Batman / Batman Joker

Is Return of the Joker After Batman Beyond?

The Joker has been one of the most iconic villains in the Batman franchise. He has always been known for his diabolical schemes and twisted sense of humor.

In the animated series, Batman Beyond, the Joker makes a shocking return after being presumed dead for many years. But is this really true? Let’s find out.

The Return of the Joker

In the Batman Beyond series, we see an elderly Bruce Wayne mentoring a new young Batman named Terry McGinnis. The series takes place in a future Gotham City, where technology has advanced significantly since Bruce Wayne’s time as the Dark Knight.

In the movie Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, we see a flashback to when Bruce Wayne was still active as Batman and the Joker was still alive. In this flashback, we see that the Joker kidnaps Robin and brainwashes him into becoming his protégé, known as “Joker Junior”.

Batman eventually confronts them and in a heated battle, Robin manages to break free from the Joker’s control and sacrifices himself to save Batman. In response, Batman apparently kills the Joker by electrocuting him with a power line.

Years later, in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, it is revealed that there is a new villain terrorizing Gotham City with tactics similar to those of the original Joker. This new villain is revealed to be none other than “Joker Junior”, now grown up and taking on his mentor’s mantle.

The Controversy

The reveal that “Joker Junior” was responsible for all of these crimes was met with mixed reactions from fans. Some loved this twist while others felt it was disrespectful to bring back such an iconic character in such a way.

However, it should be noted that this version of the Joker is not actually the same person as the original one who died years ago. Rather it is his mentee who took on his legacy and continued his work.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Joker does make a return in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, but it is not actually the original Joker who came back to life. It is a new villain taking on the mantle of the infamous clown prince of crime. Whether or not this interpretation is acceptable is up to individual fans, but it certainly adds an interesting twist to the Batman Beyond series.