WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for "Intervention," a short story from Batman #100, by James Tynion IV, Carlo Pagulayan, Danny Miki, Tomeu Morey and Clayton Cowles, available now.
In the pages of Batman, the Joker orchestrated a full-scale attack of Gotham. The city was transformed into a war zone, and the villain ensured Batman would be taken out of the fight right from the beginning. As a result, Gotham fell into anarchy: Joker's clowns stormed the streets, setting the city aflame and attacking the people who call it home. With Batman out of commission, the people were left without a protector -- that is, until a mysterious character named Clownhunter took matters into his own hands and began to fight back.
Clownhunter didn't hold back. He rapidly began operating as a brutal vigilante who didn't hesitate to kill as many clowns as he possibly could. And in doing so, he became a hero to the people of the Narrows.
Now, the war is over and Batman finally turns his attention to the mysterious new vigilante in Batman #100. And in doing so, his real identity is finally revealed.
The epilogue "Intervention" takes place after the main story in Batman #100. The Joker War is now over, and life has returned to normal in Gotham City. In the Narrows, a teenager walks home in his school uniform only to find Batman waiting for him in his room. The Dark Knight knows exactly who the boy is: Clownhunter.
His real name is Bao Pham, and he's fascinated with superheroes. His parents were tragically killed by the Joker five years ago, leaving him all alone. Somehow, Bao found one of Batman's batarang and during the third night of the Joker War, he realized the Caped Crusader wasn't coming to save them. Bao explains that he used to believe in Batman and his mission, but the Joker's latest scheme, which was the worst attack on Gotham yet, made him realize that Batman should have stopped him a very long time ago -- in a permanent manner.
Bao was essentially molded by a life spent in a city where masked killers and costumed vigilantes run rampant at night. After everything that's happened, after his terrible loss and an escalation that seems unending, Bao has decided to do what Batman can't. Now, he's a vigilante like him, but his means are much more final.
Batman, of course, can't let him run around Gotham City, but he doesn't want to arrest him just yet. Therefore, he gives him one warning -- and one warning only: stop being Clownhunter, or he will make him stop. He points Bao in the direction of Leslie Thompkins, telling him she can help him resume a normal life.
Batman leaves Bao with the choice, but as soon as the Caped Crusader is gone, the boy shows he has no intention of stopping. Clownhunter's mission has only begun, and he has a lot of work to do.
Therefore, it seems all but certain that, sooner or later, a confrontation between Batman and Clownhunter will erupt. When that happens, Batman will most assuredly win. But he too, will have a choice: turn the young boy in, or take him in -- as he did with so many orphans who needed a place to stay, and a purpose to drive them.