Summary
Warning: Spoilers for From theDC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives! #1!The Jokeris an unpredictable sociopath with a seemingly infinite number of ways to make Batman’s life a living hell, with one of his worst actions — the brutal murder of the second Robin, Jason Todd — scarring Batman for decades to come. And now, in a “What If?” comic showing what would have happenedif Jason survived hisDeath in the Familyfate,Joker’s wildest “disguise” makes a comeback, one that wouldn’t work all that well in today’s global political climate.
Murdering Jason in 1988’sBatman: Death in the Family, by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo, Joker is soon contacted by the then-leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, and is inexplicably offered a position in his government.
Appointed as the Iranian ambassador to the U.N., Joker’s newly acquired diplomatic immunity allowed him to avoid being pursued by Batman or prosecuted for any of his previous crimes, with this moment being revisited inFrom the DC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives! #1, a story that gives Joker back his infamous keffiyeh “disguise,” only to take it away just as quickly.
Joker Makes the World a Better Place, According to… Batman?!
Batman and the Joker have been fighting one another for decades, which is why it’s so surprising that Batman admits that the Joker benefits the world.
Joker’s Role as the Iranian Ambassador to the U.N. Wouldn’t Work the Same in Today’s World
From the DC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives! #1- 2024 (J.M. DeMatteis and Rick Leonardi)
A four-part series telling the alternate events taking place right after Batman found Jason alive, this issue shows Jason recovering from the physical and mental strain of his encounter with a now politically protected Joker. ButunlikeDeath in a Family, where Joker makes a mess of things on an international scale,Joker’s immunity is taken away almost immediately inDeath in the Family: Robin Lives! #1, with Iranian officials explaining that the government of Iran has had “second thoughts” about Joker’s new role, as his “presence on the world stage would prove inimical” to Iran’s national security.
A controversial choicewhenDeath in the Familywas first publishedand even more so today, considering the issues surrounding Iran have progressively gotten worse, Joker becoming Iran’s ambassador is a fraught political choice that would never pass muster in today’s comic industry. If told today, this story would likely keep the idea of Joker trying to escape the wrath of Batman, but it would stand to reason that Iran would be replaced with a fictional DC Comics country instead — like Black Adam’s Kahndaq or Gamorra Island — maintaining Joker’s brilliant idea of claiming diplomatic immunity, onlywithoutthe real-world political implications.
Joker Getting Diplomatic Immunity From Iran Was a Weird but Sound Move
Thoughsome parts ofDeath in the Familyhaven’t aged particularly well, it should be noted that Joker, after his speech at the United Nations, tried to gas everyone in the room, resulting in him getting his diplomatic immunity revoked in main DC continuity — a more drawn out, but similar approach compared to how he lost his title inDeath in the Family: Robin Lives! #1. And while the door may be closed to any future return ofthe Joker’s Iranian ambassador “disguise,” this footnote in the Clown Prince of Crime’s long history was worth one last revisit.
From the DC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives! #1is available from DC Comics.
Death in the Family: Robin Lives! #1- 2024
The Joker
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.
