admonition ! Contains spoilers for Batman # 143 !

Summary

TheJokerhas always wanted to makeBatmanlaugh . Despite the Joker ’s many effort at showing Batman the derisory side of biography , Batman has never really break his I. F. Stone - face persona , and it turns out that this want of humour on Batman ’s part is what makes him the last survivor in the Joker ’s apocalypse .

Thetrue origins of the Jokerare being revealed in " The Joker : Year One , " a story that continues inBatman#143 by Chip Zdarsky , Giuseppe Camuncoli , and Andrea Sorrentino . The Joker ’s origin floor is juxtaposed with a New York minute - forward to his last attack on Gotham , which leaves the city entirely destroy , as jokester - like zombies wander the ruin .

In the premature issue , Batman ’s narration explicate that the virus that transforms people into these monsters is transmitted through laugh . Batman make earplug that block out the frequency of laughter , andsince he never laughs himself , he ’s carry off to be the last survivorin this Book of Revelation scenario .

Featured Image: Action shot, Batman leaping at the Joker on Gotham rooftop, as Joker swings a crowbar; Bat Signal lights the sky in the background

The Joker has had many diabolic programme over the years , but one non-white plan deserved a lot more credit than it was yield .

The Jokers Virus Is Transmitted Through Laughter

Part ofBatman and the Joker ’s conflictis their highly differing views on the world . Batman believe that order can exist , that justice is real , and that innocent hoi polloi should be part with from harm . The Joker believes that nothing matters and that life is pure topsy-turvydom . For years , the Joker has tried to justify his stand to Batman , which has lead in account such asThe Killing Jokeby Alan Moore and Brian Bolland , in which the Joker specifically ask Batman"Why ca n’t you see the funny side?“This has been a major component of their struggle , and now Batman ’s refusal to sympathize the Joker ’s worldview is what ultimately help save him .

Regardless of how manyjokes that the Joker tells Batman , the punchline never seems to make the Dark Knight life . This was famously pointed out by Batman Beyond Terry McGinnis in the animate filmReturn of the Joker , as part of the Joker ’s obsession over the years was his inability to get a laugh out of Batman . It seems that this will finally advertize the Joker to try and wedge Batman into see his view of the world . If Batman refuse to express mirth for Joker , then the Joker will ram the entire world to laugh at Batmanby unleashing a computer virus that transmits through laughter .

" The Joker : Year One " is a three - part story told weekly in theBatmantitle throughout February 2024 .

Collage of Captain Sisko, Captain Picard, Captain Kirk, and Captain Janeway from the Star Trek franchise.

The Joker Has Always Been Trying to Make Batman Laugh

As it stands , the Joker will sure continue evolving until he reaches a point where he destroy everything in Gotham and the DC Universe at large . The exact details of how he does that have finally been revealed . The Joker ’s final gag is trapping Batman in a world where everyone sees the joke except for him , and if Batman ever does terminate up get word the mirthful side of thing , he ’ll join the Joker ’s human beings — evermore . That ’s why , for all their battles over the years , it ’s not Batman ’s willpower or sense of justice that will finally carry through him : it ’s thatBatmanjust does n’t encounter theJokerfunny .

Batman#143is available February 13th from DC Comics !

BATMAN # 143 ( 2024 )

gary larson far side cow and cavemen

Comic book art: Batman Fighting the Joker

Batman #142, future timeline, Gotham lies in ruins with Jokerfied civilians all around

Comic book panels: the Joker grinning and Batman adjusting his mask.

Batman 143 Main Cover: the Joker looking scared as Batman attacks him.

Batman