All three Jokers will die in the course of the series, leading to the "birth" of a fourth Joker
It seems, that given that there are three issues and three Jokers, that a "countdown" setup might be going on. Jason killed the Joker who "killed" him, it may be that his Armor-Piercing Question could just as well impel Barbara to kill (or more likely, as she does still believe in Thou Shall Not Kill, let him die when she could save him) The Comedian in issue 2, leaving Batman and The Criminal locked in a death struggle in the final issue where only one of them can survive. During the event, The Jokers will manage to "birth" an all-new Joker (perhaps the Death of the Family Joker) because the universe itself knows Status Quo Is God.- Additionally, the Criminal comments that's their exact goal - to make a "better" Joker.
- Jossed. The Comedian survives.
Either Issue #2 or #3 will feature Harley Quinn
Issue #1 featured Gaggy, a Golden Age Joker sidekick. To showcase the Joker's progression, one of the following issues will show Harley and her relation with the Joker and Batman, possibly showing her own evolution as well.- Not in #2.
- Nor #3.
Joe Chill Murdered The Waynes On Orders Of The Criminal Joker
In Issue#2, 'The Criminal' version of The Joker tells a captive Jason Todd that before Batman arrived on the scene, he 'ran' Gotham. At the conclusion of the issue, The Comedian Joker springs Joe Chill from prison and asks him the real reason he killed the Waynes. Perhaps Chill murdered the Waynes because Thomas had somehow ruffled the feathers of the rackets being run by the Criminal Joker.- Jossed. Chill was just a regular joe who targeted the Waynes for having the kind of rich socialite lifestyle that had been denied to him.
The Criminal is the Joker from Case Study.
This story from Batman: Black and White posits that the Joker:- Isn't insane.
- Used to be a major mob boss.
- Dove into a chemical vat.
- Seeks revenge on Batman for robbing him of his anonymity following his Jokerization.
The Criminal:
- Is the most stoic, organized, and stable of the three.
- Claims he "ran Gotham" in the pre-Batman days.
- Is the one who went in the chemical vat.
- Tells Jason he wants revenge on Batman for his fall in the chemical vat.
