Don't Count The Batman Out Hot off the heels of his first face-to-face confrontation with The Joker, Batman is briefly subdued as a bridge explodes underneath him at the hands of The Joker. Being setup is, of course, not a surprise to Batman, and he was prepared, as he lunges forward through the fireball at The Joker, landing first contact across his face and knocking him to the ground. But what's of particular interest here is that The Joker was actually SURPRISED. Never one to be unprepared, The Joker is actually caught off guard as Batman not only survives the blast planned for him, but then he gets knocked to the ground. This moment resonates simply because it sets the stage for all future confrontations between the two men - never again after this first meeting between these two would-be mortal enemies would either of them underestimate each other and their respective abilities, and they will now be ready for what can, will, and might happen in the future.
