Batman made it clear that he didn’t approve of Clownhunter, but Batman #102 hints that the young vigilante could become the Dark Knight’s new partner.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Batman #102, by James Tynion IV, Carlo Pagulayan, Danny Niki, Carlos D’Anda and Clayton Cowles, on sale now.
Bao Pham first suited up as Clownhunter to protect the people of Gotham City during the Joker War. However, despite being active throughout the entire event, the young vigilante didn’t cross paths with Batman until after the end of the war. It was only once the conflict was over that Batman found the teenager and confronted him for his murderous actions. He gave Clownhunter a warning — just one: to stop, or he would make him stop.
Once Batman left however, Bao showed he had no intention of stopping operating as Clownhunter. Now, in Batman #102, the young vigilante attempts to continue his murderous spree, and that once again leads to a meeting with Batman. But this time, the Dark Knight doesn’t show up to stop him — he’s there to protect him.
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When Batman first met Clownhunter, we learned part of the new crime-fighter’s origin. Bao’s parents had been killed by the Joker years ago and for a time, he really believed in Batman and his crusade. However, the start of the Joker War proved how ineffective Batman was, which is why he took it upon himself to protect the people of the Narrows by brutally killing any clown mask-wearing thug he could get his hands on.
Batman tried to convince him to stop and to seek help from Leslie Thompkins, but Bao’s hunt was only just beginning. Some of the clowns who attacked the city during the Joker War were just ordinary citizens and when the conflict ended, they simply took off their masks and returned to living their regular lives. Bao still wants to make them pay, so he’s made it his mission to find these people.
Bao didn’t heed Batman’s warning, and it’s likely the Dark Knight knew very well the teenager wouldn’t listen to him.
It’s why, at the start of Batman #102, Batman is on the trail of a Joker-inspired gang called the Grinners. He usually leaves them active in the city to find out whenever the Clown Prince of Crime will be planning his next big attack, but now he wants to take them down so Clownhunter doesn’t have to. Batman is attempting to take Bao’s targets off the board, likely in an attempt to save him from himself. Despite the harsh warning he gave the boy, it seems like Batman actually cares, and he isn’t interested in simply having him arrested and thrown in jail — or worse. Later in the issue, Clownhunter attempts to take Harley Quinn out, but he is interrupted by Gotham’s new masked villain, the Ghost-Maker. Ghost-Maker makes it clear he wants to take Clownhunter out, as part of his mission to clean up the streets of Gotham but, before he can attack him, Batman intervenes to protect Clownhunter.