The Joker has caused quite a bit of turmoil in Batman’s life, as the DC Comics villain’s special affinity for the Caped Crusader has led to violence, destruction, and death. You’d think if the Joker was killed, Batman would be OK with it. However, one time, the Joker died and Batman brought him back to life – for good reason.
The Lazarus Pit has long been an important tool to bring characters back to life in DC Comics. It played a big part in what restored Jason Todd’s memories and health. The magical pit, usually employed by Ra’s al Ghul, brings people back to life or heals them, but often causes temporary insanity to those who are exposed to it. However, in the case of the Joker, it actually restored him into a sane person.
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In Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #145 by Chuck Dixon, Jim Aparo, John Cebollero and Noelle Giddings, Batman makes a risky decision in order to stop Ra’s al Ghul. With the Joker bleeding out after being shot for double-crossing Ra’s and Talia al Ghul, Batman makes the call to plunge his biggest enemy in the Lazarus Pit and bring him back to life. Batman realizes that he won’t be able to stop Ra’s without the aid of the Joker. So, despite Alfred offering congratulations that the Joker’s reign is finally over, Batman resurrects the Joker.
The plan works better than Batman ever could have imagined. Instead of the Joker coming back even more insane as ever (if that was even possible), when he awakens from the Lazarus Pit he’s completely sane. Batman gets the Joker to tell him about Ra’s’ plans and manages to stop a submarine with a biological agent from being released to the public. While the plan works, Joker’s sane mindset wouldn’t last. He finds the Joker returning to his insane, unpredictable self soon after completing the mission. Batman doesn’t try to reason with him, instead, bringing him to Arkham Asylum.
You have to wonder just how many lives Batman would have saved if he let the Joker bleed out. Would it have been more than if Ra’s’ plan was successful? It’s hard to say. But, Batman made the tough decision to save those in immediate danger by resurrecting his greatest enemy. The moment shows just what kind of hero Batman is. He’s willing to make the tough decisions to save lives – even if that means bringing back the Joker to life.
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