Warning! Spoilers for Batman: Three Jokers by Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok below! 

One of the most consistent issues modern Batman faces is what to do about the Joker - which is complicated due to the Red Hood. While Batman's rule against killing is absolute, the Joker's ability to break out of Arkham Asylum makes him a difficult threat to permanently deal with in a non-lethal way. While many anti-heroes have encouraged Batman to break his most sacred rule and just end the Joker forever, none have given Batman more guilt about it than the Joker's most famous victim, Jason Todd. After years of trying to convince Batman to end the Joker forever, Jason just put matters into his own hands. In Batman: Three Jokers #1 the Red Hood finally gets the revenge he always wanted.

After a string of three crimes all happen at the same time with the Joker confirmed to have committed all three, Batman teams up with Batgirl and Red Hood to finally crack the mystery of how there can be three Jokers. The Joker's crimes eventually lead the trio of heroes to Gotham Aquarium where they fight off a jokerized shark and a slew of other fish. Batman and his two sidekicks are able to fight off the mutated fish and are able to subdue one of the Jokers. Then the Dark Knight makes a mistake, he leaves the Joker with Batgirl and Red Hood.

Related: The Joker Was Inspired By A Tragic HERO

Barbara and Jason proceed to debate whether this really is the Joker or not. Though he sounds like the Joker, he looks much different than the last time they fought him. Joker proceeds to taunt Jason Todd, reminding him of his brutal murder and the things Jason said as Joker killed him. According to Joker, Jason said he'd even be Joker's very own sidekick. This crosses a line and Jason goes to shoot the monster who killed him. Barbara tries to stop him but is too late. Jason Todd shoots Joker through the head.

As big as this is, it is difficult to say what this will mean for Batman, Jason Todd, and the Joker. When this Joker, known as the Criminal, talks to the other two Jokers they mention expanding their numbers. This, coupled with the Criminal's mention of Jason begging to be Joker's sidekick, seems to be hinting at Jason Todd following in his footsteps and graduating from Red Hood to Joker with killing being his first step.

Whatever becomes of Jason Todd, it's certain that this will alienate him from the rest of the bat-family. Barbara has already walked away in disgust at Jason's actions, and it's obvious that Batman himself won't exactly be happy with his former ward's actions. It's not difficult to see why either. Regardless of whether killing the Joker is right or wrong on a moral level, it just won't accomplish much in this situation. There are two other Jokers and both have implied that there will be another. Killing the Criminal may well be nothing more than cutting off a hydra's head.

No matter what the other two Jokers do though, Batman: Three Jokers #1 leaves readers wondering whether killing the Joker might be the biggest mistake Jason Todd ever made.

Next: Batman Admits His Greatest Failure Isn't Jason Todd (Anymore)