The DARKEST Batman vs Joker comic! | Batman: The Winning Card

[@comicpop]

Buy Batman the Brave and the Bold: The Winning Card! amzn.to/4cegf5n

[@JakeTylenol]

Hey guys! I’m so so sorry! I was listening to this episode on my iphone while I was jogging and it was raining when I pulled my phone out it said I reported you guys for posting a video with “harmful dangerous acts” in it…ironic considering this vid was about the Joker but I digress. Idk what KZbin will do, but if there’s anyway I can help undo this, let me know, it was just a huge mistake!

[@alanalbrecht1184]

26:48 "The true Gotham by Gaslight"...perfection.

[@redsea866]

I'm the Joker, I'm a monkey's paw. So many great moments in this one.

[@Cosplayyoutuber]

Yea so this time Alfred must be Jack the ripper!😂😂

[@JokerFan-hj4iv]

1:21:46 this is why I like Grant Morrison’s explanation of joker much better than the whole three jokers thing because I love the idea that he is one guy but is such a chaos agent he really does just does change his motives to whatever he thinks is funny that week and be 100% in character. Sometimes he’s as dark as he is here and sometimes he’s copyrighting fish for some reason.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

Honestly, this story is worth the price of admission for Mitch Gerads’ art alone. Every single panel he draws in this story is so goddamn moody and eye-popping, and it carries the book regardless of how clunky the dialogue gets sometimes (in my opinion). That splash page of Joker just sitting with the little girl on the bench in the rain is an all-timer - nothing’s happening, he’s not doing anything to threaten her, and yet it’s still so fucking haunting.

[@hartthorn]

This Joker is kind of interesting as literally operating on Slasher Movie rules. But at the same time, it'd be kinda funny to follow this up with an almost Cesar Romero type Joker dealing with the grim, gritty Batman and just getting to the point of "Dude, I am legitimately worried about you."

[@SpiralSine6]

“The darkest Batman and Joker story ever written” “… written by Tom King” Oh boy, we’re in for a ride.

[@threex0xthree]

2:34 I loved Batman The Brave and The Bold. It's how i was able to know almost every DC character there was. It was a gateway to all the other stuff. Then, came Batman: Arkham Asylum and the rest was history for me. Nice to know you guys are bringing it up and giving it its flowers.

[@drewdier]

1. That Gotham by gaslight joke was amazing. 2. Ben’s Buc-ees shirt!

[@anthonychang1426]

24:44 Ben’s surprise reaction is a glee that I wasn’t expecting in this episode.

[@stuartmanchester1094]

I just want it to known that at 35:56 when Sal said "OPEN HIM UP", KZbin cut to an ad about BBQing and fileting. Just as disturbing as this book. Anywho another great episode!

[@jordantorres2139]

I feel like “Black, White, and Weird” is a good name for a black and white story about DC’s more obscure characters.

[@shadowanderson2004]

1:20:27 so like in Batman inc. I’d honestly love if you guys did some books from the Batman Reborn era. You already did Black Mirror but books like Long Shadows, Morrisons run, Life after death, eye of the beholder, gates of Gotham, etc would be really fun to see Ben and Ethan’s reactions to those characters especially ones like Professor Pyg or Flamingo.

[@NavySealz21]

The Gotham By Gaslight line was solid

[@fearnloathingingeneral]

"the true Gotham by Gaslight" 😂😂😂

[@PatLund]

25:08 "You can't just ask people why they're white."

[@ComicKrackle]

I love Sal’s character progression to King’s books. At first, vehemently hating King’s work, and now they’re buddies lol.

[@superjlk_9538]

He still hates the Batman run. 😂

[@HOTD108_]

Batman hates his run as well. Bruce has always been self-conscious about his running technique ever since Alfred said that Bruce never had the makings of a varsity athlete.

[@mrboonejr29]

8:57 "WHEN HE WAS IN BERMAH" 😂😂

[@Benm701]

"When he was in Burma." 😂😂😂

[@Anexi]

As I read this comment they said it lmao

[@dr.balance3377]

27:11 the gotham by gaslight moment had me in tears. and you had to follow it up with the darkest scene in the book omg

[@sangera]

Tom King mentioned in one of the many interviews you've done with him (I'm not holding it against you because you're a busy guy) that his use of grawlix (the garbled nonsense instead of swearing) was due to the idea that superheroes don't have traditional swearing. In all of his Black Label stuff, F-bombs, and whatnot are free flowing. In his regular stuff, he uses the grawlix. Now, there is a disucssion to be had for the overuse of it (Particularly in King's Penguin book), but that is definitely a case by case basis.

[@SupaYoshiXP]

That’s really interesting I don’t like king’s books very much and only read a couple And never noticed this thanks

[@harrisy98]

My one ding against King’s Penguin book is all the grawlix. In a book with so much cussing it’s so annoying to see every other word be “$@%$”

[@danieladams5132]

@@harrisy98it’s pretty excessive in this book too, at least with the guy on the train tracks. Gets tiring to read

[@Ducaso]

I had know idea that was called grawlix.

[@jbarb9987]

I think they should have the first letter of the curse word, then the garble, like F&¢{

[@happysteve119]

Lol i can't wait for the live news footage of SWAT raid Sal's place due to late library book fees.

[@SpiralSine6]

It’s all fun and games until Sal busts out the Captain Cold gun.

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

@@SpiralSine6 and Ben unleashes his Sentry powers.

[@creed8712]

@@mikhaelgribkov4117and Ethan gets physical

[@Randomaccount9470]

​​@@creed8712Ethan: That's not how that works 😑 The police :😱

[@bensneb360]

This is so dark, I thought the Birthday Boy was going to show up lol

[@Randomaccount9470]

😭 WHY IS THERE ALWAYS A COMMENT BRINGING BACK THAT TRUAMA!

[@thedukeofchutney468]

Ben’s T-shirt is on point Buckees rocks!

[@Ghost_007_x]

This is my favourite channel. You guys are awesome. A comic pop view a day keeps the blues away.

[@Amazing_Amy_W]

'The true Gotham by Gaslight', damn Sal, why you try and kill me like that? I'd have been found looking like the Joker got me 🤣

[@Hulkzilla0]

Really enjoyed this one! I love Joker is borderline supernatural in this (if not outright since he basically teleported into that mother and child's car). I also really want to see that Green Lantern "not breaking his oath" bit happen. It's amazing!

[@AlriikRidesAgain]

Abandon logic. Cover NextWave. Fight gorillas dressed like Wolverine.

[@xanaricherson2487]

Oh my god. YES! They have to do NextWave!

[@joshrowland7605]

Sals Tom King impression is getting better.

[@Donovan00]

Joker sitting in the rain with the balloon was my lockscreen wallpaper for months after i read this. Gerads is amazing!

[@herbnyarko1621]

I love how Bruce looks like Jon Hamm

[@comix6358]

26:05-27:19 "The true Gotham by gaslight" 😂

[@johnjsneed7591]

51:27 To be fair to ASB&R I think Batman laughing was meant to be an homage to the Shadow, a popular pulp hero from the 30s who was most likely a key inspiration for the caped crusader. Doesn't make that scene any more sensical and it still doesn't fit Batman (even as Frank Miller portrayed him in Year One and Returns), but it's not completely out of nowhere.

[@alberto1583]

Sal, you should cover Gotham City: Year One. I really loved it, and it deserves more exposure!

[@amanzeihedioha]

Jesus...! Don't remind me

[@Martin_TheCollector]

I'd love to read it once it's printed as a deluxe hardcover.

[@comicpop]

Loved the series, championed it every single week on Off the Rack!

[@alberto1583]

@@Martin_TheCollector lmk when you read it, hope you enjoy it!

[@alberto1583]

@comicpop fair enough, you're the reason I heard about it and checked it out :) I would love to see it on Back Issues, too!

[@samuelanderson1862]

stopped mid-video and read the graphic novel. LOVE the joker's depiction in this, think Tom King's take on Joker is great still not a fan of his Batman (Bruce Wayne on jury duty and the date night comic were great tho)

[@jonathanshaw9704]

0:18- Despite all of the problems we have over here (big or small), this Earth is still our home. And we love it… warts and all.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Batman, there's no laws against the Porta Potties, Batman! I can do whatever I want with it!

[@SpiralSine6]

No, no Joker you can’t, people need to use those porta potties please don’t-

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

@@SpiralSine6 *swandives into Porta Potty* I'm gonna do it, Batman-

[@DamionStingerDrake]

32:05 Tom I’m concerned. I think you should go see the company therapist.

[@johnjsneed7591]

I think what ticks people off (me included) about King's Batman is that Bruce himself, in universe, seems to consider his crusade entirely pointless. I'm not gonna go back and read all those issues for the sake of a comment so take this for a grain of salt, but it really feels like he is just doing this to take out his anger and trauma on acceptable targets rather than trying to inspire hope in the people of Gotham (and I can understand the appeal) but that's not Batman, that's the Punisher.

[@megamaxx786]

42:20 It does my heart happy to hear Ben still on Sal about bringing up taint slicing from all the way back to the first Zsasz story they covered, awesome episode as always!!!

[@jbarb9987]

I did not like Bruce trying to punch Alfred and Alfred punching Bruce. It just felt so out of character for me. I also didn't like how we learn that Gordon's Dad killed himself (that man never get a break). I will say the art was amazing so it was worth buying.

[@DiegoAlvarezBeltran1993.]

Bruce Wayne gaslighting someone into a very public outburst is a fantastic bit.

[@Stoopid_Sandwich]

I’m normally not that big of a fan of Tom King’s run on Batman but I have to give him props for trying to really go back to the well when it comes to bringing both Batman and Joker back to their original respective roots as pulp characters instead of comic book characters. That’s a hard thing to master but it was executed beautifully in this book both in terms of art direction and storytelling. And it makes me pine for the stories we had in the late 30’s and even the 90’s when Batman was at his peak, if only because he was just a creepy looking dude in a bat costume who struck fear in the hearts of criminals with nothing more than an imposing silhouette. Compared to most modern batman comics which are a trifle on the utilitarian side,books like this are a welcome change of direction and tone.

[@monkeyface1591]

Can you do a back issues on the 2015 secret war. I know this channel went in depth on it when it was releasing but I’ll like to hear you talk about Hickmans built up to the event.

[@accidentalmadness1708]

Considering they’ve redone a few stories it seems like a fair request.

[@aisnota5192]

Tom King? Oh no. puts on the Bat Hazmat Suit Let's do this!

[@GitShiddy]

If having this Joker speak via silent film inserts is a reference to The Man Who Laughs being a silent film. Well done King/Gerards on being the biggest fucking nerds.

[@Cosplayyoutuber]

At 31:00 the REAL origin why Caesar Romero's Joker had a mustache! Makes sense since Gordon didn't have one in the 1966 series!😂😂

[@HMAN_121]

I bought my copy of this book at target after sals suggestion

[@npz1978]

King/Gerards are an amazing team. This story is as haunting and dark as One More Day: Riddler.

[@mattd404]

I appreciate the new thumbnails. It makes it way easier to differentiate between the different episodes while I’m looking through your channel

[@adamz8782]

Mr. Bookman may be coming for you now Sal. 😂

[@chrisdaily2077]

The bit with Joker and the child gave me intense M (1931) vibes.

[@ericasumrall]

I felt the same. Especially the iconography with the balloon. I feel almost certain it was the direct visual inspiration.

[@S0C0ZY]

Same the the title card noise you hear when reading jokers lines, I swear it gave me chills first read

[@zaphero5518]

Oh my gosh, the punchline after 26:08 might be the best pun I've ever heard! Dang excellent, Sal!

[@toobbeebopper]

Cyborg Batman = Failsafe Eradicator Batman = the Zur-En-Arrh personality Batboy = Damian Wayne Steel = Gordon's BatBunny We got the 4 in the end just in different forms and at different times.

[@mollieh4426]

Such a good episode! I stopped following Brave & the Bold, but I think I'll pick it back up after this episode!

[@tiggsgaming2246]

Can't wait to see What's Next Love you Guys & Gal ❤

[@nobo1982]

Could the use of the silent movie cards also be a reference to the silent film “The man who laughed” starring conrad viet and the visual inspiration (in some tellings) of the aesthetic of the joker? Its a really great silent film, sort of horror sort of tragedy and its based on the victor hugo novel of the same name which is a really dense but good read.

[@Ubermensch9240]

1:03:37 Got to admit, that it's REALLY satisfying to see the Joker facing someone who scares him.

[@chadb0x]

been getting back into comics recently, really enjoying Immortal Hulk. Also love the show been binging it all day. Thanks!

[@Chance1106]

*10 minutes into the episode* oh shit I need to finish reading this! I’m coming back dear episode don’t you worry

[@johnthai6188]

I think the only time tom king ever wants to write something because he wants to, besides his creator own books, are danger street, omega men, sheriff of babyon, maybe gotham city year one and the up and coming jenny sparks.

[@JJMcSkoozie222]

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen would be a fun book and I'm sure Sal and the group would certainly have some options about the book and the movie that would be hilarious

[@darthpaul490]

Can we get a re-dux of kingdom come? With maybe the follow ups like thy kingdom etc

[@patrickmaassen8132]

In my headcanon this is the first time Batman and Joker met in the Dark Multiverse on the Batman Who Laughs earth

[@Captain8ball]

31:27 I like that description, it’s more unique than your traditional, Mark Hammel

[@devonferris2293]

"The true Gotham by Gaslight" haha loved this

[@TheWrestlingNerd]

Love the new thumbnails.

[@QuintMarvel]

51:05, ever watch Batman Gotham Knight? The anime movie released between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight? It has this one awesome flashback where Batman goes to India to learn how to ignore pain. It's such a great scene, that it should be considered canon to all versions of Batman.

[@shadowanderson2004]

Love the thumbnail. Read the book last night and enjoyed it. I was expecting to not like Tom’s Batman in this book but i didn’t hate him like in Toms run

[@jaymiiwilde3772]

Fun factoid when I was a kid reading a trade of classic batman stories, I read it and found my self agasped by the fact that one of jokers first victims was named Jay Wilde... my family calls me Jay.

[@fragile4408]

You must have lost your shit when you discovered the name of the first Flash

[@nathanchaffin6380]

I'm so happy to hear that James Gunn is bringing comic industry talent in to help usher his new DCEU, But for the love of God keep that Batman and Robin script away from Tom King. He can touch the lantern script and of course Supergirl: Women of Tomorrow, pretty much anything else, but Batman... ehhhhh. Maybe don't

[@Ultra04channel]

Wanna know the worst part about Joker being in a toilet and murdering a guy? It actually happened in medieval Japan, minus Joker, of course. Some historians say (correct me if I'm wrong) Uesugi Kenshin died from being stabbed while going to the bathroom. An assassin hid in the septic pit with either a sword or spear, waited for him, and ran him through. So yes. It can, and has happened. Enjoy your newest irrational fear!

[@galvatron3323]

I loved the initial meeting of Batman and Joker in this lovely story, Batman just doesn't really understand just how dangerous and messed up Joker is, also the art in this was excellent. Great choice for a BackIssues

[@samuellemos7306]

I think that the closest to the four superman that batman ever had was when battle for the cowl happened and all the robins wanted to be Batman and they even tried to dress like batman and redhood was batman but he was using a guns, my point is when will you make Battle for the cowl Sal???

[@Randomaccount9470]

27:10 ladies and gentlemen That's why we subscribed Comedy has peaked 😂

[@KravenSpider]

As a Texan, I approve of Ben’s shirt

[@jollyrouger2945]

My head cannon is year one ends and the epilogue is a year after and bleeds into the man who laughs the intervening year is my head cannon tale (calendar year) bats is investigating a string of deaths murders and suicides that coincide with holidays, he’s the only one who makes a connection, but the GCPD are to busy with this new gang headed by the red hood, batman sees the trick and is bored of it and leaves it to the PD while he looks into the killings through out the year we get ivy, grundy, penguin, riddler, scare crow, first cappers and batman and Gordon’s early trust becomes a friendship as they work together to close the Red hood gange at ACE chemicales an put calendar man in jail. Leading in to the man who laughs and the long halloween to follow. But thats just my head cannon

[@craigamore2319]

I have never liked the "Batman is insane " idea, and I truly hate when it's depicted like this. It unnecessarily belittles a character that, in his best stories, is the most competent guy in the room. Yes, the idea of the Batman is inherently a little ridiculous, but that's the point. It doesn't make the man behind the mask insane. What makes the persona, the costume, "ridiculous" is precisely what makes it terrifying to his opponents. "Why the hell is this guy wearing this?" Bruce knows exactly what he's doing, and he just doesn't care. What matters to him is what that persona of the Bat projects to the mind of the street thug he's about tear apart. It strikes fear into those who thrive on making the innocent afraid. Bruce is turning the tables on the kind of people who, in Gotham, would never know what it is to be afraid like their victims, unless someone like Batman brought that to their doorstep. Indeed, Bruce wants them saying to themselves, "why is this guy coming after me, looking like a monster?" When the character's written as competent, despite the ridiculousness of the persona, Bruce and the Batman together carry a weight that transcends it. Sure, Bruce is a walking meatbag of trauma, there's no denying that, but at his best, the character has always been portrayed as one who channels that into an ironclad will bent on bringing to heel those in Gotham who do to others what once was done to him and his parents, and he takes that deadly seriously. To portray him as just a loon in a Batsuit, just because he's in a Batsuit, that does a real disservice to the character, and I just hate portrayals like the one in this book. I hate 'em.

[@UnoDinero95001]

There’s no sane person who would dress as a bat & beat criminals within an inch of their life every night, if they had the resources batman has😂

[@craigamore2319]

@kwayneboy1524 , nah, insane is the wrong word, deeply troubled, sure, but not insane. Few heroes in the annals of superhero comics are as controlled as Bruce is. Insanity lacks control by definition. I'm happy to debate the exact nature of Bruce's trauma and what it's driven him to, but the man's not insane.

[@harlemdeni]

Is it just me, but the new camera is a welcomed surprise. Keep it!

[@etienne5018]

The TMNT x Stranger Things book is also at Target, 30% off at mine! Fun book!!

[@slapjaxon1776]

Whenever you see swearing in a comic book or strip rendered in symbols, those are called Grawlixes. You're probably aware of this, but I think it's a neat bit of trivia.

[@TimedRevolver]

I could see this Batman getting his shit together when Dick comes onto the scene and becomes Robin. This book really feels like he's just self-destructive and doesn't know how to be a person.

[@joshuanelson6795]

This story was decent, but it felt a little too familiar for my tastes. Also, the dialogue (particularly Batman's) felt a bit...off at times. For me, the definitive first meeting between Batman and the Joker is still "The Man Who Laughs".

[@konstantingenchev1633]

And once again Tom King proves that while he is good at telling a story, he can't tell a superhero story to save his life. It's always a story idea that gets tacked onto an existing superhero, making them completely OoC.

[@johnthai6188]

explain to me how the Wonder Woman run, Superman up in the sky and supergirl woman of tomorrow is OoC?

[@cicolasnage5684]

Someone’s been watching too much thinking critical.

[@greenberry6019]

I love how KZbin comments always make it sound like they're the top experts of the field. Have you read Superman Up in the Sky? His Wonder Woman run? Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow?

[@johnthai6188]

@@greenberry6019 are you saying this in relation to me or are you saying this to OP?

[@konstantingenchev1633]

@@greenberry6019 Oh, sorry if it sounded like that. I have only read Supergirl and the first two chapters of Wonder Woman, as I did not like them at all. Tom King's writing is not for me, for the reason above, however I am far from an expert. What I know about Tom King's work is very heavily accented by the content creators that have made me familiar with his work. Mind you, I find that very few comics are to my taste, as most authors consider misery fests to be the highest point of art, while I like the cheesy, good-guys-win-in-the-end, silver age stuff, when superheroes were actual heroes, since I don't feel any catarsis from reading / watching other people fuck up and fail.

[@ericlittle5632]

52:06 what are the three good ones?

[@SorceressHeart]

Speaking of Replacement Batmen, would you consider covering Battle for the Cowl? That sure was ... something.

[@DiegoAlvarezBeltran1993.]

No wonder Batman doesn't tell jokes, that joke blew.

[@dedbatt8869]

27:13 awesome 😂

[@KiramidHead]

Okay, I wasn't expecting a House of 1000 Corpses reference. 🤣

[@YouCalledForTheDoc]

I once saw that Battery joke but with Terry from Batman Beyond.

[@Sicod79]

I never realized were were going to get a full comic book Lost In Adaptation today.

[@brannonh7406]

I love the last few minutes of this episode

[@ziggy_425]

Love the buc-ees tee-shirt Ben. My sister is obsessed with buc-ees!! Lol

[@jollyrouger2945]

I think in a way it’s art of Alfred's anxiety of joker he brings bruce down and his chaos is all the negatives inspired by Bruce's mission.

[@BlueBloodPenn]

Wow thats weird! I have just been rereading the trade of this today and thinking if it would be on back issues at some point.

[@Rreinholdt]

This is some Blood Meridian batman. Good seeing you guys.

[@josephupchurch7138]

Fellas, can we get a 'JLA/Avengers' redux?

[@DanV900]

I’m so happy I was able to get this hardcover from Target and it is worth owning in that way.

[@MintinBoxReviews]

Kinda dig the new thumbnail style but I also love the set! 😅 A fantastically creepy episode this week, lads!

[@SpiralSine6]

As award winning as Salan Moore is, I think Sal’s Michael Caine might be his best work.