Last Laugh (comics)
"Joker: Last Laugh" | |
---|---|
Publisher | DC Comics |
Main character(s) | Joker |
Creative team | |
Writer(s) | Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty |
Joker: Last Laugh is a crossover storyline published by DC Comics in 2001.[1]
Summary
While locked up in the Slab penitentiary, the Joker finds out that he is suffering from a terminal brain tumor. Determined to go out with a bang, he causes a riot in the Slab, and in the ensuing chaos, modifies the chemicals used by the prison to suppress its metahuman inmates into his Joker venom, and manages to "jokerize" the other inmates, making them insane and changing their appearance, giving them white skin, red lips, green hair, and a wide smile. The
Chaos soon spreads throughout the entire Earth and U.S. President
Meanwhile, the Joker grows disgruntled at the lack of creativity behind his minions' havoc, realizing that "every other crisis" involves red skies and crazy weather. With the assistance of Stormfront and Mr. 104, the Joker poisons the atmosphere and creates "crazy rain", spreading his laughing toxin across the world. His next plan is the assassination of President Luthor.
While the "Jokerized" villains are being rounded up,
Inside the Slab, Shilo and Dinah are struggling to find a way to get themselves and the prison back to Earth. They initially try to find Black Mass to reverse the gravity well with the help of
The Huntress is sent to Arkham Asylum to find Robin, who disappeared into the building and stopped sending out reports. After encountering Killer Croc, she finds what appears to be Robin's shredded outfit. Nightwing, enraged over Robin's death, goes to face the Joker, who is now holed up in Gotham Cathedral with one of his Jokerized metahumans placing a shield around the area. He can let in only who he wants to and decides to have fun with Nightwing. Mercilessly taunting him, Dick beats him to death until the Batman Family, Robin included, arrives on the scene, much to Nightwing's surprise. The Joker's heart is restarted and he is returned to prison. But Dick is distraught; he has crossed the line, and simply walks out on his friends.
Back at the Slab (now located on an ice floe), the Joker is placed in a new cell with no entrances or exits. Shilo Norman remarks that the only way to punish a performer is to take away his audience.
Issues
Core storyline
- Joker: Last Laugh Secret Files and Origins #1
- Joker: Last Laugh #1
- Joker: Last Laugh #2
- Joker: Last Laugh #3
- Joker: Last Laugh #4
- Joker: Last Laugh #5
- Joker: Last Laugh #6
Tie-in issues
- Action Comics #784
- Adventures of Superman #597
- Azrael: Agent of the Bat #83
- Batgirl (vol. 2) #21
- Batman #596
- Batman: Gotham Knights #22
- Birds of Prey #36
- Detective Comics #763
- Flash (vol. 2) #179
- Green Lantern (vol. 3) #143
- Harley Quinn #13
- Impulse #79
- JLA #59
- JSA #29
- Nightwing (vol. 2) #62
- Orion #19
- Robin (vol. 4) #95
- Spectre (vol. 4) #10
- Superboy (vol. 4) #93
- Supergirl (vol. 4) #63
- Superman (vol. 2) #175
- Superman: The Man of Steel #119
- Titans #34
- Wonder Woman (vol. 2) #175
- Young Justice #38
See also
References
- ^ "Every Time the Joker Died in the Comics". 16 September 2019.