The Batman Who Laughs | |
---|---|
The Batman Who Laughs and his Robins as depicted in The Batman Who Laughs #1 (January 2018) | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | Dark Days: The Casting #1 (September 2017) |
Created by | Scott Snyder Greg Capullo |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Bruce Wayne |
Place of origin | Earth -22 |
Team affiliations | Dark Knights of the Dark Multiverse Legion of Doom |
Abilities |
|
The Batman Who Laughs is a fictional character in DC Comics. He is a supervillain, and the evil counterpart and alternate version of Batman within the multiverse. He is depicted as a hybrid of both Batman (Bruce Wayne) and Batman’s arch enemy Joker and is a member of the Dark Knights. His first appearance was in the crossover storyline Dark Nights: Metal, before later receiving his own series. He was created by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo.
Publication history[edit]
The Batman Who Laughs was created by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo first appearing in the comic book Dark Days: The Casting. The character was depicted as an alternate universe Batman who doesn't have a code against killing. Snyder explained his intent on the character in an interview by the Hollywood Reporter. 'He's basically Batman's worst nightmare come to life: Batman, if he was infected by the Joker toxin and lost all sense of ethics. What he wants to do in Gotham is bring Bruce’s worst nightmares to life.'[1]
Scott Snyder and artist Jock continued the story of The Batman Who Laughs, with a scene between DC Comics rivals Batman and the Joker that calls back to Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke.
The character would then get his own solo comic book series drawn by Jock. Snyder's intention was to hope that he would be popular enough to get his own comic book series and that Jock 'would be the perfect person to do it'.[1]
Fictional character biography[edit]
The Batman Who Laughs is a version of Batman from Earth -22, a dark reflection of the Earth-22. In that reality, the Earth -22 Joker learned of Batman's identity as Bruce Wayne and killed most of Batman's other rogues along with Commissioner Gordon. He then subjected a sizeable population of Gotham's populace to the chemicals that transformed him, subsequently killing several parents in front of their children with the goal of turning them into essentially a combination of himself and Batman. When Batman grappled with the Joker, it resulted in the latter's death as Batman is exposed to a purified form of the chemicals that gradually turned him into a new Joker, the process proving irreversible by the time Batman discovered what was happening to him. The Batman who Laughs proceeded to take over Earth-22, killing off most of his allies and turning Damian into a mini-Joker. The Batman Who Laughs seems to be the de facto leader or second-in-command of Barbatos' Dark Knights and recruited the other members.[2]
After arriving on Prime-Earth, the Batman Who Laughs takes control of Gotham and oversees events at the Challenger's mountain. He distributes joker cards to the Batman's Rogues, giving them the ability to alter reality and take over sections of the city.[3] Accompanying him are Damian and three other youths whom he also calls his sons, all four being twisted versions of Robin, having intended to destroy all of reality by linking the Over-Monitor to Anti-Monitor's astral brain. But The Batman Who Laughs is defeated when the Prime Universe Batman is aided by the Joker, who notes the alternate Batman's failure to perceive this scenario due to still being a version of Batman.[4]
While assumed dead, the Batman who Laughs is revealed to be in the custody of Lex Luthor who offers him a place in the Legion of Doom.[5]
In the Watchmen sequel, Doomsday Clock, the Batman Who Laughs is among the villains that are analyzed by Doctor Manhattan when Guy Gardner uses his power ring to show the constructs of villains that they have faced.[6]
Powers and abilities[edit]
The Batman Who Laughs is depicted as having the same abilities as Batman. Like the inhabitants of the Dark Multiverse, The Batman Who Laughs has a weakness to Nth Metal.
Reception[edit]
The Batman Who Laughs has been commonly described as 'horrifying' by website authors.[7][8][9]Comic Book Resources describes The Batman Who Laughs as comprising all the 'best' parts of Batman and the 'worst' parts of the Joker.[10]
The character has been compared as similar to Judge Death in design.[11]Scott Snyder himself noted that they have a similar aesthetic but that he tried to write them a little differently too. [12][13]
Merchandise[edit]
Funko has released Pop figures of the character. [14] Various figures from companies such as Diamond Select Toys and Prime 1 Studios have produced figures as well.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ ab''Batman Who Laughs' Reveals Dark Knight's Worst Fears (Exclusive Preview)'. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^The Batman Who Laughs #1. DC Comics.
- ^Teen Titans Vol. 6 #12. DC Comics.
- ^Dark Knights: Metal #6. DC Comics.
- ^Justice League Vol. 4 #7. DC Comics.
- ^Doomsday Clock #9. DC Comics.
- ^Polo, Susana (11 December 2018). 'The Batman Who Laughs is back, and he brought a new Nightmare Batman'. Polygon. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^Pulliam-Moore, Charles. 'The Nightmarish, Joker-esque Batman From Metal Has an Amazing, Horrifying Origin Story'. io9. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^'There's a New Batman Who Laughs, and He Just Might Be a Good Guy'. CBR. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^LaPointe, Sarah (7 December 2018). 'Dark Knight's Mettle: 15 Things That Make The Batman Who Laughs the Best (and Worst) Batman'. CBR. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^March 15, Dan Brown Updated: (15 March 2019). 'Brown: The Batman Who Laughs seems inspired by Judge Death | The London Free Press'. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^'Scott Snyder and Jock On Their 'Terrifyingly Expansive' Series, 'The Batman Who Laughs''. Comicbook.com. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^'Batman Who Laughs Gets a Ridiculously Awesome Statue From Prime 1 Studio'. www.bleedingcool.com.
- ^Fallon, Sean. 'The Batman Who Laughs Previews Exclusive Funko Pop is Almost Here'. DC. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^'Batman Who Laughs Gets a Ridiculously Awesome Statue From Prime 1 Studio'. www.bleedingcool.com. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
External links[edit]
- The Batman Who Laughs at DC Comics Wiki
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Batman_Who_Laughs&oldid=902870998'
![Who Who](/uploads/1/2/4/7/124744007/301250875.jpg)
Price refinements - Carousel
Showing slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES} - Price refinements
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking providedBatman Who Laughs #5 Francesco Mattina Virgin Variant
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking providedNew ListingBatman Who Laughs 1 DC 2018 CGC 9.8 Dell Otto virgin variant HOT! NR .99 bid!
Time left9d 3h left
1 bid
Top Rated PlusFrom United StatesCustoms services and international tracking providedFrom United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking providedTop Rated Plus
Was: Previous Price$9.99
From United StatesCustoms services and international tracking provided+$25.07 shipping
Batman Who Laughs 6 Francesco Mattina Trade Variant Joker Dark Nights Metal
From United States
or Best Offer
Customs services and international tracking providedFrom United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking provided55 Watching
BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1 Clayton Crain Exclusive Variant Trade Dress
Time left1d 19h left
2 bids
From United StatesCustoms services and international tracking providedTop Rated Plus
Was: Previous Price$59.99
From United StatesCustoms services and international tracking provided+$21.18 shipping
Top Rated Plus
Was: Previous Price$9.99
From United StatesCustoms services and international tracking provided+$25.07 shipping
Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight #1 Philip Tan Retro Variant Cover
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking providedBatman Who Laughs #1 & 2 Gabriele Dell'Otto 9.6-9.8 Variant
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking provided16 Sold16 Sold
BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #6 SUAYAN VARIANT NM CATWOMAN HARLEY IVY JOKER GRIM KNIGHT 608
Time left2d 1h left
4 bids
From United StatesCustoms services and international tracking providedLot 4 Batman Comics Batman Who Laughs All Star Batman Dceased Grim Knight w/COAs
Time left2d 2h left
11 bids
From United StatesCustoms services and international tracking providedDark Nights Metal #3 Mattina Fish Hook Virgin Variant Batman Who Laughs See Desc
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking providedTop Rated Plus
Was: Previous Price$9.99
From United StatesCustoms services and international tracking provided+$25.07 shipping
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking provided17 Watching
BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1 SET CLAYTON CRAIN FOIL VIRGIN/TRADE VARIANT LIMITED RUN 750
Time left8d 1h left
14 bids
From United StatesCustoms services and international tracking providedThe Batman Who Laughs #1 Parillo Foil Virgin Variant Limited 500 Print Run RARE
From United States
or Best Offer
Customs services and international tracking providedFrom United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking providedBATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1 SCORPION COMICS LUCIO PARRILLO VARIANT SET LIMITED TO 500
Time left4d 22h left
1 bid
From United StatesBatman Who Laughs #1 (2019) CGC 9.8 1st Print Cover A
From United States
or Best Offer
Customs services and international tracking providedBATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1 (Virgin Variant Signed by Lucio Parrillo) CGC 9.8 DC 2019
From United States
or Best Offer
Customs services and international tracking providedThe Batman who Laughs 1-6 variant issues The Grim Knight 1 variant DC comics NM
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking providedBatman Who Laughs #1 Scorpion Comics virgin variant cover C!
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking providedBenefits charity
The Batman Who Laughs: Grim Knight #1 Jay Anacleto B&W Variant Issue
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking providedThe Batman Who Laughs Run #1-5, w/ The Grim Knight #1, All Comics 1st Prints, DC
Time left1d 23h left
3 bids
From United StatesCustoms services and international tracking providedTHE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS: GRIM KNIGHT #1 Exclusive Philip Tan Variant ~ KRS Excl.
Top Rated Plus
Was: Previous Price$59.99
From United StatesCustoms services and international tracking provided+$21.18 shipping
Batman Who Laughs #5 Mico Suayan B&W Virgin Variant
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking providedBatman Who Laughs 4 2019 Kaare Andrews Variant Cover 1st App Unmasked DC NM+
Top Rated Plus
Was: Previous Price$4.99
From United StatesCustoms services and international tracking provided+$24.12 shipping
BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1 CLAYTON CRAIN B COVER VARIANT NM DC 2018
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking provided12 Watching
Batman who laughs #1 first print 2017 one shot
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking providedDark Nights Metal #1 1st Print Foil Stamped Cover - Batman Who Laughs Tie-In NM
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking provided