The Batman Who Laughs Review: Nightmarish. Visceral. Unputdownable.

Facing up to nightmares is one of the hardest things that anyone can do. They force us to confront our deepest fears and see the worst parts of ourselves. Over the years, Batman has had to battle with many nightmares. But none have been more terrifying than the Batman Who Laughs, a twisted version of Bruce Wayne who became the new Joker.

In Scott Snyder’s The Batman Who Laughs, the character returns in a huge way to terrify Gotham. The graphic novel features Batman having to find the darkest parts of himself to fight against his doppelganger. But how far is he willing to go and is it true that a Batman who laughs is a Batman who always wins?

Why The Batman Who Laughs Is Scarier Than The Joker

The Joker is considered to be one of the most horrifying villains in pop culture. The amount of pain and misery he’s caused Batman over the years is indescribable. Despite Joker being a terrifying villain, I would argue there’s one character who is even scarier: The Batman Who Laughs. A twisted combination of Bruce Wayne and Joker, The Batman Who Laughs is Batman’s greatest nightmare come to life. The Comic Vault is looking into the history of the character to see what makes him an even bigger threat than Joker.

7 Dark Knights: The Story Of Bruce Wayne’s Greatest Nightmares

Batman’s mission to stop crime has taken to him dark places, yet he’s always managed to stop himself from crossing the line. The idea of a Batman without limitations is a scary thought and there are versions of the Caped Crusader who hold nothing back. During Dark Nights: Metal, seven evil versions of Bruce Wayne appeared in the main DC Universe. All of them are reflections of Bruce’s nightmares and I’m going to look into he story of each one to see what made them change.

Dark Knights: Rising Review: A Disturbing Collection Of Cautionary Batman Tales

Batman has defined himself by his war on crime, with his code stopping him from going too far. But what if he crossed the line? What if there was no coming back from the other side? Dark Knights: Rising presents a look at seven versions of Bruce Wayne who gave into their fears and became the darkest versions of themselves. As part of the Dark Nights: Metal event, this graphic novel tells the stories of the evil Batmen that came from the Dark Multiverse. Each of them have their reasons for going down the wrong path, providing a fascinating look into the mind of Bruce Wayne.

Dark Nights: Metal Review: A Comic Event Writing Masterclass

When it comes to comic events, it’s easy to feel cynical about them because of how often they happen. Marvel and DC have got into a habit of altering their universes on a yearly basis, to the point it’s felt as if storytelling has become a money grab, rather than a way of building compelling characters. I’ve felt comic event fatigue before, but there’s something exceptional about the writing of Scott Snyder that keeps me coming back to his stories. Snyder has become the definitive Batman writer, which is why I was eager to pick up Dark Nights: Metal. Here are my thoughts on a graphic novel that nails all the things that makes a comic event worth investing in.

The 5 Most Twisted Versions Of The Joker In Comics

The Joker is one of the most evil characters in the history of comics, captivating fans with his nihilistic approach to life. His chaotic personality continually clashes with Batman’s desire for order, making him the perfect villain. The Joker’s characterisation has typically been split between a playful trickster and psychotic monster who revels in burning everything around him. Over the years, there have been many versions of the Clown Prince of Crime, some more disturbed than others. The Comic Vault is listing the five most twisted interpretations of The Joker.