History YMMV / DarkNightsMetal

* BaseBreakingCharacter: The Batman Who Laughs was a hit in the ''Metal'' event, but he's gotten more contentious with each subsequent appearance, the editorial logic behind it being, ''Joker and Batman are both popular, right? Let's combine them!'' More baffling is his lack of resemblance to Bruce... or his [[CaptainErsatz stronger resemblance]] to ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' mainstay Judge Death...or the fact that The Grim Knight was a more-accurate depiction of how a morals-free Batman would act. (It doesn't help that ''Joker in an edgy outfit'' is [[RecycledScript 90% of what Scott Snyder knows how to write.]]) Other people thought TBWL was some sort of [[{{Deconstruction}} meta-commentary]] on the Bat Family. The [[FridgeHorror ethics]] of having a kid sidekick is clearly something which preoccupies Snyder: TBWL's chained Rabid Robins, his murder of the Bat Family, his breaking of Damian and turning him into dark Robin; all of these seem like a critique of Batman's involvement in the lives of Dick, Jason, Damian, or even Duke and Cassandra. All five had their lives destroyed by outside forces, and many feel Bruce should have just raised them like normal kids--not put them in costumes. Whether that's true or not is subjective, but TBWL is more of a statement than the other demented Dark Knights.

** [[Characters/DarkNightsMetalTheBatmanWhoLaughs The Batman Who Laughs]] is a being born of ComicBook/TheJoker's toxins infecting the [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Bruce Wayne]] of Earth-22, giving rise to something new and far more evil that slaughtered his entire world. As the right-hand of Barbatos and leader of the [[Characters/DarkNightsMetal Dark Knights]], the One Who Laughs gleefully gave all for a chance to massacre entire worlds, summoning Barbatos to Earth to annihilate it and torture and kill everything there. Surviving his master's downfall, the One Who Laughs continues massacring others in his path, tries to start entire world wars, attempts to twist Gotham into pitiless monsters like him, and eventually becomes the herald of Perpetua. Betraying her upon achieving a new cosmic awareness, the One Who Laughs rechristens himself the Darkest Knight, vowing to become a bullet to the Multiverse itself as its worlds fall before him. Slaying Perpetua, he unleashes an army of the worst he has to offer, plotting to turn all existence [[InTheirOwnImage into a nightmarish reflection of his own soul]] in an eternal chaos that will devour itself until nothing remains.

** [[Characters/DarkNightsMetalTheBatmanWhoLaughs The Batman Who Laughs]] is a being born of ComicBook/TheJoker's toxins infecting the [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Bruce Wayne]] of Earth-22, giving rise to something new and far eviler that slaughtered his entire world. As the right-hand of Barbatos and leader of the [[Characters/DarkNightsMetal Dark Knights]], the One Who Laughs gleefully gave all for a chance to massacre entire worlds, summoning Barbatos to Earth to annihilate it and torture and kill everything there. Surviving his master's downfall, the One Who Laughs continues massacring others in his path, tries to start entire world wars, attempts to twist Gotham into pitiless monsters like him, and eventually becomes the herald of Perpetua. Betraying her upon achieving a new cosmic awareness, the One Who Laughs rechristens himself the Darkest Knight, vowing to become a bullet to the Multiverse itself as its worlds fall before him. Slaying Perpetua, he unleashes an army of the worst he has to offer, plotting to turn all existence [[InTheirOwnImage into a nightmarish reflection of his own soul]] in an eternal chaos that will devour itself until nothing remains.

** [[Characters/DarkNightsMetalTheBatmanWhoLaughs The Batman Who Laughs]] is a being born of ComicBook/TheJoker's toxins infecting the [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Bruce Wayne]] of Earth-22, giving rise to something new and far eviler that slaughtered his entire world. As the right-hand of Barbatos and leader of the [[Characters/DarkNightsMetal Dark Knights]], the One Who Laughs gleefully gave all for a chance to massacre entire worlds, summoning Barbatos to Earth to annihilate it and torture and kill everything there. Surviving his master's downfall, the One Who Laughs continues massacring others in his path, tries to start entire world wars, attempts to twist Gotham into pitiless monsters like him, and eventually becomes the herald of Perpetua. Betraying her upon achieving a new cosmic awareness, the One Who Laughs rechristens himself the Darkest Knight, vowing to become a bullet to the Multiverse itself as its worlds fall before him. [[TheStarscream Slaying Perpetua]], he unleashes an army of the worst he has to offer, plotting to turn all existence [[InTheirOwnImage into a nightmarish reflection of his own soul]] in an eternal chaos that will devour itself until nothing remains.

** [[Characters/DarkNightsMetalTheBatmanWhoLaughs The Batman Who Laughs]] is a being born of ComicBook/TheJoker's toxins infecting the Bruce Wayne of Earth-22, giving rise to something new and far eviler that slaughtered his entire world. As the right-hand of Barbatos and leader of the [[Characters/DarkNightsMetal Dark Knights]], the One Who Laughs gleefully gave all for a chance to massacre entire worlds, summoning Barbatos to Earth to annihilate it and torture and kill everything there. Surviving his master's downfall, the One Who Laughs continues massacring others in his path, tries to start entire world wars, attempts to twist Gotham into pitiless monsters like him, and eventually becomes the herald of Perpetua. Betraying her upon achieving a new cosmic awareness, the One Who Laughs rechristens himself the Darkest Knight, vowing to become a bullet to the Multiverse itself as its worlds fall before him. [[TheStarscream Slaying Perpetua]], he unleashes an army of the worst he has to offer, plotting to turn all existence [[InTheirOwnImage into a nightmarish reflection of his own soul]] in an eternal chaos that will devour itself until nothing remains.

* NightmareRetardant: Murder Machine is kind of hard to take seriously knowing that his StartOfDarkness essentially boiled down to a grown man old enough to be a father pining for his parental substitute. All the other Dark Knights at least turned bad out of anger or desperation.

** ComicBook/TheBatmanWhoLaughs is a being born of ComicBook/TheJoker's toxins infecting the Bruce Wayne of Earth-22, giving rise to something new and far eviler that slaughtered his entire world. As the right-hand of Barbatos and leader of the [[Characters/DarkNightsMetal Dark Knights]], the One Who Laughs gleefully gave all for a chance to massacre entire worlds, summoning Barbatos to Earth to annihilate it and torture and kill everything there. Surviving his master's downfall, the One Who Laughs continues massacring others in his path, tries to start entire world wars, attempts to twist Gotham into pitiless monsters like him, and eventually becomes the herald of Perpetua. Betraying her upon achieving a new cosmic awareness, the One Who Laughs rechristens himself the Darkest Knight, vowing to become a bullet to the Multiverse itself as its worlds fall before him. [[TheStarscream Slaying Perpetua]], he unleashes an army of the worst he has to offer, plotting to turn all existence [[InTheirOwnImage into a nightmarish reflection of his own soul]] in an eternal chaos that will devour itself until nothing remains.

** ComicBook/TheBatmanWhoLaughs is a being born of ComicBook/TheJoker's toxins infecting the Bruce Wayne of Earth-22, giving rise to something new and far more evil that slaughtered his entire world. As the right-hand of Barbatos and leader of the [[Characters/DarkNightsMetal Dark Knights]], the One Who Laughs gleefully gave all for a chance to massacre entire worlds, summoning Barbatos to Earth to annihilate it and torture and kill everything there. Surviving his master's downfall, the One Who Laughs continues massacring others in his path, tries to start entire world wars, attempts to twist Gotham into pitiless monsters like him, and eventually becomes the herald of Perpetua. Betraying her upon achieving a new cosmic awareness, the One Who Laughs rechristens himself the Darkest Knight, vowing to become a bullet to the Multiverse itself as its worlds fall before him. [[TheStarscream Slaying Perpetua]], he unleashes an army of the worst he has to offer, plotting to turn all existence [[InTheirOwnImage into a nightmarish reflection of his own soul]] in an eternal chaos that will devour itself until nothing remains.
** The dark god [[DestroyerDeity Barbatos]], one of the first beings in all creation, turned on and killed his master the Forger, allowing a multiverse of worlds to decay and rot, eventually forming the Dark [[ComicBook/TheMultiversity Multiverse]]. [[ManipulativeBastard Influencing Earth]] to spread evil and cause bloodshed and destruction, Barbatos developed a fixation on Bruce Wayne after encountering him on his trip through time. Barbatos proceeded to allow countless worlds to die to torment each Bruce Wayne and [[TheCorrupter corrupt him]] in a myriad of realities, choosing the seven most twisted and evil incarnations of Batman as his Dark Knights. Invading the Multiverse and coldly having his loyal servants, the Court of Owls, disposed of, Barbatos has the Dark Knights wreak death and destruction on a global scale, having countless innocents corrupted to serve as a power source for his machines in order to eventually bring the Dark Multiverse into reality, [[OmnicidalManiac completely wiping out most of the Multiverse]] and killing or corrupting everything there while Barbatos reigns over it like {{a god|Am I}}. One of the most evil beings to ever grace the Multiverse, Barbatos shows himself utterly devoted to making everything that lives suffer until it is a reflection of his own twisted self.

** The dark god [[BigBad Barbatos]], one of the first beings in all creation, turned on and killed his master the Forger, allowing a multiverse of worlds to decay and rot, eventually forming the Dark Multiverse. [[ManipulativeBastard Influencing Earth]] to spread evil and cause bloodshed and destruction, Barbatos developed a fixation on Bruce Wayne after encountering him on his trip through time. Barbatos proceeded to allow countless worlds to die to torment each Bruce Wayne and [[TheCorrupter corrupt him]] in a myriad of realities, choosing the seven most twisted and evil incarnations of Batman as his Dark Knights. Invading the Multiverse and coldly having his loyal servants, the Court of Owls, disposed of, Barbatos has the Dark Knights wreak death and destruction on a global scale, having countless innocents corrupted to serve as a power source for his machines in order to eventually bring the Dark Multiverse into reality, [[OmnicidalManiac completely wiping out most of the Multiverse]] and killing or corrupting everything there while Barbatos reigns over it like {{a god|Am I}}. One of the most evil beings to ever grace the Multiverse, Barbatos shows himself utterly devoted to making everything that lives suffer until it is a reflection of his own twisted self.
** ''The Batman Who Laughs #1'', written by Creator/JamesTynionIV: ComicBook/TheJoker of Earth-22, after discovering the chemicals that made him into what he is are also killing him, decided to start his endgame, and began by butchering his fellow rogues, along with [[HeroKiller Commissioner Gordon]]. Taking Batman hostage after learning his identity, Joker razes Gotham, [[ForcedToWatch making him watch]] as Gotham General Hospital crumbles. Then he begins to reenact Batman's origins by forcing children to walk through Crime Alley with their parents, shooting the parents dead, and [[DrivenToMadness driving the children mad]] with Joker toxin. This causes Batman to snap, break free from his bounds and finally kill The Joker by snapping his neck, allowing his corrupting gas to turn Batman into the next Joker after inhaling it. [[SmallRoleBigImpact Despite his limited page time]], The Joker of this Earth is responsible for every life The Batman who Laughs has taken.

** The Merciless carving Wonder Woman into rocks with his fingers. It's supposed to be tragic, but it's just so damn cheesy that you expect a breakup song to start playing over the scene.

* {{Squick}}: Some of the Robins cling onto the Batman Who Laughs's leg. Considering his [[HellBentForLeather fetish gear look]], that imagery is pretty unsettling. [[spoiler:Especially since they're numerous Jokerized children.]]

* WhatAnIdiot: There are several such moments, especially in the Dark Knights' origin stories.

** Superman. Batman is clearly insane and murdered the entire Justice League and poisoned you. What do you do? Blast him with your heat vision? Use super speed to disarm him? Freeze him with you breath? Do anything other than accept your fate?! Or do you stand there, listen to him monologue and let the kryptonite kill you?

'''You'd Expect:''' That given that the Joker is any Batman's worst enemy, they would refuse to join him on the grounds that he is too insane and unpredictable to trust.\\

'''Instead:''' They agree to take part in their Jokerized counterpart's plan and

** When his world's Superman went mad for an unknown reason, the Batman of Earth -1 tried to get through to him until Clark killed Lois, his own wife. Luckilly, Batman had cultured a modified strain of the Doomsday Virus should he be forced to battle and kill Superman, and the virus can spread from person to person.\\

* BaseBreakingCharacter: The Batman Who Laughs was a hit in the ''Metal'' event, but he's gotten more contentious with each subsequent appearance, the editorial logic behind it being, ''Joker and Batman are both popular, right? Let's combine them!'' More baffling is his lack of resemblance to Bruce... or his [[CaptainErsatz stronger resemblance]] to ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' mainstay Judge Death...or the fact that The Grim Night was a more-accurate depiction of how a morals-free Batman would act. (It doesn't help that ''Joker in an edgy outfit'' is [[RecycledScript 90% of what Scott Snyder knows how to write.]]) Other people thought TBWL was some sort of [[{{Deconstruction}} meta-commentary]] on the Bat Family. The [[FridgeHorror ethics]] of having a kid sidekick is clearly something which preoccupies Snyder: TBWL's chained Rabid Robins, his murder of the Bat Family, his breaking of Damian and turning him into dark Robin; all of these seem like a critique of Batman's involvement in the lives of Dick, Jason, Damian, or even Duke and Cassandra. All five had their lives destroyed by outside forces, and many feel Bruce should have just raised them like normal kids--not put them in costumes. Whether that's true or not is subjective, but TBWL is more of a statement than the other demented Dark Knights.

** Most people thought the Batman Who Laughs was scary-looking while some fans instead laughed at the character design. He wears what looks like a metal spiked dog collar over his eyes which looks too much like Batzarro's design to be taken seriously. He wears tight restricting leather and heavy Cenobiteish chains which would restrict his moments in combat. He never closes his mouth so his gums look inflamed and puffy and his teeth have filed to points, on top of wearing red lipstick. He looks like a combination of a parody of various 90s DorkAge villains, some kind of concept art for a Hellraiser Batman, and a transvestite S&M stripper all rolled into one. He also has a bunch of cannibal Jokerized Robins who continuously chant "Crow!" This has earned him the fan nickname "Laughable Bats."

'''Result:''' Although he is successful in killing Ares, Bruce is corrupted by the helmet discovers that Diana was only incapacitated by Ares's attack, but he is so addicted to the helmet's power that he kills her when she tries to take it off.

** After the Batwoman of Earth -11 loses her lover Sylvester Kyle to rogue metahumans, causing Bryce to seek to avenge his death by killing the ones responsible.\\

'''Instead:''' Batman assumes she is dead and, driven by grief, put the helmet on his head to battle Ares.\\

*** Superman. Batman is clearly insane and murdered the entire Justice League and poisoned you. What do you do? Blast him with your heat vision? Use super speed to disarm him? Freeze him with you breath? Do anything other than accept your fate?! Or do you stand there, listen to him monologue and let the kryptonite kill you?

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: The comic has been given it's own soundtrack, and as expected with a comic named "Dark Nights: Metal" the soundtrack is made up of amazing heavy metal pieces.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyt4a8Ystg0 "Red Death"]] a theme for the titular Dark Knight, "Red Death" it's an song so awesome it was even used for the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRKj2YQwSlw comic book's trailer!]]

** Scott Snyder co-writing has divided fans. While some who liked his Batman run are looking forward to the story, others are disappointed that Snyder is doing another Batman story and want someone else doing this instead. Others, who ''are'' Sndyer fans, would have preferred he instead write another ongoing and moved on from Batman.

** [[spoiler:The Batman Who Laughs crosses the MEH in the same moment he kills in cold blood the entire Bat-Family (sans Damian) in order to prevent them from alerting the rest of the heroes about Batman's changes into a "Jokerized" version of him. It only gets worse since then.]]

** [[https://www.bleedingcool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/STL053793.jpg This]] cover for the first issue is either this or full-on Narm. It looks absolutely ridiculous but also incredibly cool.

*** Likewise, Superman. Batman is clearly insane and murdered the entire Justice League and poisoned you. What do you do? Blast him with your heat vision? Use super speed to disarm him? Freeze him with you breath? Do anything other than accept your fate?! Or do you stand there, listen to him monologue and let the kryptonite kill you?

* WhatAnIdiot:

* BaseBreakingCharacter: The Batman Who Laughs was a hit in the ''Metal'' event, but he's gotten more contentious with each subsequent appearance, the editorial logic behind it being, ''Joker and Batman are both popular, right? Let's combine them!'' More baffling is his lack of resemblence to Bruce... or his [[CaptainErsatz stronger resemblence]] to ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' mainstay Judge Death...or the fact that The Grim Night was a more-accurate depiction of how a morals-free Batman would act. (It doesn't help that ''Joker in an edgy outfit'' is [[RecycledScript 90% of what Scott Snyder knows how to write.]]) Other people thought TBWL was some sort of [[{{Deconstruction}} meta-commentary]] on the Bat Family. The [[FridgeHorror ethics]] of having a kid sidekick is clearly something which preoccupies Snyder: TBWL's chained Rabid Robins, his murder of the Bat Family, his breaking of Damian and turning him into dark Robin; all of these seem like a critique of Batman's involvement in the lives of Dick, Jason, Damian, or even Duke and Cassandra. All five had their lives destroyed by outside forces, and many feel Bruce should have just raised them like normal kids--not put them in costumes. Whether that's true or not is subjective, but TBWL is more of a statement than the other demented Dark Knights.

'''Result:''' A completely-Jokerized Batman catches them off-guard with a pair of machine guns, killing them before doing the same to the Justice League and the entire world, completing his transformation into The Batman Who Laughs and turn to evil.

* HilariousInHindsight: This is not the first time that Batman and metal are in the same sentence together, with WebAnimation/Batmetal becoming an internet sensation in Youtube and the Internet just before this book is conceived. Although here, Batman is actually singing to [[WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}} Dethklok]] songs instead.

* HilariousInHindsight: This is not the first time that Batman and metal are in the same sentence together, with WebAnimation/Batmetal becoming an internet sensation in Youtube and the Internet just before this book is conceived. Although here, Batman is actually singing to [[WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse} Dethklok]] songs instead.