The following contains spoilers for The New Golden Age #1, on sale now from DC Comics.
DC's The New Golden Age #1 hints at a timeline where the Joker's son may have been one of Batman's Robins.
At the end of Flashpoint Beyond #16, thirteen characters who were previously being held in time capsules somehow managed to escape and were reintegrated into the DC Universe, thus causing history to shift as it begins rewriting itself around said thirteen characters. As a result, The New Golden Age #1 introduces readers to a new DC Universe timeline in which the Joker's son seems to have been one of Batman's Robins.
The reveal comes approximately ten years in the future shortly after Helena Wayne learns her father, Bruce, is Batman. Bruce takes her into the Batcave and shows her all of its many intricacies, including the costumes worn by all of his past Robins. "You understand why I do this now," he tells her. Helena responds, "Yes, but...Why did they?"
Before he can answer, Selina Kyle/Catwoman walks in and scolds Bruce for telling their daughter about his vigilantism. "How could you do this?" Selina questions. "Expose her to all of it! After what happened to Tim...Stephanie...Damian...Even the Joker's son?" Bruce quickly tells her he doesn't intend to make Helena his next Robin. "But it happens," Selina responds. "You bring these kids in, convince them they have a greater destiny at hand, and then you turn your back on them when they break."
DC Brings Back the Golden Age
Following The Golden Age #1, the DC Universe timeline's story will continue to play out in two of writer Geoff Johns' upcoming series. Releasing Nov. 15, Stargirl: The Lost Children #1 marks the start of a new six-issue miniseries illustrated by Todd Nauck which follows the titular character and Red Arrow as they investigate a case involving a missing teenage superhero. Following on Nov. 29 is Justice Society of America #1, which is illustrated by Mikel Janín and follows the JSA and Helena as they look into the murder of the Batman of Earth-Two.
The New Golden Age #1 comes from writer Geoff Johns, artists Diego Olortegui, JP Mayer, Scott Hanna, Jerry Ordway, Steve Lieber, Todd Nauck, Scott Kolins, Viktor Bogdanovic, Brandon Peterson and Gary Frank, colorists Nick Filardi, John Kalisz, Matt Herms, Jordan Boyd and Brad Anderson, letterer Rob Leigh, cover artist Mikel Janín and variant cover artists Nauck, Herms, Jay Hero, Michael Allred, Laura Allred and David Talaski. The one-shot is on sale now from DC.
Source: DC