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When it comes to the supervillains of DC, it doesn't get any better than Batman villains. Representing the diabolical best of the dim, gritty, and disturbing Batman's Gotham City setting, these delinquents stand in perfect opposition to the crime-fighting Caped Crusader; whereas the world of Superman is exemplified by shining heroics.

Gotham is defined by the evildoers that terrorize it from within its deepest shadows. What makes them stand out is that they are all just a few shades of gray away from the Dark Knight himself. That, and they enjoy dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight. Batman has faced tons of horrific villains over the years who have pushed him to the absolute limit, and these are the top 35 villains that Batman and fans will always remember.

Deadshot (Aka Floyd Lawton) First Appearance: Batman #59 (1950), created by David Vern Reed, Lew Schwartz, Bob Kane

While Deadshot over the...

This article contains spoilers for Joker: Folie a Deux

Joker: Folie a Deux is shaping up to be a bonafide disaster both in terms of box office and reception. While Joker made over $1 billion globally over its theatrical run, its sequel will likely reach nowhere near those numbers. Additionally, Joker: Folie a Deux has a remarkably terrible score on CinemaScore, and it now holds the record for the lowest-rated superhero film. Granted, the movie all but sheds its comic inspirations, with Lady Gaga as a version of Harley Quinn called Lee, who more closely resembles Punchline, the Joker's other girlfriend.

The film is also bogged down by an abysmal ending. I was never under any delusions that Arthur Fleck was the Joker who would later fight Batman. Any references to the rest of the Batman canon are fleeting Easter eggs. That being said, the final scenes of the film, which...

After introducing readers to the Christmas Man and other festive frights last winter in the Creepshow Holiday Special 2023, Skybound and Image Comics are embracing the spooky spirit of the holiday season once again this December with the Creepshow 2024 Holiday Special, and we have a look at the chilling cover art, story details, and roster of all-star talent for the sinister stocking stuffer before it comes down the chimney on December 18th!

Previous Press Release: Los Angeles — We proudly present a holiday special of petrifying proportions! Today Skybound and Image Comics announced the creative talent behind the Creepshow 2024 Holiday Special. The all-new one-shot of the Eisner Award nominated comic book anthology based on Greg Nicotero’s hit Shudder TV series produced and licensed by Cartel Entertainment will hit comic book shops on December 18, 2024.

Brian Witten is overseeing on behalf of Nicotero’s Monster Agency Productions.

Creepshow is here to make sure...

Warning: Contains Potential Spoilers for Gotham City Sirens #3!I can honestly say that it wasnt on my 2024 Comic Predictions Bingo Card for DC to debut their version of the Hulk, but I am so here for it. Marvels Green Goliath will always be the originaliconic in a way no remake could ever match. But I have to admit, DCs take has a hilarious charm, and now Im craving a crossover.

Id love to see the Hulk face a taste of his own medicine by teaming up with an even more exaggerated version of himself.

Gotham City Sirens #3, by Leah Williams, Matteo Lolli, and Trona Farrel, continues the Wild West adventure of Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy as they battle Punchline and her brutal, illegal energy drink-sponsored hunting operation that endangers both wildlife and Gotham City residents.

Despite their efforts, Punchline overpowers them and locks them in a jail cell,...

Warning: Contains Potential Spoilers for Gotham City Sirens #4!Poison Ivy just unleashed the full extent of her plant-controlling powers, revealing her ultimate, Massive form. Given that she only recently regained these abilities, this transformation is all the more impressive. Its clear that the Gotham City Siren is done holding back and ready to show her true power.

The fact that Ivy is inside the plant avatar and controlling it makes this form exceptionally similar to the Jaegers in Pacific Rim.

Leah Williams, Ted Brandt, Daniel Hillyard, and Ro Steins Gotham City Sirens #4 takes Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy on a Wild West adventure as they confront Punchline and her violent, illegal, energy drink-sponsored hunting operation that endangers both wildlife and Gotham City residents.

To evade the Sirens, Punchline unleashes a horde of plant zombies, quickly overwhelming Harley, Ivy, and Dumb Bunny. As things take a turn for the worse,...

A TikTok video shares 25 perfect ideas for casting choices in James Gunn's Dcu, featuring many popular characters like Batman and Green Arrow. The video is an extensive list of DC heroes and villains and includes more minor characters like Spoiler and Orphan. The Dcu is just beginning, so Gunn hasn't announced many of his casting decisions outside Superman, but audiences love to speculate who the best choices are.

The video, posted by disl0yal0rder, includes a few rumored casting choices, some returning Dceu actors, and many original options that hadn't been mentioned before. Some notable fan castings in this video are Jensen Ackles as Batman, Mahershala Ali as Martian Manhunter, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Stephen Amell as Green Arrow, and Glen Powell as Booster Gold. Many of these choices are realistic while others are wishful thinking.

Click here to see the video featuring 25 perfect DC casting choices...

This has been a month of crazy comic book moments. The X-Men find a mutant whose gift didn’t register until he was an adult (X-Men No. 2 by Jed MacKay). Magnus runs away instead of fighting with his Autobot teammates (Transformers No. 11 by Daniel Warren Johnson). And during Gotham City Sirens No. 2 by Leah WIlliams, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman are captured by Punchline.

Those are only the quick hits. Coming up are the five most important comic book moments of the week.

Khonshu orders the death of Moon KnightComic book: Vengeance of the Moon Knight No. 8Writer: Jed MacKayArtist: Devmalya Pramanik

Marc Spector was tired of blindly killing people on Khonshu’s order and made it a point to avoid it. Unfortunately, it’s a promise to himself that he can’t keep. At the end of Vengeance of the Moon Knight No. 8, Khonshu orders Marc to kill the Shroud.

Gotham City Sirens #2 plunges Ivy, Harley, and Selina into Wild West adventure. The Gotham City Sirens welcome a new member as they try to take down Punchline. Will this Gotham Rogue stay as a permanent member or be just a one-time guest? Uncertainty looms in Leah Williams' new saga.

Warning: Contains Potential Spoilers for Gotham City Sirens #2!Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman have just hit their 15-year milestone as the Gotham City Sirens, and theyre celebrating in style by adding a new member to their notorious crew! This Gotham Rogue appears to be a perfect match for the Sirens, but the big question is: Will she become a permanent fixture, or is she just a dazzling one-hit wonder?

In Gotham City Sirens #2, Leah Williams, Matteo Lolli, and Trona Farrell plunge Ivy, Harley, and Selina into Wild West adventure as they gear up to confront a violent and illegal energy...

Warning: Spoilers for Gotham City Sirens #1

Gotham City Sirens #1 reunites Harley, Ivy, and Catwoman for a chaotic mystery in a genuinely charming first installment. The issue succeeds by embracing nonsense and unique character relationships, trusting in the reader, and rejecting grandstanding. The creative team excels in character work with expressive art, leading the Sirens into a promising new adventure.

The Gotham City Sirens have finally reunited for a new story, and this chaotic mystery is the perfect re-introduction to the fan-favorite team of Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman. Between the man-eating plants, riot-enciting energy drinks, and biomechanical stampeding bison, Gotham and these anti-heroic women may never be the same.

Gotham City Sirens #1 by Leah Williams and Matteo Lolli is the genuinely charming first installment in the weekly series, which will run for four issues throughout August. While Harley, Ivy, and Catwoman may be starring in their own ongoing titles,...

It’s the first week of the month and DC, Marvel, and Image Comics don't disappoint with their new releases. X-Men: From the Ashes drops another No. 1, DC's Absolute Power continues to affect heroes and villains across the universe, and another tie-in to the Energon Universe is being published.

Since these are only some of the great comic book issues being released, let's dive into all of what we can expect this week (and let's get right into it with the pick of the week!).

Uncanny X-Men No. 1 (pick of the week)Writer: Gail SimoneArtist: David Marquez

I’ve been waiting for this issue since it was announced. Writer Gail Simone is responsible for classic stories for characters like Deadpool and Batgirl. Uncanny X-Men will be another feather in her ever-growing classics hat.

She's taking well-known X-Men such as Rogue, Gambit, Jubilee, Nightcrawler, and Wolverine, leading them into new adventures.

Lady Gaga debuts as Harley Quinn in Joker sequel, but her version seems more like Punchline, a darker DC character. The Joker sequel is due out on Oct 4, 2024, 5 years after Joker hit $1 billion. Todd Phillips' creative liberty in the Elseworlds movies means the changes that appear to have been made to the film's Harley Quinn do make sense.

Joker sequel, Joker: Folie Deux, will debut Lady Gaga as the popular DC villain Harley Quinn, but she looks like another DC character entirely. The Joker: Folie Deux movie is due to be released on October 4, 2024, exactly 5 years after Joker made a splash as an R-rated DC Elseworlds release that ended up grossing over $1 billion worldwide, becoming the first R-rated movie in history to break that threshold. Todd Phillips and DC Studios are no doubt hoping to replicate this success with the sequel, which has the added benefit of Gaga's star power.

It was in 2020 when she first appeared in the DC Universe. For those who think that Harley Quinn was the only character obsessed with Joker, it is really curious that Alexis Kaye isn’t as talked about as the official girlfriend of the Gotham City villain.

Punchline in DC Comics (DC)

Her achievements in the comics are so close to what we have come to expect from Batman’s official enemy, that some fans are already warning that it’s not a good idea to ignore her existence. When it comes to great characters, more must be said about Punchline.

Who Is Alexis Kaye Aka Punchline? Alexis Kaye is Punchline (DC Entertainment)

Sadistic, problematic and cold are just some of the adjectives that describe the iconic Alexis Kaye, who later became the DC supervillain Punchline. Her story begins when she is kidnapped by the famous clown and finds herself obsessed with him.

Harley Quinn has an odd history. The character has become one of the most recognizable aspects of Batman’s mythos but did not originate from the comics. Rarely do characters that don’t exist in the source material get the kind of love that Harley Quinn did, and it seemed to have been the case for her initially as well.

Harley Quinn in Batman: The Animated Series | Warner Brothers

Back in 2017, Paul Dini sat down with Entertainment Weekly to talk about his character on her 25th anniversary, opening up about the thought process that went behind the character and what the fans thought about it initially. Turns out, the entire camp was split through the middle about the character of Harley Quinn.

Batman: The Animated Series had to win over the hardcore fans with Harley Quinn

Batman | Source: Batman: The Animated Series

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Harley Quinn co-creator Paul...

The Gotham City Sirens return in 2024 with fresh costumes, blending high-fashion with original design elements. W. Scott Forbes transforms Harley Quinn into a high-fashion icon with a stunning pink and blue ensemble, daring haircut, and bold pose. Harley's new costume also pays homage to her original costume through various design elements.

With the return of the Gotham City Sirens this summer, the trio unveils new costumes, including a pink and blue ensemble for Harley Quinn that represents the ultimate high-fashion evolution of her original design. However, Harley's transformation goes beyond clothing in this variant cover art; she also sports an ambitious haircut that is bound to divide fans.

On August 7, 2024, Harley Quinn will join forces with Catwoman and Poison Ivy in Leah Williams and Matteo Lollis Gotham City Sirens #1. This marks the beginning of a four-part mini-series where the Sirens embark on a western-themed adventure to combat animal cruelty.

Gotham...

DC is launching a weekly Gotham City Sirens miniseries in August featuring Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman. The series will have a western-themed story and will pause ongoing issues of the solo series for the trio in anticipation. The story involves the trio facing off against Punchline and the Nasty Boys, with intergalactic creatures making an appearance.

Thirteen is the lucky number for the Gotham City Sirens, as Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman are back together for a new series for the first time in thirteen years. The last time that the beloved triumvirate joined forces was in 2011 for Paul Dini and Guillem March's Gotham City Sirens series. But now everyone's favorite anti-heroes are back for a wild new story in more ways than one.

Per Polygon, DC Comics is launching a weekly Gotham City Sirens miniseries by Leah Williams, Matteo Lolli, Daniel Hillyard, and Brandt & Stein. Gotham City Sirens #1, available this August,...

On June 26th, Dstlry will release both Spectregraph #2 and Blasfamous #3, and we have an exclusive look at the Foc variant covers from Jae Lee and Sweeney Boo! Dstlry has continues to impress, with a diverse array of stories and creators that have me excited for each new issue.

From James Tynion IV and Christian Ward, "Spectregraph revolves around an isolated mansion nestled into the coastline, a short drive north of Los Angeles. Rumors have haunted the place for years—its owner a titan of American industry, with a strange fascination in the occult and the paranormal. The richest men and women in the country have whispered to each other, trying to understand what he was building alone in that mansion for all those years. And now finally, with his death, and his estate open for sale… they can finally find out for themselves."

Spectregraph #2

"Trapped in the Malibu mausoleum of late billionaire Ambrose Everett Hall,...

In Batman / Dylan Dog #2, Joker reveals who his "Best Friend Forever" is. Batman and Dylan Dog join forces to thwart Joker and Xabaras' plans of bringing Killex back from Hell. Chaos and terror loom as Joker and Killex emerge as DC's most dangerous duo.

Warning: Potential Spoilers For Batman / Dylan Dog #2!

Trigger Warning: Discussion of murder, torture, human experimentation, serial killers, and other Joker-like behavior.

Throughout the years, Joker has had a range of partners, from Harley Quinn to Punchline, but DC has never officially bestowed upon the Clown Prince of Crime a "best friend forever." However, it seems that is all about to change, as Joker has proclaimed his Bff and is prepared to go to any lengths to reunite with them.

In Batman / Dylan Dog #1, by Roberto Recchioni, Werther Dell'Edera, Gigi Cavenago, and Giovanna Niro, Catwoman and Dylan Dog's sidekick, Groucho, found themselves abducted and subjected to experiments...

Batman faces his darkest persona Zur-En-Arrh taking extreme measures to eradicate crime in Gotham. Zur-En-Arrh's ruthless crusade threatens to tarnish Batman's reputation and legacy in the city. With Bruce imprisoned, a violent and bloody war against Gotham's criminals looms on the horizon.

The darkest part in Batman's psyche is making a mess of the DC Universe and Bruce may be powerless to stop it. The Dark Knight has been defeated by the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, and with Bruce out of the way, the unhinged crusader is embarking on his most violent adventure yet.

Batman's world is about to get a lot worse in the coming months. DC Comics has given fans a peek at what they can expect in the coming months, including Batman's adventures with Zur-En-Arrh. As the "Dark Prisons" arc continues, Gotham begins to pay the price for Bruce's most dangerous contingency.

Batman #146 (2024)

Release Date:

April 2nd, 2024

Writer:...

Jorge Jimenez's variant cover for Batman #147 showcases the chaotic Joker/Punchline relationship dynamic, continuing the elevation Punchline as a new DC character. Jimenez's variant cover series exploring DC power couples continues to expand, with Joker/Punchline proving to be the most evocative one yet. Punchline's relationship with Joker is unique among his previous paramours, as she is portrayed as his capable sidekick, and maintains a destructive path even without him influencing her.

The Joker's girlfriend Punchline has him caught in a compromising situation, as artist Jorge Jimenez delivers the latest of his "relationship" variant covers for DC Comics. The evocative cover is the latest step in the continued elevation of Punchline as one of DC's most exciting new characters, just as Jimenez continues to become one of the publisher's most prominent artistic talents.

Batman #147 – written by Chip Zdarsky, with interior art, and main cover by Jimenez – will ship with several exciting variant covers,...

Jimenez's art brilliantly captures Batman's terrifying presence, even with just a glimpse of his bloody cape. The return of Batman of Zur-En-Arrh showcases Jimenez's talent in depicting an unhinged and determined Dark Knight. Jimenez excels in showcasing Batman's power and force of nature, as he effortlessly takes on his own Bat-Family.

When Chip Zdarsky began his run on Batman, Jorge Jiménez joined him to take the Dark Knight on his epic new adventure. Jiménez had drawn the Caped Crusader before, but the recent Batman run has put Bruce through some wild experiences.

Batman has been all over the place since Batman #125. From the ends of the Earth to outer space, and even unexplored corners of the multiverse. And Jiménez has been there, showing off Bruce’s recent triumphs and losses. Over time, the artist has only gotten better at illustrating the World’s Greatest Detective. Read on to discover...

A talented cosplayer brings the Joker War batsuit from DC Comics to life, showcasing what a Joker Batman could look like on the big screen. u/Cosplayben is known for creating accurate cosplay designs, including for DC and Marvel characters, and has perfected the iconic Joker batsuit. The Joker War storyline stripped Bruce Wayne of his wealth and reputation, while showcasing new characters like Harley Quinn and Punchline, making the Joker batsuit a significant part of the narrative.

During Batman’s most recent war against the Joker, The Dark Knight faced off against an arch nemesis who would stop at nothing to burn his city to the ground while simultaneously doing his best to defend Bruce Wayne’s legacy from utter devastation. And now, in a new DC Comics cosplay, The Clown Prince of Crime’s Joker War batsuit gets the real-world treatment it deserves, showing what a Joker Batman...

Lex Luthor regrets allowing Toyman onto the Legion of Doom after his disruptive behavior ruins their plans to defeat the Justice League. Despite the chaos he brings, Lex acknowledges that the Joker is more useful to his plans than Toyman, who doesn't offer anything unique or special. Lex Luthor values practicality and prefers dealing with the Joker's antics over Toyman's lack of focus and attention.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Justice League vs. Godzilla vs Kong #1!There's one villain on the Legion of Doom that Lex Luthor despises far more than the Joker. Tired of always losing battles with the Justice League, Lex forms a plan to defeat DC's heroes once and for all. But a villain who surprisingly isn't the Clown Prince of Crime is ruining things for Lex's team.

As the most insidious villain in the DC Universe, Lex Luthor has led several criminal endeavors. His greatest is the Legion of Doom,...

Knight Terrors unleashed powerful nightmares on the DC Universe, revealing characters' biggest fears and painful memories. Heroes and villains alike were trapped in the Nightmare Realm, facing their worst anxieties as they searched for the Nightmare Stone. From Punchline's zombie Batgirl to Wonder Woman's transformation into a dark goddess, these nightmares were truly terrifying, leaving lasting impacts on the characters.

Warning! Contains spoilers for Knight Terrors!The DC Universe has finally woken up from the twisted nightmares of Knight Terrors. A powerful metahuman named Insomnia cast a sleep spell all across the globe, sending everyone into a horrifying world known as the Nightmare Realm. In this shared unconscious state, heroes and villains alike were trapped in a world plagued by their worst anxieties.

Some nightmares were based on a character's biggest fear. Others brought back a painful or unpleasant memory. Whatever their origin, these nightmares delved into what...

The Joker has had a long criminal career, terrorizing Gotham in DC Comics, and throughout the years he's never had a shortage of sidekicks to help him undertake his crimes. These people range from the oldies, Gagsworth and Jackanapes, to the iconic Harley Quinn, and new girlfriend Punchline – but only one sidekick, Archie, has truly been a perfect fit for Joker, and he only appeared once.

Batman: The Dark Prince Charming, by Enrico Marini, introduced readers to Archie, a suicidal clown that works in Joker's gang, who finds himself the Clown Prince of Crime's new sidekick. While Marini's story is out-of-continuity with the main DC canon, his original creation Archie deserves to used again and brought into the current DC timeline.

Related: Joker's Wildly Different Eras Are Perfectly Defined by His Sidekicks

Archie Was A One-Off, But He Remains Joker's Best Sidekick

Enrico Marini's Batman: The Dark Prince Charming might be non-canon,...

Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Knight Terrors: Punchline #2!

As DC's Knight Terrors event continues, the Joker's latest girlfriend, Punchline, has found herself taking on the perfect nemesis for her: the Internet. Ever since her debut in 2016's Joker War, Punchline has been a cause of debate among DC Comics fans, but now she has officially showcased that she's here to stay and won't let what others think deter her from making her place in DC canon.

Knight Terrors: Punchline #2 – by Danny Lore and Lucas Meyer – features Punchline being thrown into her biggest nightmare, as a roboticized Batgirl corpse drags her into the Internet itself. There, she faces off against faceless antagonists that she dubs "Anons," who spout hateful rhetoric at her. Punchline fight them back with a Reply Button in the Forum Post battleground, before facing Insomnia head-on in a gigantic YouTube video.

Punchline Calls Out the Discourse Behind Her

Punchline's...

In Knight Terrors: Punchline #1 and Knight Terrors: Nightwing #1, Batgirl's alter ego Oracle becomes a terrifying vision in the nightmares of other characters. Both Punchline and Nightwing dream of Barbara becoming a creepy technological fusion, suggesting unresolved issues with her past trauma and her career as Oracle. Barbara's transition to Oracle was her best option at the time, but her strong feelings about that period have manifested as two distinct, twisted Oracle monstrosities in other people's dreams.

Warning! Contains spoilers for Knight Terrors: Punchline #1 and Knight Terrors: Nightwing #1!Oracle has just turned into the worst nightmare Batgirl could have ever imagined. A twisted copycat of Barbara Gordon turns the hero's innovative alter ego into a terrifying vision.

In Knight Terrors: Punchline #1 by Danny Lore and Lucas Meyer, Alexis Kaye is trapped in a bad dream she can't escape from. In Alexis' nightmare, she gets into a fight with Batgirl and...

The Mime, who appeared in Batman #412 in 1987, predates Harley Quinn as a clown-themed woman terrorizing Gotham City. The Mime was a one-off villain but set the precedent for the creation of Harley Quinn, who became a major character in Batman's rogues gallery. Bringing back The Mime could create an interesting dynamic and strong foil for both Harley Quinn and Punchline, showcasing the influence of Harley on subsequent generations of characters.

Harley Quinn is one of DC's most popular villains, but the idea of a clown-themed woman that terrorized Gotham City predates Harley Quinn by five years. Half a decade before Harley hit the TV screen, a woman known as The Mime terrorized Gotham City and tried to silence its citizens forever.

Harley first appeared in Batman The Animated Series, and was such a hit that DC introduced her in the comics, and she has been a major character in Batman...

Warning: Potential Spoilers for Harley Quinn #32There's a brand-new vampire slayer in town: new cover art transforms Harley Quinn into a thrill-seeking vampire hunter. Buffy the Vampire Slayer can consider herself officially de-throned.

Harley Quinn shows off her vampire-slaying skills in a new variant cover for Harley Quinn #32 by Corin Howell. The 1:50 ratio cover depicts Harley as a hyena-riding vamp-killer with specialty crossbows. With one hand, and in typically zany fashion, Harley is shooting the vampire version of her "replacement," Punchline, with a blast of fish. In her other hand, she holds a crossbow with a boxing glove arrow, ready to shoot Vampire-Joker. Check out the full solicitation for Harley Quinn #32 below:

Harley Quinn #32

Written by Tini Howard Art and cover by Sweeney Boo Backup written by Sam Maggs Backup art by Kelley Jones Variant cover by Jenny Frison 1:25 variant cover by Joshua “Sway” Swaby 1:50 variant cover...

The following contains spoilers for Gotham Knights Season 1, Episode 11, "Daddy Issues," which debuted June 6 on The CW.

When fans learned The CW would renew either Superman & Lois or Gotham Knights, many assumed the former would be the winner. It's just a better show, and true to form, Gotham Knights has been canceled. It's quite predictable, because despite some surprising ratings and a devoted fanbase, it just never garnered steady momentum the way other Arrowverse shows have.

Even HBO Originals like Titans and Doom Patrol gain more buzz and chatter, which feels like the writing was always on the wall. But reconciling what Season 1 has done so far, Gotham Knights really was doomed to fail from start, and it's all due to its painfully missing component: Bruce Wayne.

Related: Gotham Knights' Olivia Rose Keegan on Duela's 'Beautifully Cathartic' Reveal

Gotham Knights Couldn't Work Without Bruce Wayne

Gotham Knights only had Bruce briefly appear in the pilot,...

Warning: Spoilers for Joker: Man Who Stopped Laughing #8!The Joker has found a great candidate to Harley Quinn with, and it's the last DC villain anyone could imagine: Solomon Grundy. In Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing, the Clown Prince of Crime takes Solomon Grundy under his wing as his new sidekick–but with Killer Croc also roaming Gotham’s sewers, this unholy partnership might be doomed to fail before it can even get off the ground.

In previous issues of Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing, written by Matthew Rosenberg and drawn by Carmine Di Giandomenico, an injured Joker ends up in the sewers beneath Gotham. When he awakens, he discovers that Solomon Grundy has been his nursemaid. In the opening of Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #8, the Clown Prince of Crime discovers that his savior has been attacked by an out-of-control Killer Croc. After Grundy says that...

Warning: contains Spoilers for Batman #135!Batman may protect Gotham City from its population of vicious supervillains, but fans have long theorized that the Dark Knight is the reason they exist in the first place. Now, Bruce Wayne is definitively answering this accusation, leaving no further room for doubt.

Readers get to see Batman's expert takedown of this idea in Batman #135 Recently, Bruce Wayne has been transported to a universe that never had a Batman. The city is overrun by criminals and the elite look down on the suffering masses, people like Harvey Dent and Punchline are in positions of power and status, as are Ghostmaker and Killer Croc. When Batman is finally able to confront Halliday, who is revealed to be a 'sane' version of the Joker, Halliday taunts Batman, asking him if he is haunted by the idea that he creates his villains. Bruce replies that he hasn't believed that for years,...

A new Knight Terrors tie-in series will see Gotham villain Punchline face her darkest fears - and fall further into her own Joker transformation. New cover art for the series shows Punchline becoming a terrifying version of the Joker in an image straight out of a horror movie.

Punchline enters the horrific event fray in Knight Terrors: Punchline #1, the first in a two-issue series by Danny Lore and Lucas Meyer. One terrifying open-to-order variant cover by Ben Oliver displays a close-up of Punchline's face. She's sporting a Joker-like rictus grin, though her eyes are clearly terrified, and she's even shedding a tear. No wonder, since she'll be facing her own worst nightmare in the new series. Check out the issue's many covers below, as well as the issue summary from DC:

Alexis Kaye, a.k.a. Punchline, has no fears…or so she’d have you believe! They will be...

Contains adult imagery not suitable for sufferers of arachnophobia!

DC has just announced the upcoming comics which will make up its horror-themed Knight Terrors event, as its entire universe gets a gory, horrifying makeover. A new villain named Insomnia is plunging DC into the Nightmare Realm, confronting every hero and villain with their greatest fears.

The event kicks off with Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 from Joshua Williamson and Howard Porter. Available July 4, Howard Porter's art for the main cover (as well as a 1:666 signed variant and a Darkest Hour variant) shows Insomnia looming over the heroes, with DC's summary introducing this twisted new foe:

When Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman find the body of one of their earliest enemies inside the Hall of Justice, their investigation takes them past the land of the living, beyond the land of the dead, and directly to a new villain called Insomnia, who...

Warning: Spoilers for Punchline: The Gotham Game #6Move over, Joker: the Clown Prince of Crime is no longer the most dangerously chaotic villain in Gotham, as Punchline officially surpasses him in her willingness to push her own limits in the pursuit of chaos.

The Joker and Punchline reunite after a long spell apart in the finale of Punchline's recent miniseries, Punchline: The Gotham Game #6 by Tini Howard, Blake Howard, Max Raynor, Gleb Melnikov, Luis Guerrero, and Becca Carey. Punchline was injured in her last face-off, and in this issue she wakes to find that the Joker has rescued her and is stitching her wounds. Their happy reunion is extremely short-lived—if it was ever happy to begin with.

Punchline attacks the Joker and completely dominates him. Not only does she beat him physically, but she also realizes she has far outgrown him. She feels that the Joker has become...

Warning! Contains spoilers for Batman #132!The Joker is one of the most despicable characters to ever appear in comics, and yet he's still managed to get two separate love interests, Harley Quinn and Punchline, but recently DC has revealed which one is his true love.

The revelation occurs in the pages of Chip Zdarsky and Mike Hawthorne's Batman #132. Batman has been transported to a completely new universe by Failsafe. In this new universe, familiar characters are cast in an unfamiliar light, if they're even alive at all. James Gordon has been killed, the Bruce Wayne of this universe is dead, and it appears the Joker never even became the Joker. This shows the significant difference between the two women who loved Joker. Harley Quinn loved the Joker, because she only ever met him as the Joker. And while Punchline also met him as the Joker in the main DC Universe,...

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman #132!The true name of the Joker has finally come to light, but is it raising more questions than its answering? Despite Bruce Wayne seemingly discovering the identity of the Harlequin of Hate, his background may be just as murky as ever.

He might be the most iconic member of Batman's rogues' gallery, but surprisingly little is known about the Joker's backstory. Elements about his past have come to light over the years, such as his brief stint as a small-time criminal known as the Red Hood. But beyond that, the early days of the Clown Prince of Crime are an enigma that have yet to have a confirmed answer. That hasn't stopped creators from trying to give the Joker a definitive backstory, but rarely have any attempts lasted. It seems the Joker is just too chaotic for him to ever have a permanent identity or origin.

Warning: Contains mild spoilers for DC's Harley Quinn Romances #1An official redesign for Poison Ivy by her girlfriend Harley Quinn has given the villainess her cutest look yet. Poison Ivy has always been one of the more iconic villains in Batman's rogues' gallery, but has gained in popularity over the years. First appearing in 1966, the character has seen a surge in appearances, most notably in the HBO Max series Harley Quinn. In the world of comics, she's even gotten a new ongoing solo series featuring a plot to end humanity with a Last of Us-like fungus. The 21st century has been huge for the plant-based villain, and as a result, she's gotten multiple new outfits from both fans and official DC artists.

In Alexis Quasarano and Max Sarin's story for DC's Harley Quinn Romances #1 called "Stranger Than Fan Fiction," Harley shares a story she created for Ivy while the two partake in a mission together.

With the success of last year's The Batman and Matt Reeves' impending development on the sequel, it's clear that many of the Dark Knight's greatest tales - regardless of the medium - tackle gritty and street-level capers. However, it's always nice, especially in the comics, when moments of comic relief are used to occasionally lighten the mood.

Batman not having a sense of humor is a common misconception, but his brand of dry wit in addition to playful teasing from his friends and allies is welcome here and there. From Bruce Wayne's self-awareness to the Justice League ribbing him with impressions, it's fun to see writers poke fun at the hero's broodiness.

Batman Is Self-Aware About His Gadgets

One of the most endearing qualities about Batman that's been maintained from the campy Golden and Silver ages of comics - despite their time coming to a pass - is the...

Warning: Spoilers for Punchline: The Gotham Game #3The Joker's girlfriend, Punchline, has already replaced her beau as Gotham's agent of chaos, and now she's coming for the entire Bat-Family. In her latest altercation with a Gotham vigilante, Punchline calls out what she believes is one of the worst superhero codenames: Bluebird.

Punchline rose to prominence in one of the major Batman events of the past few years, "Joker War." Originally, she was mostly depicted as Joker's sadistically cruel new girlfriend: an even meaner Harley Quinn. In recent months, however, Punchline—real name Alexis Kaye—has shown that she's far more calculated, manipulative, and in control than her status as "girlfriend" might make her seem. Now she's striking out independently, taking control of the Royal Flush Gang to put her own plans, independent of the Joker, into motion. Those plans have increasingly put her in the Bat-Family's crosshairs, and she...

Warning: Spoilers for Catwoman #50Despite her thieving, Catwoman has never been particularly violent, but now she's taking Red Hood's spot as Gotham's "killer" hero. Catwoman has wavered between villain and hero for decades, and only in more recent years has she worked with Batman instead of against him. Their relationship might be lost now that Selina Kyle has blood on her hands.

Batman and Catwoman might have a tumultuous history, but no one can deny they have a great love for each other. Despite this love, the two have been on a break from their romance ever since the pair's failed engagement. Since parting ways—at least for now—Selina has been exploring her romantic options, especially with the mysterious ex-assassin known as Valmont. Catwoman and Valmont have definitely been sharing a sexual relationship, but they've been getting closer and closer in recent issues of Catwoman, to the point...

Warning: Spoilers for Catwoman #50It's official: Catwoman has a brand new sidekick, and he has the perfect name. The milestone issue Catwoman #50 sees the debut of the newly-dubbed Tomcat, and he's the perfect addition to Selina Kyle's team.

Tomcat appears in costume for the first time in Catwoman #50 by Tini Howard, Inaki Miranda, Nico Leon, Juan Ferreyra, Veronica Gandini, Lee Loughridge, Deron Bennett, and Lucas Gattoni. Also known as Dario Tomasso, he takes the field during Catwoman's attack on Punchline and her gang. Wearing a camoflauge suit and a black mask while gripping two tazer-like weapons, he declares "out here, call me Tomcat." Also of note are his bulletproof vest and small cross-and-chain.

Related: Batman Explains the Badass Real Meaning of 'Batman & Robin'

Tomcat Is Catwoman's Perfect Sidekick

Though this is Tomcat's first appearance in costume, Dario has been a regular co-star in the current Catwoman run helmed by writer Tini Howard.

DC Comics' "Catwoman" #50, available December 20, 2022, is written by Tini Howard and illustrated by Nico Leon, Sami Basri, with covers by Jeff Dekal, Sozomaika, Stjepan Sejic, Tula Lotay and Nathan Szerdy:

"...'Punchline' and her 'Royal Flush' gang are causing mayhem in 'Alleytown' and things are blowing up. So 'Catwoman' calls in backup! We all know the cat has nine lives, and the same can be said about her gang! But what's a nine-person heist without a little danger.

"And those handcuffs definitely don't look like the sexy kind, but what's worse is 'Selina' has bigger things to worry about right now: like her ex-lover and current lover in the same room!..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Warning! This post contains Spoilers for Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #3

In the latest issue of Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing, the Clown Prince of Crime has been replaced by the Legion of Doom, the DC Universe's most prestigious team of supervillains. Although there are currently two Jokers operating simultaneously, one of them has gone global in a bid to take his chaotic brand of crime worldwide. As such, it seems the Legion of Doom's members aren't fans of this idea.

As seen in the new Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #3 from Matthew Rosenberg and Carmine Di Giandomenico, one Joker attempts to have the bullet in his head removed in Gotham while the other Joker traveling the globe is confronted by the Legion. According to Lex Luthor, the Legion has decided they are no longer interested in Joker's methods, especially his new goal of turning himself into a crime lord.

Warning: spoilers for Punchline: The Gotham Game #2!They may be mortal enemies, but even Batman admits there's one way he's similar to the Joker. The two have clashed countless times over their decades of shared history, and Batman doesn't hate anyone like he hates the Joker. But he knows that as much as he wishes otherwise, they take the same approach to one part of their lives.

The Joker is generally regarded as Batman's most chaotic - and therefore most terrifying - adversary. When the Joker strikes, death is sure to follow. Famously, the Joker is responsible for easily the darkest and most shocking moment in Batman's history. In the iconic "Death in the Family" storyline, the Joker severely beats the second Robin, Jason Todd, with a crowbar, and then kills the Boy Wonder in an explosion. The Joker has threatened Robin and Batman's other young allies countless times since...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Punchline: The Gotham Game #2It's been long perceived by fans that Harley Quinn was obsessed with the Joker ever since she became his partner in crime, but DC Comics has officially confirmed that this was never the case. Harley Quinn's origin is one of the best known in comics. Ever since her debut in Batman: The Animated Series, fans were curious about how she came to be. This led to the famous Mad Love story arc which depicted her as Joker's psychiatrist that fell head over heels for him and helped him escape before becoming his sidekick. This was elaborated in further detail in Stjepan ŠejiÄ.'s take on the story, Harleen, which became a New York Times Bestseller.

Things got even more interesting though when Harley ended up leaving the Joker and tried making a name for her own. Due to years of abuse though,...

Warning: this article contains a preview of Punchline: The Gotham Game #2!Comic fans have long debated who made the best Robin, with some arguing for Tim Drake, others supporting Damian Wayne, and still more championing Dick Grayson, the current Nightwing. Robin has become one of DC's most valuable legacy heroes, standing as a symbol of light and hope, contrasting and aleviating Batman's darkness. While heroes like Nightwing and Red Hood prefer to distance themselves from the role in adulthood, it's continually interesting to compare the differences between each version of the Boy Wonder.

Dick Grayson is widely considered to be the best Robin by fans. After all, it's difficult to argue against the Robin that established the role and set precedent for teen superheroes in comics. Even as a young teen, Grayson was already a role model to many heroes, acting as more than just a sidekick. Superman himself favors Dick over the other Robins.

Warning: Spoilers for DC vs. Vampires #10Having been raised by Talia al Ghul and the League of Assassins, Damian Wayne had a much different path to heroism than Batman's other Robins. Though Damian often comes under fire for his more violent tendencies, the would-be assassin's dark past actually makes him one of the Bat-Family's most valuable members.

Damian Wayne has had a turbulent history when it comes to being a killer. From his first introduction, the character had no qualms with murdering the criminals he saw to be deserving of punishment. This trait was worked out of him by his father over the years, as Bruce urged his son that Batman's rule against killing separated the heroes from the villains. Damian largely took to this way of thinking over time, looking to right the many wrongs he'd created in his wake. Still, the young Robin struggled over the years with...

Warning: contains spoilers for DC vs Vampires #10!From the Bat-Family to the Birds of Prey, Batgirl has been on dozens of teams in her day, but not many know she was also on the Suicide Squad. From a throwaway line from Punchline, it seems that Babs is returning to this little-known role, but this time as the leader of the Squad's final and most extreme iteration. During her time as Oracle, Babs was the center of intelligence for the DC universe. If someone needed information, they went to Oracle, who also helped organize teams with ruthless efficiency. Barbara Gordon served as an essential member of every team from the Seven Soldiers of Fortune to the Justice League itself. Now, as the world falls to an undead invasion, she has arguably become DC's most important hero, pursuing her former lover Nightwing, who recently became the King of Vampires.

After the events...

Warning: Spoilers for Punchline: The Gotham Game #1Batman's famous "secret weapon" just got a major and terrifying upgrade. In addition to a skilled martial artist, Batman fans know the Caped Crusader is also a master of disguise, and no Batman disguise is as well-known and well-used as Matches Malone. Bruce Wayne just introduced a new version of Matches while working a case, and the disguise is more menacing than ever.

Matches Malone has been a major component of the Batman mythos and toolkit for decades. First introduced in 1972, the Matches Malone character is a match-chewing and small-time criminal for hire. The disguise allows Batman to infiltrate the seedier operations and locations in Gotham—places neither Batman nor Bruce Wayne would be welcome. Matches Malone has made yet another appearance in such a context as Batman and Oracle keep tabs on the recently-released Punchline, also known as the Joker's accomplice and girlfriend.

Spoilers for DC vs. Vampires #10Punchline is getting called out by Harley Quinn, as Joker's former partner is calling out his girlfriend for copying her and not being original. In DC vs. Vampires #10, Harley and Punchline are forced to work together, where the antihero calls out Joker's newest partner for being a knock-off version of herself. While Harley Quinn's anger is justified, Punchline isn't just a copy of the former villain.

Punchline debuted in the pages of DC Comics a few years ago, but the new villain has made a big impact in the DC Universe. Joker's latest girlfriend assisted the Clown Prince of Crime during the Joker War and helped him nearly succeed in taking over Gotham City for good. During the event, Punchline sparred with Harley Quinn as the reformed villain gained a new rival after meeting Alexis Kaye's dark persona. With Punchline showing staying power, even recently...