Joker DESTROYS the Bat-Family | Batman: Death of the Family

One year ago, the Joker limped off the streets of Gotham, mutilated and scarred when someone had taken the pale white skin right off of his face. But now, the Dark Knight’s greatest foe has returned but for once, Batman doesn’t seem to be his target. Instead, the Joker turns his vile hatred towards Commissioner Gordon, Alfred, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood and Red Robin … the only family Bruce Wayne has left. The Clown Prince of Crime will unleash his most unpredictable, vicious and psychotic assault ever on everyone Batman holds dear. Can Batman stop his arch-rival’s most deranged assault ever? Or will the cost of a deadly secret be a family member’s life? Pick it up here: amzn.to/1TrxqWl Never miss an episode by subscribing today! bit.ly/2WYvgkt #batman
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[@ONmedz]

I love the zoom ins to what I'd call "Comic Book Face". Someone tries to explain something so ridiculous from a comic that it just leaves the other person dumbfounded. xD

[@comicpop]

It happens a lot ;)

[@apostrophemusic9103]

My favorite was when they were doing Tower Of Babel and they all just make super confused faces when they bring up the language stuff

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

WHOOOOOOAAAAA! Back Issues #14! The First Appearance of Tiffany and Danielle! _This_ is going into the POPulation Archives...

[@roxtechs]

Is the Joker is supernatural being? Sal: No Laughs in Batman Endgame

[@The_Bug0222]

“Romantic” obsession Joker is my favorite Joker

[@Newarksfinest05]

4:26 Alan Moore Impersonation lmao

[@cbvn3]

Tiffany looks a bit like Barbara Gordon

[@dmcdante1991]

Joker got his face recut off in the new 52 at the beginning of detective comics...i think...

[@comicpop]

Thanks Herbert, it's been corrected!

[@dmcdante1991]

No problem -- love the show!

[@dmcdante1991]

ComicPOP! Just saw this was corrected before i ever even mentioned it...reading is always good.

[@jangofettfan0001]

"Anyway, witches" I died.

[@Tamaki742]

"And snake god"

[@LukeDodge916]

Sal, you totally gave me cold chills with your Joker theory re: pre- and post New 52! I absolutely love your concept of Joker's motive for this story... Bravo!

[@comicpop]

+Elton Alwine Thank you, Elton!

[@LukeDodge916]

+ComicPOP! It was a seminal revelation for me! Whether intentional by Snyder or not. It really put the whole "everything is different" trip Joker was on into a whole new perspective for me. And one last thing, I had no idea the trade was edited. I'll pick up the single issues now, and honestly it pisses me off...

[@Ricrayn]

"She ends up finding the face in the sewer, and then she eats it" The reactions to that statement are great.

[@blackrose1522]

i agree they should have had the joker remember everything that had happened it would have been very interesting.

[@comicpop]

Thank you!

[@alexlawrence6440]

Hearing this story out of context it feels like Scott Snyder does to

[@Sicod79]

The first appearance of Danielle and Tiffany on camera on Back Issues. I am sure they will both have many more appearances....both of them...that's right both.

[@joshuanelson6795]

I actually consider this to be *The* Joker story. _Death of the Family_, more than any other comic, truly underlines why The Joker is Batman's greatest enemy.

[@joshuanelson6795]

I would even go as far to say that it surpasses the greatness of _The Killing Joke_ (though I acknowledge I'm in the minority on that opinion).

[@myconiusmaximus1022]

funny stuff! X''D

[@QueerComics1994]

Killing Joke, Lovers and Madmen, Dead to Rights, Joker, Long Halloween, Man who Laughs, and Arkham Asylum: Madness are all better Joker stories that I recommend.

[@joshuanelson6795]

+CircuitBreaker The only two you mentioned that I think hold a candle to "Death of the Family" are "The Killing Joke" and "The Man Who Laughs". While "The Long Halloween" is indisputably one of the greatest Batman stories ever written, The Joker isn't the focus, so I can't really classify it as a Joker story.

[@angelusb2066]

@@joshuanelson6795 death in the family is edgy as hell

[@benhramiak8781]

The idea of the Joker remembering everything before the reboot is a great idea

[@oatmat]

Snyder writes batman like he's in year 10 not year 5 which makes sense

[@simonstoten4819]

Sal’s Moore impression is fantastic !!!!!!

[@adamsos]

This theory still stays with me every joker story that I hear. I am waiting on them to make it canon.

[@A55TRICKY]

I know this is eight years old but joker being actually in love with batman is like when Bruce slept with Barbara in the killing joke movie. Bet they wish they could edit that.

[@flywheelshyster]

oh my god tiffany's alderaan shirt is so amazing, when it first dawned on me what it was my mouth dropped and i whispered 'oh shiiiiiiiit'

[@alzaronwayne5255]

Finally got to watch this back issues after finishing Death of the Family last night. I know Sal doesn't like tie-ins but I read all the Bat family related tie-ins and they were actually really good and really helped push the issue of whether Joker knows their secret or not. All in all really enjoy the story and the video. Great job past ComicPOP

[@rema999p]

i topk a shot ereryiutime soemone saif "yeah"

[@comicpop]

Alpy Piece RIP

[@mrhitisnumberone]

+Alpy Piece that explains a lot.

[@jmsolano0516]

Bruh, your writing.

[@saturn_qwertydawn5429]

What did u say

[@UnderdogTactics]

LOL. When you point out it is really noticeable.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

We need to petition to make Joker the one guy who remembers the Pre-New 52 DC Universe. The Joker can be the voice of the fandom.

[@CBright7831]

32:55 - A big, hardy LOL to their reaction when he tells them that revelation.

[@dearlydemented19ify]

Continuing my rewatch journey. I'm now making a list of trades I need to pick up. Good to see Danielle on the show again! Onward to the next episode!

[@oatmat]

How do you not Love Scott Snyder

[@creme8338]

i really like him as a person, hes funny and sympathetic, but i dont like his writing.

[@Tamaki742]

He can be a good writer, but sometimes he really needs to slow down.

[@sightseeing7993]

New 52/RedLetterMedia crossover. "What's wrong with your FAAAAACE?!"

[@Treeslawood]

I like it more where the Joker is like an actual character rather than a force of nature

[@Papa_Static]

Death of the Family was the story that officially got me into comics. I was a little old (I was 18 or 19 when I read it), but I really enjoyed it. I read everything, including the tie-ins. And my conclusion was the same, I think Batman was bluffing too.

[@roshi3063]

I started at the same age but with killing joke :)

[@JakeSM14394]

I absolutely loved death of the family, to be honest it's my second favourite batman graphic novel behind the dark knight returns

[@JoshMunroe]

Seeing Danielle and Tiff on this early episode is impressive in that it shows how solid this crew of friends have been since the channel started. Bought trade count since I started watching Back Issues: 6

[@fynnthefox9078]

A story I think is up there with The Killing Joke is Going Sane from Legends of the Dark Knight. It has the Joker seemingly succeeding in killing Batman, and the Joker decides to live a normal life. He gets his skin fixed and even meets a woman who makes him happy. But when Batman turns out to not be dead, the Joker snaps back into insanity.

[@cptsteele91]

The origin of some of the mustiest t-shirts you ever did have the misfortune of catching yourself downwind of...

[@darkashtar]

I think a great instance of the Joker (that doesn't actually use him, but is a retcon flashback. It was another Grant Morrison Bat title, though I can't remember whether it's Batman RIP, Final Crisis, or maybe even Batman and son) Batman explains Joker has an extremely complex version of multiple personality disorder where he remakes himself constantly into a new person. They were discussing the history of the cheesy comics code age Joker, Batman says to be wary because Joker might always return as a complete psychopath rather than a jester playing jokes. Don't forget though that the reason Joker agreed to let his face be removed was to prove a point, that he is not just the joker because of his appearance. It really cements him as a complete psychopath that he's willing to have his face painfully removed just to make the point that his insanity is not only skin deep.

[@ridge825]

This is from Batman Arkham Asylum Serious house on serious earth

[@richardlevin4488]

Lucifer was outside the universe so he remembers pre-52 continuity

[@SouthernRam]

Go read the Death of the Family tie-ins!!! It takes a while though but I finally finished them. Trust me, you'll have a greater appreciation for the Joker in this story. And you'll be even more confused about whether or not the Joker knows or not lol. I know what I think.....

[@comicpop]

I was so turned off by the Night of Owls tie-ins that I instinctively avoided these. But I'll give em a read!

[@stanzre]

34:00 funny cause they just did that for DC UNIVERSE REBIRTH

[@comicsfan5316]

One of my all time favorite back issues.

[@raypetree9372]

Looking back, I think it would be awesome if you guys covered a portion of Grant Morrison's run on Batman when Dick and Damian were partners. That would be amazing

[@itisnotsosimple]

"Is joker a super natural being?" "No!" Me: well this was recorded pre-endgame.

[@Cull_Obsidian]

For those wondering this is the canonical first introduction of Sal’s Alan Moore impression. As a Brit (and an Alan Moore fan) it’s _hilarious_ . Someone needs to do a compilation!

[@NERDParadoxHD]

thank you for another amazing episode

[@SirArthurTheGreat]

My copy has a weird thing where some lines are fine but, where the issue said draw the curtains and tie a sock on the door, and the neutered said you read my mind, my copy says "hang the old do not disturb on the knob, shall we?", and other lines are original. It's weird at this point in the editor's office.

[@SirArthurTheGreat]

But the subtle skin beneath line remains unedited.

[@caitlinbrewer4843]

I though he just had four Robins in New 52: Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damian. Stephanie never really showed up. For me, Damian was always at his best with Dick. The thing about the Joker censorship reminds me of the original release of the Trigun manga. In the original, first run, release of the chapter where the character Legato Bluesummers is introduced there were two elements of the character that were so disturbing to readers that they were later taken out for rereleases and volume collections. One of the elements is that Legato made very sexual comments to the main character Vash, one apparently about him looking 'tasty', and while it has never been confirmed, it is likely that the second element that had to be removed was that Legato was apparently a cannibal. Despite this, the character is still terrifying though.

[@caitlinbrewer4843]

Wesley Wiggins Oh right, he went straight to being Red Robin. Still an extremely high turnover rate though.

[@ssurprenant3]

This was an entertaining video I listened while reading the last issue.

[@kingcoheed1208]

I must be the only person for Joker to know who Batman is. I just think it would be perfect, because it's never been about Bruce Wayne it's Batman who Joker Cares about, Batman is Jokers, to steal a line from Clerks Two, Heterosexual life partner/Soul Mate. Joker isn't much more than a crazy bastard not the Crown Prince of Crime and Joker feels that if he never came on the scene Batman would still just be some lunatic in Bat shaped pajamas alone in the night, they made each other and need the other and if they not only know each others names and acknowledge each other out side the Game it will destroy the game itself. But that's just me, and I'm odd like that

[@davidcook2]

this was the first comic i read monthly as comics werent a big thing when i grow up. was an interesting experience and made me want to read more comics.

[@Simplesource98]

Always cool to rewatch this episode. It's a great and fun change to have the female reactions. Danielle is cool and fun to have there, hope yall let her know she is appreciated. This is one of the more stranger Batman stories. Thanks for the show!

[@crimsonking440]

I actually like the Nightwing panel change in dialogue. To me it's way creepier and shows he doesn't give a single shit about the bat family members themselves. The idea of being tied up in absolute silence and a covered face is horrific to me. The other ones... Are a little annoying.

[@QueerComics1994]

The constant giggling in this episode.

[@Syntherus]

I have a newer printing and all of the "darling" stuff is in it

[@jamesp.7203]

haha i love how Sal stared at Tiffany n occasionally glances at the other girl then immediately looks back at Tiffany. subtle bro

[@eliteninja23]

I don't think that the Joker in the flashbacks at the end had the mouth scars. If you look at the sides of his mouth, they look more like stretch marks. And hey, if your mouth was in a great big over-sized smile 24/7, it would stretch out a hell of a lot. Also, Joker's face getting cut off was in Detective Comics #1, Post Nu52. Joker being crazy enough to remember pre52 was a pretty cool idea though.

[@comicpop]

I always thought that took place right on the wire, but you're right. My bad!

[@BforceFilms]

Just to clarify something, Joker lost his face in the first issue of the Nu52 Detective Comics, not before it.

[@comicpop]

Yeah, I heard. That was my bad.

[@scotttristanholcomb4712]

rewatching this bc of rebirth , joker remembers

[@MrGillen]

Care to put Ben and Ethan through Zero Hour or Earth X events anytime soon? Keep up the great work.

[@comicpop]

It's on the list!

[@NERDParadoxHD]

i just finished death in the family . the jeepers creepers part was something ill never forget and ive read abit

[@nattychamps9098]

Who else loves Binge watching this series ? I love Back Issues.

[@commanderspyder5432]

One pet peeve of mine is when someone says Joker fell in a vat of acid. If it was a vat of acid, he'd look burnt or he'd be a corpse lol.

[@CosmicNerdStudios]

Tiffany: "is joker a supernatural being?" Sal: "no!" Snyder/Endgame "YES HE IS... Maybe..."

[@myconiusmaximus1022]

no

[@captainplanet1777]

30:18 I know this is an older video but do they change that back because I have the "I so love it when you talk dirty to me."

[@VayMatt]

I would have very much preferred joker over psycho pirate as the guy who remembers. Animal man the way Morrison ended his run with pirate made no sense to me since I didn't know who the heck psycho pirate was.

[@comicpop]

And Psycho Pirate wound up in Arhkam? C'mon, guys... Great homage and a better use of Joker.

[@walkerpierce5446]

I would kind of like this one to be redone at some point in the future.

[@ZacDoke4L]

I actually have a trade and i swear it isn't edited, i'm in Canada but i cant see why that would make a difference. The sexual joker stuff isn't, the other changes are though.

[@comicpop]

I've heard it's mixed. It's weird.

[@michaelquinn922]

Just imagine the Joker saying batman darling, or anything like that in mark Hamill joker voice....it isn't gay at all just super wierd and menacing...like I'm so not afraid of you that I'm gonna emasculate you every time I mention your name.. that every other criminal fears.

[@Crisscross918]

OMG I own the trade and the dialogue changes have me pissed! Especially the exchange with Dick at the end - the version I read in my copy was so awkward it had me confused and trying to make sense of it, while the original was just so much better.

[@MayankNair96]

Tony S. Daniel's Joker losing his face story wasn't before the New 52 reboot. It was actually in the first Detective Comics issue in the New 52 continuity.

[@comicpop]

"...And Sal was mistaken: Joker's face was cut off in Detective Comics #1 in the beginning of the New 52." - from the description, posted months ago

[@MayankNair96]

Oh...well then. My bad. I didn't read the description. Anyways, how does this fact change your interpretation of the story? Also what are your thoughts on the current Endgame story arc?

[@comicpop]

No problem at all. Loving Endgame. Doesn't change my opinion of DotF much at all. Lots of promise, eh conclusion.

[@TheGoauldApophis]

Of all the games you could've name dropped, why did you have to remind me of Jekyll & Hyde?!😭

[@chrissiedecastro9918]

Maybe the reason why Batman was able to defeat his greatest foes so easily is because all of them where put into a position in witch they didn't have a proper plan and they couldn't use there space properly. Plus the jokers intention was to not kill Batman but to show him the players of Batman life meaning the joker could have weakened them in some way to stop them from killing Batman.

[@AAllen-br8it]

But what if the whole Red Hood thing in Zero year was Joker ensuring that Bruce became Batman in the new 52 reality. But then again, if the whole memory carrying over thing were true the Joker would know Bruce's identity for sure because of Batman RIP so that would leave a hole in the Death of The Family concept. Woulda coulda shoulda

[@GankMo]

I'm not a huge DC reader. After I caught up on decades Green Lantern and Flash only to be rewarded with New52, I gave up on everything except Manapul's Flash. But be damned if I'm not tempted to buy this. The Joker was always one of my favourite DC baddies and Sal's description of the scene with Red Hood seeing Batman for the first time really sold it. Kudos on a great episode Peeps!

[@comicpop]

Thanks man! If you wanna see that Joker/Batman scene, you've gotta pick up Zero Year, "Secret City." I think it's the last chapter of that arc.

[@Legendkiller1491]

Correct me if I'm wrong but didnt jokers face getting cut off happen in the new 52 not prior?

[@comicpop]

Correction is in the description.

[@Thomas-zu1wq]

I Have A Trade Of This Which Isn’t Edited

[@GTMQ8]

I noticed that the blank variant comics in the background all have had very good art on them. Can you tell me who made those?

[@DM-en7hk]

Tiffany was here since the beginning?! 🤯

[@comicpop]

Tiffany came up with the show!

[@TheDarkLordOfTheNerds]

I'm pretty sure he survived. mainly because, he's the joker. He cannot live without out batman, so he thinks that batman cannot live without him. so, he probably survived just because of his sheer will to live, and see batman. also, in the TV series batman the brave and the bold, he tells Nightwing: " I've been smoked stacked, blown up, fed to sharks!! I'm the Joker. I always survive.

[@jorgergz-taboadela2439]

Famous Alan Moore fan Grant Morrison

[@Mat23]

37:32 *Tom King smirks*

[@Superhero672]

Found the episode that foreshadowed Emperor Joker!

[@leviwyatt09]

After Death of The Family, I'd love a follow-up that covers Endgame.

[@UltimateVictory88]

Hey Sal, The Joker does remember a bit of the pre-new 52 timeline. He makes a small reference about a guy showing up to someone's door wearing a Hawaiian shirt 9in reference to "The Killing Joke"). I think this was said in the single issues. I can't remember if he said that to Gordon or to Batman... So, maybe your theory is correct about him remembering that timeline?

[@RowanWhate]

UltimateVictory88 In the batgirl issue, One of Joker's thugs is wearing a Hawaiian shirt when they attack Barbara Gordon Sr. (Batgirl's mom)

[@charlieblecker350]

What are the other two people doing if the guy is the only person who had read the book?

[@vigorlilover]

Nightwing's tie-in to this story was actually really good.

[@DaNKAsSgaming]

i just had the greatest idea for a batman comic

[@yono2765]

ok

[@eqs1782]

I think I finally get why they called it death of the family. Because Joker seperated Batman from the rest of the bat family from batman making him alone again. Death of the bat family.

[@ardenaudreyarji]

eddie spurlock Actually, it's the Death of Batman & Joker's relationship.

[@creme8338]

+Ambi Dextrose that makes much more sense.

[@presleysullivan2628]

Its weird because i have the trade that has the joker and batmans lines unchanged nut the red hood and nightwing scenes are changed and then i have the tie-ins trade that has the red hood scene unchanged and but the nightwing scene is...

[@afternoond3light]

please do court of owls :DDDD

[@comicpop]

afternoond3light We all loved it! We'd all just share our favorite moments ;)

[@cisnerd_2093]

Hey I know you made this video a whole 3 years ago (congrats!) but at 35:00 you bring up a hypothetical theory. You say that maybe the Joker was unaffected by New 52 and remembers things the way they really we're before continuity changed. In light of Rebirth, which essentially is saying there WAS a bunch of stuff that was hidden away or whatever, do you think maybe your theory is retroactively correct?

[@comicpop]

+Dylan Cisneros I certainly would love to see that!

[@WeThePeople_FJB]

Death of the family was awesome I had a hard time putting the book down.I have a question I just picked up batman battle for the cowl and someone told me I should read final crises first is that true or does it not matter.

[@comicpop]

You don't have to read Final Crisis, but Batman's role in Battle for the Cowl is determined by what happens at the end of Final Crisis.

[@cmmosher8035]

I'll Take Grant Morrison's Batman run over the grim dark Death of the Family that felt like it was aimed at 14 year old edgelords. Snyder's work around this story was good which only served to highlight just how bad the storyline was.

[@benhramiak8781]

Could you guys cover endgame, the story after this.

[@shaboogs420]

I picked up a TPB copy with the Joker Mask a couple of days ago because of this episode.

[@comicpop]

Thanks man! I hope you dug it.

[@shaboogs420]

I liked it but it would have been better if they didn't edit the TPB version like you said in this episode.

[@comicpop]

shaboogs420 Ugh. Edits.

[@shaboogs420]

Btw, gotta give props to Sal for that Alan Moore impersonation. Freakin' hilarious!

[@comicpop]

shaboogs420 Thanks ;)

[@gdgiannini]

I love this episode. Great to see the girls on the show. Ethan and Ben are great. Still I love getting a female perspective from these two. Tiffany is always great because she's so much more knowledgeable than the fellas. And Danielle you are so funny in every Xmas special. So funny, I bet you're a lot of fun! Gary Giannini

[@sightseeing7993]

You don't need to sign your comments, your name is right there above it.

[@BlackZero583]

Hi Tiffany!

[@BATMANLOVER-ck2tf]

Hey Sal, I'm just wondering but who is your favourite comic book character? Is it Batman? I hope its Batman. Batman is cool.

[@RowanWhate]

Bullet shaped... not exactly... it looks like something else... 😏

[@smooveoutdaway]

Does anyone know the entire timeline that involves this issue?

[@sergnechaev]

I actually got a tpb version over here in europe amd it's completely uncensored edit: just checked it over more closely and indeed it is edited, I misspoke.

[@williamceyrolles4914]

I know this is 9 years old but where can I watch bonus round? I couldn't find it

[@comicpop]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKitXqJ_iLulmKs

[@lyfeis1865]

i hope they do this with the joker in rebirth and dr. ozy takes him

[@baddallas]

Sal I love your videos dude. Wondered if you can do a run down on the Cable volumes. Cable is by far my favourite character as he seems so complex and is clearly insanely powerful - however the whole stryfe/Nate grey business confuses the hell out of me. I remember the story the did in the animated series of xmen but I wanna here the actual story for once. Feel free to touch on ultimate cable/James Howlett :)

[@comicpop]

I'll be honest-- I don't know much about Cable outside of the 90's. I remember X-Cutioner's Song, and that's pretty much it. I can bone up on it though, because his time travel escapades are the stuff of legend, and it would make Ethan's head explode.

[@baddallas]

90's is the best bit of cable!! To be honest for some reason I did volume 3/3 first..?!? Which was just his adventures i guess, started volume 1- then got a comic app for my tablet- so ended up skipping straight to cable and xforce. For me, other than A v X, cable is the only reason I like cyclops. To be fair cyclops gets pretty cool when he's all pheonix'd up! Anyway if you could it would be very much appreciated :) again loving all the other videos. Thanks!

[@comicpop]

baddallas I'll do some diligence and get on it. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@GankMo]

If you're gonna catch up on Cable, you gotta read Cable & Deadpool. If you like odd-couple, buddy-cop stories, you will love it.

[@baddallas]

Thanks for the suggestion, however I've never been a big deadpool fan and aren't really a fan of that type of thing. It's just the fact cable is a paradox of him self really. His origin story is by far one of the coolest and seems to be one of the most important people in the marvel universe. I might give them a look after I've mustered through age of apocalypse :) Gonna take some time...