WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Future State: Gotham #5, on sale now from DC Comics.

In the Batman Universe, the Dark Knight has had many twisted plans to catch the criminals of Gotham City. Recently, he used a telepathic connection to read minds in "Fear State," and he once even famously targeted the Justice League in a proactive attempt to develop a means to stop them should the need arise. Now, in the story "In the Circle" from Future State: Gotham #5 (by Rafael Grampá and Steve Wands), the Bat takes it a step further with a devious scheme that even the Joker would love.

The back-up story in this issue focuses on traps, with the Clown Prince of Crime rounding up a squad of criminals for a heist. The Joker then commissions the crooks to rob Wayne Manor, enticing them with talk of all the jewels and riches to be found in the home of Bruce Wayne.

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As expected, the criminals are all in, speeding off to rob the mansion, only to run into Bruce Wayne's other persona. The Dark Knight beats them senseless, savoring the victory and the advantage that operating on what is literally his home turf provides. He even describes himself as a vampire that needs no invitation because he's the one doing the inviting.

The story then confirms that this Joker really isn't who he appears to be. Instead, this is Alfred, who wipes off the paint and whatever accoutrements he used to pretend to be the clown. As soon as the goons left, he called Bruce, giving him ample time to prepare for the unwitting criminals.

Although this strategy is effective, it also comes across as morally reprehensible. Essentially, the good guys are baiting and entrapping villains who could have possibly been helped or rehabilitated if they were given a chance. Instead, Batman and Alfred are complicit accomplices in this case, helping to create the very monsters they want to apprehend.

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It evokes the age-old adage where many believe that Batman creates his own villains in order to justify his continuing war on crime. Ergo, as efficient as it is, this ultimately feels hypocritical. Although this gives Alfred a chance to honor his theatrical past before he became a butler, this is very different from him mimicking Batman to trick enemies.

Batman and Alfred's methods here are manipulative and feels like a sadistic bunch of puppet masters preying on the weak-minded. This is something more in line with what the Joker would do, using robbers as pawns in one of his sick games. In a way, this proves that the Dark Knight shares some of the same sadistic nature as his nemesis. It suggests that perhaps Batman has studied the Joker for so long that he isn't even aware that he is slowly becoming just like one of the monsters he fights against.

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