Trailers and previews for Batman's long-awaited Hush 2 storyline are now live, and the return of one of the Dark Knight's greatest foes has seemingly inspired the rest of his rogues' gallery to step up. In particular, the Joker is set to mark his comeback by resurrecting one of his most iconic gags after fifty years.
This is classic Joker at his best, raising the bar for what comes next.
In the trailer for Hush 2, Batman swoops down on one of Joker's henchmen, who is dumping a truckload of sharp-toothed fish with white faces and red lips into Gotham Harbor. Preview images expand on this scene, showing the Joker ambushing Batman from inside the truck and tossing him into the water to be fed upon by the fish.
A battered Batman manages to escape, barely clinging to life. Longtime fans will instantly recognize these as the Joker's signature "Joker Fish," a key element of one of his most infamous and daring schemes.
The Return of the Iconic Joker Fish in Hush 2 and Its Comic Book Legacy
From Detective Comics to Batman: The Animated Series – How the Joker Fish Became a Lasting Batman Staple
The Joker Fish first appeared in Detective Comics (1937) #475, created by Steve Englehart, Marshall Rogers, and Terry Austin. Joker infects the fish in Gotham Harbor with his venom and attempts to copyright this "new" fish in order to earn a share of the profits from fish sales across America. When the copyright office informs him that copyright law doesn't work that way, Joker embarks on a killing spree until his demands are met. Batman is then forced into a deadly game of cat and mouse to protect the Joker's victims, culminating in a rooftop battle with the Joker in the next issue.
Subsequent comics and Batman stories have frequently paid homage to the Joker Fish. Notably, the Batman: The Animated Series episode "The Laughing Fish" covers the events of Detective Comics #475-476 in a single episode. Additionally, the story "The Sea Beyond" by Joey Esposito, Serg Acuña, and Alex Guimarães in Batman: Urban Legends (2021) acts as a soft epilogue to those issues, with Batman and Aquaman contending with Joker Fish infiltrating the deep sea food chain, infecting hundreds of species throughout the oceans.
Finally, Hush 2 Has Me Hyped All Thanks to One Villain's Return
I've never been the biggest fan of Hush, even if I liked the original Batman: Hush story. But the new preview for Hush 2 totally changed my mind.
Hush 2: DC Goes All In with Classic Joker Gags and High Stakes
The Return of the Joker Fish Sets the Stage for Batman's Deadliest Showdown Yet
DC is clearly going all out for the return of Hush, bringing back the iconic team of Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee to craft a storyline that promises to be as monumental as the original. The Joker’s return, along with his trademark gags like the Joker Fish, signals that all of Batman's greatest villains will be stepping up in their classic forms. With one of Batman's deadliest enemies back in action and the Joker pulling out all the stops, the stakes have never been higher. This is classic Joker at his best, raising the bar for what comes next.
Batman #158 will be available on March 26th, 2025 from DC Comics!
