In Batman #111, the Dark Knight’s most terrifying foe, the Scarecrow, just sent his first victim into the Fear State he has planned for Gotham.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Batman #111, on sale now from DC Comics.
The Scarecrow has had a busy year manipulating Gotham City until all the right pieces were in play. He successfully played Simon Saint like a fiddle, using his resources as protection until he could act upon his plans. And in Batman #111 (by James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez, Tomeu Morey, and Clayton Cowles), Scarecrow began his betrayal of the Magistrate by giving Peacekeeper-01 the strongest dose of fear toxin ever administered to a human being. This sent the hulking cyborg, a figure who was already able to overpower Batman, running for his life and giving a hint of what’s to come in the upcoming “Fear State” storyline.
Scarecrow had been preparing for his inevitable betrayal for some time, but was waiting for the perfect opportunity. This occurred shortly after Simon Saint managed to procure legal authorization for the Magistrate. Saint had arrogantly assumed that Scarecrow would go along with his plans, never considering that the master of fear had his own goals to achieve. So when Scarecrow refused to de-escalate the fear he had inspired in the city, Peacekeeper-01 was ordered to take Scarecrow into custody.
However, Scarecrow anticipated that this would happen. Peacekeeper-01 was stronger and much more durable, but his mind was a different story and the faceplate protecting it had been damaged in his earlier fights. With a precise strike, Scarecrow managed to break through the mask and give Peacekeeper-01 a direct injection of fear toxin. Scarecrow explained that it was the strongest concentration of fear toxin he had ever administered, meaning that what coursed through Peacekeeper-01’s veins was stronger than anything Batman had ever experienced.
The results were immediate and completely disorienting. Peacekeeper-01’s perception of reality was altered as he began to perceive Scarecrow as a gigantic creature whose gaping maw was spotting his worst fears. This sent Peacekeeper-01 running for his life, unable to comply with his orders or even consider that what he was seeing wasn’t real. But it isn’t just the effect it had on him that should be noted, but also where and how specific Scarecrow was about this injection.
Scarecrow admitted that he wasn’t sure what the effects were going to be, even theorizing that they may be permanent, meaning Peacekeeper-01 could be trapped in a state of terror, a very dangerous situation considering his abilities. It should also be noted where Scarecrow injected him. The needles were sent directly into Peacekeeper-01’s temples, perhaps explaining why the effects could be permanent. It is conceivable that a direct injection like that could permanently alter his victim’s brain chemistry, and it also shows how far Scarecrow is willing to go to achieve his goals.
Even though Scarecrow has never shown this degree of ruthlessness before, he now fully intends to learn what will happen when Gotham’s citizens are pushed over the edge. His attack on Peacekeeper-01, a physically superior foe, demonstrates his boldness in this new endeavor. But it also teases what’s to come in “Fear State.”
As Scarecrow has stated, he intends to teach Gotham a lesson, with Batman being the first to learn. But this means that Scarecrow has something to prove to the city. A person can learn much about themselves by learning what it is they are truly afraid of and Scarecrow is poised to put that fear in front of everyone who calls Gotham their home.
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