Warning! Contains spoilers for Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Scorched Earth #1!
Watch out Gotham City: Scarecrow has finally become a major threat by stealing from the Joker. When Batman’s villains get access to all the weaponry stored in the Batcave, with his choice of anything, Scarecrow decides to use leftover samples of Joker venom to enhance his own fear toxin.
Scarecrow and the Joker haven’t been on the best of terms lately, and it seems Scarecrow has decided to up his threat level after a specifically brutal insult from the Joker. Scarecrow unleashes his own version of Joker venom in Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Scorched Earth #1 by Chip Zdarsky, Tini Howard, Nikola Čižmešija, Mike Hawthorne, Wade Von Grawbadger, Mark Morales, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Clayton Cowles.
In this issue, Vandal Savage has given Batman’s rogues gallery free rein to use any of Batman’s weaponry. This includes confiscated weapons, such as Professor Pyg using Bane’s venom, which is only slightly less dangerous than Johnathan Crane fusing his fear toxin with the Joker’s iconic venom.
The Scarecrow Is More Dangerous than Ever with His New Weapon
The Joker and Scarecrow are both villains that rely on chemicals to attack their enemies. While the Joker has other methods, he mostly relies on his iconic Joker venom, which has varying effects: from making enemies die instantly with a grin to becoming homicidal. Likewise, Johnathan Crane’s fear toxin causes the victim to see their worst fears, often driving them violently insane — if it doesn’t outright kill them. Naturally, these two toxins are incredibly dangerous, but Johnathan Crane has just fused the two of them, turning his already deadly Fear Toxin into something new.
While Scarecrow is quickly taken down by Nightwing and Robin, the fact remains that he does manage to fuse his fear toxin and Joker venom together. Considering that Scarecrow is a skilled chemist, there’s no doubt he could recreate this fusion if he wanted. It’s also likely Scarecrow did this out of spite, as the Joker is not scared by Scarecrow’s toxin. The Joker has shown that Scarecrow’s toxin has no effect on him whatsoever, even insulting Scarecrow and calling him a C-list villain. In response, it seems Scarecrow is stealing the Joker’s idea, using it to amplify his own.
The Joker Brutally Insulted Scarecrow’s Pride, and Now Crane Wants Revenge
There’s no denying that when it comes to Batman’s rogues gallery, the Joker absolutely dominates in terms of popularity and appearances. One of the ways other villains could possibly get a leg up on the Clown Prince of Crime is by just stealing from him. Scarecrow has managed to become a significantly larger threat due to the fact that he’s stolen the Joker’s venom formula, and using it might just let Scarecrow get his ultimate revenge on the Joker and prove he isn’t a C-list villain.
BATMAN/CATWOMAN: THE GOTHAM WAR – SCORCHED EARTH #1 (2023) | |
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