Comic Title: Batman:The Killing Joke #1
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 1988
On Sale Date: March 29, 1988 Shipping Date March 29, 1988
Source: Direct Currents, #2

Shipping Date March 29, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #137

Copyright Date March 29, 1988
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1988

Shipping Date March 29, 1988
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #752

Newsstand Date April 12, 1988
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #752

Cover Price: $3.50
Page Count: 48
Editor: Dennis J. O'Neil

Title: "The Killing Joke"
Pages: 46

Feature(s):
Batman (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Brian J. Bolland
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Colorist: John Higgins

Reprinted In:
DC Universe:The Stories of Alan Moore TPB (2006)
Batman:The Killing Joke HC (2008)
Batman Noir:The Killing Joke HC (2016)
Absolute Batman:The Killing Joke HC (2018)
Batman:The Killing Joke the Deluxe Edition HC (2019)
Joker:80 Years of the Clown Prince of Crime:The Deluxe Edition HC (2020)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Batman #422; next appearance in Justice League International #16)

Supporting Character(s)

• Barbara Gordon (last appearance in Batgirl Special #1; next appearance in Batman #428)
• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Batman #422; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #1)
• Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in Batman #420; next appearance in Batman Annual #12)
• Harvey Bullock (last appearance in Checkmate #3; next appearance in Checkmate #5)

Villain(s)

• Joker (last appearance in Justice League Annual #2; next appearance in Batman #426)
• Two-Face (last appearance in Batman #415; next appearance in Invasion #3)
• Penguin (last appearance in Manhunter #1; next appearance in Detective Comics Annual #1)
• Joker's henchmen and circus freaks (one poses as the Joker at Arkham Asylum; no further appearances)
• Joe and his partner (the Red Hood gang; in flashback; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• A carnival owner (dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Jeannie (dies in flashback; Joker's former wife; no further appearances)
• Mrs. Burkiss (a landlady; in flashback; no further appearances)
• Various police officers (no further appearances)
• An unnamed doctor (no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Batman (in flashback to the origin of the Joker; last appearance in Batman #406; next appearance in Batman #407)
• Joker (in flashback to the origin of the Joker; next appearance in Batman #408)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Robin/Nightwing (in a photograph)
• Batwoman and Bat-Mite (in a photograph)

Comments:
Barbara Gordon is crippled in this story.

Synopsis:
Batman visits Arkham Asylum and discovers that the Joker has escaped after leaving an impostor in his place. The Joker goes to the home of Jim Gordon. Jim's daughter Barbara answers the door and is shot. The Joker then takes off her clothes and photographs her naked bleeding body. He then kidnaps Commissioner Gordon. Barbara is found by a friend and taken to the hospital where she is diagnosed with a damaged spine and will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

The Joker takes Commissioner Gordon to a dilapidated carnival. He is stripped naked and forced to watch as the Joker displays pictures of his daughter. Batman receives a clue from the Joker which leads him to the park. He rescues Jim, who despite the Joker's best efforts to drive him mad is still sane. Gordon orders Batman to bring the Joker into custody by the book. The Batman does so, and delivers the message that he attempted to do at Arkham. He feels that the conflict with the Joker will result in one or both of them dead. He offers to help the lunatic, but the Joker refuses and is taken back into custody.