Batman Vol 1 321
From DC Database
Oh yes it is, Sidney -- It's a spear-gun! 
- -- The Joker
Appearing in "Dreadful Birthday, Dear Joker!"
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Synopsis for "Dreadful Birthday, Dear Joker!"
To celebrate his birthday, The Joker begins rounding up his enemies from all around town and strapping them to his special "Victim-Go-Round" in preparation for his party. He kidnaps Robin (Dick Grayson), James Gordon, Selina Kyle and Alfred Pennyworth. The Gotham populace are all enticed to the newly built Gotham Colliseum by the promise of free samples from the "Harlequin Baking Company." The Joker immobilizes his audience, and then takes center stage with his goons. Onstage is a gigantic Cake, with the Joker's victims tied to giant explosive candles on top. Batman arrives, and is forced by the Joker to be tied to the biggest candle in exchange for the lives of his friends. Although The Joker plans on killing them all anyway, Batman reveals he had earlier through a simple operation converted the biggest explosive candle into a makeshift rocket He shoots into the air instead of blowing up, unties himself, and cuts both the fuses and Robin's bonds with batarangs. While Robin fights the goons, Batman chases the Joker onto the docks. The Joker nearly escapes via motorboat, but Batman grabs a loose rope and waterskis behind him until he can climb onto the boat. They battle, and the Joker manages to push Batman out, but the boat explodes shortly afterwards while he's escaping. On shore, Batman and Jim Gordon wonder if the Joker could've survived, both knowing that as always, he has.
Notes
- Collected in the Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told Trade Paperback.
Trivia
- This issue is considered notable for it's classic "Joker moment" in which the Joker threatens one of his henchmen with a fake gun shooting out a flag, only to actually shoot the man through the neck with the flag once he has already expressed relief at his life being spared.
See Also
Recommended Reading
Links and References
- None.
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Alfred Pennyworth (New Earth)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Bruce Wayne (New Earth)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Catwoman/Appearances > Selina Kyle (New Earth)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > James Gordon/Appearances > James Gordon (New Earth)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Joker/Appearances > Joker (Earth-One)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Lucius Fox (New Earth)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Character Appearances > Robin/Appearances > Richard Grayson (Earth-One)/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Item Appearances > Batarang/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Location Appearances > Gotham City/Appearances
DC Database > Appearances > Location Appearances > Gotham County/Appearances
DC Database > Comics
DC Database > Comics > Comic Categories > Batman Vol 1
DC Database > Comics > Comics by Era > Bronze-Age
DC Database > Comics > Comics by Era > Bronze-Age
DC Database > Comics > Comics by Era > Bronze-Age
DC Database > Comics > Comics by Era > Bronze-Age
DC Database > Comics > Comics by Era > Copper-Age
DC Database > Comics > Comics by Era > Copper-Age > 1980
DC Database > Comics > Comics by Era > Copper-Age > 1980 > 1980, January > 1980, January (Publication)
DC Database > Comics > Comics by Era > Copper-Age > 1980 > 1980, March
DC Database > DC Staff > Colourists > Julianna Ferriter/Colourist
DC Database > DC Staff > Cover Artists > José Luis García-López/Cover Artist
DC Database > DC Staff > Editors > Paul Levitz/Editor
DC Database > DC Staff > Executive Editor > Jenette Kahn/Executive Editor
DC Database > DC Staff > Inkers > Dick Giordano/Inker
DC Database > DC Staff > Letterers > Ben Oda/Letterer
DC Database > DC Staff > Pencilers > Walt Simonson/Penciler
DC Database > DC Staff > Writers > Len Wein/Writer
DC Database > Quotes > Giovanni Guiseppi (New Earth)/Quotes
DC Database > Quotes > Joker/Quotes
DC Database > Quotes > Joker (Earth-One)/Quotes
