Joker stole the Wayne family fortune and used all Batman's resources to his advantage, forever tarnishing the Wayne name. Joker War began with Batman on the ropes, fighting without his resources or the core of his team against The Joker and a city full of new Joker Gang .
After a psychological herb-induced chat with Nightwing took on Punchline. Batman was able to defeat The Joker with the help of Harley Quinn, but she gave Batman an ultimatum. He had to choose between saving either her or innocent civilians from an explosion or saving The Joker.
Joker War has ushered in a new era of crime for Gotham. The rules have changed and there are new players everywhere. Clownhunter refuses to abandon his mission to rid Gotham of criminals by any means necessary. Punchline has begun a cycle of crime and punishment like her mentor. The people of Gotham no longer trust Batman to keep them safe. But Batman's new suit, shifting ideals and Gotham's new villains and vigilantes aren't the only big changes in the city.
Batman and The Joker's game of cat and mouse has gotten tiring for all parties, especially Gotham. Tynion IV's Joker war gave readers a look at what it's like to live in a crime-ridden city that is constantly being terrorized by supervillains. Gothamites have longed for relief that Batman could not provide over the entirety of his career. The ideal safe Gotham can never be a reality if the old elements are still in place. So James Tynion IV wiped the board clean with his Batman run and made room for the next generation of heroes and villains. Batman's moral code has become despised by even his closest allies. Joker not only made Batman bleed, he took his city from him, proving that Batman can be defeated.
The Clown Prince of Crime may not have convinced Batman to share his worldview, but Joker War was the "Jim Gordon as Commissioner, Batman must adjust to his new role as Gotham's unwanted protector. His city is no longer recognizable, it has lost hope in conventional heroes. Batman must find a new base of operations and a new approach to dealing with the criminals of Gotham. After his latest battle with the Joker, a new archnemesis may even be in store. Joker War was James Tynion IV's way of proving Gotham is still dynamic and always evolving, just like its eccentric occupants. The dust has settled and everything has changed.
