Summary

• Doctor Xabaras is responsible for turning the Joker evil.
• Xabaras's inclusion puts a unique twist on Joker's classic ACE chemicals origin story.
• Batman and Dylan Dog will be facing off against Joker and Xabaras' in new 2024 series.

WARNING: Potential Spoilers for Batman / Dylan Dog #1!A surprising villain has officially been revealed as the catalyst behind Joker's descent into madness and evil, casting a new perspective on the Clown Prince of Crime's iconic origin story. This revelation upends core Joker facts, casting him in an entirely new light. However, this villain isn't merely just a part of Joker's past; he also plays a pivotal role in the present and future of the notorious clown.

Batman / Dylan Dog #1, crafted by the all-star creative team of Roberto Recchioni, Gigi Cavenago, Werther Dell'Edera, and Giovanna Niro, sees The World’s Greatest Detective teaming up with Nightmare Investigator Dylan Dog in response to Joker reuniting with his old friend, Doctor Xabaras.

It is during the opening prologue of this comic that readers are treated to a Joker-centric flashback, turning everything fans once knew about Joker’s ACE Chemicals origin on its head as Xabaras' role in the clown’s descent into madness and evil is unveiled.

Joker’s Classic ACE Chemicals Origin Story Gets a Unique Twist

The prologue kicks off with a bang (literally) as Joker shoots a messenger bearing a letter addressed to him. The letter, concise and direct, reveals that Joker's "old and dear friend" Doctor Xabaras has requested Joker's presence in London for a meeting to "compare [their] research." This triggers a flashback for Joker, unveiling Xabaras' identity and their mutual history. The ultimate revelation is that Xabaras was once Joker's off-the-books doctor, whom Joker would visit during his days as the Red Hood. This particular flashback takes place after Joker's infamous fight with Batman that sent him falling into a vat of chemicals.

Joker's fight with Batman as the Red Hood at ACE Chemicals is typically considered Joker's classic origin story. While Batman / Dylan Dog #1 retains the fundamental aspects of the ACE Chemicals narrative, it also introduces Xabaras into the mix when Joker seeks his help after the confrontation. Joker goes to the doctor seeking treatment for his face after it becomes disfigured with its (now-characteristic) unnatural paleness and grin. Xabaras its that he is capable of fixing Joker's face but questions whether the clown truly desires to be repaired, initiating a profound conversation that sets Joker on the path of evil.

Dylan Dog’s Doctor Xabaras Is Responsible For Turning Joker Evil

Xabaras' posing the question about whether Joker truly desires to be repaired elicits a skeptical response from the clown: "Are you asking me if I want to remain a monster?" The doctor seizes upon the term "monster," delving into a poetic discourse with Joker about its etymology. He explains that "monster" originates from the Latin word "monstrum," which in ancient times signified "marvel" and "wonder." Xabaras continues, contrasting the ordinary visages of normal people with Joker's now-extraordinary destiny, intricately etched into his flesh by the disfigurement resulting from the ACE Chemicals incident. Thus encouraging Joker to embrace this new identity.

In this pivotal exchange, the transformation of the man that Joker was into the monstrous figure he has become takes place. Joker attributes to Xabaras the teachings that led him to accept and embrace his own malevolence, referencing his current villainous demeanor. Consequently, Xabaras emerges as the primary catalyst for Joker's descent into darkness, as it was his persuasive words that convinced the clown to embrace his destiny as a "monster." Moreover, it appears that the doctor could have averted Joker's current state had he provided the treatment the clown sought instead of steering him toward a darker path.

Doctor Xabaras Is Nightmare Investigator Dylan Dog’s Greatest Enemy and Father

Unless fans are familiar with the Italian comic series Dylan Dog, they may not recognize the figure now credited with turning Joker evil. Doctor Xabaras boasts a rich history in comics beyond the DC universe, serving as a prominent antagonist in the Dylan Dog series. Now, he makes his DC debut alongside Joker as the primary antagonists in the three-part comic series Batman / Dylan Dog. Thus, Xabaras becomes intertwined not only with Joker's past, present, and future, but also with Batman's, as The Dark Knight and the Nightmare Investigator confront the doctor and the clown in this 2024 series.

Xabaras is a biologist obsessed with discovering the serum of immortality, conducting gruesome experiments that involve resurrecting the dead and turning them into zombies. He first appeared alongside Dylan in "L'alba dei morti viventi" (Dawn of the Living Dead) in 1986 and is known as Dylan's first and greatest enemy. Their history is complex, as they are revealed to be related in the Italian comics, a detail not yet disclosed in the Batman / Dylan Dog series. Xabaras is specifically the malevolent half of Dylan's father, who was split into two versions—an evil half and a good half.

Joker and Doctor Xabaras’ Undead Chaos Is Uniting Batman and Dylan Dog

In the present time depicted in Batman / Dylan Dog #1, Joker and Xabaras reunite in London. As Xabaras hinted in his letter to the Clown Prince of Crime, the two are currently comparing their research by creating jokerized zombies. The doctor is utilizing his renowned serum, which reanimates the dead, and merging it with Joker Toxin. The outcome is gruesome undead creatures obedient to both the doctor and Joker. These abominations have already abducted Catwoman Selina Kyle and Dylan Dog’s sidekick Groucho, heightening the urgency for Batman and Dylan to halt this deadly partnership.

Based on the events of issue one and the preview for Batman / Dylan Dog #2, it's evident that Joker and Xabaras's partnership will continue. However, there will be a new addition to the mix: Hellblazer John Constantine. Although Constantine will be on the side of the good guys, his involvement is sure to affect the dynamic between Joker and the doctor, as they now face another DC hero. It'll be interesting to see if the two villains recruit the help of other major adversaries to even the odds, as well as how things will eventually end between Joker and Xabaras.

Batman / Dylan Dog #1 is available now from DC Comics!