Gotham Knights: Batman's Death Can Make Joker Even More Terrifying
WB Games Montréal's upcoming Gotham Knights takes place in a world without Batman, which means that the Joker, if he appears, could be even more terrifying than usual. There is still plenty to be revealed about the upcoming co-op title, including how Gotham Knights will use the GCPD and the late Jim Gordon's replacement, but it's possible that iconic Batman villains like the Clown Prince of Crime will show up. If this character winds up being implemented, then there are plenty of ways the game could differentiate its version from other interpretations - starting with his reaction to Batman's death.
It appears that Bruce Wayne has died prior to the events of Gotham Knights, leaving Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing, and Red Hood to protect Gotham without him. Trailers and promotional materials for the game have revealed that villains like Mister Freeze and Penguin will be making appearances, with more members of this iconic rogues gallery sure to show up throughout the course of the story. Although Gotham Knights could have a playable Batman, it's clear that the Caped Crusader will not be leading the charge in the game's narrative.
The Joker is typically defined by his relationship with Batman, so a world without the Dark Knight holds many terrifying and chaotic possibilities for his development. There are a few points of reference that fans can point to when contemplating a world with a Joker and no Batman, but the two characters are often seen as two sides of the same coin: order and chaos. That said, Gotham Knights could stand apart from the pack of Batman video games, movies, comics, and TV shows by offering a fresh take on the Joker character without Batman around to control him.
Popular characters like Two-Face could be important Gotham Knights villains, but that doesn't mean that the Joker won't have a major impact either. Assuming that the Clown Prince will play a significant role in the main story of the game rather than through flashbacks or something similar, he could end up being a bigger threat than usual. It's been shown time and time again that this character is an almost unstoppable force of nature boasting a genius-level intellect. In Batman stories, Batman himself is usually the only one who can put a stop to Joker's crimes and acts of violence. Thus, in a world without Batman, Joker could be more powerful than ever.
In most iterations of the DC Universe, the four playable characters of this game are more than capable, with Gotham Knights' Batgirl being a capable Batman replacement, but none of these characters have the Dark Knight's same level of training or experience, which leaves them comparably ill-equipped to face a threat like The Joker. All these characters are skilled in combat, as seen in the gameplay trailers for Gotham Knights, but Joker's arena is in the mind, so martial arts and other forms of physical prowess are typically not enough to take him down.
The Joker is usually able to keep Batman on his toes due to this fundamentally chaotic nature, but Batman (especially older versions of the character) does seem to have some understanding of the Clown Prince of Crime. Batgirl, Nightwing, Robin, and Red Hood have a degree of familiarity with Joker - the latter-most especially - but to not the extent of Batman. Even if Gotham Knights doesn't need Batman to be a good game, the Dark Knight's allies may need him as a resource to take down an even less predictable Joker.
The issues of Joker becoming hard to control could be exacerbated by further emotional instability that the character may experience without Batman around. Joker has the chance to kill Batman in multiple stories - both in the comics and in various animated and live-action adaptations - but chooses not to, because he finds his nemesis' unflinching commitment to justice amusing and doesn't want to lose his source of entertainment. In this way, The Joker is different from other Gotham Knights villains like Mister Freeze, who have their own goals and view Batman as an obstacle to overcome. For the Joker, torturing Batman is not a means, but an end in and of itself.
Because of the almost intimate connection that these characters have, it's conceivable that Joker would find himself listless, depressed, or angry in a world without Batman, similar to the reaction seen in the Batman: The Animated Series episode, "The Man Who Killed Batman." While this could result in a more docile villain, the opposite could end up occurring, as Joker may become much more unpredictable and chaotic without Batman around to balance him out. Joker could even end up treating one or many of the other heroes as surrogates for the Caped Crusader, putting a weight on them that they are not prepared to shoulder. Of course, there's also the possibility that he views them as unworthy replacements - much the same way he did when Dick Grayson assumed Batman's mantle during Grant Morrison's run on Batman and Robin.
It looks like Gotham Knights will position Talons and the Court of Owls as the central threat, but that doesn't mean that the rest of the Batman rogues gallery will be excluded. If another criminal organization takes hold separate from the Court of Owls, Joker may be well suited to lead them. Gotham's defenses will be greatly reduced without Batman around, meaning that this entire group could wind up becoming more powerful than they would have otherwise, with a more powerful Joker at its helm.
Whether or not Gotham Knights will include the Joker remains to be seen, but there are numerous ways this character can be used in a Batman story sans-Batman. By losing his greatest foe (and in a twisted sense, his best friend), Joker could become more powerful, erratic, unstable, and unpredictable than ever before. Through this interpretation, Gotham Knights can avoid tired superhero tropes and provide a breath of fresh air for the IP. Batman media might be a bit saturated with Joker content currently, but Gotham Knights has set the stage for a unique take on the character - if he indeed appears.