The writer the newest Batman/Superman comic series promised it would be one of DC's biggest and most important stories in years, and the latest twist may show exactly why. Readers beware: massive SPOILERS ahead.
When The Batman Who Laughs invaded the DC Universe to show what Bruce Wayne would become if he surrendered to Joker's madness, fans knew the nightmarish supervillain was something new. Now his master plan has been revealed, having infected six DC heroes with the evil of the Dark Multiverse. That's the kind of trust-testing mystery only Batman and Superman could ever solve. But the duo have just accepted their next step isn't to fight their enemy... it's to sacrifice the Man of Steel himself to an infection of evil.
Batman & Superman Know What Their Enemy Wants
The first victim of The Batman Who Laughs was actually revealed before the first issue was released, with fans getting a glimpse of Billy Batson a.k.a. Shazam already corrupted. That secret was delivered in the pages of Batman/Superman #1, with the young hero using his innocent appearance to 'kick Superman's ass' in seconds. But the trio's full blown battle demonstrated that neither Batman nor Superman could tackle this problem by personally fighting every one of their infected colleagues. And it also revealed what the villain is really after.
Amidst the high flying combat between Batman, Superman, and the evil King Shazam, it was shown that general chaos, heartbreak, or tragedy isn't what The Batman Who Laughs has in mind. When the dark Shazam pulled out one of the villain's custom made batarangs meant to deliver the infection--branded with the symbol of Superman--both Bruce and Clark understood how they almost played directly into their enemy's hands. After escaping the fight uncorrupted, it's Superman himself who realizes that seeing what The Batman Who Laughs will attempt next... means giving him his prize for this round. And they say Batman is crazy.
Superman is Going Evil Undercover
The issue ends with Superman revealing the truth behind one of the good Batman's secrets. Apparently Clark has known all along that The Batman Who Laughs has been living in a prison cell constructed under the Hall of Justice (answering a question many fans were asking following the villain's standalone series). And despite Batman's reservations, he's accepted Superman's proposed plan: starting with breaking their enemy out of his cell--and convincing him that King Shazam's mission was a success.
Its safe to assume that the heroes have come up with some plan to outsmart The Batman Who Laughs, or only make it seem that Superman is permanently infected. Still, Batman's final warning that "the clock is ticking" is sure to unsettle readers. Here's hoping that this unexpected twist doesn't end up biting the heroes instead of the villain. But until the next issue arrives, there's no telling what lies in store for... The Superman Who Laughs.
- BATMAN/SUPERMAN #2
- Written by: Joshua Williamson
- Art by: David Marquez
- Cover Art by: David Marquez
- Variant Cover Art by: Jerome Opena
- The Batman Who Laughs' plot is bigger than either the Caped Crusader or the Man of Steel realized. Following a showdown with the devious killer's first sentinel, a jacked-up, Dark Multiverse-infected Shazam!, the pair has to figure out who else has been targeted for similar transformations. Their first two guesses: someone very close to Batman and the one hero that would make failure nearly impossible--Superman himself!
Batman/Superman #2 is available now from your local comic book shop, or direct from DC Comics.