Joker Returns & Goes For Broke in 'Death of the Family'

Creepy Ad for "Death of the Family"

   Just shortly after the end of the recent Night of Owls storyline and the Court of Owls epic in Synder's Batman, he drives readers right back into the fire with the upcoming "Death of the Family" storyline in his book. Yet, like Night of Owls before it, the story will spill into other books while following the same structure as Night of Owls, making them connect to the main storyline but still stand alone if need be.

The main storyline will be in Batman, starting in issue # 13 and running to it's double-sized conclusion in Batman # 17. Meanwhile, the books along for the ride with tie-ins are as follows: Nightwing, Batgirl, Catwoman, Batman & Robin, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Teen Titans & Suicide Squad.

  Synder has not hide his love for the longtime enemy of Batman, stating that "Death of the Family" is his love letter to the Joker while opening so many things for other members of the Bat-Family.

Synder commented to Newsrama the following about how Joker looks after the villain had his face cut off at the end of Detective Comics # 1:

   "He really is going to, obviously, have a new look. At the same time, we want it to echo his iconic look. So it's Joker in a much more horror movie fashion.

But, without giving too much away, you will see the iconic face and the grin, and he might look a little bit different and scarier. But you'll find that he's still himself at his core. And he's really here in his blood-stained clothes going to work."

So, a new, horrific look for the Joker but what else does this story line have? There will be personal effects to many in the Bat-Family; particularly Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl, who will have her first face to face with the Joker since being able to walk again. Batgirl writer Gail Simone hinted to Newsrama about the encounter and Batgirl's state of mind will be:

"There's definitely a feeling out there regarding this stuff that someone is fixed or not fixed, like an on/off switch. It's not that binary, but she is facing this stuff head on. And I am pretty sure a Joker/Batgirl story is inevitable, but I can't say more than that. Think of two trains on the same track facing towards each other...there's nowhere for either of them to go but towards collision. 

It is the once-and-for-all confrontation between the Batgirl and the man who shot and paralyzed her. It does not go as he expected.

This story starts in issue #14, and I have to say, it's pretty shocking. That's all I'll say right now, however."

  And Harley Quinn, Robin and all the other members of the Bat-Family will get affected by Joker's return. Synder commented to Newsrama again on Joker's plan for revenge during "Death of the Family":

 ". . .this is the Joker having been away for a year planning all of this stuff, like planting traps and seeds and all kinds of stuff that are going to come to fruition in this thing.

A year ago, Joker decided, I'm going to walk away from Gotham, I'm going to plan my revenge, and I'm going to come back in a year and bring it all back. So this is what he's been planning to do for a long time. And all of those things are set in motion.

 . . .But because the story is so big, and because Joker is attacking all those members of the Bat-family, essentially, to prove this point that he's come back to Gotham to prove and to expose this secret that he has, you will see Joker attack Nightwing in Nightwing. And you'll see him come after Batgirl in Batgirl. And you'll see him go after Damian in Batman and Robin. And Tim, even, in Teen Titans. And Jason in Red Hood [and the Outlaws].

So there will be issues of those books that feature the Joker coming after him in ways that will be part of the moving parts of the bigger story. But they will all be self-contained, so you don't need to read other books to follow the series that you love.  . .

But this story is much darker and much more personal.

Joker is coming after the Bat-family in ways where, it really is almost like when you think about it.... he hasn't faced off with those characters, essentially, or directly, before.

People will say, "Oh, well, he came after Batgirl in The Killing Joke," but he was really going after Commissioner Gordon. So when Batgirl realizes that here, too, it's almost like the Joker is staring at her saying, "I'm coming after you this time. I'll kill everyone and burn down everything in your life to do what I did to your father, but to you." You know?

So in that way, he's saying that to every member of the Bat-family. To Nightwing and everyone, saying, "You've never faced me before. I've never actually targeted you. I've only used you as pawns to get at Batman. So welcome to your worst nightmare." "

With all this, This might be the Joker's greatest caper yet.  Who will live? Who will die? How will the Bat-Family will be changed by this? And how will Bruce face his greatest enemy when he comes for everyone he loves?

"Death of the Family" starts in Batman # 13 this October, written by Scott Synder with art by Greg Capullo, for $3.99.