Matthew Rosenberg and Carmine Di Giandomenico's The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #4 showcases The Joker - or, at least, one version of him - once again on the run from the authorities and Jason Todd's Red Hood. While hiding out in a hospital, Joker comes across a room of child patients, telling them jokes for their and his own amusement. At one point in his act with the captive child audience, Joker tells a classic comedic critique of the Caped Crusader: "Why does the Batman wear dark colors? Cuz Batman doesn't want to get what? Why does Robin wear bright colors? Cuz Batman doesn't want to get shot."

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Following the public departure of Joker from Gotham, a second Joker emerges in the city. This draws the attention of a Jason Todd on yet another quest for revenge against the Clown Prince of Crime for his death during his tenure as Robin. Todd eventually corners the new Joker, who sought out and got tied up by Harley Quinn at Gotham Harbor. Joker ducks into the harbor below after quickly outsmarting the Red Hood. Jason, however, manages to shoot Joker before his escape, sending the clown to Gotham General Hospital. Todd later follows him to the hospital, where a police presence surrounds the building as Joker hides inside.

Does Robin's Costume Design Justify Using Them As a Moving Target?

In the hospital, Joker immortalizes the common Batman and Robin joke within the DC universe itself, critiquing Bruce Wayne's willingness to dress his sidekick in bright colors as many fans have done themselves. Of course, established reasons for the Boy Wonder's vivid costume exist in DC lore. Several comics make the Robin costume bear resemblance to the uniforms of the Flying Graysons, a tribute to the first Robin's late family. Others view Batman's darker costume as a sort of merit badge, with The Dark Knight wanting his sidekicks to work harder to stay hidden in their earlier years wearing red and yellow before earning a more muted costume. Selina Kyle recently revealed a potential darker reason for the distinction, saying Batman wanted Robin to be viewed as "a silly yellow joke" so villains like Joker would disregard him as worth killing entirely. This adds a tragic undercurrent to the uniform, often said to serve as a contrast to Batman's harsher edges.

The simplest explanation for Robin's colors is that the bright costume and lighter sidekick just didn't seem heavily out of place for Batman during the Golden Age of Comics. In the character's modern, darker age? The Clown Prince's - and audiences' - joke seems much harder to argue with. After all, who can say if Batman's sidekick's costume is a bright, shiny target better than Joker, the Robin-killer himself?

Next: Joker Calls Out Anyone Who Thinks Red Hood Is a Hero

The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #4 is available from DC Comics now.