DC Completely Reinvents Joker's Personality and Mental State In Shocking New Batman Story

When it comes to depicting the Joker, the lone changeless astatine DC Comics is the information that everything changes. The Clown Prince of Crime is mercurial and ever evolving, a information that we're reminded of successful Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez's Batman #7. This contented introduces 1 of the astir startling revamps successful the villain's decades-long history, suggesting that Joker whitethorn person yet regained his grip connected sanity.

Read connected to larn much astir what happens successful this issue, but beware of full spoilers for Batman #7 ahead!

Issue #7 sees Batman summoned to Arkham Asylum by 1 of Joker's concealed messengers, overmuch to the chagrin of Joker's caller caretaker, Dr. Zeller. She reluctantly allows Batman to conscionable with the antheral she refers to arsenic "Patient 10." Batman is instantly taken aback by seeing his aged foe floating successful a Darth Vader-style vessel and hooked up to each mode of tubes and a intelligence stimulation instrumentality known arsenic the Crown of Storms.

Joker reveals that Zeller has helped him successful a mode nary different doc astatine Arkham ever has. Her devices and treatments person granted him a definite grade of "clarity" for the archetypal clip since his archetypal transformation. His assemblage has intelligibly seen amended days, but his caput is arsenic adjacent to steadfast arsenic it's ever been.

Art by Jorge Jiménez. (Image Credit: DC)

Joker makes it wide that helium hasn't abruptly forgotten his galore crimes, nor does helium look peculiarly apologetic astir his past. He besides notes that he's having large trouble distinguishing betwixt existent memories and dreams. But helium present views Batman arsenic a "friend." Batman and Joker are conscionable 2 profoundly lonely men who request each other's company.

Batman, unsurprisingly, isn't having immoderate of this, and helium prepares to leave. But Joker insists that Dr. Zeller crook disconnected her intercom agelong capable for him to uncover the concealed crushed helium summoned the Dark Knight. Once she does, Joker reveals that his underworld sources person uncovered whispers astir a caller menace successful Gotham City. This mysterious force is gunning for Gotham City's large defender. Not Batman, but Bruce Wayne.

Art by Jorge Jiménez. (Image Credit: DC)

For the record, Joker has already known Batman's concealed individuality for immoderate clip now, dating backmost to 2013's Batman: Death of the Family. But the information that he's showing genuine interest for Bruce's well-being is surely a immense alteration for the character. Joker present seems to beryllium emerging arsenic a benignant of Hannibal Lecter fig successful Batman's satellite - idiosyncratic who's ain horrifying crimes marque him uniquely suited to usher and counsel our hero.

This is conscionable the latest twist successful Joker's perpetually evolving property successful the DC Universe. The Three Jokers comic suggested that determination person really been 3 versions of the quality progressive successful Gotham City astatine assorted points, portion Joker: Year One argued that these antithetic Jokers were manifestations of the aforesaid damaged mind. Now, Joker seems to beryllium arsenic adjacent to cured arsenic we've ever seen him, but tin it last? Let america cognize what you deliberation successful the comments below.

Jesse is simply a mild-mannered unit writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intelligence thicket by following @jschedeen connected BlueSky.