With The Joker’s plan laid bare in Batman #16 and only one issue left in the Death Of The Family arc, speculation on how the story will end is at fever pitch. Spoilers ahead.
Mr J. has the Dark Knight exactly where he wants him at Arkham Asylum and has the rest of the Bat-family captive, leaving Bruce no option but to play his role in the ‘royal dance macabre’ set up by the Clown Prince of Crime and his attending Rogues Gallery.
But with one issue left in the DOTF arc, what does it mean for Batman to take his throne in Joker’s Castle of Cards? What fate will befall Jason, Damian, Tim, Dick and Barbara? And, most importantly, WHAT’S ON JOKER’S PLATE?!!
Let the speculation begin. Here’s five ways Death Of The Family could end.
5. A Robin Will Die
Fans have been speculating that one of the Robins, or even Nightwing or Batgirl, could be killed off since the very start of the arc. While I don’t particularly see it happening, Joker does have a penchant for offing Robins since he beat Jason Todd to death.
We saw in Batman #16 that Joker has each of the Bat-family members in a precarious situation. Can Bruce really manage to save them all? The entire arc has been Bruce’s fear of losing one of the them because of what he’s exposed them to, so it would be logical for one of them to die.
On the other hand, if they were to each get themselves out of their individual predicaments, Bruce could learn a valuable lesson to trust that Dick, Damian, Tim, Jason and Barbara are capable enough to look after themselves.
The death of a Robin would have (and has had) a devastating effect on Bruce. Given the synopsis of Batman #18, set directly after the end of DOTF, things certainly sound ominous: “In the wake of unspeakable tragedy, Batman is in danger of losing his humanity!”
Unspeakable tragedy? Losing his humanity? Sounds like a death in the family to me – but it doesn’t necessarily need to be a costumed sidekick….
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8 Comments
I have to admit I was not 100% sure that was Joker under the face in the first issue of this run but if that is the twist they pull I won’t be too happy I don’t think. The writing involved in some of Joker’s dialogue in Snyder’s issues has been stunning, so if that’s not Joker, then this has largely been a rouse that won’t sit too well with me.
Additionally if Joker does know the truth about the Batfamily, it’ll be great for this one event but I’m not sure how much further that idea could run.
Cannot wait for the next instalments to roll around.
The reason the joker removes his face is explained in the suicide squad tie in, in issure #15. He wants to get rid of the bat-family so that Batman can be the best he can be. While talking to(and trying to kill) Harley Quinn, he explains that he removed his face so that he, too, can be at his best. The removing of his face is symbolic of the Joker throwing away any shred of humanity left in him. I’m assuming he straps his face back on so that people won’t get confused saying its not really the Joker since he has a new face. That and, he looks hell of a lot creepier and much more sadistic with the face strapped on, and you can see it start to rot away as the Joker is talking to Damian.
My biggest question throughout reading this arc has been what is Joker going to do with his face when this is all over? If he goes back to Arkham, can they even reattach his face now that the skin is rotting?
Also a good point, there’s no real way of going back from this for Joker is there? Maybe he will die..
I do love the Joker’s new look. Full blown crazy and amazing costume idea.
If a Robin must be sacrificed, let it be Damian. I can’t stand him anyways. I don’t want to lose the others! I honestly prefer the last option on your list. It would be a huge mistake on DC’s part to do the other 4 options. If that happened, I’d stop reading New 52 altogether. Heck, I’m already disappointed with it and prefer reading pre-Flashpoint comics and pretending that New 52 is just starting over again and bears no relation to the stories prior.
In response to the overall discussion around why the Joker cut his face off… Sure, he told Harley the reason was to sever ties with humanity altogether; relying on raw, animal instincts. But that can’t be accepted at “face value”. HIs every word is a pre-calculated weapon, that tunnels into a victim’s mind, provoking the reaction he wants. Look at his overall appearance: gray meachanic’s jumpsuit, tool belt with grisly instruments, and a dried face with a fixed expression. More along the lines of a Michael Myers, Jason Voorhies archetype. I think Joker is sending the message of being a symbol of unstoppable horror, stalking his victim endlessly. Even when he looks dead, he gets up and starts over. My opinion atleast…
I think that Joker is dying. He is already dead. Its HIS head on the platter and he used his mind control toxin on Alfred. The screams we heard was him removed alfred’s face. He gave him the mind control to make him act as joker. SO now the bat family will inadvertently kill Alfred.
how terrible for batman to have his son kill his father