The history between the Joker and Batman has been a dark one, but one upcoming miniseries may push the two to into a disturbing new territory. Writer and artist Marc Silvestri discusses Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo in a new trailer that hints why this may be the darkest story for the bitter enemies.
In his long crusade to protect Gotham from evil, Bruce Wayne has gone up against a number of foes that have challenged him on a physical and moral level. But few members of his rogues’ gallery have tormented Batman like his longtime nemesis the Joker. No matter how many times the Dark Knight defeats his foe and locks him up in Arkham Asylum, the Clown Prince of Crime remains one of the biggest thorn’s in Batman’s side. As the years have gone on, the two have found themselves locked in an endless cycle neither side seems able to break.
But that may finally change, at least in a miniseries for DC mature Black Label Line. DC has released a trailer for Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo on Twitter on their various social media channels. Writer and illustrator Marc Silvestri discusses his Batman and Joker story, and what drew him to creating a comic about the notable pair of enemies. Calling the book a “buddy-cop horror story“, Silvestri mentions that one of the most appealing things to him is that Deadly Duo is being published under DC’s Black Label imprint, and means that the story isn’t constrained by the main universe’s canon. Silvestri calls the lack of continuity “freeing” as a creator, and notes that the story he has coming is dark and even “kind of creepy“.
Silvestri isn’t wrong about the freedom that comes with DC’s Black Label line. Stories like Batman: Damned, Batman: Three Jokers and Wonder Woman: Dead Earth aren’t bound to the same continuity as the main line of DC titles. They also are given the creative freedom to tell darker, more mature stories not suitable for the canonical versions of DC’s stable of heroes and villains. The setup of DC Black Label and Marc Silvestri’s own personal excitement in the story could imply that he’s got something really special coming for Batman and the Joker.
Despite the decades spent pursuing one another, neither Batman or the Joker has been able to break their back-and-forth. The unfortunate reality is that being a part of DC’s continuity is that the characters haven’t been able to do anything that would completely change their dynamic. But a Black Label book could provide Silvestri with limitless possibilities. And with as dark as the creator is hinting his book will be, it’s truly anyone’s guess what could happen. Will Batman kill the Joker, or will the villain convince the hero to abandon his moral crusade and join him? The latest teaser really does hint that Batman and The Joker: The Deadly Duo is a book where anything could happen.
