The Joker’s plot against the Batman family creeps into this week’s Teen Titans #15 and Red Hood and the Outlaws #15. Batman’s closest friends and allies are sentenced to die in Death of the Family. The Teen Titans rush to save a kidnapped Tim Drake. Jason Todd (aka Red Hood) may have a surprise for the Clown Prince of Crime.
“I think that the readers are going to be as surprised as the Joker is, to discover that his usual bag of psychological tricks that in the past that he has played on Jason no longer work they way he wants them to,” writer Scott Lobdell tells MTV Geek.
“The Jason that the Joker faces off against here isn’t the same angry young man who was lashing out over issues related to Bruce and Joker. And part of that is because he’s actually developed these strong relationships with the two outlaws who have been close friends and confidants since they’ve started hanging out together. Unfortunately what that means is that the Joker has to dig even deeper into his bag of psychological tricks — and what he comes up with will shake Jason to his core!”
Will Batman be stripped of his friends and allies by the time Death of the Family is over?
Warning!
Spoilers Ahead:
In this week’s Batman #15 Bruce was confronted by Barbara, Tim, Dick, Jason and Damian. The Joker claims to know the identities of Gotham City’s crime fighting “family” and that Batman will be responsible for killing all of his friends and allies within hours. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have redefined the Joker. The Clown Prince of Crime is more horrific, sadistic and creepy than ever. The creative team is redefining Batman and the heroes of Gotham City. We will soon know what the story title means. I wanted to share this part of Snyder’s interview with Comics Newsarama about how Bruce’s conflict in Death of the Family about being Batman and head of this family.
Batman #15 courtesy DC Comics
“What The Joker is saying, essentially, is “you don’t want them around for that reason.” And “deep down, you wish you weren’t responsible for them. You want to just be Batman. You don’t want the father figure role that is more of a Bruce Wayne role.”
“Well, the thing the Joker does, that I think makes him the greatest villain of all time, is he sees the things you’re afraid are true about yourself, and then brings them to life.
So they don’t necessarily have to be true….. Having young children, I was thinking about Bruce’s position as someone who’s responsible for all these younger allies and how much he is a father to them, and how in some ways, that would make him — especially coming off of the Court of Owls where he was so reliant on them — both proud of them and incredibly attached to him, but also make him worried. Not just for them, but also worried that he does rely on them in ways that he didn’t before.
The Joker, as his villain, hears that. You know what I mean? Not in a supernatural way, but in a kind of metaphorical way. He hears it and says, “I know what you’re feeling. I know you well enough, darling, to know that you just said you want the family dead, and you want to go back to being me and you.”
And Batman is saying, “No, I didn’t say that. I never said that.”
But Joker is like, “Sure you did. When you said you wanted to stop worrying about them, that’s what you meant. You’re not willing to say it, but deep down, that’s what you’re thinking.”
The Batman Family of books could be radically changed by the time this is over. Would you want to see a Batman completely on his own in a war on crime? No Robins. No allies. Batman a complete lone wolf?
Death of the Family rolls into Nightwing #15 and Red Hood and the Outlaws #15 next week. Batman #16 is Bruce’s showdown in Arkham Asylum.
Imagine Hannibal Lecter as a member of the family from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre? That’s just a starting point to describe how Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have made the ultimate comic book villain even more sadistic and sinister.
In this week’s Batman #15 Snyder opens and closes with a monologue inside Bruce’s mind that makes the Joker creepier and sicker. Taking us inside Bruce’s mind is a perfect parallel with Bruce trying to get in the Joker’s twisted head. Snyder writes one word that gave me that same chilling ick when Hannibal Lecter touched Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs.
The Joker claims he knows the true identities of Batman and his costumed allies. He declares when Batman’s friends will be dead by Batman’s hand. Just when you think the madman will be caught he turns the tables and plunges Batman into a new nightmare leading a meeting of the family.
Batman is confronted by Dick, Damian, Jason, Tim and Barbara in the Batcave forcing him to share an old secret. We can only guess what Death of the Family really means but in these scenes we are witnessing the fragile family’s trust being torn apart.
In the backup story by Snyder, James Tynion IV and Jock we see that no one – not even Gotham’s other villains – are safe from the Joker’s endgame. The Joker recruits Riddler and even names his role on the twisted plan to salute the King Batman.
What is the Joker’s final punchline? I have my guesses. Is DC letting the creators go there? Snyder and Capullo are creating a terrifying psychological thriller like masters of horror filmmaking. Inside your head you’re preparing for the shock of what you’ll find but you can’t stop yourself.
Batman and is allies (if they survive) will face the fallout of the Joker’s manipulations in the Death of the Family. DC Comics shared previews and covers from Batman family books coming in March 2013.
In Batman #18 Bruce must deal with what DC is calling it an “unspeakable tragedy” and Bruce is “in danger of losing his humanity.” Harper Row returns. The fan favorite character may be the only hope of bringing Bruce back from the edge. Andy Kubert is the guest artist of Batman #18.
In Batgirl #18 Barbara faces her twisted brother – who sold her out ot the Joker. Ray Fawkes is the guest writer for the next two issues.
The femme fatale must survive the Joker’s madness because in Catwoman #18 Selina and Bruce fight it out in a museum!?
Will one of the “Robins” suffer the most at the hands of the Joker?
Nightwing #18 it appears Dick has lost hope until a chance for revenge presents itself. Will this hero be pushed to shatter his moral code for vegeance?
Red Hood and the Outlaws #18 courtesy DC Comics
Red Hood and the Outlaws #18 If anybody has a right to wipe out the Joker it’s Jason Todd. What happens to Jason in Death of the Family that makes him change the mission of his Outlaws?
By Editor
(Please note: DC Comics stated these are not the final covers)
Three big chapters of Death of the Family hit this week! In Batman #14the Joker told Batman his deadly endgame! Bruce’s friends and allies are all marked for death. Only one of Batman’s friends knows what’s happened to Alfred (for now.)
DC Comics revealed this image from inside this Batman #15 by Greg Capullo. Barbara, Dick, Jason, Damian and Bruce are gathered in the Batcave to learn the horrible truth of Alfred. As Death of the Family continues it appears friendships and alliances are staring to break and crumble.
In Batman and Robin #15 it’s Joker vs. Damian! The Clown Prince of Crime may have met his match in this ruthless new Robin.
Batgirl #15 courtesy DC Comics
The biggest Death In The Family tie-in may feature…a wedding? Barbara Gordon faces the Joker for the first time since he shot her in Batgirl #15. What kind of sick wedding does the Joker have planned for Barbara? I hope she gets her shot at revenge.
Which ally will die? Will a member of the Family break Batman’s rule and kill the Joker?
This week’s Detective Comics #15 has the Joker cut cover and is billed as a tie-in to Death of the Family. I wouldn’t call this issue an essential part of the crossover. The Joker’s recent encounter with Penguin certainly has an impact on this book but Clayface is the star of this issue.
Clayface is raging across Gotham City in search of Poison Ivy who is buried alive. Batman uncovers the truth and tries to beat it into Clayface. I love how John Layman has twisted all the plots of several villains working with and against each other.
You have to read Batman #14 to learn of the Penguin’s connection to the Joker but this issue sets the stage for big shakeup in the Penguin’s criminal empire and a new villain’s rise to power in this book. You may get this book for the Joker tie-in but I think you’ll enjoy it for the fun story and great visuals by Jason Fabok.
The Joker is one twisted, sick freak but Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are taking the arch villain into new depths of depravity, madness and cruelty in Death of the Family. In the first two chapters the Joker revealed his plan to Batman and now Snyder is teasing what’s ahead in the crossover but first…
SPOILER ALERT!
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ BATMAN #13 AND #14 YOU MAY NOT WANT TO READ ANY MORE
SERIOUSLY
OK HERE IT COMES
Batman #15 courtesy DC Comics
The Joker has kidnapped Alfred and claims to know the identities of Batman and his allies. What’s more terrifying? The Joker will kill Batman’s friends and allies. I wanted to share some key highlights of what Scott Snyder told Comics Newsarama was coming up next in the Joker’s insane plan and his declaration that he knows all the secret identities of his allies.
“For us, that’s part of the driving horror and mystery of the story. They were afraid that this is the claim that the Joker is going to make, and now he made it. He’s saying, “I know everything about you. I’ve been in your house. I’ve been under your bed. I’ve been in your closet. There’s nothing that I can’t kill in your life or hurt to break you.” And it’s sort of your worst nightmare.
If that’s true, and what he says is true that Bruce essentially is at fault for that somehow, that’s going to drive the conflict. The question of whether or not what he’s saying is true all around is part of the driving conflict, or is the driving conflict of the story, when it comes to the family and Bruce.
So Joker is playing a game with them, where he’s saying, “I know it, and wait until you see how much I know.” He’s saying, “Wait until you see. I’m going to prove it to you. But I’m not just going to come out and say your names, because that would be too easy. I’m going to show you little by little that I have irrefutable evidence that I know exactly who you are.
And as that evidence mounts, the tension really ratchets up between the family and Bruce. What Joker said in #14 is that it’s Batman’s fault, because he wants this to be the way it is. He wants me to come after you deep down.”
Batman #13 courtesy DC Comics
The Joker declared that it’s Bruce Wayne that will kill his friends and allies. Snyder teases the final chapters of the crossover:
“So the stuff coming up in #15 is the aftermath emotionally and what happens between the Bat-family.
And issue #15 has a really big secret, also, that’s going to come out.
Issue #16 and #17 are just completely bat-sh!t crazy, in terms of what he has planned for them, in terms of the psychological, emotional and physical horror of the story.
And I would just say that The Joker has already said that he’s planning something of a celebration at some point. So I can promise you that it’s going to be the craziest, most twisted thing we could possibly do in this book.
So I’m really excited. I just finished it, actually. I just finished #17. It has my favorite ending that I’ve ever done. So I’m really, really excited about it.
And I promise you that the best stuff is still coming in this story.”
Batman #14 became nearly uncomfortable as you imagined how the Joker was torturing Alfred. Bruce could only listen. Snyder and Capullo are creating a horrific masterpiece!
Not even the rogues of Gotham City are safe from the Joker! The insane villain is going after Batman’s friends and allies in Death of the Family. The Joker plucked the Penguin in a back story in last week’s Batman #14. This week the joke is on Selina Kyle in Catwoman #14 by Ann Nocenti and Rafa Sandoval.
I can’t wait to see what the Joker orchestrates for Selina but she knows how to play cat and mouse perhaps better than anybody in Gotham!
