Comic Title: Batman Chronicles Vol. 1 TPB
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2005
On Sale Date: March 30, 2005 Direct Market Date March 23, 2005
Source: Previews, Vol. 15 #1 (#193)

Direct Market Date March 30, 2005
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Direct Market Date March 23, 2005
Source: Comic Shop News, #922

Cover Price: $14.99
Page Count: 192
Editor: Dale Crain

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "The Joker Returns"
Pages: 13

Feature(s):
Batman (of Earth-2)

Writer: Bill Finger
Artist: Bob Kane

Reprinted From:
Batman #1 (1940)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Batman #1; next appearance in Detective Comics #40)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Batman #1; next appearance in Detective Comics #40)
• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Batman #32; next appearance in New York World's Fair Comics (#2))

Villain(s)

• Joker (last appearance in Batman #1; next appearance in Batman #2)

Other Character(s)

• Police Chief Chalmers and Edgar Martin (a public opponent of the Joker; die in this story; no further appearances)

Comments:
The cover of Detective Comics #40 greatly resembles the splash page of this story and may have been intended as the cover had this story appeared in Detective Comics instead of Batman.

Synopsis:
The Joker escapes jail using an explosive hidden inside his tooth. He continues his string of jewel thefts and strange killings. Batman encounters him at one such robbery, but the Harlequin of Hate gets the best of him. Batman recovers before the police can remove his mask, but the Joker has already escaped.

Batman then plants a trap for the Joker, by baiting him to steal a priceless ruby. The Joker shows up and tangles with the Dynamic Duo. While struggling with Batman, Joker is stabbed by his own knife and left for dead by the Caped Crusaders. The police find the body and a doctor determines that the Joker lives on.