We as a fandom don’t talk enough about Switch
I definitely agree with you a hundred percent. JOKER switch is one of the best comics i read, and it really dives deep into that whole love and hate relationship Batman and Joker has going on between them. I did decide to reread it to get the full meaning of it.The element of the story along with the body language as well. The story is truly an eye opener. There's no real violence in Joker switch when it comes to Batman and Joker. The only thing that comes close to aggression is Batman's yanking a handful of hair from the Joker's scalp. The Joker doesn't give the readers no indication that this has hurt him in any kind of way though, so we are fully aware that he has a high tolerance for pain. Has been clarified in his bio as well. The lack of violence towards him can be due to the Joker avoiding him for so long, and now he has more tolerance towards him because he might have missed him. Examples of this can be shown in other comics as well. A road to Arkham is another one that shows the tolerance he has with the Joker after he finds him. He punches the Joker once to give the madman what he craves in this issue of course. The violent nature the two shared is undeniably there. Batman has said that he searched everywhere for the Joker many times in comics. The Joker isn't sticking to his usual routine at times, but yes, he is happy to see Batman nevertheless in a road on Arkham. This was also mention in Batman #145 and #146 that Batman follows the Joker around like a love sick puppy. Not only this comic, but in lovers and madman. The Joker talks about leaving crumbs and Batman is always there to find them. Which leaves me to believe that this song is exactly referring to Batman chasing the Joker. Giving him the twisted love he thinks is love, and now the Joker is running away from it. He is avoiding him.
The beginning starts off with the Joker fleeing Gotham, however that's not the issue here. The issue here is that there's a romantic song playing on the panel's In the very beginning of the issue. Now i searched for this song, although i can't seem to find it anywhere, so i just figured that it was a made up song for this comic. This left me muddled when i first read it. Why the hell is there a romantic song playing while the Joker is leaving Gotham. Now some individuals said he is talking about his city, but that doesn't make sense to me at all, because the artist and writer purposely did this.
Both times this part lands on Batman. The first time it happens he is wearing His batsuit, looking down at the Joker with disappointment. The second time he is looking at the Joker in a newspaper. If you also scroll back up to the top. You will clearly see the Joker is looking around to see if Batman's there. The lyrics are talking about hiding and other things, but Then Batman pops out of nowhere. Again this is intentional. Batman and joker has a twisted love for each other. The reason i also believe theses lyrics was referring to Batman and Joker because of what the Joker thinks about later in the comic.
We can assume he's talking about the doctor here, but i highly doubt that when he outright said he was going to become Batman.
The Joker is thinking about going back to Batman when he is finish with all of this. Basically saying that he won't abandon Batman. Also letting Batman know he doesn't have to worry he will be back soon. This is also providing the readers a clear picture of the relationship the two has. Now if Batman's him, he'd be avoiding him, because that is exactly what the Joker is doing right now. Which is why theses lyrics makes so much sense now. He is avoiding Batman. They're not doing their usual dance. The Joker is also is letting Batman know that he doesn't have to worry he'll be back soon. That they'll find each other. They always do. On the twelfth panel of the issue Batman's head is leaning to the side in a sorrowful way. This look gives me Arkham City vibes. When Batman head was leaned down as he looked at the Joker dead body. This is a unhealthy attachment the two have. The Joker has made the Batman stronger through his chaos. The song also plays 'You say you got to keep me in line. We know that The Joker thinks he is helping Batman by eliminating all of his weakness. The song also plays 'I say your heart is twisted ' The Joker love is twisted. Batman is aware how the Joker views love, and it's totally different from how a normal person would. It's so funny to me that the Joker only thinks of Batman when someone mention Detective work. He thinks very highly of Batman even if he doesn't admit it. There's been a lot of Detectives over the years, but the madman choice to be Batman.
It's obvious theses lyrics are talking about their relationship. It also says things like 'i didn't get you at first' 'But i say your heart is twisted' You say opposites attract' Batman love towards him is violence, affectionate, possessive, and there is attachment too. This is explain a lot throughout comics and novels it appears. Throughout the comic the Joker thinks things on the line of 'I am the knight. Only sneers and smirks. No laughing' evidently he is in the role of Batman to find the doctor who has done this to his face. Let's jump back to how when the Joker is murdered or happen to die. Batman wound up having hallucinations of him. Seeing him in the corner of his eyes. Let's not forget that he prefer to handle the Joker himself. He doesn't care much for anyone else to deal with the Joker. This is possessive behavior. This is also shown in the golden age comics. Batman continually uses the words 'He's mine. I'll handle him, but let us head back to this Joker switch again. When the Joker finds the drugs he has been shot up with. He is now hoping Batman finds him, even calling out his name. Attachment? This is explain in the Arkham series and novels. The Batman Arkham City comics, and let's not forget the wiki. Plus other comics I'll mention another time, but Riddler's gambit talks about how the Joker's death had affected him so much. That he even refused to let go of the idea that he might be alive. He tries to hold on to a maybe, and he does not wish to accept that the Joker is actually gone this time. Injustice gods among us. If you read the whole thing. You'd find out the Joker's death is mention throughout the run. Batman constantly bring up the Joker's death, and even Alfred tells him it's not his fault. Other individuals has died in the comic. Some of Batman other rogues as well, however the only people Alfred brings up is Nightwing, Lois, and the Joker. This leaves us to believe that the Joker was in fact important to Batman in a twisted way.
The Joker says being a Detective is much more harder then he assumed. Batman also knows the Joker isn't just on murder rampage, but he is trying to solve a case. The ass squeeze is another thing that is funny. Who grips his enemy butt like that. How the Joker doesn't fight Batman when he shove the pills down his throat, and yes, his very capable of violence, because he murdered people throughout the comic. Then the 'run' Batman voices, give us a clear picture of the chase. It's also give us a display that at since the Joker thinks he's him again. He runs away from Batman once again avoiding him. Let's not skid over the fact that the Joker can't seem to remember where he is, until Batman yanks him by the hair and says 'think' Batman words has great influence on how the Joker do certain things. This is laid out before us in the issue where the Joker keep changing things, because Batman keep telling him he expected better from the madman. Which lets us know some of Batman insults gets under the Joker's skin.
The Joker stop Batman from coming any closer, and Batman obeys with no problem. This is how Batman finds out where the doctor is.
His shadow? So the Joker considers Batman his shadow. Which isn't surprising when you consider, because Batman is always standing behind the Joker like his shadow. He always following him like a shadow, but that's just opinion. I hope you like it.
