Sorry Joker – [SPOILER] Just Became Gotham’s New Deadliest Man Alive

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman #138!An unexpected villain is making his move and becoming the worst threat to Gotham since the Joker. As the “Gotham War” heats up, one rogue takes advantage of the chaos to achieve a dark goal.

In Batman #138 by Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jimenez, the immortal villain Vandal Savage speaks to an unknown audience and recounts how he gained his incredibly long lifespan. Savage reveals that he was blessed by a meteor that seeped an eerie green fluid, the same magics that power Ra’s al Ghul’s Lazarus Pits.

Savage later reveals that it’s not the Lazarus Pits that are the key to immortality, but the fragments of the strange meteorite that blessed Savage in the first place. Ra’s al Ghul spent his life keeping the fragments separated to reduce the amount of immortals in the world. But with al Ghul is dead no one can stop Savage from bringing the meteorite back together. Savage informs Catwoman’s newly-trained henchmen that he’s come to Gotham to steal the largest piece of the meteorite. Savage’s daughter Scandal decrees the army as the new League of Shadows as Vandal prepares them for the biggest job of their lives.

Vandal Savage Has Stolen Catwoman’s Army to Form a Killer New Society

What started as a plan to improve Gotham has only served to hurt its greatest heroes. Catwoman began a new criminal operation that took in the city’s low-level henchmen and trained them to be thieves like Selina that only target Gotham’s wealthiest. The endeavor was quite successful and actually led to a 75% reduction in crime on the streets. However, it also led to the death of Roland Garner, a small-time criminal who was killed on his first criminal outing. Selina’s endeavor has rocked Gotham and has driven a huge wedge in the Bat-Family.

Vandal Savage has already made some huge moves as chaos reigns in Gotham. He’s purchased Wayne Manor and the Batcave, now he’s seizing control of Catwoman’s collective of highly-trained thieves. With just a bit more training, Savage could easily turn his new army into a group of killers that rivals the real League of Shadows. Vandal now has a fortified base to house his soldiers and the knowledge and skills to hone his warriors’ fighting abilities. If Savage finds the immortal treasure he’s looking for, he might have what it takes to rule Gotham permanently.

Vandal Savage is Aiming to Take Control of Gotham

Gotham has always held its secrets, but Vandal Savage is aiming to steal one of its most powerful. If he succeeds, Savage will have the greatest base and the most well-trained army in the city, plus the longevity needed for a long, terrifying rule. There’s a certain irony to Catwoman training Gotham’s criminals to reduce crime only to have them stolen and conscripted into Savage’s ranks. Unless the Bat-Family and Catwoman can resolve their issues, the immortal Savage is going to make Joker look like a purse-snatcher by comparison. Batman #138 is on sale now.