending His Life
Killing the Joker Would Create More Problems for Batman and Robin Than It Would Solve
Batman’s response to the Joker’s death stems from their deep history with one another. The Joker is Batman’s main rival, and he therefore understands the Clown Prince of Crime better than any other villain he’s contended with. He thus knows that the Joker would only gain satisfaction from being killed by Batman or one of his allies, sohe refuses to give into his enemy’s game by becoming - or letting Robin become - what the Joker seeks to turn him into. He has even made attempts tospare the Joker’s lifeand rehabilitate him, albeit with little success. Batman knows that the Joker’s death would bring consequences for him and Robin.
The Joker made his first appearance as Batman’s foe in 1940’sBatman#1 by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, available now from DC Comics.
InFrom the DC Vault: Death in the Family - Robin Lives!#4 by J.M. DeMatteis, Rick Leonardi, Rico Renzi, and Taylor Esposito, rather than Jason Todd dying in his confrontation with the Joker, he survives andends up killing the Joker himself. Jason’s survival doesn’t lead to a pleasant outcome, however, as the boy’s trauma weighs on him until he snaps andbecomes his own version of the Jokerin the original’s place. Jason killing the Joker results in a bleak outcome in this version of events, soBatman’s fear of Robin breaking his no-kill rule in DC’s main continuity has merit.
Batman Refuses to Let Robin Break His No-Kill Rule, Even Against the Joker
Batman’s Doubts About His Moral Code Could Change His Mind, Though
Batman’s no-kill ruleis a core facet of his character that serves as a distinction between himself and his villains. By refusing to kill even those who may deserve death, he demonstrates that he won’t stoop to their level. Batman imparts this teaching upon every member of the Bat-Family, including Robin.If Robin were to kill the Joker, he would betray everything Batman stands forand become the very danger Batman seeks to snuff out. Batman’s true fear, then, isn’t necessarily the Joker dying; it’s Robin being the one to kill him and thereby betraying his sacred code.However, Batman might soon be tempted to do the same.
The code that defines Batman is being called into question.
Now, inTaylor and Janín’s ongoingDetective Comicsstoryline, the code that defines Batman is being called into question. It’s been revealed that Thomas Wayne’s loyalty to his own no-kill rule leads to himsaving Joe Chill- the man who kills him years later. Although Batman stands firm in his morals, learning that his father’s show of mercy led to his greatest tragedy may cause him to waver in that steadfast belief. IfBatmanfollows in Robin’s footsteps and abandons his no-kill rule after uncovering its consequences, he could finally make his nightmare a reality and kill theJokerwithout it breaking him.
Detective Comics#1091is available November 27th, 2024 from DC Comics.
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
The Joker
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.
