If the Joker died, would Batman actually miss him?

[gordonm]

Personally I've always liked the idea that Batman needs the Joker around as a constant reminder of what would happen if he loses control. As Batman told Jason, he doesn't kill not because it would be too hard but rather too easy. If he started wiping out his enemies Batman fears he wouldn't be able to stop, would lose what control/sanity he has and would become a much worse monster than the Joker. Seeing a loner psycho clown who believes in nothing and kills without pause reinforces Bruce's belief that he needs his Bat-family around him and cannot break his oath not to kill for fear of what he could become.

[Flash Gordon]

Not even a little bit. If he could ascertain with 100% clarity that Joker isn't pulling a scam and isn't going to return dramatically...he'd be elated.

The Joker is a serial killer, Batman wants him to be defeated- he just won't pull the trigger himself.

[KC]

No. Considering how much pain and suffering the Joker has brought, Batman would never miss him.

[Osiris-Rex]

No. Considering how much pain and suffering the Joker has brought, Batman would never miss him.

At most Bruce would have nightmares about Joker and perhaps some PTSD.

[Valentis]

No. Some parts of Batman wants him dead. Batman just can't do it himself.

[SiegePerilous02]

Definitely not. If a writer wants to present such a take, do it in an elseworld.

Modern Bruce can be really annoying and unlikeable as it is, he really doesn't need this tacked on either.

[Frontier]

I think it really depends what interpretation of Batman we're going with to a certain extent.

I mean, obviously there's always that subtext to how Joker feels about Batman, but while I don't think Batman really "cares for" or "loves" Joker in a serious sense I think there's a sense of history and camaraderie from being one's reliable opposite number and antithesis for decades upon decades that creates a kind of closeness even if it doesn't prevent Joker from trying to kill Batman or Batman from beating the snot out of The Joker.

It probably also probably doesn't help that Batman and Joker might relate to each other in terms of being such absolutes within their respective moralities.

[Katana500]

Batman missing joker doesn't make much sense. It would also absolutely destroy Bruce's relationship with characters like Barbara, Jason and Duke. How can he miss the monster who hurt members of his family so badly.

[gregpersons]

He would, for the same reason the Joker won't ever die —because the Joker is a popular character, and so he will always remain a presence in Batman's world or mind if that's the next best thing.

[Desmark]

Batman missing joker doesn't make much sense. It would also absolutely destroy Bruce's relationship with characters like Barbara, Jason and Duke. How can he miss the monster who hurt members of his family so badly.

The whole thread premise is as senseless and as crazily messed up as the whole Batman/Joker dynamic has been. It's like asking if Barry will miss Thawne as he has had the same profound presence in Barry's life as the joker has had in Bruce's. I mean can you imagine Bruce asking Barry whether he will miss Thawne after he supposedly died in the button instead of offering his tacit support by acknowledging it would be a understandable reaction if Barry was feeling relieved as the scum who is looking to murder everybody in his life and knows his ID is dead.

[Osiris-Rex]

The whole thread premise is as senseless and as crazily messed up as the whole Batman/Joker dynamic has been. It's like asking if Barry will miss Thawne as he has had the same profound presence in Barry's life as the joker has had in Bruce's. I mean can you imagine Bruce asking Barry whether he will miss Thawne after he supposedly died in the button instead of offering his tacit support by acknowledging it would be a understandable reaction if Barry was feeling relieved as the scum who is looking to murder everybody in his life and knows his ID is dead.

Or if Superman would miss Lex Luthor.

[williamtheday]

Wouldn't be the other way round?

[Darkspellmaster]

Oh hell no. It's like asking if any of the people who work on the John Wayne Gacy murder case missed him when he was dead. Bruce would be glad that he was gone, and would feel that a part of Gotham was safe, but he may be concerned about a power vacuum.

[Osiris-Rex]

Wouldn't be the other way round?

Probably. Batman is the only one that consistently thwarts Joker's plans. Without Batman where is the challenge? Joker is basically the child that seeks attention from his father by being disruptive.
Even the current Joker movie it is all about him getting noticed. So later on in life when Batman comes along Joker gets all the attention he craves.