#[nn]
First Printing
[July] 1988 · 3.50 USD; 4.75 CAD · 52 pages
On sale 1988-03-29
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Batman visits the Joker in Arkham Asylum only to discover he has been replaced by a double.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.
Notes
The on-sale date reflects the publication date as reported in the U. S. Copyright Office filing. It matches the shipping date listed in Direct Currents #2 (February 1988).
Comic has been through 14 printings. Most can be identified by the color of the lettering on the title and cufflink.
cover price for following is 3.50 USD 1st printing is neon green 2nd printing is pink
cover price for following is 4.95 USD 3rd printing is dark yellow 4th printing is light orange 5th printing is dark blue 6th printing is dark orange 7th printing is light yellow 8th printing is light blue 9th printing is red 10th printing is yellow and cufflink is dark yellow 11th printing is yellow and cufflink is dark yellow 12th printing is yellow and cufflink is light yellow
cover price for following is 5.95 USD and there is an "!" after the word "SMILE" 13th printing is yellow and cufflink is white 14th printing is dark green and cufflink is white
Reprinted in
- Batman #2/1989
- DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore #[nn]
- Batman: De Killing Joke #1
- Inferno album #10
- Batman: The Killing Joke: The Deluxe Edition #[nn]— recolored
- Batman: Det glade vanvidd #[nn]
- Batman #[3]
- Batman - La broma asesina #[nn]
- Alan Moore Et univers uten grenser [Alle Tiders Superhelter] #[nn]
- Graphic Novel #5
- Klassiker der Comic-Literatur #7
- Grandes Heróis Marvel #34
- USA magazine #34/35
- USA magazine #36
- USA magazine #37
- USA magazine #38
- Batman - The Killing Joke #[nn]
- Great American Comic Books #[nn]
- Batman Noir: The Killing Joke #[nn]— in black & white
- Batman: Den der ler sidst... #[nn]
- Clássicos Batman #4
- DC Comics - A Lenda do Batman #5
- Batman: The Killing Joke The Deluxe Edition #[nn]
- Batman - Souriez ! #[nn]
- The Joker: 80 Years of the Clown Prince of Crime: The Deluxe Edition #[nn]— 9 page excerpt
- The Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1
- DC Heroes & Villains Collection #62— Artwork only
- Батман: Убийствена шега #[nn]
- Batman Anthologie #[nn]
- Batman y Superman: Colección Novelas Gráficas #4
Credits
- Script
- Alan Moore
- Pencils
- Brian Bolland
- Inks
- Brian Bolland
- Colours
- Brian Bolland, John Higgins
- Letters
- Richard Starkings
- Editor
- Denny O'Neil
- Assistant editor
- Dan Raspler
- Executive editor
- Dick Giordano
Characters
- Joker
- Two-Face
- Kathy Webb Kane
- Harvey Dent
- Harvey Bullock
- Bruce Wayne
- Bat-Mite
- The Red Hood
- Robin
- Commissioner James Gordon
- Dick Grayson
- Bat-Girl
- Batwoman
- Bette Kane
- Penguin
- Batman
- Alfred Pennyworth
- Ace the Bat-Hound
- Barbara Gordon
- Oswald Cobblepot
Ratings
Other printings & variants
- Ninth Printing
- Seventh Printing
- Tenth Printing - Mass Market Edition
- Fourteenth Printing
- Eleventh Printing - Direct Sales
- Fourth Printing - Book of the Month Club Edition
- Sixth Printing - Direct Sales
- Third Printing
- Eighth Printing
- Second Printing
- Fourth Printing
- Fifth Printing
- Twelfth Printing
- Sixth Printing - Newsstand
- Thirteenth Printing - Direct Sales
- Thirteenth Printing - Mass Market Edition
- Eleventh Printing - Mass Market Edition
- Fourth Printing - No Price, UPC or Age Guideline
- Tenth Printing - Direct Sales
- Facsimile Edition
- Facsimile Edition (Blank Cover)
- Facsimile Edition (Foil Cover)
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