WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Batman/Superman #13, by Joshua Williamson, Max Raynor, Alejandro Sanchez, and John J. Hill, on sale now.
Batman's tendency to plan for everything is an important part of his legendary character. In Batman/Superman #13, the Dark Knight reveals his newest method of extensive preparation. The Caped Crusader has built a computer program that produces robotic versions of his most dangerous villains. Naturally, the plan backfires on "The World's Finest," as the robots nearly overwhelm Superman and the Dark Knight. Thankfully, the World's Greatest Detective has the perfect response to this dangerous development, too.
When the computer program breaks away from Batman's control and tries to overpower him, the Dark Knight tricks the computer into creating a robotic version of the Joker. As an agent of chaos, this Joker disrupts the computer program and serves as a destructive antivirus. With some help from Batwoman and Steel, the world's finest come out on top.
Batwoman and Steel travel into space to look for Batman and Superman who have gone missing. They soon find out they're facing a familiar threat but a little bit more robotic. Once again, The Dark Knight is at the mercy of a robotic Riddler, but he sees right through the program's games. Batman then defeats copies of Two-Face and Scarecrow, and he meets the sentient version of his thorough computer program. This new creation turns the tables on its inventor by questioning the Dark Knight's philosophy. When it analyzes Batman's moral code, it compares him to the villains he constantly fights. "Trauma also informs the actions of your enemies," it says. "Why did you choose a different path?" Here, rather than directly answering the computer's question, Batman teaches it a lesson.
In order to fully show the computer how a genuine villain operates, Batman manipulates it into creating a robotic Joker. When a copy of Lex Luthor gains the upper hand on Superman, the Joker decapitates his fellow robot. The Dark Knight points out that, while he created a masterful computer program, even the smartest technology will always fail to understand the Joker, who continues to wreak havoc on Gotham. As a result, the Joker is the ideal antivirus for Batman's suddenly powerful creation.
The Joker is the most useful of these robotic rogues. The others' practicality ranges. Early on, Steel and Batwoman run into a lifelike copy of Doomsday that replicates the villain's imposing size and strength. But when one single blow from Steel's hammer destroys the villain, the heroes realize it was just a robot that doesn't hold a candle to the real thing. Batman has a similar encounter with a robotic version of one of his classic rivals.
When an electronic Riddler captures the Dark Knight, this Edward Nygma look-alike acts exactly like Batman's foe by giving the Caped Crusader several verbal puzzles. The Dark Knight uses the experience as a sparring session, as he easily answers these riddles and outsmarts the Riddler. With this helpful round of practice, Batman will be even more prepared for his next encounter with the real Nygma. Likewise, he easily defeats copies of the Scarecrow, Two-Face, and Killer Croc when they confront him. Practice makes perfect, so after this fight with the robots, Batman will be quite ready for their counterparts. Plus, his meeting with a robotic Bane allows Batman to earn some payback for "Knightfall", as he breaks the robot's back. Clearly, these robots help Batman train physically and emotionally.
Batman's consistent need to plan for everything has been a source of trouble before, and Batman/Superman #13 is just the latest example. When the Dark Knight creates a computer program in an effort to understand his villains, the invention gains a mind of its own. Batman subsequently fights robotic rogues that model his worst villains. These copies give Batman some sparring sessions that leave him prepared for his next battles with his foes. In the end, the Dark Knight has a clever solution to the problem. He creates an antivirus through a robotic version of the Joker because he knows that even the best computers can never truly understand the Clown Prince of Crime.