WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Jeffrey Brown's Batman and Robin and Howard, on sale now from DC Comics.
In the confines of the DC Universe, it's pretty safe to say that the Joker has been Batman's most diabolical villain. The Clown Prince of Crime has killed a Robin, placed Batgirl in a wheelchair, and caused chaos and carnage beyond belief as in his confrontations with the Caped Crusader. However, in the children's graphic novel, Batman and Robin and Howard, a new villain does something that the Joker never could, totally breaking Bruce Wayne.
Joker has tried mind game after mind game, but even after losing his memory, the Dark Knight always finds a way to return. However, that notion is challenged by a surprising new nemesis as Damian begins his journey to middle school, moving from the fancy Gotham Prep to Gotham Metro Academy.
As Damian adjusts to his new surroundings, the Caped Crusader gets intel from Commissioner Jim Gordon about a string of incidents happening at other schools. Someone's vandalizing the gyms, leading the detective to implicate one of his old foes when he sees shredded footballs at the scene of the crimes.
He ends up at Damian's former school but as he ventures into the gym area, he is suddenly locked inside. A mysterious figure boasts how this titanium door is unbreakable, and Batman realizes that he is trapped. He begins to panic as he goes missing over the weekend, with his phone dead, and his utility belt containing useless items that are not able to help him escape.
As he ponders how he'll never solve the case or see his kid again, his mental state starts to fray, rattling Bruce like never before. He's paranoid, making up evidence out thin air, and accusing his rogues when they're still in Arkham Asylum. Batman even starts making light of himself, and soon enough questions his purpose.
Luckily, Damian and his new best friend, Howard, link clues together and manage to rescue Batman. As he recollects himself over the next few days, he soon deduces that his new nemesis is the shady coach of Gotham Prep. Damian's former soccer coach was ensuring the other teams would suffer and lose, so his unbeaten stint would get him calls from scouts, and much bigger jobs.
Batman catches his new nemesis, who ends up in Arkham to coaching his toughest team yet, the villains of Gotham. The Caped Crusader, meanwhile, learns the hard way never to underestimate opponents, even if they aren't found on the streets of Gotham.