WARNING: The next accommodates spoilers for Red Hood: Outlaw #48, by Scott Lobdell, Brett Sales space, Danny Miki, Arif Prianto, Ben Meares, Ben Abernathy and ALW’s Troy Peteri, obtainable now.

The Joker has performed some sadistic video games with Batman, culminating in violent acts on the likes of Jason Todd, Batgirl and Alfred. Nonetheless, it is his cerebral thoughts video games that take advantage of lasting impressions. Within the New 52, he even had Dollmaker lower off his face, making a pores and skin masks to show to Batman it was time to indicate their true faces in a second that is equally disgusting and horrifying arc.

Whereas the DC Rebirth period has moved away from that concept since Joker’s face was restored, that pores and skin masks is again in Red Hood: Outlaw #48. And this time, the Joker is utilizing it to interrupt Jason Todd’s thoughts in “Joker Conflict.”

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After well-known breaking Jason Todd’s physique in Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo’s “A Dying within the Household,” he desires to fracture the Red Hood’s psyche now. It is why he has Punchline ambush Jason at Ma Gunn’s house, forsaking Duela Dent after beating her with a crowbar. It hits house arduous for Jason as this was the identical remedy meted out to him, however now Punchline and a brainwashed Dick Grayson are making the mission more durable. Jason’s freaked out seeing Duela with the masks which the Dollmaker gave it to her to really feel nearer to the clown, who she believed to be her father.

Jason is aware of that she’s not truly the Joker’s daughter, and he hates seeing her paying for these alleged sins. She was a part of the Suicide Squad as nicely, so this appears to be the top of a tragic highway for Duela, even when all Jason can see is the face of his killer on her. Noticing the tears in her eyes and ache in her voice, Jason desires to free her, however as he is incapacitated exterior, the bomb he set to kill the Joker’s thugs truly kills the lady contained in the constructing. Terrified, he rushes in and cradles Duela’s useless physique, similar to the Bat did him as a child. Seeing the masks on her is a logo of the Bat-family’s failure to care for the Joker and it additionally reminds Jason of his tragic previous.

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Nonetheless, as Punchline and Dick drive off, we see her holding up the true pores and skin masks and indicating they left a homeless girl behind as a substitute of Duela. It appears in his shock and grief on the complete crowbar fiasco, Jason could not inform it wasn’t the true Duela.

As the problem ends, Duela’s within the care of Punchline so it stays to be seen what are their true intentions for her and this masks. They used her as bait and appeared to swap her out for the explosion, so the sport continues. As soon as Jason involves his senses with the pretend, he’ll need to go after Duela, however he’ll need to face his fears if he desires to assist finish the Joker’s final scheme.

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