2013-10-21
Explanation
The Joke
Batman declares he is "getting on in years" and "can't do this forever," so it is time for a new Batman to arise. He dramatically departs, and his protege (a young person) watches him go. But then Batman immediately comes back, grabbing the young person and shouting: "Come back! I need to teach you karate!"
The joke subverts the dramatic "passing of the torch" moment. Batman's grand exit is undercut by the realization that he forgot to actually train his successor first. The solemn farewell is immediately nullified by practical necessity.
The Humor
The humor comes from deflating the classic superhero succession trope. In countless Batman stories (and superhero narratives generally), there is a dramatic moment where the aging hero chooses a successor. The comic points out the absurdity of this trope by noting that you cannot just declare someone the new Batman -- they actually need to learn how to fight first. The comedic timing of Batman's immediate return after his dramatic exit is the core of the joke, as is the mundane practicality of "I need to teach you karate" undercutting the gravity of the moment.
Votey
The votey shows Batman (or Bruce Wayne) saying "You'll thank me when you're older!" -- the same parental cliche from the 2013-10-16 comic. This reframes Batman's insistence on teaching karate as being like an overbearing parent forcing their kid to take lessons, further domesticating and deflating the superhero mythos.