The Dark Future Where Batman Becomes Gotham’s Tyrant
Batman fights for justice in the never-ending war against crime. But in this shocking Elseworlds tale, the Batman is something far darker—a tyrant ruling over Gotham with absolute power.
In this dystopian future, Batman transcends his role as Gotham's protector to become its self-appointed god. Towering over the city is the Ebony Cathedral of the Bruce, a monument to his rule. From this gothic citadel, the Bat commands absolute devotion. Citizens no longer respect the symbol of the Bat; they fear and worship it. Every year, during the Night of Blood—the longest night of the year—the city is plunged into chaos as Batman orchestrates horrific rituals to maintain his control.
To enforce his reign, Batman doesn’t just wear the mantle of the Bat; he has become it. Decades of rule have left the Bruce relying on grotesque surgeries and transplants, performed by a mad doctor in his service. His body has been transformed into a living symbol of his tyranny. No longer a man in a costume, this Batman is a 90-year-old monster whose survival is sustained by science and cruelty.
The Night of Blood: Gotham’s Darkest Ritual
At the heart of Batman’s rule is a twisted tradition a race through the streets of Gotham to hunt villains. On the Night of Blood, rebellious citizens are transformed into grotesque parodies of Gotham's classic villains. Through a combination of physical mutilation and psychological torture, captured rebels become unwilling participants in the nightmarish race. The Penguin, the Riddler, and Two-Face are no longer criminals but tragic victims of Batman’s oppressive regime, locked in deadly competition for the amusement of Gotham’s masses.
The race is no ordinary contest—it’s a macabre spectacle. Villains are launched into the city in weaponized vehicles while Batman’s soldiers hunts them down, one by one. The audience cheers as the Penguin is captured and sentenced to death by the mob. Two-Face meets his end as Batman destroys his flying coin, ignoring his pleas for mercy. Each victim’s demise reinforces the Bat-god’s rule, reminding the people of Gotham that their survival depends on their unwavering loyalty to him.
The Joker: A Rebel’s Last Stand
In this twisted world, the Joker is no longer Batman’s nemesis; he is Gotham’s last hope. Joe Collins, a rebel leader, fights against Batman’s tyranny. When his comrades are captured, Joe infiltrates the Batcave to rescue them. But Joe is betrayed by a close ally. His punishment is severe: tortured and brainwashed, Joe is transformed into the Joker. But even as his body is twisted into the Clown Prince of Crime, fragments of Joe’s mind remain intact.
During the Night of Blood, Joe uses his wit and ingenuity to escape his captors. Hiding in the ruins of the original Batcave, he discovers recordings of the original Batman. These messages from the past reignite his resolve. With resources from the old Batcave and a weapon once wielded by the original Joker, Joe prepares for his final showdown against the Bat-god.
The Final Showdown: Joker vs. Batman
The climax of the story can be nothing other than a Batman and Joker showdown. Atop the Ebony Cathedral, Batman has strung up Joe’s ally, Marya, as bait. Armed with newfound determination and old weapons, Joe confronts the monstrous Batman for a brutal and chaotic battle. Batman is confident in his strength and gadgets. Joe has acquired some of the original Batman’s equipment, but has also adopted some of the Joker’s dirty tricks.
The outcome decides the fate of Gotham. Anyone who can defeat the Bruce an rightly adopt the mantle of the Bat and become the ruler of Gotham. This new dynamic flips the traditional Batman-Joker rivalry on its head, challenging readers to reconsider the nature of heroism and villainy. As an Elseworlds tale, this story forces us to ask difficult questions. What happens when the symbol of justice becomes a tool of oppression? Can the line between hero and villain blur so much that they become indistinguishable?
Batman’s transformation into a tyrant serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers of unchecked power, even in the hands of those with noble intentions. And Joe’s evolution into a heroic Joker highlights the resilience of the human spirit. Despite the horrors inflicted upon him, Joe refuses to become a monster. His rebellion against the Bat-god is a testament to the enduring fight for freedom and justice, even in the darkest of times.
This story isn’t just a shocking twist on the Batman mythos; it’s a thought-provoking exploration of power, identity, and morality. By reversing the roles of Batman and the Joker, it challenges our perceptions of heroism and villainy. Could someone as disciplined and driven as Batman fall into tyranny? Could someone as chaotic and unpredictable as the Joker rise to become a symbol of hope?
For more of this story, check out this Elseworlds story Batman: I, Joker by Bob Hall with Lee Loughridge. Support your local comic book store.