Warning! Spoilers ahead for Joker #14
In the latest issue of DC Comics’ Joker, a major ally of the Batman may have murdered the Clown Prince of Crime (or done something worse). Involved in a major conspiracy featuring corrupt governments, secret organizations, and the legacy of the classic villain Bane, Joker has been the agent of chaos at the center of it all. Although ex-Commissioner Jim Gordon was hired to track Joker down, he’s been grappling with what he is going to do once he actually finds him. Now, this new issue teases that Jim makes a potentially lethal choice.
In DC’s Joker, a mysterious woman named Cressida hired Gordon to find Joker as part of a much grander plan to take down the Court of Owls. The Court is also protected by a corrupt group of powerful leaders and officials known as the Network who assist the world’s most sinister organizations and villains for their own interests. As such, the Network is in Cressida’s sights as well. She’s also working with Bane who wants the Santa Priscan government punished for cloning him (also connected to the Network). Using A-Day and the global manhunt for Joker to bring all three groups out of the shadows, Joker #14 from James Tynion IV and Giuseppe Camuncoli is a major issue that sees all of these secret plans coming together.
However, much of the issue takes place in the aftermath of Bane facing his clone daughter Vengeance and Cressida revealing the full extent of her plans. As a result, both Interpol Agent Isabella Hallows and Batman are in the dark, wanting to know what happened between Jim Gordon and Joker. It certainly seems that both are under the impression that Gordon killed the Joker, finally ending his dark mayhem once and for all. Likewise, a conversation between Gordon and his daughter sees Jim asking if Barbara’s forgiven him, teasing that he’s done something truly terrible. After all, the issue’s flashbacks feature Jim holding a gun to the Joker’s head.
In truth, it’s far more likely that Gordon lets Joker live, possibly seeing the Court of Owls and the Network as a far greater evil than the Clown Prince that need to be destroyed, possibly by the Joker himself. While this is certainly the more heroic option rather than killing such as huge supervillain (and major DC IP), killing Joker is still on the table. Previous issues suggested that the Network tried to clone Joker just like they had with Bane. While it was a project that reportedly failed, it’s possible that one of their subjects was a secret success. This would allow Batman’s rival to live on even if it’s revealed that Gordon did pull the trigger.
With only one issue left, it’s going to be exciting to see how it all ends for Jim Gordon and what he ultimately chose. Being one of Batman’s oldest and biggest allies in Gotham, killing Joker would certainly create a massive rift in their relationship. Did Gordon really kill the Clown Prince of Crime, or did he let him go to take out the other evils present in this roller coaster of a DC series? Fans will just have to wait and see when the final issue of Joker releases on June 14.
