Warning! Contains spoilers for Batman/Superman: World's Finest #9!One of the darkest atrocities the Joker ever committed could be happening again with Superman's newest sidekick. In Batman/Superman: World's Finest #9, it looks like history is about to repeat itself after Boy Thunder finds himself in the Joker's grasp.
Out of all the villains in Batman's expansive rogues' gallery, few have damaged the hero in the way that the Joker has. The Joker put himself in a category above the Mad Hatters and Clayfaces of the world when he viciously beat Jason Todd with a crowbar and left him to die in an exploding building. The Joker killing Robin was a game-changer for Batman, and nearly caused him to retire the role of the Boy Wonder for good. Though Bruce was able to make peace with what had transpired, he's never been able to forget how his archenemy was able to hurt one of Batman's own.
And unfortunately, it looks like the Joker isn't content to just kill the Dark Knight's sidekick. In Batman/Superman: World's Finest #9 by Mark Waid and Dan Mora, it seems that the latest partner for the Man of Steel could be the Clown Prince of Crime's latest victim. Superman’s newest sidekick, Boy Thunder (aka David Sikela), is still learning the ropes of heroism and how to handle his powers. However, as Boy Thunder adjusts to his new normal, the Joker and the Key have teamed up for a plan that involves flooding Metropolis. Boy Thunder accompanies Batman while Superman attempts to reverse the flow of the water back through the portal it's coming through. While Batman manages to get the portal closed, he misses a new portal open up and snatch David away. In the Key and Joker's hideout, Boy Thunder has already fallen victim to Joker's insidious toxins.
Is Joker Responsible For Boy Thunder Disappearing?
Things don’t look good for Boy Thunder. Batman/Superman: World’s Finest is set in the past, as evidenced by Dick Grayson being Robin, Supergirl being relatively new on the scene and the original Teen Titans lineup consisting of its original members. Another unfortunate fact is that in the present, David Sikela is nowhere to be seen and Superman has made no mention of a past sidekick known as Boy Thunder. If there's a reason why Clark's partner isn't around in the future, the Joker may just be it.
Granted, at this point in the timeline the Joker has yet to kill a Robin. But knowing that he kills Jason Todd eventually proves that Joker has it in him to kill a minor. That said, Superman has encountered the Joker several times and there's not as much ugliness between them as there was between Batman and Joker after Todd was killed. Clark would obviously take it extremely hard if a young hero died at the hands of someone like the Joker, likely harder than Batman. Fans will have to see where this confrontation with the Joker will lead for themselves in Batman/Superman: World's Finest #9, on sale now.