The Justice League Who Laughs Explained!

The Batman Who Laughs made his own evil Justice League! What's their deal?
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Tags: #JusticeLeague #Batman #BatmanWhoLaughs

[@LiquidSandwich]

My first thought upon seeing the title: Wouldn’t “The League of Laughter” be a better name?

[@KavinCatastrophe]

It sounds like a Bunch of Clowns wanting to be Taken Seriously.

[@herpderp5727]

You want them to be called "The LOL"?

[@KavinCatastrophe]

@@herpderp5727 That sounds like a Happy Accident. But if he plan for that than I must say Bravo.

[@CaptainBlackSparrow551]

Man that would be a far better name

[@remingtonfilms346]

Or atleast The Justice League THAT Laughs

[@shroomer8294]

“The Batman who laughs first target... was hawk man.” This literally made me face palm

[@waterking74]

Hey somebody needs to be the guinea pig

[@sewkrazy]

"Friends! Help! I was tricked by a guinea pig!"

[@sebastiantirado3675]

If the Batman who laughs was you know, an actual combination of Batman and the joker it would ave been cool....but then it just turned out to be Joker in a trench coat who throws batatangs

[@KavinCatastrophe]

He has the Mind of Batman. I dont think Joker would have gotten as Far as BWL. You know like becoming a God of the Multiverse.

[@sebastiantirado3675]

@@KavinCatastrophe emperor joker

[@KavinCatastrophe]

@@sebastiantirado3675 Yeah but that was because of that stupid BatMite or Mr. M Right.

[@purpleberry3564]

Yeah I think it's a cool concept but... Eh?

[@Error0101]

I don't even know wtf his corrupting Joker toxin even DOES. Does it just kill your moral center? Well plenty of psychopaths exist and aren't fucking serial killers, so that doesn't check. Okay, then does it make you do everything that the previous you would have hated? Well, then you would have just killed yourself or something, right? Does it give you an emperor complex? Well, no, because the Secret Six served the BWL without fail an-AAHH WHAT THE FUCK DOES IT MEAN TO BE A SOMETHING THAT LAUGHS? IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.

[@hiirokagami8917]

This should’ve served as a sign to stop using the Batman Who Laughs so much, and let him be for a while.

[@Bezaliel13]

I have a hypothesis that DC wanted to overexposed him so that they could leave him dead because they would have just purposefully made everyone sick of him.

[@sussyangel7492]

@@Bezaliel13 Blame Scott Snyder. Esidisi: 😢😢😥😥😢😢😢😢😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@Bezaliel13]

@@sussyangel7492 Blame him for... knowing how to kill a character?

[@imoutotrash390]

Nice brave icon respect

[@roaringthunder115]

Yeah

[@shroomer8294]

>introduce the Batman who laughs >put him in literally everything “Aaaaand it’s ruined”

[@KavinCatastrophe]

I disagree. I most definitely bought every book he was in.

[@Bezaliel13]

My hypothesis, DC knew that if they would have to bring him back if people liked him, so they made everyone sick of him.

[@RobinDJoker]

@@Bezaliel13 makes sense. That's the only explanation why Death Metal was so bad, they were trying to make people sick of alternate versions of Batman

[@Bezaliel13]

@@RobinDJoker Would not be the first time DC made a character to represent a point, and it should be clear what an army of evil Batmen was meant to say. p.s. Would you say Death Metal "bad" or just too big for DC to pull off. Of course, I cannot call it bad because I just enjoy that it was not like Marvel, where we are dealing with an omnicidal maniac that is older than the universe, Knull, after another one, Nyx, with one still waiting, the One Below All. I mean, I do not think DC *can even try* to do _this_ again.

[@RobinDJoker]

@@Bezaliel13 I'd say DC could have pulled it off, but they just messed up along the way. They missed the opportunity to do more than just make evil Batmen by only putting alts of other heroes in the final issue. Overall, the comic had potential, but DC wasted it on the Evil Batmen. There were some good points though, like Superboy Prime's redemption and Owlman's scenes in War of the Multiverse

[@playwithalfred7113]

When are we getting the Drake who laughs? The Drake who comicsn't?

[@fellowspacemarine]

@@mattwo7 no no, he's got a point

[@MrInconvenient]

@@mattwo7 he's got a point

[@thelocalwitch2405]

@@mattwo7 yesn't

[@Ah-dz5rf]

Manga Drake

[@b0ntr0n47]

@@mattwo7 no no he's got a point

[@WrestlingWithGaming]

"the same virus that turned him into a juggalo" was just... chef's kiss.

[@EnvoyOfTheBlackAbyss]

The storyline of The Laughing Batman and Death Metal is just so absolutely bonkers, that I actually love it.

[@adventarchivist5789]

You know, i was making a timline of DC's books on an excel sheet to figure out who's doing what at which time. This stuff from Year of the Villain messed all that up for me.

[@unixmoon4842]

Rip, both year of the villain and the most recent death metal whatever killed my desire for a timeline that made sense

[@djalexander7723]

I gave up with DC timeline at that point

[@adventarchivist5789]

@puppet master Honestly not as bad as you may think. If you keep track of what ongoing series have crossed over with each other, that can give a lot of ground to your findings. Rebrith had a lot of multi-part storylines across many books, such as Aquaman/Suicide squad, Action Comics/Superman, and Tie-ins to Metal or Heroes in Crisis. If you use a little headcannon for some portions, it can come out alright.

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

Can you link the sheet?

[@matthiasfoo1217]

ouch

[@mattwo7]

9:02 Wait... Did they turn Jim Gordon into The John Constantine Who Laughs?

[@buttermoth5861]

“He has to harness 6 different energies” Endgame moment

[@comixproviderftw_02]

This an Avengers Level Threat

[@benrickinmarks3639]

One of them is the energy of police brutality

[@KaiKrimson56]

Reminds me of that American Dad episode where Santa tries to resurrect and steal the powers of Gilgamesh.

[@887frodo]

This whole arc is every criticism about comic tropes fused into one, starting from deus ex machina all the way to “it’s shit like this what keeps comics a niche because not even the story line is all in one place”.

[@truenightmare6665]

If convoluted narratives is why the American comic industry is dying, it should have died in the 90s. That shit was bonkers.

[@jiado6893]

2:29 "This metal is basically magic, and more or less does whatever the writer wants." Ah, Vibranium.

[@GLSnifit]

"I'm tired. I don't wanna talk about this anymore so I'm gonna go" Yeah, that about says it all

[@sasookay514]

This is a perfect example of why DC is often disapointing: they take a real cool idea and hire the most inconsistent writers to follow through with that idea.

[@them_best]

"what does Gordon represent?... police brutality?" i started laughing so much i scared my mother 🤣

[@geo1504]

they best who laughs

[@them_best]

@@user-fe8gx3ie5v come oon don't ruin a fuckin joke

[@WarmLillie]

Something telling there going to be a lot of funny business

[@luigiboi4244]

I hate the terrible pun, but I respect you for having the guts to comment it anyway.

[@Daboss-kq3jm]

This is no laughing matter

[@Elopez2]

Ok

[@WarmLillie]

@@luigiboi4244 Thank you so much I really appreciate it

[@WarmLillie]

@@Daboss-kq3jm Your right this was no joke...

[@josukejostar277]

The enrgys were Magic Tech Alien And lesdian And bird

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

And coffee with cigarette

[@Dusxio]

They had to go with Secret Six. Sinister Six was already taken, unfortunately XD

[@Magnet_Chaos]

The thing is that Secret Six was also already taken.

[@unintentionallydramatic]

When both Drake and Comics Explained are sick of an arc you just know it's utter dogshit.

[@Bezaliel13]

@@exilestudios9546 My hypothesis, DC overexposed hi so that they could leave him dead. No point bringing him back if they make everyone sick of him after all.

[@RobinDJoker]

@@Bezaliel13 if their goal was to make people sick of Evil Batman, between this and Last Knight on Earth, they succeeded

[@Bezaliel13]

@@RobinDJoker Or of Batman being too "dark and edgy," like All Star "Batman." Would not have been the first time DC made commentary on "dark and edgy." Have to hand it to them for having some fun with the self parody, like freaking Bat Baby.

[@singletona082]

Batman who laughs was 'interesting' but has long overstayed his welcome. I'm sick to death of batman who laughs and 'huhuhuh up the stakes and make it so mind numbingly convoluted that the reader got sick of it five events ago.' Frankly I'm sick of batman in general. Not hate batman. I'm not comics explained and get a hate boner to talk about how stupid batman is for not killing. I'm just., Sick of batman.

[@Bezaliel13]

My hypothesis is that after bringing back dead characters because people liked them, DC purposefully made everyone sick of BWL to leave him dead. Also, this huge event clearly had a "Batman is overused" theme going on.

[@gavinelliott8764]

yeah from what i read and have seen from the new death metal event is just over the top and kinda stupid have the same feelings on king in black too

[@singletona082]

@@gavinelliott8764 I'm only in on king in black because strip away the pomp and noise it is an eddie brock character story.

[@Bezaliel13]

@@gavinelliott8764 You call it "kinda stupid," but at least the Metal saga feels big and *important,* King in Black just has yet another "omnicidal maniac that is older than the universe," just like Chaos King, Nyx, the One Below All, etc.

[@singletona082]

@@Bezaliel13 one below all is the !ost stupid. Knull has the edgelord look,but 'one below all' sounds like an emo band name.

[@alejandropradillaamador6435]

1:47 "with the same virus that turned him into a juggalo" 1:55 "so to do that he made these six batarangs that are specifically desinged to infect six specific heroes" 6:15 "thankfuly her nonsense isn't really relevant in this video" 6:24 "after getting being infected by a batarang shot out of a VCR" 8:29 "gordon attacked the heroes with the mech he had when he was batman" 8:53 "now we have a supergirl who laughs to deal with" 10:55 "AN ENTIRE JUSTICE LEAGUE WHO LAUGHS" 11:15 "the batman who laughs rediates his own dark energy and the toxic batarangs just allow him to broadcast that energy into everyone" Don't know why but something about this lines gives me an aneurism and i want to know what it was like to say them out loud

[@JordonVirtue]

Apex Lex was able to glimpse forward in time at how hot tall, goth, dommie mommies would become in the popular consciousness.

[@hypnos9116]

Sometimes, comics make it really hard to like comics.

[@dheeraj5584]

"The batman who laughs first target.....was hawk man" Me: *Facepalms and looks at imaginary camera confused*

[@master0fthearts894]

“...Including my boy... Booster Gold.” *Pain*

[@WhiteRaven696]

LMAO I died at "nicotine".

[@yellowcapalex2825]

To those who are gonna say he’s only doing this for financial gain... Shut up. Nobody wants to eat nothing but stale bread

[@ADSNavarro]

so the batman who laughs, gave Shazam chunibyo

[@ADSNavarro]

@@user-fe8gx3ie5v I guess you're right

[@balebcurke2715]

They ruined the batman who laughs, should've been a one off character

[@Bezaliel13]

But then people would have wanted him back.

[@sussyangel7492]

@@Bezaliel13 He is dead now.

[@Bezaliel13]

@@sussyangel7492 So was Artemis from Wonder Woman... until fan love made DC bring her back.

[@SleepySkullhead]

New format has been great! Loving it!

[@CosmicPsychonauts]

7:10 That's funny considering the point of Gordon's character in Batman Year One was to combat corruption and police brutality in Gotham from the inside.

[@runeanonymous9760]

Iztajoke

[@quiondasjj9293]

I’m amazed by your research into everything you present

[@jefferymuffinsbobmarley6128]

haha i love how you picked back up the coffee mug after the rant on how confusing it all is

[@Bacon-Dave]

This sounds incredibly and needlessly convoluted

[@xtutotv4675]

Comic Drake:"this is the most confusing thing DC has ever put out" The Collective universe:*genuine fear*

[@minecraftgamer8385]

If you want to read the whole story, here's the reading order: The Batman Who Laughs Issue 1-7 (Where Jim Gordon gets infected) Batman/Superman Issue 1-6 (The Secret 6 who get infected) Year Of The Villain: Hell Arisen (Apex Lex vs The Batman Who Laughs) How the Secret Six got infected: Year Of The Villain: The Infected Side stories that are not involved in the main story but features the infected heroes: Black Adam: Year Of The Villain (King Shazam) Hawkman issue 18 (I don't know exactly when he got infected but this is the issue when he gets fully infected and Sky Tyrant appears) Hawkman issue 19-23 (Hawkwoman saves Hawkman from his infected alter ego, Sky Tyrant) Supergirl issue 36-40 (Supergirl)

[@dasboom7133]

This was the most confusing storylines, thank you for telling it the way it is. This is kingdom hearts level of crazy.

[@Missing-Ace]

Wait so is every version of Hawkman in all of his appearances canonically just the same guy

[@sellammichael1796]

Man ! You made my Day with this video ("thé favorite superman move, throw it into the sun" loooolll so true

[@baskett98]

I love your new style of videos. It reminds me of another one of my favourite youtube channels Fact Fiend.

[@richmcgee434]

9:17 That last panel there shows what "vague energy" Gordon was channeling. It's obviously the Dark Side of the Force. He's totally doing a Vader "Nooooooooo!" there. Full-on Nine-O version, even.

[@bernardmclinney4614]

1:00 its ok drake that's why we love and support what you do

[@blake21693]

"Virus that turned him into a juggalo" you just made a fan sir

[@RawbeardX]

in main continuity Batman also has an evil satellite. so far that tracks.

[@lordofthewasps8583]

I like to imagine Batman Who Laughs rigging the batarang in the VCR like “No one would ever think to check this fossil, refusing to upgrade your home movie system will be your doom wonder brat!”

[@DeviDoesNothing]

Honestly I really liked the whole Metal to Death Metal period, especially Scott Snyder's Justice League. Then again that might be because I got into DC's comics through reading the Wiki articles for Dark Nights: Metal related stuff

[@coolioyaknow]

Love your content, man.

[@biggimmicke]

I really appreciate your breakdowns of these large comic events. Whilst caught up in the hype it's hard to sometimes remember the little things, like I don't know, the entire series the event started under? Lol, I was also confused by the "6 Energies." and I wasn't sure if it was related to the storyline that involved the 'Seven Forces of the Universe' we learned of around Justice League Vol 4~ (not exactly sure, just know it was a few years ago). 7 this 6 that, I can't wait for the new, modern "12 Days of DC Comics" Christmas Jingles.

[@jiado6893]

Cool, I love the Inheritance Cycle too!

[@VoiCla]

Dude, AWEOSME MONOPOLY MUG, I LOVE IT

[@StopmotionSamurai]

Great Vid Comic Drake! Watched live!

[@spencerchuong1510]

There’s actually a continuity error with this story. See, the story where Apex Lex cures these heroes happens after the Justice/Doom War (which is what led to Death Metal). In the Justice/Doom War story all those heroes who were jokerized are actually fine and seen fighting in the big battle against Perpetua and Apex Lex. And the story where these heroes get infected is before Justice/Doom War. So how were they heroes jokerized in one story but fine during the story after? No answer cause it’s a continuity error

[@devinkavanaugh1034]

Why are you holding an empty coffee mug throughout this video? Other than that great video drake! I really enjoy your content. I was worried for a bit because you had gone radio silent for a bit a while back but I'm glad you are making new content again. Keep up the good work!

[@oriavnimelech8739]

Can't wait for the possible sequel!

[@JordonVirtue]

7:15 Oooh I have one for this: being one week away from retirement.

[@hectorbarrera8046]

Gordan's power is being a good friend

[@spencerchuong1510]

I think we all need to understand something to ease the confusion about DC Comics timeline. During events just before Death Metal, the characters knew Time and Space were broken, and writers explained it that way to explain the continuity errors that were made recently. How did Doomsday Clock fit in the main continuity?, How did Year of the Villain fit with what was happening in Justice/Doom War (which led to Death Metal)?, How do events after Year of the Villain events in solo series fit in with events after it in those comics series?, and etc. Just know that Time and Space are broken to explain why events are and aren’t part of the main timeline at the same time

[@Lynch2507]

I feel like this portion of the Metal to Death Metal timeline is super bogged down in the fact its part of the whole Doom War story. Like, if BWL didn't have plans within plans within plans and this was just "gonna infect the entire earth, oh fuck it didn't work" , it would be chill

[@brotherblitzwing]

The whole Apex Lex, Doom War, Year of the Villain to Death Metal build ups are like 3 cars going to the same destination, crashing, and somehow still getting there. It was messy, but it got there? Sort of? Loved the books but you have to use the "because comics" explanation a lot and not over think it

[@Lynch2507]

@@brotherblitzwing like dont get me wrong, year of the villain had its up sides. Not like I know everything that went down, but stuff like Black Mask getting his new disguise tech, Manta getting a gundam, even smaller things like Hood and his lil team of new villains were cool. Its just that holy fuck was it a LOT. Smash doom war with its new massive revalation every other issue and then throw in a side of BWL it was just....... it was a lot lmao

[@brotherblitzwing]

@@Lynch2507 Oh yeah, I completely agree. I wanted to keep up with everything but it extensive. Each book in rotation had an issue that involved "an offer" and progressed from there. It was way too much to take in. All the villain redesigns looked really cool in Doom War, but boy I did not feel like picking up each book to see what they received. Regardless, had fun with what I read. Wacky stuff

[@ggnkrsfkoqxbk5078]

By this point they should just make every thing in existence end in “who laughs”

[@Lynch2507]

Metal to Death Metal is fuckin WILD ride. Drowned Earth, Doom War, BWL mini series, Supergirl had her own lil run as laughy gal, Year of the Villain is its OWN rollercoaster.... its fckin insane man

[@runeanonymous9760]

Do you think that Batman vs Ra’s al Ghul was an actual thing to get Adams to write it for some ungodly reason, or is DC still holding out for the artbook or whatever it is they want from him, in allowing him to write his own scripts

[@monitor-mindtheover-void6712]

Have you read The Multiversity? What are you thoughts on it and will you try to make a video on it? I really the story and its depth.

[@John-Salad]

DC Exec : guys, we cant keep milking batman or joker forever. we need to think of something soon to be director : what if we milk batman AND joker

[@JudahDeNose]

Oh man that Dark Night's Death Metal Tease

[@ExplodingDuckBrigade]

Great video

[@arvinbuenaagua5161]

Hawkman: Aquaman Donna Troy: Wonder Woman Blue Beetle: Cyborg Gordon: Batman Supergirl: Superman

[@TaroLoaf]

That makes better sense

[@jojojett]

Gordon have the "handsome mustache energy"

[@b.j.stewart7200]

That Juggalo line really cracked me up lol

[@freedommgtow4996]

They dropped the ball on Mary Marvel being infected. That would have been a great storyline..

[@CourageWisdomPower]

Im sorry, but I was distracted by how your background has not only a bunch of hero symbols, but also FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST. Mad respect.

[@cptmacmillan1111]

11:13 Soooooo basically the Markers from Dead Space? Alright then.

[@kazual6149]

I actually just got rid of all these books like 4 days ago lol Wasn't my cup of tea.

[@professorescanor7310]

Can't wait for the Death Metal Video because I tried reading the comic and got super confused

[@PureVikingPowers]

You should do a video on Constantine in hellblazer just cause he's awesome

[@marioolivero2143]

I just notice you have the full metal alchemist symbol in the background! 😂

[@nikcantsnipe]

Death Metal 2: Electric Boogaloo when?

[@emperormegaman3856]

Hearing that some of Hawkman's past reincarnations are in some alternates universes makes it sound like the writers just went "eff it, he is going to be a convoluted mess anyway, might as well do it deliberately" at some point.

[@koji6745]

I was not aware this was a thing but ohohoho I like where its going

[@animatednightmares2669]

Writers: any questions Dc: how will this work? Writers: vaguely and very inconsistently Dc: that works

[@nielsjensen4185]

And I read that as a conversation between Screenwriter Guy and Producer Guy from Pitch Meeting >.< Though the last sentence should be, "vaguely and very inconsistently is TIGHT!" for full effect.

[@animatednightmares2669]

@@nielsjensen4185 I'm happy to see you saw the conversation how I intended it to be seen

[@jbwalker3072]

This was much easier for him to explain than him trying explaining how Batman who laughs see out that visor 🤔

[@joerioryuurisakakiidk7482]

Beetles loincloth may have come from the scarabs time in Egypt.

[@j.dmetalhead7517]

The Batman who laughs looks like Judge Dreads opponent Judge Death from the 2000ad comic

[@packman150]

Wait, I need the video about Death METAL!

[@RaphaelTR24]

Love this

[@iproipro2737]

the laughing six would have been a better name

[@utopia19876]

I like high energy drake, just hope it’s genuine excitement and not excessive caffeine.

[@victorduran8392]

Why did they have to name the evil justice league Secret Six? The name is already taken by a much better team

[@ameliadavidson360]

DC was so busy thinking what they COULD do, they didn't stop to think if they SHOULD...

[@mackthisarrowhearth295]

Jim Gordon almost looks like constantine with the mask

[@mattwo7]

5:58 I see they brought out Kord's old flying... thingy. I have no idea what that actually is, I just know Kord used it.

[@koyinproductions9053]

I think it’s called the bug or the flying beetle.

[@Big-Image]

Rejected versions of batman: The Batman who cries The Batman who pissed himself The Batman who cried wolf The Batman who can't get a date The Batman who committed tax fraud The Batman who eats people The Batman who can't take it anymore The Batman who's Shrek The Batman who offends people The Batman who committed suicide The Batman who sucks The Batman who framed Roger Rabbit The Batman who bit Bender's shiny metal ass

[@sasukeuchiha6408]

Hey what’s that symbol inbetween the daredevil logo and the v for vendetta logo. I know I’ve seen it but can’t remember where? Edit: on his background

[@markelbunton9309]

I have a video idea! About the real life John Constantine, Alistair Crowley. There are a surprising amount of similarities between the two and I think it'd be cool to see someone talk about it

[@misaeldoesanimation4408]

You should do a video on death metal is has enough zero sense that just feels right. Like a Batman who laugh Dr mahathan, black lantern Batman and Superboy prime

[@dragowolf268]

How sharp/what are these batarangs made of because these cut Both supergirl and Shazam who are bullet prof and it can’t be kryptonite becomes That does not affect Shazam

[@VRtechman]

Still I'm waiting for the season finally where the KZbinr who laughes shows up! 😈

[@nftlproductions6047]

I haven't watched you in a while but what happened to the throne

[@pillagerthevillager3860]

Not sure how I spent most of my comic money on DC, and didn't read a single damn thing with Batman Who Laughs/Death Metal material. Only time I saw it was one issue of Hawkman included it slightly. And I'm happy with that. Good video.

[@truespectros]

Was this part of the main universe timeline? Or an alternate universe?

[@SilentMeteorite]

The Billy Batson ambush scene was sick, everything else was a mess