When the Batman Who Laughs first invaded the DC Universe from the Dark Multiverse in the 2017 crossover event Dark Nights: Metal, he was accompanied by a twisted team of Dark Knights representing nightmarish amalgamations of Batmen and the various members of the Justice League, including the Red Death and the Dawnbreaker.
One member of the Justice League not represented in the original Dark Knights lineup was an analogue to the Martian Manhunter, however, in the upcoming tie-in to Metal's follow-up Dark Nights: Death Metal, an evil Batman/Martian Manhunter will menace the heroes as the Dark Mindhunter. Writer Joshua Williamson, who will helm a five-issue storyline "Doom Metal," in the pages of the main Justice League series, teased the Dark Mindhunter's origins as he confronts the heroes.
"We have the Dark Mindhunter, who is like the Batman Who Laughs' guard. It's the Batman Who Laughs' person to make sure everything works out the way he wants it to work out," Williamson explained in an upcoming interview with CBR. "The Mindhunter is the Batman/Martian Manhunter Dark Multiverse-hybrid: In Justice League, Lex injected himself with Martian DNA to turn himself into Apex Lex," He explained, "This is Bruce Wayne doing that and injecting himself to have that same kind of DNA and making himself be this twisted version of the Martian Manhunter."
Luthor had transformed into Apex Lex under the bidding of the omnipotent villain Perpetua only to be cast aside in favor for the Batman Who Laughs to become her new vassal. With Luthor back and ready to go to desperate lengths to achieve his revenge, the longtime villain has agreed to help Nightwing and the new Justice League target Perpetua's throne to cut off her primary source. However, the Dark Mindhunter having officially joined the fray, the psychic villain may be able to turn the heroes against one another ahead of the final battle.
"It was interesting with the Dark Knights because we had one for almost every member of the Justice League...except for the Martian Manhunter," Williamson observed. "And now you know where that one was! It's Batman, if Batman could read minds and use and manipulate people with that power."
Written by Joshua Williamson and illustrated by Xermanico, Justice League #53 kicks off "Doom Metal" on Sept. 15 from DC Comics.