[ EU ] Batman turns evil and starts committing crimes rather than stopping then . The Joker realises that in order to remain Batman 's antagonist he must turn good and become a hero .

A grin crawls wryly across his pale face. 
 
 `` What does it feel like to kill a god?'' 
 
 The pale man removes his feet from the desk and switches off the glowing television set. A shadow hovers nearby. Watching. Wordless. 
 
 `` That was a nice move. Lure him with Lois, then hit him with the rock. I did n't even know they made it in Gold!'' 
 
 The pale man draws a cigarette and fits it to a filter. 
 
 `` Not even Lex managed it. Though not for lack of trying.'' 
 
 He lights and inhales. 
 
 `` Say, when you made him mortal and beat him bloody, did his bones crunch like ours?'' 
 
 The pale man ashes. 
 
 `` Not much of a fighter, was he? Never had to be, I suppose.'' 
 
 The pale man points at the television. 
 
 `` It's all they can talk about.'This just in: Boy Scout Down-and-Out','' he gestures grandly. `` At least you gave him a fighting chance.'' 
 
 The shadow speaks. 
 
 `` I did what I had to.'' 
 
 `` And now it's my turn? Is that it?'' 
 
 `` No.'' 
 
 `` No?'' 
 
 `` Not yet. I need you.'' 
 
 Silence blooms. Rain spatters the greasy windows. 
 
 `` They hate me. I have given them *everything*. My life, my wealth. I have killed for them. But they hate me.'' 
 
 The shadow stirs. 
 
 `` I ended the alien. I established peace. *I* am their guardian. Yet they hate me.'' 
 
 The pale man snickers. 
 
 `` You've been playing executioner. Not guard.'' 
 
 The shadow advances. 
 
 `` I need you.'' 
 
 `` Whatever for?'' 
 
 `` I have taught them terror. But you taught them first. You must teach them once more.'' 
 
 Gotham purrs thunder. 
 
 `` So we keep playing our parts like always? You lock me up, the media sing your praises, is that it?'' 
 
 `` Precisely.'' 
 
 `` I refuse.'' 
 
 The pale man extinguishes his cigarette and leans forward. 
 
 `` Remember when we first met?'' 
 
 Smoke curls idly. 
 
 `` I read about you in the papers. I saw your name everywhere. You really knew how to swing, and I could n't resist your beat, but your enemies could n't keep time. The Roman? The Penguin? Give me a break.'' 
 
 The pale man rolls his sleeves. 
 
 `` I knew you needed me *then*. So I poisoned the reservoir.'' 
 
 `` And I beat you.'' 
 
 `` That's not the point. I *challenged* you, as no one else could. It was for your own good.'' 
 
 `` You wanted the attention.'' 
 
 `` I never miss a chance to please a crowd. But everything I've done, I've done for you. I made you stronger, faster, better.'' 
 
 `` That's not true.'' 
 
 `` Is n't it? I made you the hero Gotham needs.'' 
 
 `` You made a spectacle of yourself. And filled a mile of coffins.'' 
 
 `` Which does not preclude what I've just said. No one brings out your best like I do.'' 
 
 `` Where are you going with this?'' 
 
 `` You could have killed me. Even after Jason. Even after Barbara. You let me live. That's when I learned the truth. The same truth you already knew.'' 
 
 `` Which is?'' 
 
 `` Killing is easy.'' 
 
 Watery streetlight strikes the pale man's smiling face. 
 
 `` Nothing will stop you from killing again.'' 
 
 `` With Clark gone, I wo n't need to kill again.'' 
 
 `` Perhaps. But you've lost control. It's all upside-down now. Killing in the name of justice? You're not the hero I made you anymore.'' 
 
 `` So what am I then?'' 
 
 `` A joke.''
