Warning! Contains spoilers for Batman: Dark Age #5!There are few characters more terrifying than The Joker. Not only is he one of the worst killers Gotham City has ever seen, but he’s also just a creepy clown. Now, his plan has just been taken to the next level, as Joker is caught in a brutal fire that leaves him with a terrifying new look.
Readers get their first look at the Joker’s new look Batman: Dark Age #5 by writer Mark Russell and artist Michael Allred. In this story, as part of his plan to destroy Bruce Wayne, Ra’s al Ghul destroys Arkham Asylum, with Bruce’s love interest trapped inside. Despite Batman’s best efforts, 32 people die, with a beloved local comedian on the death toll.
Surprisingly, the comedian actually survives and ends up in a local store. It is here that he reveals his new appearance, with his skin having a much more melted texture as a result of being trapped in the fire. He also seems to be using his makeup to hide the severity of the burns he took.
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The Joker was in Arkham Asylum when it caught fire
Batman: Dark Age #5 by Mark Russell, Michael Allred, Laura Allred, and Dave Sharpe
Dark Age was a great comic that reinvented some of Batman’s greatest villains. Instead of being a mad inventor who uses hats to literally control people’s minds, the Mad Hatter is instead a cult leader who uses his words to influence people to do what he wants. Ra’s al Ghul is not the leader of a centuries-old clan of assassins; instead, He is a military leader who served in Vietnam and trained Batman under him. Likewise, the Joker isn’t tossed in a vat of acid due to Batman’s involvement, instead, he’s caught in an explosion caused by Ra’s.
Every time Joker shows up in a new universe, he often has a new plan, and it’s always a new kind of nightmare.
An interesting detail about this universe is that this may be one of the first times that the Joker has been created in Arkham Asylum. Typically, the Joker is created elsewhere, such as at Ace Chemicals. It was only after he first appeared that he was eventually sent to Arkham Asylum. The other major difference is the fact that the Joker has no real connection to Batman. While it’s true he was only caught in the blast because of events surrounding Batman, there’s no way he could know that. The Joker may be unique in that he may not be as obsessed with Batman as his usual interpretations.
No matter the universe, the Joker is always scary
The Joker has consistently been one of the most terrifying villains in Batman’s rogues gallery, both because of his sadistic crimes and just because clowns are generally scary. Every time Joker shows up in a new universe, he often has a new plan, and it’s always a new kind of nightmare. Very little has been seen about these Dark Age version of The JokerBut he has already left a terrifying first impression and is no doubt going to be a major threat to Gotham City and Batman.
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Batman: Dark Age #5 (2024) |
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