NOTICE! Spoilers for Batman: Dark Patterns #1
The Joker is known for striking fear in the hearts of heroes and villains alike, and he is considered Batmanis the archenemy for good reason. Now, however, a new villain has been introduced to Gotham who makes the Joker seem – ironically – like a joke. The Wounded Man is scarier than the Joker could ever dream, changing Gotham's hierarchy of villains.
Batman: Dark Patterns #1 by Dan Watters, Hayden Sherman, TrÃona Farrell and Frank Cvetkovic serves as the debut of the Joker's unexpected challenger. Batman investigates a series of bloody murders, where the killer covered the victims with fingernails and brutally tortured them, removing their teeth and tongues. This killer is revealed to be a new villain, the Wounded Man, who has a truly grotesque design.
The Hurt Man's design and vile crimes make him a cut above the Joker in terms of his horror-inducing potential.and he would even inspire fear in the Clown Prince of Crime himself if they crossed paths.
Sorry, Joker: Wounded Man Is Officially Batman's Scariest Enemy
The Wounded Man has a scarier design than any other Gotham villain
From a visual standpoint, the Hurt Man is difficult to look at due to his horrific appearance and is therefore a more horrific sight than any other Gotham villain. Its scorching red body is covered in nails from head to toe, resembling a surgical diagram meant to indicate possible injuries that doctors could treat. Although the diagram depicts potential injuries, the Wounded Man makes each injury a reality by apparently inflicting them on himself. While the Joker's clown design is creepy in a strange way, subverting a look that is typically silly and unassuming, the Hurt Man's design looks straight out of a horror movie.
Just like the Joker, the Hurt Man's fear factor also lies deeper below the surface level. The sickly condition of his victims proves that he is as cruel as he seems, surpassing even the Joker's level of violence. Furthermore, the scariest aspect of his actions is that they are a misguided attempt to help others. The image of the Wounded Man presents hypothetical wounds to be healed, and the real Wounded Man is forcing these wounds upon others as he tries to “heal” them. The Joker hurts for the sake of hurting, while the Hurt Man may actually believe he's right – making Gotham's latest villain that much more twisted.
The Wounded Man Dethrones The Joker As Batman's True Enemy
Gotham faces the ultimate threat as Batman meets his match
The Joker can get under Batman's skin like no other villain in Gotham, but the Wounded Man is an even greater adversary for one important reason. As he is covered in nails positioned around his organs and arteries, a blow could kill him on impact. Batman's no-kill rule prohibits him from delivering a potentially fatal blow, so he must refrain from attacking the Wounded Man. However, the Wounded Man still attacks relentlessly while the Dark Knight is left frightened and inactive. The Joker officially lost its status BatmanThe most fearsome enemy with the arrival of the Wounded Man.
Batman: Dark Patterns #1 is now available from DC Comics.