Death of the Family is underway in just about every Batman-related comic now on sale. The focus of the story is Joker feels Batman is too tied down with people he cares about. He has too many people in his inner circle. Too many he would consider part of his family. Joker feels this has been a distraction. He doesn't think the Court of Owls should've gotten the drop on Batman. It's because he's too unfocused that Batman isn't being the best he could be.
Throughout the crossover issues, Joker has been targeting those individuals. With some, there is an existing grudge, such as with Jason Todd or Barbara Gordon. Not all of the family members necessarily have a personal reason to want Joker stopped aside from the fact that he's a dark and twisted person.
We've had the discussion before about whether or not Batman should kill the Joker. We've even heard from creators on the topic. But Damian Wayne is another story. He has killed, even after meeting his father. The likelihood of Damian actually killing Batman's greatest enemy in today's comic isn't very likely but what if it did happen? Looking at some of the advanced solicits, you could almost make the case for it happening.
== TEASER ==There is going to be some sort of tragic event. The information for BATMAN INCORPORATED #9 mentions Batman having to be on the run. The question is also raised whether or not he's a murderer. What if (and this is a huge 'what if') Damian follows through with his instincts and kills Joker?
Damian has killed before so why would this be any different? When he first arrived at Gotham, he killed a mobster, chopped off his head and brought it to the Batcave. He also killed Nobody, Batman's old associate and son of Henri Ducard. The first death was before Damian "knew better." It was before he agreed to follow his father's ways of not killing. With Nobody, it could be considered self defense.
If Damian were to kill Joker, there wouldn't be many people that would get upset. Regardless of how horrible Joker is, there would still be some fallout if a vigilante killed someone that should be locked up. The argument could be made that Joker is simply mentally insane and just needs the right kind of treatment. He would still have civil rights and shouldn't be killed in cold blood.
Let me reiterate once more that this is not likely to happen.
If it did, what would Batman's reaction be? It's been argued that in some way, Batman does enjoy the thrill of the hunt with Joker. That's why he keeps sending him to Arkham Asylum when everyone knows Joker can pretty much come and go as he pleases. Would he be saddened on some deep lower level? Would he be relieved that the Joker's madness has finally ended? Would he have a problem with his own son breaking their vow of not killing?
Because Batman is always "prepared," he has at least half a dozen, if not more, ways to take an opponent down. In a final confrontation with Joker, he should be able to subdue him without going to extreme measures. If one of his soldiers, his own son, crossed the line and just killed Joker, it would't go over too well. Killing is not what a Robin is supposed to do. What would this do to their interactions as father and son and as the Dynamic Duo if Robin put a stop to Batman's greatest enemy. This is something that Batman has never been able to do.
There could also be the possibility that it isn't Robin that kills Joker but instead, Bruce Wayne's son, Damian. If it happened when he was in his civilian guise, Batman might feel the need to step in to protect Damian. That could be why Batman is suspected of being a murderer in BATMAN INCORPORATED #9.
The fact is, Damian can't kill Joker. As Batman's greatest villain, it was impressive that DC managed to keep him out of stories for over a year in the New 52. There were some stories involving him (or involving his face) but he was allowed to be off for a year making his own plans. You can't kill a villain as great as the Joker. Comic book characters that die always have a way to come back but if this were to happen, it would have to be completely clear that Damian actually killed him. There could't be a disappearing body into the abyss or falling off a cliff where Joker could miraculously survive somehow.
The bigger question is, could Damian kill Joker if he really set out to do so. Could he overcome Joker's twisted mind and put a permanent stop to him? What would Batman's reaction be to this? This is something we'll probably never know but is interesting to think about.