Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman #106.

In the latest issue of DC Comics' Batman, the Scarecrow has been set up to be the Dark Knight's next big bad villain in Gotham City, and now he may just have powers to go along with his fear toxins. Scarecrow's return to Gotham comes with an all-new look that's much more frightening than his old costume, and it could be indicative of some new powers as well. Additionally, an interaction in Batman #106 with Gotham's mayor may have just offered a tease that Scarecrow has indeed leveled up.

In Infinite Frontier #0, it was revealed that Gotham City is already incredibly afraid. The events of the recent Joker War, combined with a new attack on Arkham Asylum, have led to major anti-vigilante sentiments against Batman and his allies, and Gotham's new mayor seems determined to follow through on his campaign promises to crack down on Gotham's vigilante activity. However, it's also revealed that Scarecrow intends to take advantage of Gotham's fears and amplify them to a whole new level the likes of which have never been seen before. Scarecrow's also working with businessman Simon Saint, as the two of them are both in positions to benefit from Gotham's fear.

Related: DC Comics Just Killed A Major Batman Villain (Is Joker Being Framed?)

As such, Batman #106, from writer James Tynion IV and artist Jorge Jiménez, sees Simon Saint pitching his company's concept of the Magistrate program to Mayor Nakano. While Nakano said he'd think about the program, he later mentions to his aides that he got an eerie feeling about Saint. However, he also says that the entire time he was talking to the CEO, it felt like something was itching inside his brain. It's possible that this was Dr. Jonathan Crane himself, as he was seen observing the meeting from a nearby rooftop looking through a window.

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While Scarecrow is sticking to the shadows for now, this new arc did start in the near future with Scarecrow having captured Batman. While Batman is constantly inoculating himself to different strains of Scarecrow's fear toxins in order to counteract the symptoms and hallucinations, Scarecrow might be dealing in a whole new method of instilling fear entirely. It almost looked like Scarecrow was implementing some form of mind control on the Dark Knight as well. Did Crane also exhibit this same ability to make Mayor Nakano uneasy during the meeting with Simon Saint? This would certainly be impressive considering Scarecrow was across the street and looking through a glass window.

If Scarecrow does indeed have powers, it wouldn't be the first time. In As the Crow Flies from past DC Comics, Crane's own fear experiments turned him into a fear monster known as the Scarebeast that breathed his own fear gas. Regardless of whether he has powers or not, it's clear that Scarecrow is taking his plans to the next level, and he looks to have become more of a physical threat as evidenced by his rooftop climbings and sneaking into the mayor's mansion at the issues's end. In any case, Batman has yet to discover Scarecrow's new presence in Gotham (though he's starting to get his suspicions). Here's hoping the Dark Knight will be prepared to face the new and improved Scarecrow in whatever form he takes in future issues from DC Comics.

More: What Happened To Scarecrow After The Dark Knight Rises?