Batman is always struggling with this eternal question: “Wouldn’t Gotham be safer, and wouldn’t dozens of lives be saved if I killed the Joker?” And in the new DC Black Label miniseries Batman: Damned, from the creative team of Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo, the Joker’s murdered body is discovered. It appears the Dark Knight has finally crossed that line and killed the Clown Prince of Crime.
Or did he? Bruce Wayne actually can’t remember if he’s the one who did the deed, or if it was someone else. And in Gotham City, there’s no shortage of other potential suspects, both hero and villain alike. To solve this mystery, Batman has teamed up with supernatural detective John Constantine in the hopes John can help him figure out who’s to blame for the Joker’s demise. And if Batman was responsible, what then? Can Bruce Wayne still be Batman and a killer?
Read our exclusive preview of Batman: Damned #2 and find out:
Publisher:Â DC Comics
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artists: Lee Bermejo
Cover Artists: Lee Bermejo
Hereâs the official synopsis for issue #2:
âAs Batmanâs descent into the madness of Gotham Cityâs decadent underbelly continues, he must try to exorcise some of his demonsâ¦and who better to help than the Demon, Etrigan himself. And where thereâs demons, thereâs also a Deadman, a Spectre, an Enchantress and a host of other supernatural friends and foesâitâs a veritable Grand Guignol!  â
You can check out the first six pages from Batman: Damned #2, along with the variant covers from Lee Bermejo in our gallery below.
Batman: Damned #2Â is due to hit stores on Wednesday, December 12.
Images: DC Comics