Warning: The staggering tale to follow beckons forth major revelations for those enthralled by the intricacies of Joker: Folie à Deux.

More than a solitary aficionado of the Caped Crusader has been led astray by the tantalizing denouement of Folie à Deux, where conjecture abounds regarding the covert appearance of the marked miscreant Victor Zsasz. Yet, could it be that Victor Zsasz truly graces the shadows of Joker: Folie à Deux?

Is the Phantom of Zsasz in Joker’s Realm?

Recalling the climax (a moment that lingers long in the mind), Joker: Folie à Deux unravels with Arthur Fleck/Joker meeting his demise at the hands of a fellow inmate from the abyss of Arkham State Hospital. This unnamed aggressor then turns the blade upon himself, tracing a macabre grin reminiscent of the Joker’s visage. The insinuation is patent: the assailant serves as the "true" Joker, bound to cross swords with the Dark Knight in days to come.

Despite this, certain spectators depart from the traditional interpretation of Folie à Deux’s conclusion. Delving into the depths of message boards and digital diaries, a theory emerges positing that the defiler of Arthur’s fate is none other than Victor Zsasz. Their rationale hinges primarily upon the manner in which the attacker (credited as "Young Inmate") mutilates his own semblance. Rather than executing two precise gashes, this individual appears to carve a tapestry of scars upon himself. Adherents of this Zsasz-centric notion draw parallels to Victor’s hallmark ritual in the comics: etching tally marks into his flesh to commemorate his victims.

But do their speculations carry merit? Alas, in a recent correspondence with IGN, the co-writer/director Todd Phillips all but verifies the orthodox understanding of Folie à Deux’s final moments. "The first film bears the moniker ‘Joker,’" elucidates Phillips. "It is not dubbed ‘The Joker,’ but simply ‘Joker.’ The script denotes it as ‘An origin story,’ never ‘the’ origin story. It invites the contemplation that this may not be ‘the’ Joker but rather an inspiration for the Joker. Therefore, at the culmination of this cinema, the lingering query is ‘What lurks beyond the veil? Is that the auteur?’"

Doth the Court Unveil Other Fiends in Joker’s Tale?

Indeed, besides the Joker himself – or perchance, Jesters evanescing! – Folie à Deux unveils two other notorious miscreants from Batman lore: the siren Harley Quinn and the disfigured Two-Face. Harley’s unique presence is unmistakable; though Lady Gaga’s Harleen Quinzel adopts the alias of "Lee," her whimsically chaotic disposition, clown-inspired garb, and infatuation with Joker allude to a rendition of Harley Quinn grounded in reality.

Meanwhile, to those well-versed in the annals of the Bat, the prosecutor who places Arthur Fleck in the dock, Harvey Dent, is destined to metamorphose into Two-Face. A tenebrous foreshadowing of this transition transpires during Arthur’s tumultuous flight from the tribunal. Here, a fleeting snapshot of Dent reveals visage marred by burns on one side, presaging the genesis of Two-Face.

Joker: Folie à Deux graces the silver screen presently.