BATMAN: THE MAN WHO LAUGHED
Following
the events of the The Killing Joke,
writer Ed Brubaker and artist Doug Mahnke brought the tale of the first
encounter between Batman and the Joker months after the Red Hood robberies.
Brubaker wrote this story before his departure from DC Comics to Marvel so he
could tackle and kill Captain America
and bring back Bucky as the Winter
Soldier. Brubaker takes his time building up the Joker before his eventual
confrontation with Batman.
Scores of
bodies have been found at an abandoned factory then the Joker makes his
television debut by targeting on of Gotham ’s
Favorite Sons Henry Claridge. Captain James Gordon and Batman attempt to
protect Claridge however its too late and he dies at midnight. Meanwhile the
Joker breaks out the criminally insane from a medical facility waiting to be
transport to Arkham Asylum. Following one midnight death, the Joker follows up
with another Jay W. Wilde as Batman finds the connection between the two
businessmen. The link between the two was the Ace Chemical Processing where
Batman and the Red Hood fought months earlier.
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS
- The
Joker attempts a direct assault on Wilde as both Gordon and Batman are ready
- Batman
discovers the Red Hood was transformed into the Joker
- The
Joker targets the Gotham socialite Bruce Wayne
- Batman
discovers the Joker is planning on poisoning the water supply of Gotham
- Batman
stops the Joker by crippling the water ducts and takes him down
- Gordon
switches on the Bat Signal for the first time
RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5
