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From a continuity standpoint , creating compelling report around Batman ’s implike - enemy theJokeris a freehanded trouble forDC Comicswriters . Because he is so prostrate to wild and irrational changes in personality and design , the Joker tends to have even the most prolific Batman writers fall into this trap . A perfect example of this can be control when comparing Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo ’s “ Death of the Family ” with James Tynion IV and Jorge Jimenez ’s “ Joker War . ”
“ Death of the Family ” was Snyder ’s third story bow on hisBatmanrun take after “ Court of Owls ” and then “ City of Owls . ” After accept his face removed by Dollmaker , Joker returns to Gotham City find out to help Batman turn as a hero . To accomplish this , Joker seeks to rid Batman of his allies , which the ClownPrince of Crime believe is seduce Batman fallible . In Tynion ’s " Joker War , " the Joker ’s master key program sees him connive to rid Bruce Wayne of his fortune , which the Joker then uses to wage war across the entirety of Gotham City . Although both were crossover event that traverse all the Bat - titles , “ expiry of the Family ” was a small , more personal story arc than “ Joker War . ”
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One of the grown mysteries throughout “ Death of the Family ” is the closed book that Batman is maintain from the rest of the Bat - Family . A looming suspicion is that the Joker experience Batman ’s individuality , and therefore also knows the identities of his allies . Only in the arc ’s last moments do we find out that if Joker does have sex who Batman is then he has no stake in utilizing that knowledge . Bruce Wayne confabulate Joker in Arkham , seeminglyadmitting to the villain that he is Batman . But Joker does n’t engage him . He has no interest in Bruce Wayne . Only the Bat . Yet “ Joker War ” is built solely on the premise that Joker need to steal Bruce Wayne ’s money . He completely shunt get the better of Batman as Batman , live after the Caped Crusader ’s civilian moniker instead . This all contradicts the personation Joker undergo in “ Death of the Family . ”
Pinning down the Joker as a character reference becomes even more complicated when factoring in Geoff Johns ’s prestige miniseriesThree Jokers . That story builds off the premise that Batman has not just been battle one Joker but several , all with their own unequalled style and personalities . Three Jokers ’s publication chronicle is complicated , and there are questions as to whether or not it ’s even considered canon . But the construct was first introduced inJustice League # 50 , so it ’s hard to debate it ’s not at least a strong part of DC chronicle . Still , the fact a story like that was even published speaks tothe estimation of the Joker ’s convoluted backstory .
In the death , though , the problem of writing the Joker might not be a problem at all . writer have largely ignore Joker ’s continuity when craft their own take on the character , even going so far as to embrace the obscurity of his history . That ’s largely part of the Joker ’s appeal . Without a solid blood line or individuality , he ’s not so much a character as he is a force of nature . The mystery of who he is and what he truly wants is what piss him so terrifying . To quote theJokerhimself from Alan Moore ’s classicThe Killing Joke,“if I ’m going to have a past tense , I opt it to be multiple choice . " It seems as though the same go for his present .
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