Writer Mark Waid described Batman as fundamentally someone who wants to prevent loss of life, and for the most part, that’s been true throughout the character’s history – Batman typically avoids killing. However, a recent DC comic saw him break this long-held principle in a significant way, ultimately taking the life of a major villain.
The death happened in issue #4 of the DC K.O. comic, created by Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Xermanico, and Javier Fernández. This DC Comics event revolves around a universe-wide tournament where the victor will gain access to the Omega Power – the same source of power Darkseid uses. The hope is that the winner can use this power to stop Darkseid from destroying the DC Universe.
At the start of the fourth round, only four fighters remained: The Joker, Lex Luthor, Superman, and Wonder Woman. They were set to battle versions of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman from another universe. Overseeing the fight was Darkseid, who had taken control of the hero Booster Gold’s body.
The Joker, always preferring to avoid a fair fight, betrayed the other competitors. He declared his support for Darkseid, claiming it suited his destructive nature. He wasn’t interested in winning the tournament; his only goal was to find an opportunity to kill Batman.
Batman Finally Kills The Joker
Despite appearances, Batman wasn’t actually dead. He had secretly planned an exit from the tournament so he could reappear later. Even though using this trick brought a harsh punishment from the Omega Power, he still managed to succeed in a difficult challenge.
In the DC K.O.: Knightfight storyline, Batman experienced a harrowing journey through a series of terrible possible futures. Ultimately, he overcame these challenges and returned to his original timeline. In a striking turn of events, he defeated the Joker by using the Joker’s own favored method – stabbing him in the chest.
Even for comic books, The Joker’s death isn’t permanent. The recent DC K.O. event promised everyone would return, despite a lot of characters seemingly dying. Still, the image of Batman killing The Joker is powerful. It appears to be a relieving moment for Batman, who is shown smiling while doing it.
DC K.O. #4 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
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2026-02-11 19:47