Summary
TheBat-Familyhas been fighting Gotham crime for decades, and they’ve mostly been using the power of fear to do it. But none of them expectedScarecrowto turn their power of fear against them and create his very own “fear family.” Thanks to the power of Scarecrow’s toxins, he was able to turn the Bat-Family against Batman.
Scarecrow’s very own version of the Bat-Family debuts inDetective Comics#28by John Layman and Aaron Lopresti. In this story, Scarecrow has infected all of Gotham City with a special version of his toxin. This version puts everyone into an ideal dream of what their lives could be.
This madeBatman view Gotham as a utopia, and the Bat-Family would do anything to prevent Batman from breaking this utopia. As Batman manages to break out of the toxin effects, he finds himself up against the Bat-Family, but they are completely under Scarecrow’s thrall — with new costumes for dramatic effect. Scarecrow even introduces them as his new Fear Family.
1 Surprising DC Villain Could Solve Gotham’s Crime Problem Permanently
Gotham City has been plagued by crime for decades, and even Batman’s best efforts haven’t solved it. But one villain has the key to fixing crime.
Scarecrow’s “Fear-Family” Was One of Batman’s Biggest Challenges
Detective Comics#28 by John Layman, Aaron Lopresti, Art Thibert, Blond, and Jared K. Fletcher
One of the most important things the Bat-Family does is fighting crime through fear. It’s impossible for Batman or the other members of the family to be everywhere in Gotham City, but by making criminals fear them, then they’re able to prevent crimes through criminals being too scared to commit them. It’s one of the most powerful aspects of Batman’s legacy. This legacy of fear lets them protect Gotham City without physically being there,but Scarecrow manages to turn this strategy against them.
Scarecrow’s “Fear Family” is a twisted reversal of the Bat-Family’s usual relationship with fear.
With hisfear toxin trapping the Bat-Familyand everyone else in a perfectly idolized version of Gotham City, they become terrified of leaving this illusion. A perfect utopian Gotham City has always been what the family has been fighting for. With that illusion in jeopardy because of Batman, the Bat-Family would naturally fight against him. Scarecrow’s “Fear Family” is a twisted reversal of the Bat-Family’s usual relationship with fear. Instead of using fear to protect Gotham,they end up fighting against Gotham’s biggest protector for fear of losing the perfect version of Gotham Citythat Scarecrow’s toxin has given them.
Scarecrow Takes Family Feud to the Next Level
Batman finds a way to breakthe rest of the Bat-Familyout of Scarecrow’s control, butScarecrowstill managed what almost no other villain has and turned the Bat-Family against Batman — all because of their relationship with fear. While each member of the Bat-Family had to give up their perfect version of Gotham City, they’re still going to keep fighting to achieve it for real. Eventually, because of theBat-Family’sefforts, no one will have to be controlled by fear in Gotham City ever again.
