Beloved Bat-Family character returning to action in new Batman series

Inside Batman’s mind

After Ghost-Maker removes Scarecrow from his mind, we learn something new about the the latter. He recalls when Bruce sent him to learn empathy but, instead of that, he encountered Jonathan Crane. Here, we find out that Ghost-Maker knew about the Fear State theory. He also tells Bruce that he knows the steps being taken.

The first thing Jonathan Crane needed was a major attack on the city to deliver something of a shock to the system. The Joker War did that. Next, you control the narrative provided to the media and given to the people. After that, you create a figure for society to overcome. In this case, a scarecrow. Then, with their fear at a, “pure state of fear” you push people to confront the Scarecrow. Once confronted, their fear is conquered and the city is better. In theory, anyway.

Batman may know the plan, but that’s not enough on its own. After all, it’s only one step. Now, they have to stop things from happening. With Scarecrow and the Anti-Oracle controlling what the public believes, there’s no guaranteeing how things will work out. Scarecrow may have a theory, but who knows if his Fear State will actually make Gotham worse. Sadly, that is a possibility.