The last chapter of this week’s Death of the Family reveals the Joker’s final shocker! Will a member of Bruce’s alliance die? Will the Batman family be torn apart? While Batman Inc is not directly tied to Death of the Family could the death we’ve been expecting be due to Bruce and Talia’s blood feud and not the Joker’s maniacal manipulations?
Here’s what we know Continue reading BATMAN & Dead Robin?
It’s curtains at the circus with tents of terror courtesy of the Joker in this week’s Nightwing #16. Kyle Higgins and Eddy Barrows create a violent, spooky study in evil winning. Dick runs to Haly’s Circus only to find one horrific hearbreak after another.
This may become the ultimate Nightwing versus Joker clash. When I think of all the tie-in issues of Death of the Family this may be the toughest to read as the Joker unleashes one shocker after another at Dick until the final moment that will leave you guessing until the finale in Batman #17.
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Batman fans are recovering from the shocking events of this week’s Batman #16. What Bruce discovered inside Arkham Asylum was the Joker at his most horrific and demented. (A literal Dance of Death!)
Next month’s Batman #17 is the final chapter of Death of the Family and we learn the Joker’s full plan and how it will affect the Batman family. Writer Scott Snyder is talking about what to expect in the grand finale:
“Well, I can tell you there are definitely some insane moments in the conclusion and some crazy things happen so, I’ve always been braced for it as something that isn’t designed to just shock for the sake of shocking, but is the culmination of the story in a way that feels organic and surprising,” Snyder tells The Huffington Post. “I can’t remember who it was, but I had a teacher that gave me a writing quote when I was a student that said ‘Every ending should be both inevitable and totally surprising,’ and I completely believe that. Hopefully this is an ending that feels organic to the story we’ve been telling, and when you get there you’ll say ‘I can’t believe this just happened,’ and at the same time, you’ll feel that it’s a cumulative, horrible thing out of everything that’s been going on.”
Snyder and Greg Capullo have transformed the Clown Prince of Crime into a something even more horrific. This story could take Bruce back to his origin when it was just Batman – no Robins, no Batgirl, no one else. In a twisted way is the Joker making Bruce a “better” Batman?
“Joker is coming at Batman from a place of very personal terror for me. And a place of personal guilt, and also a place of great personal anxiety,” Snyder told PopMatters. “So I think he is coming after Bruce in a way that is getting at a very, very personal story for Bruce. Because as much as Bruce loves the Family, you could make the accusation that in some ways he wishes he could stop worrying about them. Does that me he wishes they didn’t exist? Of course not. Does that mean he doesn’t love them? No, of course not. But that’s the way the Joker interprets it. The Joker says, ‘You’ve become slow and weak, and you’ve become nothing of the Batman I used to know. So deep down I know you’re unhappy. And I’ve heard you think this almost (not in a supernatural way, but just in a kind of figurative way),’ So he says, ‘Let me grant you your wish, because I’m here to serve you. And we’ll have so much fun afterwards.’”
Batman #17 hits February 13th.
Thanks to The Source.
Batman #16 Bruce is about to confront the Joker in this critical Death of the Family chapter. The Joker’s plan is finally revealed inside Arkham Asylum. Is Batman ready the showdown? Are you ready to see what the Joker has waiting inside?
New Avengers #2 Marvel’s biggest brains gather to plan for the death of the Earth and everything? Black Panther assembles Namor, Reed Richards, Iron Man, Black Bolt and Doctor Strange but have the new Illuminati already given up?
Saga #9 The sci-fi space opera switches focus from the bounty hunter whose been track the star-crossed lovers of the series. The Will make have his own romantic hands full with an alien temptress.
Savage Wolverine #1 Logan. Shanna the She-Devil. The Savage Land. Frank Cho. That should be a ’nuff said but in just in case: Dinosaurs. SHIELD. Shanna by Cho!
X-Factor #250 Lords of Hell battle to control Earth. Will the heroes of X-Factor Investigations sacrifice themselves to stop the Hell On Earth war?
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You’re invited to an unholy union! Barbara Gordon’s wedding to the Joker in this week’s Batgirl #16. The Death of the Family storyline hits Batman #16 and Batman and Robin #16 this week too.
The Gordon family is on hand to watch the nightmare nuptials. As you can see in this Comics Newsarama preview the Joker has plenty of “best men” to back up the ceremony. Can Barbara save her family and escape the Joker’s bizarre plot? Gail Simone has been building towards this moment since the new series started.
Will Barbara get revenge against the villain who crippled her and can she survive the enemy in her own family?
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In The Dark Knight Trilogy Ra’s Al Ghul told Bruce Wayne to become a symbol to fight injustice. In this week’s Detective Comics #16 the Joker has become an inspirational symbol to Gotham City’s unhinged and mentally unstable. The Joker never appear in this excellent issue (or does he?) but his sinister influence chokes this issue like Joker gas creeping into you.
In this Death of the Family tie-in Batman fights to stop bands of Joker fans and wannabes. John Layman and Jason Fabok craft a chilling tale of madness and manipulation among ordinary people pushed over the edge and ruthless new criminals seizing their claims in Gotham City. Layman shows us the ramifications of the Joker’s comeback.
Batman races across Gotham trying to stop the violence and track down the mysterious League of Smiles. The real madman behind the outbreak may not be the Joker but a new holy terror. Another new villain is taking advantage of the Joker’s rampage. While Oswald Cobblepot has been recruited by the Joker the Emperor Penguin makes his move on the crime lords of Gotham City. The back story showing the new villain’s rise to power is chilling and fun.
John Layman, Jason Fabok and Andy Clarke deliver a fun read that ties loosely into Death of the Family while setting the stage for new enemies and showdowns in Gotham City’s Underworld.
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Death of the Family hits this week’s Detective Comics #16. While the Joker continues his campaign of terror against the Dark Knight and his allies, Batman joins forces with Penguin? Does Bruce know the Joker has already “recruited” Oswald in his plot against Batman? You know this deal is going to come back to haunt Bruce!
Writer John Layman is remaking Gotham City’s underworld. In this week’s issue we’ll see the fallout from the new mastermind usurping the Penguin’s throne and how it will affect Batman’s deal with the Penguin and the crime lords of Gotham City.
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The Joker’s reign of terror hits this week’s Teen Titans #15. The Clown Prince of Crime claims to know the real identities of Batman and his allies. The Joker declares he must kill Bruce’s friends and allies to make him a better Batman. The men formerly known as “Robin” team up to take down the psycho.
The Red Hood (Jason Todd) of the Outlaws and Red Robin (Tim Drake) of the Titans join forces against the Joker in Teen Titans #15 by Scott Lobdell (writer of Red Hood and The Outlaws too) and Brett Booth. Batgirl will guest star and Batman artist Greg Capullo created this creepy image. This is not the final cover.
This week’s Death of the Family tie-in chapter picks after after Red Hood and the Outlaws #15. 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 told 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!”
Could this mean the Death of the Outlaws?
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