The following contains spoilers for Batman: The Brave and the Bold #2, on sale now from DC Comics.
The Joker is undoubtedly one of Batman's most popular villains, and he has been around for nearly as long as the Dark Knight himself.
Debuting in the Caped Crusader's first solo series Batman #1 (by Bill Finger, Whitney Ellsworth, Paul Gustavson, Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff), the Clown Prince of Crime's first appearance is just as legendary as his legacy is. Now, Dawn of DC's relaunch of the classic title, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, reimagines the Dark Knight and the Joker's very first encounter in its second issue (by Ed Brisson, Tom King, Christopher Cantwell, Joëlle Jones, Javier Rodriguez, Mitch Gerads, Jeff Spokes, Clayton Cowles, Simon Bowlan, Saida Temofonte and Tom Napolitano).
While the premise of Bruce Wayne and the Joker's first encounter is similar, Batman: The Brave and the Bold #2 gives fans a far darker take on their first battle in nearly every way. Its grim and gritty art is drastically different from the vibrant and colorful scenes in the original story. And, the Dark Knight's approach and general attitude toward the Joker are far more brash and antagonistic than the original version of Batman.
Dawn of DC's Batman: The Brave and the Bold Gives Fans a New Batman
In Batman #1, Bruce is very calculated, waiting for the perfect moment to take down the Clown Prince of Crime. The Brave and the Bold's Batman jumps right in for the sole purpose of wanting to be the first person to defeat the villain. The original story's Bruce also brings Dick Grayson's Robin along for backup whereas the new iteration of the Dark Knight decides to go into the battlefield alone.
The two stories end in drastically different ways. Bruce ultimately wins the fight against the Joker in Batman #1 thanks to his strategic plan and the help of the first Robin. The Brave and the Bold's Batman, on the other hand, suffers a gruesome defeat. His carelessness and lack of support result in the Joker incapacitating him and throwing him off a bridge, ending his new first encounter on a dramatic cliffhanger.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold #2 written by Ed Brisson, Tom King, Christopher Cantwell and Joëlle Jones with art from Joëlle Jones, colors by Javier Rodriguez, Mitch Gerads, Jeff Spokes and letters by Clayton Cowles, Simon Bowlan, Saida Temofonte and Tom Napolitano, is on sale now from DC Comics.
Source: DC Comics