A Line of Dialogue From Joker Apparently Creates a Plot Hole in 1989 Batmanbut there may be an easy solution. The game changer Batman was a commercial, cultural, and critical success in 1989, forever altering the superhero genre and establishing Batman as one of DC’s most bankable characters. While the film remains a beloved classic, it is of course not without its flaws, although new material defines its continuity – such as the Batman ’89 2024 comics and novel by John Jackson Miller Batman: Resurrection – retroactively corrected some of them.
An apparent failure in 1989 Batman involves Bruce Wayne’s discovery that the Joker murdered his parents. Near the end of the film, Jack Nicholson’s live-action Joker attempts to assassinate Bruce Wayne in Vicki Vale’s apartment, pointing a gun at him while asking, “Have you ever danced with the devil under the pale moonlight?Joker elaborates further, stating: “I always ask this of all my prey”, but the problem is that, other than Bruce Wayne and his parents, Napier never said this quote to any of his other victims, apparently creating a plot hole.
Joker only uses the quote in “Prey”
There’s a pretty simple explanation for the Joker quote and the apparent plot hole it creates. Joker claims that he asks the question to all his “prey”, indicating that perhaps only some of his victims hear the question before he kills them. The Wayne family was helpless as they left the Monarch Theater, as was Bruce Wayne, who, despite his outburst in Vicki’s apartment, is just a socialite and businessman – as far as Joker knows. Thus, all three were considered “prey” by the Joker, while his other victims do not.
The Joker kills many characters in 1989 Batman. Before his transformation into the Joker, Napier fatally shoots GCPD Lieutenant Max Eckhardt. The man was corrupt and violent, and therefore, it would likely be seen as a fellow “predator” by Napier. The same logic likely applies to crime bosses Carl Grissom, Antoine Rotelli, and Vinnie Ricorso, as well as the Joker’s right-hand man, Bob. The Joker kills countless innocent citizens of Gotham through Smylex-tainted products and Smylex gas during Gotham’s bicentennial parade. Since the Joker didn’t kill them personally and directly, he might not ask his signature question, by his logic.
Interestingly, this supposed plot hole was not addressed by the Batman ’89 comics and Resurrectionwith both properties making efforts to explain, correct, or add additional context to some of the potentially confusing elements of 1989 Batman and its sequel, Batman Returns. Resurrection has the ideal opportunity given the way it revisits the events of the 1989 film – but ultimately neither property needed to go back and explain this specific plot element. Simply put, the year 1989 Batman line is already justified with the Joker’s distorted explanation.
Batman is a 1989 superhero film directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne. The film features Jack Nicholson’s chilling portrayal of Jack Napier, who transforms into the Joker and reigns terror in Gotham. Kim Basinger also stars in the film as Vicki Vale, along with Michael Gough as Bruce’s faithful butler named Alfred.
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