Harley Quinn is Batman's Only Hope Against Joker's New Girlfriend
DC's Joker War is coming soon to Gotham City, giving Batman one of the biggest threats he's ever faced at the hands of the Clown Prince of Crime: The Joker. The Dark Knight is going to need all the help he can get to stop Joker and his vast onslaught, and it looks as though he'll be getting support from more than just those within his Bat-Family inner circle. Batman #98 (the fourth chapter of Joker War) reveals that Batman will need to rely on none other than Harley Quinn, the former girlfriend of the Joker himself. Fittingly enough, Harley will be defending Batman from new villain Punchline, Joker's second in command, and, more importantly for Harley, Joker's new girlfriend!
Currently, James Tynion IV, Guillem March, and Jorge Jimenez's Batman comic series is in the midst of the precursor event Their Dark Designs, featuring some of the most fiendish plots devised by a collection of Batman's rogues all being implemented in a succession of one another. The reason for this is because the plots have all been co-opted by a new villain, The Designer, the man who helped the rogues create said plans years prior. Using their schemes for his own ends, Batman has been pushed to his very limits, and his own family fortune is on the line as well, where he could stand to lose all of it if the Designer is successful. All the while, Joker has been amassing his forces, preparing for a final epic duel with the Caped Crusader that might very well end in one of their deaths. Batman's definitely going to need help, even if it comes from a surprising place.
The DC solicitation reveals that Batman will become incapacitated thanks to a rather large dose of a new experimental Joker toxin. Apparently, the new toxin will overwhelm Batman, forcing him to see demons and visions. Could this potentially be a new Joker gas/Scarecrow fear toxin hybrid? It would help explain why Batman wouldn't be ready for it. Regardless, in his weakened state, it will be up to Harley Quinn herself to protect Batman while he recovers, a scenario that seems highly unlikely either of them would have ever predicted. Hopefully, Harley will be up to the task, as it looks like Punchline is looking to go after Batman while he's down. Fans should be excited at the prospect of seeing Joker's ex trade blows with his newest flame. Here's the cover artwork for the issue and the solicitation from DC Comics:
- Batman #98
- Written by James Tynion IV
- Art by Jorge Jimenez
- Cover art by David Finch
- “The Joker War” part four of six! Batman is at his most vulnerable following a massive dose of an experimental new Joker toxin. With the Dark Knight haunted by demons and visions, it’s up to Harley Quinn to protect him while he recovers—because Punchline is on her way!
- On sale September 1st, 2020.