Subject Matter
Genres:
superhero
Character(s):
Jeannie (flashback); Mrs. Burkiss (flashback)
First Line:
There were these two guys in a lunatic asylum...
Synopsis:
Batman visits the Joker in Arkham Asylum only to discover he has been replaced by a double. As Batman attempts to track the villain down, the Joker shows up at the house of Commissioner Gordon where he promptly shoots Barbara and captures her father. The Joker takes Jim to a modified carnival where he tries to drive him mad (partially by showing him pictures of his naked and bleeding daughter). Batman arrives and starts beating on the Joker who attempts to reason with him in his own insane fashion. As things wrap up and the police arrive, the Joker finally tells Batman a joke that he gets.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:
Miscellaneous
Pages:
46
Notes:
Story tells a comprehensive origin of the Joker based on the story "The Man behind the Red Hood" from Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #168. The story remains controversial for the crippling of Barbara Gordon.
The "joke" is a gag that can be traced back in the comics of DC at least as far as Mutt & Jeff (DC, 1939 series) #6 (Fall 1942) in which Mutt suggests that Jeff climb up a spotlight beam. Jeff refuses, worried that the spotlight will be turned off and he'll fall. Possibly not the first or only time the joke's been told.
Bob Kane's signature appears in the photograph from page 10.
Detail
Variant:
Fourth Printing - No Price, UPC or Age Guideline
DC
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