WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Detective Comics #1023, by Peter J. Tomasi, Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessey, Brad Anderson and Rob Leigh, on sale now.
As the Joker steadily builds up his power base and seizes Batman resources to turn against in the upcoming "Joker War," one of the greatest weapons in the Dark Knight's extensive arsenal has been repurposed by another longtime villain ahead of an explosive showdown: Two-Face. The past several months have seen a renewed conflict between Batman and Two-Face.
And in Detective Comics #1023, Two-Face brings the powerful Bat Armor into the mix. Introduced during Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's landmark New 52-era Batman run, Gotham CIty's greatest tool may be the weapon of Batman's impending destruction.
The Bat Armor was introduced by Snyder and Capullo during the "Superheavy" story arc, following Bruce Wayne's presumed death after a fiery showdown against the Clown Prince of Crime. Desperate for a new Batman, Gotham City commissioned the corporate firm Powers International to develop a high-tech suit of armor that was loaded with an impressive array of gadgets and weapons. Jim Gordon trained to wear the suit and became a new kind of Dark Knight who worked directly for the company and the Gotham Police Department to keep the city safe. Following Bruce Wayne's return and reclamation of his superhero destiny as Batman, Gordon returned to his position as police commissioner with the armor was mothballed.
The armor made its DC Rebirth debut at the start of Joshua Williamson and David Marquez's run on Batman/Superman, where the World's Finest faced off against the Batman Who Laughs and the superheroes he had corrupted with his modified Joker toxin. Gordon was one of the first figures that the cackling villain from the Dark Multiverse turned, and he targeted his old friend with the Bat Armor. Using the armor's automated sentry mode, Gordon and armor outnumbered Batman until Superman appeared in the nick of time to destroy the armor and subdue the corrupted Gordon.
For Two-Face, the Bat Armor is only the latest part of a lengthy campaign against Batman. Two-Face has steadily built up his own cult of personality, commanding a religious-like sway over his army of followers. As Harvey Dent attempted to keep his villainous alter-ego in check, Two-Face escalated his campaign to reshape Gotham in his image, pulling out all the stops in his most ambitious rampage yet. However, it's not clear when Batman rebuilt the Bat Armor since the prototype's destruction at the hands of the Man of Steel. Given Bruce's propensity for constantly upgrading and expanding his inventory of gadgets and vehicles in his ongoing war on crime, he likely had the armor rebuilt almost immediately after the initial model's destruction, only for it to fall into the wrong hands once again.
"Joker War" writer James Tynion IV had previously revealed that the upcoming crossover storyline would have the Clown Prince of Crime turn Batman's resources against him for the fate of Gotham City. Peter J. Tomasi Brad Walker and Andrew Hennessy's story has Two-Face beat the Joker to the punch by piloting the heavily-armed Bat Armor for his own villainous vendetta. Of course, the Joker hasn't been idle, awakening a new loyal agent and bringing him to the fray to confront the Dark Knight. Between the upgraded Two-Face and Joker's reinforcements, the Caped Crusader is outnumbered. With Superman nowhere in sight this time, Batman will have to rely on his own wits as he confronts the Bat Armor and the Joker's murderous new ally.