Origin Of The Merciless (Evil Batman As The God Of War)

Today on Variant, we continue to give you the origins of the Dark Knights with The Merciless! (*SPOILER WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for 'Batman: The Merciless #1')
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#Merciless #Batman #DC

[@alexparker5127]

Red Death: Batman's fear of what he would become to get back those he loved and lost. Murder Machine: Batman's fear of what he would become if he ever lost Alfred. Dawnbreaker: Batman's fear of what he would become if his parent's death made him cold. The Drowned: Batman's fear of what he would become if he was overcome with vengeance. The Merciless: Batman's fear of what he would become if he every abandoned his rules. The Batman Who Laughs: Batman's fear of what he would become if he ever believed the Joker was right. Edit: 4 years later people still asking about Devestator. Yep I forgot him. I agree with Neat's reply below. The Devestator: Batman's fear of what he would become to stop Superman

[@johnnyscifi]

Alex Parker No, Batman who laughs is what he would become if he ever gave in a straight up ghosted mr j...

[@jasongiddens8749]

Alex Parker damn that was really cold and believable

[@jasongiddens8749]

Alex Parker and also the joker could be his fear of becoming insane because the death of his parents

[@Actuallyfactually]

Batman who laughs would be like if Batman was taken over by the joker venom,that turns people into the joker

[@neat3655]

You forgot Devastator: fear of what he would become to stop Superman

[@deltaprime3509]

They seem to skip with only one tiny mention that world’s Batman fell in love with that world’s Wonder Woman.

[@SuperShanko]

I think it's to not tell everything so in turn we become inclined to want to read it if we so choose. This is more of a clifnotes thing.

[@sandyfkashag181]

THE MERCILESS IS AN EPIC NAME

[@octobergerl4030]

Shangman SO TRUE THO

[@envystxx]

Shangman yep

[@Ben_chesmoor]

I know nobody will get it . But destiny 2 players won't think so

[@dellsantiago8108]

the drowned is my favorite...it sound very very suicidal

[@joshuakusuma5953]

All the Dark Knights' names are epic. Epically METAL!!!!

[@isaacrobles7325]

I really like how the man who laughs looks, its so bad ass

[@gr8pagliacci864]

He reminds me of a cenobite and that's awesome

[@Khan-_-Art1st]

Not just any man. The Batman who Laughs

[@PerovNigma]

He reminds me of the Mouth of Sauron.

[@r.e.ospeedwagon4591]

GR8 PAGLIACCI Either Pinhead or Chatterer

[@SP-ez4vz]

Joseph Simpson exactly

[@bluekirby64]

So this batman became Kratos really

[@nekrophilervorderasiate7092]

So....Kratos is Batman So Batman has white skin like joker then....Hmmm

[@amethyst4zhy]

Essentially

[@nekrophilervorderasiate7092]

@Ashitaka yes but kratos killed him in Gow 1 so he became the new God of War

[@muffinman4289]

BlueKirby that’s true

[@lxrdkenji]

@Ashitaka Yeah I think he knows they are not from the same fictional universe I think it was just a comparison bud.

[@victorjechart2179]

"I stare at these so-called...warriors in the war room. They fight like dogs because they cannot protect themselves from my presence. You would expect too much from them, Diana. You would expect them to band together, negotiate, compromise. I miss you."

[@arvi132]

Red death is the coolest one

[@nestorjose59]

the murder machine has the coolest origin

[@garrettjewsome7012]

His origin is the most horrible. He basically ran down one of his closest friends also the fastest man. The flash is usually presented as the lynchpin for the justice league.

[@johnlawful2272]

Garrett Jewsome red death coolest look green dawn best origin

[@yagamilight120]

hes my favorite too

[@normansmith9009]

arvikamboi Murder Machine, his story was the best in my opinion

[@juanpijimenez9850]

the batman who laughs reminds me of the mouth of sauron

[@johnnyscifi]

Shaker13 Nahh dude...Judge Death

[@TheRonster9319]

YES! Exactly!

[@mfwspew]

Holy crap you're not even wrong

[@victorjechart2179]

"Hello Diana... How are you? Me, I've done a lot of traveling lately. Had the pleasure of visiting many, many worlds, and killing them. On most, we're allies. On others, enemies. On a few, we're actually together and have children. They're fierce little creatures. I even took down their names... Before I killed them, too. One thing is consistent about you, though, on nearly every planet. Even when everyone else falls, even all alone, you always fight until the end. Stop. Just listen. You hear that? People think of birth as loud, and death as silent. Things start with a bang, end with a whimper, but I'll tell you a secret. See, endings... Endings are the loudest of all."

[@vn9574]

Damn

[@Theo-he4xn]

I would have been okay with Bruce putting on the helmet to avenge Diana's death in a rage moment but the part where they reveal he's the one who killed her is so dumb

[@midniteshadow67]

Théo agreed. I guess they were trying to emphasize how corrupted he became

[@SuperShanko]

It shows how far he's fallen and falling in line with him being her specific enemy like Drowned killing Atlanteans, Dawnbreaker/Lanterns and so on. No doubt Devestator kills his Superman and Batman kills Joker. Try to pay attention and notice the themes dear lad.

[@Theo-he4xn]

SuperShanko I noticed the theme and I love it just that this origin story is so underwhelming so fast

[@johnnyscifi]

No, that plot twist was perfect!!!

[@Prodigy396]

johnnyscifi I agree, I was mind blown when I saw that.

[@steeltimberwolf]

Love the Dark Knights because it shows how with just a little push how devastating Bruce could be. Terrifying.

[@dyllanrodriguez2828]

God I’m loving every single one of these Dark Nights. Shorter one but still badass as hell

[@yvonnerogers6429]

Valiant Comics returned? YES!!!!!! I hope they bring back the titles my dad followed in the 90s! Thanks for the videos!

[@LiteralCats]

Thanks for the quick update Arris

[@bostonmeze]

Keep it up man good video. Been watching your channel for a long time.

[@tiberiuscaesar9643]

Am I the only one who wants an episode on Steppenwolf?

[@Loganva]

No

[@joeyuzwa891]

You could probably look them up on iTu--- my bad, wrong Steppenwolf.

[@nicholaspoling9691]

I kind of want a Vampire Batman to show up.

[@DuhCL0WN]

Already have that comic, Google it. Its ok

[@wendyralphmaphosa4212]

I am not a comic book fan but ever since I watched the batman who laughs video you guys made I had to get a copy and I gotta say I'm officially addicted to the batman metal KNIGHTS comics Thanks guys

[@saiyanape6015]

Murder Machine origin .. hit right in the heart ... " I cant lose my father again " .... song i'm machine

[@melon5692]

I love that they didn’t just do Batman mixed with Superman but versions of Batman we wouldn’t expect like Batman and doomsday and Batman and Wonder Woman

[@haydenpavlus5121]

You need to make a T-Shirt for your catchphrase, "All kinds of crazy" 😎

[@jamesgreenaway9177]

There is something especially scary about a mighty hero that we all love being evil.

[@UndeadBiteFGC91]

I need you guys to do the Devistator and the batman who laughs already. I can't wait anymore. It's driving me crazy! Lol keep up the awesome videos guys.

[@Nite-Rise]

THAT was the weakest?! Dude kills Wonder Woman, takes a helmet that was 100 times the strength of Ares, and storms Olympus the land of the gods, and this is still considered weak?! I’m scared to click on the Grim and Devastator videos

[@giokyo9465]

He meant weakest in terms of origin story.

[@MrGgutierrez85]

Merciless had huge Potential. I’ve loved every DK backstory and I have to agree this one was a huge Miss with me. They could of gone in so many different directions with this one. But I have to admit him and murder machine both look amazing.

[@shelbydawson9052]

Dawnbreaker's and Drowned's origins are, in my opinion, the best out of them so far. Can't wait for the Batman Who Laughs.

[@excavenger3451]

My favorites so far: 1-Dawnbreaker 2-Drowned 3-MurderMachine 4-RedDeath 5-Mercyless I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW THE METAL STORY CONTINUES!

[@muaazgaffoor9990]

Red death is my favourite because it shows batmans desperation and what he would/could do if he lost everything....although its a dark universe it shows batman is still human and can feel hopeless like us sometimes and he deals with it his way

[@ladeyne1673]

the batman who laughs origins almost made me cry.

[@krafti01]

Called it! When me and friends were debating about the origins of all the Dark Nights, i said "Hmmmm I bet Batman steals Ares powers or something..."

[@kinslayer1343]

Merciless Bruce Wayne looks like Reinhardt. A Merciless skin would be epic.

[@knightcaptain7140]

It’s crazy how short the issue was especially since this Batman and Wonder Woman were together there’s a lot that could have been done here

[@Red4Eyed2Jedi0]

I'm loving this series. I can't pick a favorite issue yet.

[@dunkaroo1364]

Ooh! Undefeated super villains video!? What about Hush? Or Anarky?

[@EDUBKTFO411]

Love the Red Death origin!!

[@anonymoussly]

Damn, i dont want to sound like im complaining but i expected more from the merciless. It just doesn't seem plausible. The drowned is my favorite with red death coming second.

[@DrArthurCGarp]

anonymoussly Yeah it seems unlikely Batman would get to Ares but Wonder Woman gets knocked out. What they should have done is have Dick Grayson become The Merciless and kill Bruce. Like picture this... Wonder Woman lies dead at Bruce's feet, and with one swing of an axe Ares kills Bruce Wayne. Watching the entire event from the bat cave Nightwing snaps, the man who raised him like a father had died. Gotham had fallen long ago and the Justice League, they had either died (images of Superman, Cyborg, and Martin Manhunter appear) or abandoned Bruce to save themselves (Images of Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Aquaman, and the Flash appear.) In this moment of weakness Darkseid appears before Nightwing and offers him a weapon to end the war (a sword)... and another to have his vengeance (A black metal suit of armor) on the condition Nightwing will lead his armies against other worlds across the multiverse. Nightwing refuses only to realize Damian had attempted to kill Ares but with a single punch the God of War's hand flies through Damian's abdomen. Nightwing in tears accepts the gifts and in an instant he appears before Ares. The fight isn't long but it is bloody, and in the end Dick Grayson becomes The Merciless, the New God of War. For years after he fought on countless worlds, killing countless other gods of War and gaining more power. Darkseid, in an attempt to remove this danger to the multiverse, locks the universe away so none may leave though in his hubris he forgot others could enter. (Then the image of joker's laugher appears alongside the Man Who Laughs)

[@SuperShanko]

Read the comic. It spends a lot of time inside the head of Merciless more so than going over his one second origin because there's nothing more to say other than he got Ares' power.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

*sees that he murdered Wonder Woman* Why would you sink your own Ship?! "BECAUSE I'M BATMAN!"

[@dtay8913]

Ive never been this early to a variant vid.

[@casper6405]

The logo looks awesome

[@IamLegendaryguy1998]

Batman greatness

[@dylankenny7758]

We need a movie with these Batman

[@mindcraftful]

I love the red death’s one shot

[@TheIvica44]

Thank you man!

[@LemosArt0987]

Murder Machine > Dawnbreaker > Red Death > Merciless > Drowned. MM had the best origin, seeing Bruce go crazy because of Alfred was both personal and disturbing. Dawnbreaker a close second, that scene with Commissioner Gordon is fantastic. Really awesome so far.

[@teahucampbell1529]

all of evil batmen origins are awesome

[@elijahacevedo8119]

This is the coolest Dark Knight design.

[@Fanged.Fiend.Reactor]

Dark Knights ranked (origins) Best to worst 1: The Drowned 2: Dawnbreaker 3: Red Death 4: Murder Machine 5: The Merciless 6: The Devastator ( it was just too simple)

[@TwentyFirstPilot]

Your origin story videos are so Wonder-ful. I'll see myself out.

[@Comixknowledge30]

I love everything you guys do

[@calebreynolds8038]

The Batman Who Laughs is freaking epic.

[@FandomLord69]

My favorite Dark Multiverse Batmen 1. The Murder Machine 2. The Red Death 3. The Drowned 4. The Batman Who Laughs 5. The Dawnbreaker 6. The Merciless And although not related to this group Owl Man. It would be interesting if the Owl Man of Earth -3 was more of a hero or anti-hero instead of a villain, he could be The Ratman. I would also like to see a dark version of Batman and Shazam (or Black Lightning, or Black Adam, or someone with electrical powers), his name could be The Dark Storm. Also a dark version of Batman and Martian Manhunter would be fascinating, like The Bathunter or something.

[@mr.j7785]

I love the names for these dark knights..

[@MutantsInDisguise]

Dawnbreaker: he is what if his parents' death, instead of giving him a noble purpose, made him a miserable murderer. My absolute favorite Evil Dark Knight.

[@cabronmalisimo]

Ming's laugh!... Oh, the Merciless... I see what you did there...

[@wonderbatenthusiast1665]

Diana is the only woman who has ever broke the Batman internally that he turned evil

[@kratoscraken5614]

THE BATMAN VS KRATOS! 👊💪

[@matthewarmstrong3934]

So far my favorite origin in this series is the drowned

[@ianmason6867]

Still digging that Bat-Ass Batman cap, pal. Awesome.

[@bendy68]

I predict the Bat who laughs orgin is that when Batman was fighting red hood (Joker), Batman fell in the tank rather than the joker

[@karlsingh9076]

That shirt is awesome. This is awesome

[@ethansoderstrom8287]

last year for villians month you did Green Goblins Most Evil Moments. There is no other villain more Halloween like than the Green Goblin. You gatta do a History of episode of Green Goblin before Villains month ends!!!

[@VoidEgo]

Holy shit the versions of batman vary so much wth

[@taylorburns2098]

Love your vids btw

[@Grimmsect]

I honestly haven't read comics in about 6 years, but I grew up on Greg Capullo (Spawn era) and am a metal fan and have never been more intrigued by a new idea than this Dark Knights Metal thing, not to mention most of my all time favourite artists are signed on to do the ongoing (??) series that Spawn from this event. Is this series really that good? Should I start buying comics again? At the very least I'm going to have to buy any TPB's they release, but I'm incredibly tempted to buy monthly's because of this series. I do also hope this creates a new gen of DC fans/comic fans in general, because the medium definitely needs it.

[@fwcdisciple9271]

This is actually my favorite of all of them 😂. I love the twist and the look of him. I think MY least favorite is the Murder Machine. This one had a freakishly awesome Batman...Murder Machinehad a bunch of...Alfreds? 😆okay

[@Tombr4mb4]

Short is _NOT_ weak!!! This is my favorite out if all the recruited. His orgin (in my opinion) in one of the coolest origins I've heard in a long time. Wanting to give WAR a code and rules!?!? That sounds awesome! And something Batman would definitely do. Fighting a roided out Ares for two years along side Wonderwoman in a distopion future sounds awesome! What are you guys talking about?

[@FarazMazhar]

This is dope af.

[@SuperLumianaire]

So far? Murder Machine has the best name but I'd have to say Red Death. This is all so metal and brutal, I love it.

[@Hades13]

Personal top 5 for now: 1 - The Droawned 2/3 - The Red death (same spot for me as the 3) 3/2 - The Murder machine (same spot for me as the 2) 4/5 - The Merciless (the plot twist was... "meh". How to ruin all the good things you have done before) 5/4 - The Dawnbreaker (Kind of a no real batman, or maybe too much even for this story)

[@calebmayfield3326]

Arris Please do History of Etrigan

[@dripdrop4355]

This irrelevant but I think you should do a skaar son of hulk origin story

[@GorillaSkee]

They need to make this into an animated movie asap

[@ethanstevenson2858]

Well, I know what I'm asking for for Christmas this year...

[@chaysemueller5594]

ok i'm calling it the bat who laughs is gonna make a army of the dark universe heros

[@thesamuraiman]

I agree with you so far.

[@awesometoybattles591]

Awesome video

[@Mr.pink84]

That shirt is sick!!

[@renatocosta8315]

Can we have a history of Loki episode be released

[@jacksonsomething9946]

Renato Costa YES!

[@darksword9237]

That would be awesome

[@juanfernandez7409]

Brian Greenwood why is he even asking about a Marvel character on a DC video

[@dgo346]

This is our canvas? Paint me like one of your french girls

[@derekwhite1870]

dgo346 titanic reference?

[@phantafalconpunch]

I would have liked to see a dark night where Batman never left the League of Assassins and becomes Ras Al Ghul

[@rekc_bcq4816]

So far Dawn breaker or Murder Machine are my favorite origin wise and Dawn Breaker and Red death are my favorites looks wise

[@ezekieldesigns6273]

For me it goes Red death, Merciless, The drowned, and then Dawnbreaker. But I love all the dark knight metal issues so far

[@angelwayne2872]

Hi Arris

[@davidparks5024]

Please do an episode on the history of ty longshadow

[@xfaded_venomx5410]

You should do Batman doomsday origin up next

[@fraughtmonster8]

xFaDeD_VeNoMx tbh I don’t think he got his own tie in but in the newest issue he was messing around with the doomsday virus because superman went cray-cray

[@SuperShanko]

They all get a tie-in. It's just leading up like Flash/Cyborg/Aquaman/WW/SM/BM in that JL ranking sort of way, hence the Trinity going last on purpose.

[@JLense]

I love all these evil versions of Batman because of how he is as a hero. He steps in the darkness to fight against it. One wrong decision he could push himself too far and fall into that pit. It's just an example of how dangerous it could be

[@wolfbright5791]

I love the idea of but I do agree It was the smallest.

[@enderfilms8005]

You know what’s the scary part? THIS IS AN DARK ALTERNATE TIMELINE TO THE DC ANIMATED UNIVERSE

[@iceassassin4263]

For my favorite dark knights series would be the red death because even though I'm flash fan myself it's just a good comic to read.

[@BlazingAce20]

Can we get a shirt that has all of them on it. Now that would be epic.

[@jsb8261]

Negative Earths could very well be a reference to the anti-matter universes from Crisis on Infinite Earths. That's my theory.

[@blazezard501]

I want to see you cover Mavel's Protégé

[@nithinjacob7455]

Can't wait for the Batman Who Laughs!!!!!!

[@Excelsior2043]

Can you do a video going over the powers of the Dark Knights?

[@codybeck2420]

hey im sure you guys at Variant play injustice. it would be so badass if they could put this gear from all the metal knights in injustice 2. i would love to see red death in the game and the bathman who laugjs

[@big_lolo_01]

I think this is awesome

[@ironshogun4069]

Do a video on how many times Thor's hammer got broken!

[@AndrewMorrissey]

Great Videos.

[@HaiderAli-nn1ul]

Can you do top 10 evil moments in comics by super villains. I know you did one but cannot find it anywhere

[@karimscaterovic5413]

Me: How many alterations of Batman are driven by insane ideologies? DC: Yes.