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 that Gotham City has ever seen, but he’s also just an outright creepy clown. Now, his design has just been taken to the next level, as Joker is caught in a brutal fire that leaves him a terrifying new look.
Readers get their first glimpse at the Joker’s new look in Batman: Dark Age #5 by writer Mark Russell and artist Michael Allred. In this story, as part of his plan to ruin Bruce Wayne, Ra’s al Ghul destroys Arkham Asylum, with Bruce’s love interest trapped inside. Despite Batman’s best attempts, 32 people die, with a beloved local comedian being on the list of dead.
Surprisingly, the comedian actually survives and ends up at a local store. It’s 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.
The Joker Was At Arkham Asylum When It Caught Fire
Batman: Dark Age #5 by Mark Russell, Michael Allred, Laura Allred, and Dave Sharpe
Dark Age has been a great comic that has reinvented several 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 into doing what he wants. Ra’s al Ghul isn’t the leader of a centuries-old clan of assassins; instead, he’s a military leader who served in Vietnam and trained Batman under him. Likewise, the Joker wasn’t tossed into a vat of acid due to the involvement of Batman, instead, he was caught in an explosion caused by Ra’s.
Every time Joker shows up in a new universe, he often has a new design, and it’s always some new kind of nightmare.
An interesting detail about this universe is that this might be one of the first times that the Joker is created in Arkham Asylum. Typically, the Joker is created elsewhere, such as in Ace Chemicals. It’s only after he first appears that he’s eventually sent to Arkham Asylum. The other major difference is the fact that the Joker doesn’t have any real connection to Batman. While it’s true he is only caught in the blast because of events surrounding Batman, there’s no way he could know that. This Joker could be unique in that he may not be as obsessed with Batman as his usual interpretations are.
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 design, and it’s always some new kind of nightmare. Very little has been seen about the Dark Age version of The Joker, but he’s already left a terrifying first impression and is no doubt going to be a major threat to Gotham City and Batman.
Batman: Dark Age
#5
is on sale now from DC Comics!
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The Joker
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.
