The Batman Rogues Gallery is one of modern fiction's most popular collections of villains, a loosely connected band of criminals, crooks, and kooks that have thrown a lot of threats their way. Regardless of what happens to the world, the most iconic of these villains always find ways to rise back up and endanger the world. But in some realities, their fates were of a more mundane and tragic nature, giving some of Batman's most famous foes almost pitiable final chapters.
The world of Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley for example was one where the future of Batman had become a more tragic, grim one. Labeled Earth-31 in the multiverse, only a handful of Batman's former foes seem to even remain in this time period -- and they all end up with more tragic fates than almost in any other reality.
TWO-FACE
In the future of Dark Knight Returns, Harvey Dent was able to successfully spend years in therapy with Doctor Bartholomew Wolper without breaking loose and threatening anyone else. This eventually resulted in the belief that Harvey Dent had figured out how to regain his sanity. Bruce Wayne funded the sessions, which eventually included complete facial reconstruction. However, despite his public proclamations of being cured of his dual personalities, Dent didn't reveal which personality actually remained. Eventually, Two-Face returned to crime, hiding his face behind a mask of bandages. His attack on Gotham was one of the events that inspired Bruce Wayne to become Batman again to capture him -- where he discovered Harvey Dent was truly gone, and only Two-Face remained.
CATWOMAN
In the future of Earth-31, Selina Kyle eventually grew too old to fully commit to her costumed work. Like Batman, she retired from her work and instead settled into more of a civilian life as the matron of an escort business. She remained in contact with Bruce, occasionally calling him and reminding her of their old days together. Selina eventually ended up tangled back into the life of Batman when Joker returned to prominence and manipulated her into helping his schemes. Afterward, he viciously beat her and left her barely alive, just to share a message with Batman. Selina was also one of the few characters to attend the apparent funeral of Bruce Wayne at the conclusion of The Dark Knight Returns, cursing out Superman for coming to the ceremony and clearly grieving the loss of Bruce Wayne.
JOKER
The Joker's return -- is one of the chief turning points of The Dark Knight Returns. After Batman's initial disappearance, the Clown Prince of Crime spent years in a nearly cationic state, resisting any overt attempts to reach out to him. But the news of Batman's return prompted a change in the Joker, who suddenly opened up to Doctor Wolper. Joker was able to arrange for his release and public embrace -- resulting in a slaughter at a talk show and a series of murders at a theme park. Batman and his new Robin confronted him and were able to stop his massacre. The fight ended with the Joker paralyzed and maimed, but alive. Desperate to ensure the end of his foe even if he wouldn't take the final step, Joker twisted his broken body until he broke his neck, killing himself and ensuring Batman was blamed for it.