Popverse's top stories

• Wizards of the Coast has a secret rule for MTG against wizards in pointy hats
• “Acting is a contact sport”: Actor/director Bryce Dallas Howard on stunts, safety, and chasing adrenaline
• 2026 is the year of 'Avengers: Really Bad Thing' in comics AND movies as Marvel’s flagship team gets a new focus

What would Batman be without the Joker? More importantly, what would the Joker be without Batman to torment? They are the most iconic co-dependent relationship in comics, but that is about to get a massive update. DC Comics is promising a whole new take on Joker in March 2026, and it is going to redefine his relationship with Batman for the mainstream DCU.

On March 4, 2026, Batman #7 hits shelves and, in it, we’re getting a reimagined Joker from writer Matt Fraction and artist Jorge Jiménez. As is right and proper, much of this new Joker’s existence will lean on his relationship with Batman, and the issue will feature a “gatefold sequence that plunges readers directly into the Clown Prince’s fractured psyche.” We don’t know exactly what that looks like, but DC promises it will be something “fans have never seen before,” which is a bold statement considering how many different imaginings we’ve had of the Joker over the years.

The official description of Batman #7 is: “As Batman is beckoned to Arkham Towers by the mysterious man in Room Ten, nothing will prepare him for who he finds there. Some might call him the Caped Crusader’s archnemesis. Others might call him Batman’s best friend. Everyone calls him the Joker.”

Seeing a Joker that could be considered Batman’s best friend is certainly something worth checking out. Batman #7 is out on March 4, 2026, and has DC promising something new and exciting for the most iconic hero-villain relationship in comics. What exactly does their new dynamic look like? We’ll find out next year.

He is vengeance, he is the night, he is... one of Popverse's favorite subjects. Learn how to do a Dark Knight movie marathon right with our Batman movie guide, and for the true World's Greatest Detectives out there, dive deep into the heart of Gotham City by getting to know Batman with Popverse. Here are some of our latest Batman stories:

• Batman and his prank war side from Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen days will pop out some in Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez's upcoming DC relaunch
• How The Wire, prank wars, and superhero-forward comics inspired DC's upcoming Batman relaunch according to writer Matt Fraction
• DC's Batman teams up with Inception storyboard artist Gabriel Hardman for R-rated "open class warfare" story pitting the Dark Knight vs. Green Arrow and the Question