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Batman One-Shots
Dark Nights: The Batman Who Laughs #1: Special Edition
The Batman Who Laughs Batman Day 2019 Special Edition #1 reprints the 2017 one-shot spinning out of Dark Nights: Metal, written by James Tynion IV with art by Riley Rossmo and a cover by Jason Fabok.
31 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2019
158 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
James Tynion IV
1,663 books1,998 followersPrior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
August 12, 2024
If Gotham had a death sentence if you got ten kills record, there would be no villains left.
Actually, if it had a death sentence if you killed 100 people, there would be little to no villains left.
The batman who laughs is intense, he is dark, I don't know why it feels like he is worse than all the others, but maybe because he is?
I remember how I finally beat nightmares as a young boy, I faced them, right there in the dreamscape.
So far facing those nightmares didn't work for our heroes yet.
Actually, if it had a death sentence if you killed 100 people, there would be little to no villains left.
The batman who laughs is intense, he is dark, I don't know why it feels like he is worse than all the others, but maybe because he is?
I remember how I finally beat nightmares as a young boy, I faced them, right there in the dreamscape.
So far facing those nightmares didn't work for our heroes yet.
November 24, 2017
You probably heard about the Batman and The Joker being inseperable. The caped crusader and the clown prince of crime, entangled together in an inescapable mad love - order and chaos, black and white, good and evil.
So what would happen if the two became one and the same person? This one shot DC Metal tie-in explores the persona and the thesis of having a the world's best mind that has a purely evil heart.
The Batman who Laughs is bold in a very, very dark way. It does not shy away from the concept of this pure, sadistic evil. Tynion manages to craft a story that is both haunting yet perfectly captures a realized personality of a Jokerbat. And yes, he is dangerous. But what the reason why he is feared is not because he can kill, it is what he does before he kills.
Rossmo's illustrations are haunting, but there is always a hint of a joke and fun drizzled across his illustrations.
Rossmo's art is fantastic. This guy is on his way to greatness. His unsure lines and asymmetric panels reflect the mind of the Batman who Laughs. Tynuon and Rossmo is a new creative team I would love to see working together in the future.
The evil Batmen one shots are now finally complete, and this sure is certainly worth the wait.
So what would happen if the two became one and the same person? This one shot DC Metal tie-in explores the persona and the thesis of having a the world's best mind that has a purely evil heart.
The Batman who Laughs is bold in a very, very dark way. It does not shy away from the concept of this pure, sadistic evil. Tynion manages to craft a story that is both haunting yet perfectly captures a realized personality of a Jokerbat. And yes, he is dangerous. But what the reason why he is feared is not because he can kill, it is what he does before he kills.
Rossmo's illustrations are haunting, but there is always a hint of a joke and fun drizzled across his illustrations.
Rossmo's art is fantastic. This guy is on his way to greatness. His unsure lines and asymmetric panels reflect the mind of the Batman who Laughs. Tynuon and Rossmo is a new creative team I would love to see working together in the future.
The evil Batmen one shots are now finally complete, and this sure is certainly worth the wait.
December 1, 2017
I really despise the red on black word balloons. This book was otherwise creepy enough to get 5 stars.
March 14, 2022
holy shit
November 15, 2017
Not quite the origin I was expecting for The Batman Who Laughs, but still great nonetheless and maybe the best Batman issue James Tynion IV has ever done. This Batman, who killed Joker on his world, becomes infected with one final deadly strain of Joker toxin upon killing him and becomes a Jokerized Batman (that kind of looks like Pinhead from Hellraiser and Judge Death had a baby together). He Jokerizes Damian Wayne and the other Damian clones to make Jokerized robins, murders the entire Batfamily with machine guns, kills the Justice League and Superman’s whole family, and destroys his world. Then with the help of Barbatos gathers the rest of the evil Batmen of the dark multiverse. It’s the best issue of DNM so far and a really fantastic elseworlds Batman tale. These tie ins and crossovers are really great and I’m disappointed that there won’t be any more dark Batman oneshots.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2021
I remember how stunned I was when I read "Injustice: Gods Among us" at the thought that Superman could be pushed over the edge by the Joker. In "The Batman Who Laughs" I'm once again stunned at the idea that Batman could become everything the Joker was.
In this story Batman becomes infected by a virus released by the Joker at the moment of his death. This virus allows Batman to keep his analytical abilities but makes something evil of his goals.
A well written story that does a great job of making the hairs on the back of your next stand. The full page spread on page 16 is enough to give a true fan nightmares. The art work is chilling to say the very least, horrifying to put it mildly.
This one is well worth the price deserves a spot on any fan's shelf.
In this story Batman becomes infected by a virus released by the Joker at the moment of his death. This virus allows Batman to keep his analytical abilities but makes something evil of his goals.
A well written story that does a great job of making the hairs on the back of your next stand. The full page spread on page 16 is enough to give a true fan nightmares. The art work is chilling to say the very least, horrifying to put it mildly.
This one is well worth the price deserves a spot on any fan's shelf.
July 14, 2020
Oh man, the Batman Who Laughs is one crazy character. The evil of the Joker combined with the ruthless and know-how of Batman. What he did to Superman and his family....is just sick, plus his own Bat Family. This is the Batman from Earth #22.
But I think somehow DC has gotten away from the whole 9th metal aspect. It appears this was the one we should have started off with. Hopefully DC is not biting off more than they can chew by starting the Superman/Watchmen crossover (Doomsday Clock) maxi series as this one is winding down. How can the DC universe rebound from this? Unless it all turns out to be a dream or something.
But I think somehow DC has gotten away from the whole 9th metal aspect. It appears this was the one we should have started off with. Hopefully DC is not biting off more than they can chew by starting the Superman/Watchmen crossover (Doomsday Clock) maxi series as this one is winding down. How can the DC universe rebound from this? Unless it all turns out to be a dream or something.
December 25, 2019
Not my type of Batman comic. Very twisted and cynical. Yet, it’s a very different concept from what I’m used too.
November 16, 2017
Batman who laughs is fucking amazing the art it's just like ( Batman shadow 01 to 06 )
November 17, 2017
Creepiest one yet!
This was the creepiest tie-in yet! I’m loving this Metal world that’s been created and can’t wait for Metal #4 to see where the main story goes. Something tells me it will still get worse before it gets better for our heroes.
This was the creepiest tie-in yet! I’m loving this Metal world that’s been created and can’t wait for Metal #4 to see where the main story goes. Something tells me it will still get worse before it gets better for our heroes.
November 20, 2017
Astounding
The creativity and wonder that is this masterpiece has completely blown my mind. Thank you very much James T 4th
The creativity and wonder that is this masterpiece has completely blown my mind. Thank you very much James T 4th
January 3, 2018
Not too bad! DARK KNIGHTS METAL has been decent so far, as well as these one shots explaining the origins of these evil Batmen. Story wise this one was good, however not as fantastic I was expecting. Also after seeing quite a few different batman books now with art by Riley Rossmo, I can safely say I'm a bit mixed on his batman art and this was no exception
June 24, 2018
Instant Insanity: Just add Gas
After reading Garth Ennis's Hellblazer masterwork, I felt like doing a little clean up of some the Metal series I hadn't read. So I finished the Batmen tie-ins with this book, and I'm also going to read Batman Lost. So stick around for that if you wish to.
I like many people think this is one of the better Dark Batmen origins. I still think Batman the Dawnbreaker is the one I enjoyed the most, but this was frickin insane but very well put together. How it all happens is pretty horrifying and to be honest kind of haunting. The Joker in this story looks exactly like the one from the animated series, Batman Mask of the Phantasm etc. I can't really recall another time where there has been a more fucked up Joker in any recent story. Move the hell over WOJAR. Seriously Tynion. If you were trying to make the Joker truly a monster, you succeeded. Damn you succeeded. The scene with the fate of the Bat family and Superman and his family are of course, dark as fuck and pretty damn effective. I think the art in this book is good, but not great. I don't know that I want to see a lot more of this artists style, but it is still good art never the less. Especially in the first scene. Everything else in this issue was just by the numbers stuff that didn't matter to me as much as the more potent scenes. The whole shpeel about the meaning behind a deck of cards was kind of clever but not exactly needed. In the end, this was a great Metal tie-in and the 2nd best Dark Batman origin. Letter Grade: (B+)
After reading Garth Ennis's Hellblazer masterwork, I felt like doing a little clean up of some the Metal series I hadn't read. So I finished the Batmen tie-ins with this book, and I'm also going to read Batman Lost. So stick around for that if you wish to.
I like many people think this is one of the better Dark Batmen origins. I still think Batman the Dawnbreaker is the one I enjoyed the most, but this was frickin insane but very well put together. How it all happens is pretty horrifying and to be honest kind of haunting. The Joker in this story looks exactly like the one from the animated series, Batman Mask of the Phantasm etc. I can't really recall another time where there has been a more fucked up Joker in any recent story. Move the hell over WOJAR. Seriously Tynion. If you were trying to make the Joker truly a monster, you succeeded. Damn you succeeded. The scene with the fate of the Bat family and Superman and his family are of course, dark as fuck and pretty damn effective. I think the art in this book is good, but not great. I don't know that I want to see a lot more of this artists style, but it is still good art never the less. Especially in the first scene. Everything else in this issue was just by the numbers stuff that didn't matter to me as much as the more potent scenes. The whole shpeel about the meaning behind a deck of cards was kind of clever but not exactly needed. In the end, this was a great Metal tie-in and the 2nd best Dark Batman origin. Letter Grade: (B+)
December 27, 2017
Honestly, not my favorite of the Nightmare Batmen titles. I think this Batman has the best origin story and the most potenital, but this issue just wasn't as gripping to me. Maybe it was because I had to wait for the second printing and so spoiled myself, I don't know. But this issue wasn't as mindblowing as I was ecpecting.
December 1, 2017
Really enjoyed this one. Loved the gritty art and the twisted story. Super dark Batman themes are right up my alley. I still don't care for the multiverse idea and not really digging Dark Nights Metal, but I do wanna see a showdown between Batman Who Laughs and Batman, so I might continue reading this series.
March 12, 2021
Horrifyingly good
The batman who laughs is one of those reimaginings of batman that attracts u as well as repulses u. Honestly, we have all seen how he could someday become the greatest super villain of all time. But to see it happen. To see batman brutalise superman, and at the same time realise that he can do it over and over and over again..... Stuff of nightmares. And yet u want to continue reading it to see how it ends.... Whether he is still alive inside that jokerised intellect. In short, really loved it.
The batman who laughs is one of those reimaginings of batman that attracts u as well as repulses u. Honestly, we have all seen how he could someday become the greatest super villain of all time. But to see it happen. To see batman brutalise superman, and at the same time realise that he can do it over and over and over again..... Stuff of nightmares. And yet u want to continue reading it to see how it ends.... Whether he is still alive inside that jokerised intellect. In short, really loved it.
December 6, 2017
What happens when Batman and the Joker become one?
This comic answers that question and it does so in style. And the answer? It is one of darkness and nightmares made flesh. Of terrors and fears which have no place in reality.
This comic answers that question and it does so in style. And the answer? It is one of darkness and nightmares made flesh. Of terrors and fears which have no place in reality.
December 10, 2017
4.5 stars
November 15, 2017
A execução foi muito boa mas a ideia primordial é ruim, simples assim, eles basicamente usaram a porra do plot de Arkham Knight, que não é um plot bom, podiam ter feito tanta coisa legal com um Batman decaindo pra escuridão mas não, "ele foi infectado por um Coringa vírus e virou Coringa"
Ah vai a merda porra
Ah vai a merda porra
October 15, 2021
“Verás… un Batman que ríe… es un Batman que siempre gana”.
December 31, 2020
Слишком много мелкого текста
September 21, 2019
This is a reprint of The Batman Who Laughs #1, which tells the story of a Batman who’s infected by the Joker’s toxin and becomes the manifestation of his greatest fear: being like the Joker himself. This character is based on a simple psychological equation: Batman retains his own determination to eliminate crime but with his own moral code switched with the Joker’s - in other words, now lacking a moral code as the Joker does. This is a Batman who - as the result of the Joker’s toxin - now believes he can be more effective if he retires his previous rule, that he’d otherwise follow, of never killing. For killing created the Batman and so the Batman killing would be a self-contradiction. It’s an experiment with what happens when a character believes the same end can be justified by different, more extreme, means. But the Batman Who Laughs then murders the entire human race, victim by victim, before travelling to the universe of the original Batman to do the same - for the simple reason of him being crazy. Any philosophy he espouses is irrelevant because it’s all ultimately the ramblings of a madman affected by a chemical agent. Yet, a large portion of the comic is about exploring his newfound worldview. But it isn’t really a worldview, he’s just insane. The character is presented complexly but is in fact deceptively simple. The art’s like that, too: very highly-stylised but in the end telling a very simple story. Still, the character of the Batman Who Laughs is an intriguing one and this story did make me interested to see how he could develop - which, according to a splash of text at the end - occurs in the Dark Nights: Metal: Dark Knights Rising graphic novel.
October 17, 2022
A Batman who laughs. . . is a Batman who always wins.
Because of my love for this newly horrific villainous character I'm about to spoil the heck outta this story. You been warned.
🚨 MAJOR SPOILER ALERT 🚨
For more than 80 years now, the Joker has been a dreadful force to be reckoned with, (mean that in the best way) tormenting the citizens of Gotham and his favorite frenemy Batman. The perpetually grinning madman has brought us laughter, joy, fear, and shrieks of terror for so long that mistah j. is undoubtedly the greatest super-villain ever created.
As the Joker's character evolved we have seen many more unnerving, disturbing, deranged and violent versions of this infamous villain. Expecially outside of his original interation The Batman Who Laughs shows a Joker at his most deadliest unique best and a Batman without a conscience. I mean c'mon a mixture of the two greatest DC characters, it doesn't get better than that. The joker chaotic brilliance infused within the body and mind of Batman and all that intells his training, abilities, intelligence also history.
So yeah, that combination sounds viciously bad so bad in fact its scary. Basically what do you get when take a little bit of joker a little bit Batman and a whole lot of dark multiverse Pure Nightmare Fuel. Coming across this menacing individual in a dark alley yes, please! and No, thank you! at the same time. I fucking love this horrifying character.
HOLY BATSHIT CRAZY BATMAN!
The Batman Who Laughs is one of the more recent additions to the DC universe spawned from the depths of the Dark Nights Metal events Multiverse not to be confused with the already existing multiverse. This story is his origin (not his first appearance) they're different. And it's definitely as dark as you would imagin. The Batman Who Laughs has quickly become the most powerful and feared villain in DC long history sinse his introduction.
And due to his popularity,The Batman Who Laughs was giving a 6ix issue mini series that's been extended to se7en featuring another really cool kickass version of Batman called The Grim Knight The Batman Who Laughs *literally* is batman's own worst nightmare come to life. The character was meant to answer the ultimate question "What If" Batman didn't have a code against killing and lost all sense of morals. He already sometimes, walks a thin line of pretentional evil that Bruce himself could become. I can smell your blood Bruce. So close! it's like looking into a mirror. HAHAHA! The Batman Who Laughs won the villain of year in 2019 which is impressive considering he hasn't been around that long especially at that time.
THE JOKE TOO FAR
known by many names but "agent of chaos" couldn't be more truer in this case. I mean, in every sense of the word. The Joker is creating CHAOS like never before, literally killing everyone. All kinds of unspeakable acts. He actually Kills several other villains who rival alongside him.
He's murdered many of the heroic characters alot of us know and love like Catwoman (hopefully it wasn't the wonderful Michelle Pfeiffer) lol and kills almost every cop in town. Joker even recreates Bruce's parents death in front of him with killing other kids parents then exposing the children to joker venom turning them crazy. And on top of all of that, he also tortures and murders Batman's good friend commissioner Jim Gordon in a really brutal way with his face disintegrating as he screamed out Barbara as his last words while his jaw was melting.
That breaking point Joker was purposely looking for has actually happen. Batman had became so furious and angered with everything that he's done this time, that he finally kills mistah J. by snapping his neck. Although, the joker has one more trick up his sleeve with his last dying breath, he releases a mysterious toxin contain inside of him. And something else Batman didn't know is that, the toxin in Joker's body triggered by his death he would be infected by it.
You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
—2008 movie The Dark Knight
While some people might consider The Batman Who Laughs. more of an alternate version of Bruce Wayne but in truth, he's actually both. Because his mind is twisted into something closer to the Joker's although dead, the joker lives on inside him. Breathing in the poisonous toxins that exudes from joker corpse after being killed is what caused him to be warped into the incredible force of evil awesomeness that is The Batman Who Laughs.
Brace yourself. Here's when things gets unbelievably REAL.
The next few days that follow we see a Batman that slowly starts undergoing a transformation. Batman explains to the bat family what is happening to him and why, and they're willing to fight for Bruce and try to fix the problem anyway they can and find a solution. But unfortunately, by that point it's a bit too late for the Bat members he has gather Batgirl, Red Robin, Red Hood and Nightwing.
We'll we're here to help. . . I brought you here because the four of you would notice that something was wrong with me before anyone else. I'm sorry, but I can't allow that. Bruce? what are you. . . doing?
Something you weren't prepared for. HAHAHAHA!
I don't think anyone was prepared for this moment! As he then proceeds to slaughter all his bat family with machine guns without any remorse. Yeah, quite dark. I know, fuckin insane right? I'm thinking the same thing as all of you. . . Did that really just happen. Goddamn! This moment revealed his transformation has started controlling him
Fast forward week later we see the entire justice league has been brutally killed except for superman who manages to still be alive but barely. We also then see that Mr. laughing-bat reveals he has brought supermans wife and child there at the watch-tower why you ask? so he can give superman a modified piece of Kryptonite that makes superman turn murderous and kills his own family then dies himself. After all of that, it's now official that the The Batman Who Laughs transformation is complete.
You're probably wondering what happen to all those jokerized children I mentioned earlier well, they're now evil slaves for The Batman Who Laughs. Basically they're like a pact of wild disturbing rabid dogs, maniacal miniture-size pet Robin's. These aren't the type of sidekicks that you'll ever want to encounter.
I think we all can agree that the Joker gets the last laugh here. WH😃A what a story! fully deserving of all five frightening stars. The Batman Who laughs is no joke.
March 26, 2019
This comic was absolutely fantastic and brilliant. It probably is my favorite issue of Metal so far. It gave me constant chills throughout the issue. The Batman Who Laughs is the most twisted, dark, and just pure terrifying villain I have ever read or seen. He has Batman's intelligence with no moral compass, and the will to do just pure evil. There seems to be nothing stopping him. I cannot stress enough how this is the most twisted villain ever. This backstory was the best backstory out of all the evil Batmen, and he is one of my favorite villains ever. He is definitely the scariest and creepiest villain for me. Everyone needs to read this comic series, if only just to witness this brilliantly-crafted character. I say this over and over again, but I cannot wait to read the rest of this series.
November 18, 2025
Batman and the Joker were always two halves of the same impossible equation: order and chaos, discipline and delirium. But stitch those halves together…and you don’t get balance. You get distortion. You get evolution twisted sideways.
Every card has a place in the deck. Every symbol. Every role. Batman stands for control. Joker stands for disruption. But combine them, anything becomes possible, especially the things that should never be.
That’s what the Batman Who Laughs really is: a living contradiction. A mind sharper than any blade, with a morality hollowed out and filled with rot. A joker’s smile carved onto a detective’s mind. A king crowned in lunacy. And in that union, in that obscene fusion of purpose and mania, every rule he once upheld becomes a tool to unmake the world he swore to protect.
He doesn’t just laugh because he’s lost himself. He laughs because he finally understands what he could be without limits.
Every card has a place in the deck. Every symbol. Every role. Batman stands for control. Joker stands for disruption. But combine them, anything becomes possible, especially the things that should never be.
That’s what the Batman Who Laughs really is: a living contradiction. A mind sharper than any blade, with a morality hollowed out and filled with rot. A joker’s smile carved onto a detective’s mind. A king crowned in lunacy. And in that union, in that obscene fusion of purpose and mania, every rule he once upheld becomes a tool to unmake the world he swore to protect.
He doesn’t just laugh because he’s lost himself. He laughs because he finally understands what he could be without limits.
May 16, 2021
At first I was engaged and all, but by the end I was just like, why. Why does this need to be written. Throughout the second half all I cared to do was hyperfocus on random things, such as:
1) Black nail polish is not a respectable style choice, even if you're goth enough to wear spiky metal biker goggles with no eye holes.
2) If post-Bruce swept his Uzis from the sides to the front, and killed everyone immediately with headshots, how did Jason (who was on the side) manage to shoot at him? Either no one working on this book cares about anything but shock value (impossible) or Jason was totally about to put Bruce down as soon as he heard about the Joker gas, which, to the extent I care to care about this book, is darkly funny.
3) Demon Power Girl appears completely unchanged, but Flash is a big yelling spider.
1) Black nail polish is not a respectable style choice, even if you're goth enough to wear spiky metal biker goggles with no eye holes.
2) If post-Bruce swept his Uzis from the sides to the front, and killed everyone immediately with headshots, how did Jason (who was on the side) manage to shoot at him? Either no one working on this book cares about anything but shock value (impossible) or Jason was totally about to put Bruce down as soon as he heard about the Joker gas, which, to the extent I care to care about this book, is darkly funny.
3) Demon Power Girl appears completely unchanged, but Flash is a big yelling spider.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2017
Pros
An outstanding job by Snyder's pupil, Tynion IV. With this comic, I can officially say he's definitely become a writer who can handle a comic on his own.
As in all marvellously executed villain origins, the Batman Who Laughs's makes PERFECT sense.
It's one of the goriest and most violent things I've ever seen on mainstream comics.
The final consideration about how the Joker's unrestrained personality sort of "completes" Batman's methodical rationality is brilliant. I don't want this character to die or be defeated now.
Cons
Maybe the tease of the nightmares coming at the end, it felt a little more like an editorial tease rather than something inherent to the comic itself.
An outstanding job by Snyder's pupil, Tynion IV. With this comic, I can officially say he's definitely become a writer who can handle a comic on his own.
As in all marvellously executed villain origins, the Batman Who Laughs's makes PERFECT sense.
It's one of the goriest and most violent things I've ever seen on mainstream comics.
The final consideration about how the Joker's unrestrained personality sort of "completes" Batman's methodical rationality is brilliant. I don't want this character to die or be defeated now.
Cons
Maybe the tease of the nightmares coming at the end, it felt a little more like an editorial tease rather than something inherent to the comic itself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2023
Love Batman and this was the point where I stopped being a weekly collector. Every Wednesday for years, I would get my DC comics, but then I became an alcoholic. This was one of the last books I read before falling into chaos. I saw this was for free so I decided to pick it up again. I like a world where Batman is a monster, it was unpredictable! But I do vaguely remember this book annoying me when I was a collector, was it cuz Batman is never suppose to be the villain? Or was it cuz I was in a negative mind space and I thought everything sucked? Either way it did feel redeeming to read this and enjoy it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2017
Oooh yeah. This one’s good. I liked all thse “what-if” stories. Obviously they are related to the Metal storyline, but even as standalones, they’re good short stories. I wish they showed Clark ripping apart his own family lol.
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