EDITORIAL: Let's Discuss 'The Joker' And Other BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DOJ Theories
The highly anticipated trailers for Suicide Squad & Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice hit over the weekend, and with them, came a ton of new theories, some good, some bad, but one thing they all seemed to have in common was the infamous Clown Prince of Crime!
Unless you live under a rock, there's almost no way you missed Warner Brothers and DC Comics releasing the first official trailers for Suicide Squad & Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. The two movies are set to capture angles of the DC world we have yet to see on the big screen, with the latter featuring two of DC’s most iconic characters facing off in an epic bout. But, of course, as we are all sweaty nerds, we already knew that.
In the trailer for Dawn of Justice, at around the two minute mark (click here to check it out), we see a vandalised Robin costume. Many believe this to simply be an easter egg placed there by director Zack Snyder, however, I think it is a lot more. There are two very unique and interesting theories floating around the internet, one of my own, and the other was brought to my attention on the ol’ Twitter. Both theories discuss Jared Leto’s portrayal of The Joker, and some very bizarre and horrifying events that may, or may not, have occurred. In this article, I will discuss the duo, and I will compare the flaws, and likelihood of the respective theories.
Numero Uno: Jason Todd Is Jared Leto’s Joker
Ever since Gigli's Ben Affleck was announced as an “older,” more "angry" Bruce Wayne/Batman, fans have been hoping, that Jason Todd would appear in the not-so-distant future. To be completely honest with you, why shouldn't he? Todd is one of the coolest characters in the Batman mythology, and has yet to make his first big-screen appearence. Anyway, there was a rumour (sorry for my Australian spelling, you American yanks) posted on Twitter last night that really captured my attention. I do not remember who wrote it first, nor who sent it to me, so I will just discuss the theory like it is my own... Like all great theorists do.
In the trailer for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, we see a Robin costume vandalised, with the words “HAHAHA, joke’s on you Batman.” Now, at a first glance, you could probably argue that this quote should be used in my second theory, but I do what I want. Bruce says an interesting line over the top of this shot, and this is what we should be listening to. Wayne states, “Twenty years in Gotham… How many good-guys are left? How many stayed that way?” Now, to me at least, that sounds a lot like he is referencing someone from his past. Snyder so brilliantly placed the Robin shot right in the midst of that epic line, in fact, he used it right after Bruce says “Gotham.”
Now, I understand. You probably think I am insane for suggesting this, but it does make a hell of a lot of sense. If you look at some tattoos on The Joker’s body, you would be surprised by the references to Robin. For example, on Joker’s right bicep, we see a wing. Many believe the wing is actually that of a robin, and could be a straight-up allusion to his past as the boy-wonder. Interestingly, there is a tattoo of a “J” on his face. This would not have been brought to my attention, unless I had recently played Batman: Arkham Knight. Spoilers ahead, by the way. In Arkham Knight, it is revealed that the titular villain, is actually Jason Todd. The character was tortured by The Joker, and trained to kill Batman. The Joker, so deviously, burnt a “J” on Todd’s face, and left a sort of branding, an allusion to the slave-trade, and the ownership of individuals. Interestingly, Robin has become The Joker before. If many of you will remember the animated movie, Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker, you would know that the character of Tim Drake, the third Robin, eventually becomes The Joker. While, yes, Jason Todd is not Tim Drake, the filmmakers, if they were to actually go this route, are in fact looking at some pretty iconic and very well-received source material to influence their pretty radical ideas.
Now, like any theory, there are a few flaws. For starters, look at Jared Leto’s age. The dude is forty-three years old. That is one year older than Ben Affleck, you know, the dude playing the dude, disguised as another dude. However, Leto does look like he could pass for thirty or even younger, the dude has one of those faces that never ages… I really should get on his skin-program. The only other flaw of this theory, would be the sole idea that it would be kind of a waste. Fans everywhere have been demanding a big-screen portrayal of Red Hood, Jason Todd’s anti-hero persona, so to see him become The Joker would be a huge disappointment, while at the same time, being a pretty sick (in both senses of the word) twist. According to a rumour from El Mayimbe, the character of Red Hood is a "huge priority" for Warner Brothers and DC Comics. Spin-offs galore!
Numero Dos: The Joker Murdered Jason Todd In Wayne Manor
If that first theory was a bit too crazy for you, the second theory I will discuss is a lot more believable. This idea is my own. I came up with it minutes after the trailer for Dawn of Justice first hit the inter webs. Ever since Jason Todd was killed by The Joker in 1989, fans have been demanding to see the iconic scene portrayed on the big screen. We have certainly been close, thanks to the very awesome, and criminally underrated animated flick, Batman: Under The Red Hood. However, an animated film would pale in comparison to seeing a live-action version on the big screen with acting powerhouses like Ben Affleck and Jared Leto.
During the trailer, we see a shot of, what I originally assumed, was an abandoned warehouse. However, after sussing out the trailer too many times, I have determined that the roofless complex is actually Wayne Manor, or at least, was Wayne Manor. Now, a lot of people have been direct messaging me on Twitter, asking “Why would Bruce live there?” or “Why wouldn’t he fix it up?” And the answer is rather simple. Wayne does not live there anymore, I assume Bruce has a pretty sick penthouse in the city, with a brand new Batcave, like we see in the trailer, Robin suit and all.
If you skip to fifty-two seconds into the trailer, we see the destroyed Wayne Manor. The place looks like a bomb went off inside (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). The roof is gone, the windows are smashed, and it totally looks abandoned. Now, in the comic books, The Joker takes Jason Todd to a warehouse, beats him, and then blows the place up. What if, and hear me out here, what if The Joker knew Bruce Wayne was Batman? What if Jason Todd is killed in his own home, in Bruce’s own home? We will see the iconic sequence of Jason Todd dying, and being held in Batman’s trembling arms. It will just take place at a different, albeit, better, location. I think there is something so Shakespearean about Jason being killed in Wayne’s name, in his own home, in Jason’s home.
A lot of people are wondering why Alfred is walking to the old Wayne Manor in the trailer, and the answer is rather simple. To Alfred, Jason was a son, while Bruce is more like a brother, as their age is closer to that of brothers rather than father and son. Like Bruce goes to Crime Alley, Alfred goes to the old Manor, to pay his respects for his deceased son, Jason. I think there is something so beautiful, and dramatic about this character, and it would add a whole new dimension to Alfred, who has always been seen as a British butler with bite. Alfred could still be furious at Bruce, which creates a rather sickening relationship between the duo, something we have yet to see in the comics, or on the big screen.
Finally, during the trailer, we see Bruce Wayne open up a newspaper which has the words, “You let your family die” written on it. This part of the theory is a bit of a stretch, but allow me to discuss it anyway. Could this be The Joker sending Bruce the iconic message? Could The Joker have contacted Bruce, telling him that he is at the Manor, and that he has Jason? The “family” part of the message is rather important, to me at least. While it could just be someone saying Bruce’s workers were killed in the destruction of his tower, I think it is Mr. J sending The Dark Knight a very alarming message, which sends him on-route to Wayne Manor, where we see the iconic sequence as portrayed in A Death In The Family.
So that wraps up this article. Now, most likely, I am wrong about these two theories, and am being a classic fan and looking way too deep into something like a trailer. However, with the evidence I have provided, and the pieces of information as provided by Snyder and co. I think there is some validity to these theories, especially the last one. So, what do you guys think? If you like these ideas, comment below and let me know! If you think this article is main-page worthy, chuck me a like down below, and share it on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc.
Final question, before I go; Who do you guys think would be a wicked Jason Todd/Red Hood? Personally, I think either The Amazing Spider-Man’s Andrew Garfield or Fury’s Shia LaBeouf would be great picks for the role, and are perfectly aged to play the former Robin. So comment below, I would love to hear your thoughts!
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