BWAN

KZ7A&LU.0

V.EE

BEHHEJO
Dan DiDio Sr. VP-Executive Editor Will Dennis Editor Louis Prandi Art Director Paul Levitz President & Publisher Georg Brewer VP-Oesign
& DC Direct Creative Richard Bruning Sr. VP-Creative Director Patrick Caldon Exec. VP-Finance & Operations Chris Caramalis VP-Fmance
John Cunningham VP-Marketing Terri Cunningham VP-Managing Editor Amy Genkins Sr. VP-Business & Legal Affairs Alison Gill VP-
Manufacturing David Hyde VP-Pubficity Hank Kanalz VP-General Manager, WildStorm Jim Lee, Editorial Director-WildStorrJKregory Noveck
Sr. VP-Creative Affairs Sue Pohja VP-Book Trade Sales Steve Rotterdam Senior VP-Sales & Marketing Cheryl Room Sr. VP-Brand
Management VP-Business Development. DC Direct Alysse Soil VP-Advertising & Custom Publishing Bob Wayn®.VP-Sales
Jeff Trojan

JOKER Published by ©
DC Comics. 1700 Broadway. New York, NY 10019. Copyright 2008 by DC Comics. All Rights Reserved. Al characters
featured book, the distinctive likenesses thereof and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics. The stories, characters and incidents
in this

mentioned si this book are entirely fictional. DC Comics does not read or accept unsolicited submissions of ideas, stories or artwork. Printed in
USA. First Printing. DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. HC ISBN: 978-1-4012-1581-1 SC ISBN: 978-1-4012-2038-9.
 THE NEWS. WHEN IT
CAME. SPREAP FROM
THE BACK ALLEYS TO
THE SOCIAL CLUBS...

...THROUGH ZOOMS
WHERE EVERYTHING
YOU'P EVER WANT
WAS FOR SALE...

...TO THE
CONFESSIONALS
WHERE IT WAS ALL
PA IP FOR.

IT SPREAP LIKE
WILPFIRE- OR
MORE APTLY PUT -

A PISEASE.
 SOMEONE'S
GOTTA GO GET'M,
. MONTY. ,

THAT'S WHAT HE IS,

I GUESS; A DISEASE
THAT INFECTEP
gotham ary...

...OF WHICH
THERE IS NO
CURE.

OKAY.
WHO?

...I'LL
PO IT.

BE MY
GUEST.
 -

HE WAS A PISEASE THAT

SOMEHOW, WITH THE HELP OF SOP
OP THE PEVIL-- PICK YOUP POISON-
HAP CONV/NCEP HIS POCTOPS HE
WASN'T PtSEASEP ANYMOPE.

THE NEWS SPPEAP.

I PON' T KNOW THE
PAPTICULAPS-

—STILL PON'T
AS TO WHY. BUT
HE WAS...
 THE JOKER WAS BEING
...

RELEASEV FROM ARKHAM

ASYLUM.
 ^MY NAME'S ^
JONNY. JONNY
. FROST. .

ANP
WHO ARE
. you?

MONTY
SENT ME.

^JONNYJONNY ^FROST,
LET ME ASK YOU
.A QUESTION.

r ...PO
YOU HAVE
k A SUN?
 r THSY ARE~
HERE TO PUT
.ME POWN.,

OPEN
your
TRUNK.

^ THAT ^
SHOVEL you
. HAVE? ^

r WRAP IT IN
^
THE BLANKET
ANP HANP IT
^TO ME. A

THANK
.you..
 "

\m 'IW'iJt:

THE MSN WITH SUMS :* rrr"? ]nniiSH|in!i.

FOLLOWS? US AT A [UH(lll|[i HUM
RESPECTFUL PISTANCE
AWAY FROM ARKHAM AMP
ACROSS THE WAYNE ~
COUNTY BRtPSE.
WHEN WE
TURNEP WEST,
ANP THEY KEPT
COINS NORTH.

THEY
BLINKEP.
HE...

... <SI<S<SLEP, OR
CLEAREP THE PHLEGM
OUT OF HIS THROAT,
WAS HARP TO TELL.
IT
 rI HEARP
you was
SETTIN'
. OUT...
'

TELL ME...
how'P you
MANA6E
. THAT? y

SO WHAT
brinss you
ROUNP HERE?__

CROC. C'MON..
I ALWAYS LIKE
. TO SEE you

WHY'S
THAT?

^ you
MAKE ME PEEL
HANPSOMB.
r so ^
WHAT NEEPS
^flXIN'TJ r PIXIN'S...
THOSE ARE SIPE
^
^ PISHES... you
HUNSRy?_
ALWAYS.
 HOW >
'BOUTSOME
RABBIT? .

NNNRRR1?.

HEHEHEHEH

“NO RESPECT
SHOWN WHILE YOU
WAS AWAY...*

AMEN,
BROTHER.
 MY NAME, IS JONNY
FROST. YOU PON' T KNOW
MB, BUT ALL MY LIFE, I
KNEW YOU WOULP.
THAT TP PO
SOMETHIN'- BE
SOMBBOPY-
THAT YOU'P KNOW.
ANP TAKE NOTICE.

A BIS MAN.
FRONT ROW
SEATS, NICE
SUITS, MY OWN
BOOTH AT
THE TONIEST
RESTAURANT
IN TOWN.

NOT SOME TWO-8IT

HOOP, HUSTLIN' SMALL
POTATOES WOULPNT
SATISFY A STARVIN'
IRISHMAN.

~ WELL ^
LOOK WHO
v IT IS... >
 WELCOME
HOME, BOSS.

MONTY.

IT'S BEEN
WHAT? AT
LEAST-

\|g
l£L \ \ x!»i
 YEAH.

'NOTHER.

I BEEN TO
SOME PARTIES
IN MY PAY...
 r ^

IT WASN'T
JUST OFF
THE HOOK...

IT TORE THE
HOOK OFF THE
WALL...

»"\i r^~ iIH 1

,-

wm-
mM r , ''kSsKst-
A

IT WAS
ALL ABOUT
RESPECT.
THE KINP1 SO WHY'P ^
WANTEP. YOU BRINS THEM
ANIMALS WITH
you
S YA? ^4
PEELIN'
SOOP?

r
I'M
PEELIN'

"I'LL APMIT
THAT CROC HAS
A CERTAIN...

"ECCENTRIC WAY
WITH EVIDENCE, BUT
THAT POESN'T MAKE
HIM A... OOH..."

ryou saip
ANIMALS.
r' MONTY, WE i
SHOULP TALK ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENEP WHILE
^I'VE BEEN AWAY. ^ 5
[ / I KNOW YOU’P'
RATHER WAIT POR
^
Ik /

V TOMORROW. BUT
I'M ANTSY. >
 ’
I PON'
WAN' you
THAT WAV.
k BOSS.

I KNOW.

JONNY?

in youp
POCKET...

you HAVE
A POLLAP. OAF THS PAMN SIPE
yEAH? OF THE CITY. MAN.
ANP
JOKER. FREE. ME...
JONNY FROST- A NAME
YOU KNOW NOW.
I'MNOT WHA T I WAS-
TP SIGNEP THAT AWAY
ON A POTTEP LINE...

SALUTE
TO MY
PAST.

FORGET THA T, I WAS

PART OF ONE HELL OF
A PARTY, I WAS-
k. ilffi BA
 '

5.1

y /

FT*
V
#1nr m3
&L/
-

/ f Vn
y i \V #1 x/ j

...WANTS TO
HELP ME TAKE
IT BACK?
 r ...I'M A ^
LITTLE HUNS
v OV El?. >

^ WE PIP HANS >

THE CATS OUT TO
PRY LAST NISHT,
|sPIPN'T WE?

WOKE UP WITH THAT ^

^ NOT-SO-FPESH
I
FEELINS
MYSELF. YOU SHOULP HAVE
TOLP ME YOU WEPE IN THE
V SAME STPAITS... ^

HEPE, '
STICK
'-WHY? THEy^
FIX THINSS. I'VE
THESE IN
LIVEP ON THEM
youp FOP yEAPS.
. HOLE, y v YEARS. s

f yEAPS.
PILLS PILLS
^
PILLS.THEY ppy
OPEN youp MINP
JOKEP, I WITHFINSEPS.

.
CANT TAKE
PILLS- .
.

X. ANP... S
,
HARLEY.

I'LL
BE RI6HT
BACK.
SWEATING... ? YEAH. I WAS
SWEA TING LIKE A NUN IN A
SAUNA, ANP BOOZE HAP
NOTHING TO PO WITH IT.

JOKER WAS BROKE. ALL

THE CASH, ALL HIS HOLPINGS,
EVERYTHING
HIS TERRITORY...
HE HAP- WAS GONE.

PIVVIEP UR, BY MEN

WHO THOUGHT THEY'P SEEN
HIM FOR THE LAST TIME.

r
RATHER THAN GO
? THEM, HE PECIPEP
O ROB A
r
BANK.
 ^ CHAN6E ^
YER MINP ABOUT
v ME, BABY?

SHELLY.

BACK
OFF.
JONNY.

' FER
OL TIMES'
. SAKE.

FOR OLP
TIMES.
r
THE ^
vivoKce
PAPERS

" HUH. >

SHOUPA SENT YER
. LAWYER.
"WILL, you CIVE
ME A RIPE BACK
INTO THE CITY?"

.ALONE.

PRIVE,
JONNY.

BUT COOP.
. BORINS.

MAYBE
NEXT TIME.
r THE ALARM
WASN'T TRIPPEP,
ANP NOBOPY
L PIEP.
WHAT THE
HBLL..1

~ >
IT'S A
PICTURE OP
THE BANK
PRESIDENT'S
. DAUGHTER. .

T^qiMFlX
m
II
r you
J
vhonsy?
3 I l'T <1*^
"j

ARE KIPPIN'
. ME...

^ I PIS ”
PRIVINS PEOPLE,
^ ^
JONNY...

PRIVE
ME.

ANP PRIVET PIP.

'CAUSE ONS THINS I
SOT- IS PRIVE. HIRST
TO A SPORTINS SOOPS
STORE. OF ALL PLACES.

PIPN’T TAKE
JOKER FOR MUCH
OF A SPORTSMAN.
BUT HELL...
 r you AIN'T ^
SONNA CATCH
MUCH WITH
|\ THAT... A

) PEALLy? \
THINK X
SHOULP USE
SUGAR
V INSTEAP? /

SOMEONE'S
COMIN6.

I HAVE AN
YES...
APPOINTMENT.

CAN
you BE
Nice?

' NO
JOKER, I
. CAN'T.
 I

you KNOW
WHAT THAT
IS. ABNER?

RHAUK ' SHOW HIM >

WHAT'5 IN THE
. BAG, JONNY. .

EXACTLY-
NOT
ENOUGH.

r BUT N
IT'S ALL I
k HAVE. ,

' IV LIKE N
YOU TO INVEST
v IT FOR ME. y

7 LOOKING FOR N
A HUSH YIELP, SAy,
TEN TIMES AS
MUCH. QUICK TURN-
AROUNP, TOO. YOU
CAN PO? ,
^
\
aHHHH JB
1"
\

Li
y ALL I ASK ^
IS THAT you TRy. BUT
I HAVE CONFIPENCE IN

\A AS BUSINESSMAN.
0/OU--
FACILITATOR... ^
-y THERE'S NOT
' A NICKEL CHANGES N WE
HANPS IN GOTHAM HAVE A PEAL,
PON'T HAVE A GREASY . ABNER?
.PRINTFROM YOUR FAT
^SAUSAGES ON IT. 7
 THANK
you.

BAAA

YOU'RE
SCARING
THE FISH...

SIT
mm KM
Tii]

[ai-

ml n 11
-s, -Tills

NOW THAT- ABSO-POSI-LUTELY-

WAS HOW I WANTEP TO ROLL.
JONNY FROST- MAKIN' HIS ENEMIES
PO WHAT HE WANTEP 'EM TO. TA
HELL WITH WHAT THEY WANTEP.
 THEN HE GAVE MS A
SQUEEZE. AMP STRESSEP
THA T- - ONL y WHA T YOU
HAVE T'HAVE- THEN'
WALKAWAY.

1 SAIP SURE. I
UNPEGS TOOP I
WOULP BE STAYIN'
WITH HIM NOW.

JOKES HAP ME TAKE HIM

AN' HISLAPY BACK TO THEIR
AS THEY WERE SETTING
CRIB.
OUT OF MY RIPE, HE ASKEP
ME IF THERE WAS ANYTHING
AT MY OWN I HAP TO HAVE.

YOU PULL
THAT... >
MY
MISTAKE WAS 7 1'L.L PROP YOU "
HESITATIN'. WHEPE you STANP,
SCUMBAG, y

r you ^
MUST BE
, A COP. .

WHY rCOPS
‘CAUSE ONLY
CALL PEOPLE
MUST I SCUMBA6S. PEOPLE
v. BE? PEFEP TO PEOPLE BY
^.OTHEP WOPPS. A
...ON TOP OF IT'S ALL
THE WOPLP. r SET UP. JOKER. 1
TOMMY BANS BANS
WILL MEET WITH US.
THOUSH— IF YOU PONT
MINP ME SAYINS-LETTINS
HIM KNOW WE'RE COMINS
COULP MEAN WE'RE
V WALKINS INTO A
A SETUP.

' I PON'T MINP ^

YOU SAYINS THAT,
JONNY. SOMETIMES,
INEEP TO HEAR THE
^ OBVIOUS... a
 WAhAHAuA

THOSE LIGHTS?
THEY'RE JUST
PIN PRICKS...

LIGHTS?
HEHEH

"IN THE
PARK."

r you ^
KNOW THAT.
LJONNY?
^
.

r RIGHT ON
THE OTHER SIPE OF
^ THIS WINPOW... u
 .

.WATCHING
MB.

LET'S 60
TO WORK.

THERE'S ~
f THE RUB--IT IS A
BUSINESS you NEVER
KNOW IT, AT FIRST--SETTIN'
THAT FREE TASTE IN THE
ALLEY CHOKINS WHORES
k
L
FOR MILK MONEY. A
.

WORK.
X SOT INTO THIS
BUSINESS TO
AVOIP IT.
 .

TOMMY.

nmam \ AV tSH|
\ rfML
Yj
4,

1
ofWTIiJr’V' ‘wZEifnjb 1

BANG
BANG!

r C'MON
IN, JOKER.
HAVE A
k 5EAT.

^ YOU ^
HUNSRY? THE
.SCAMPI IS-
 WINE?

I WANTWHAT'S
MINE BACK...
 ^ WHEN you WENT
^
POWN. THIN6S... IT
WASN'T MY CALL, BUT
PO. LOOK- TOOK A PIECE.
k JOKER... 8$ ^ I .

§kSi

yOUWOULP
HAVE BEEN A POOL
. NOT TO. .

yEAH...
YEAH!
/nwl
 THAT WENT
PRETTY<S OOP.
HUH, BOSS?

~ ST ART THE CAR,

JONNY... I GOTTA
v GO BACK IN... ,

FORGOT TO PO
.SOMETHING...

TOMMY?

TEN PERCENT ^
IS NOW^FFTHE
v TABLE. y

r FIVE--FOR THE TIME

BEING-- STILL STANPS,
V GENTLEMEN... >
 NOT
BNOU6H
for you,
HUH?

NEEP ME F OK
OF YOUR
. PIRTY WORK?

I APMIT,
I AIMEP
LOW.
 T

J PON'
KNOW WHAT
HE WAS
THINKING...

OK IF
HBBVBN
WAS.

JOKER, I WAS
LEARNtN' ... WASN'T
ABOUT THINKIN'...
 A

rr
TOMMY WAS ONLY "
THE BEGINNING. OVER |-L__ _ ANP FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN MY
THE NEXT SEVERAL
PAYS A NUMBER OF ~r- i SONNY FROST
LIFE.
KNEW WHERE ALL
GOTHAM'S MIP-LEVEL
BOSSES TURNEP UP OTHERS NEVER HI | 1

THE BOPIES WERE

FACEPOWN... TURNEP UP HE BURIEP.
AGAIN. [
|

I —_

THAT KINP
POWER, BY THE
SHORT HAIRS.
 HAN<5
TIGHT.
^
WE LEAVE
WHEN I SAY
. I'M PONE. .

vv*3»
rNOTHIN(5~ OR MA YBE IT WAS MORE
EATINS
rweef MS some- LIKE HE MAPS YOU THINK THE
15 thing ABOUT JOKER. ..IT
i. ME. > WAS LIKE HE COULP SEE WAY HE WANTEP YOU TO.
EVERYTHING YOU WERE
WRITTEN ACROSS
THINKIN'
YERMUG AS PLAIN
AS PAY...

HE WANTEP ME
TO TELL HIM ABOUT
CROC'S LACK OF
RESPECT, I WAS
SURE OF IT...

THAT, OR HE
WANTEP TO SEE WHA T
TYPE OF GUY I WAS.

I'M NOT
THAT TYPE
OF GUY.

PON'T
GET ME WRONG.
I HAP MY PLACE,
ANP CROC HAP
HIS...

HE JUST HAP
TO LEARN WHERE
THAT WAS.

THE GUY WAS ALL

MUSCLE. NO FINESSE.
NOW, SURE, MUSCLE
MEANS SOMETHING.
ANP IT CAN TAKE
A BOPYFAR...
 ...BUT NEVER
INTO THE BACK
ROOM.

THAT WAS FOR

FINESSE PLAYERS
ONLY.

HELL O
THERE,
ABNER.

OKAY..
HMMM.
TAKE A
SEAT.

I'M
KIPPINS.
 ^ ...WHY IS ^
EVERYBOPY SO ON
^£PGS TONI6HT?

r THAT MISHT '

y vav
PK
ST
HAVE SOMETHING TO PO
WITH YOUR ACTIONS
^ OP LATE.
SOMEONE IS
J

an jh
VERY SORE AT

r REALLY? THAT'S
WONPERPUL NEWS. I
^
JUST LIVE TO MAKE HIM
SORE. IT'S WHAT PRA6S
V ME OUT OP BEP. ^

NO, HOT HIM.

THOUGH I'M CERTAIN
HE'SNOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP
.

TO EITHER. I'M
SPEAKINS OP
^
L
' P£NT -
 HARVEY'S
.MAP? .

WHICH
ONE?
3Z"

r YOU THINK
THAT'S FUNNY,
L ABNER? v

/J
ML-m
LI
LV iV

I THINK
IT'S A FAIR
QUESTION.

r I PON'T ’
KNOW HOW
TO ANSWER
v IT... A

^WELL LET ME TELL^

YOU HOW, BECAUSE
J KNOW PSYCHOSIS
LIKE THE BACK OF
^ MY HANP... ^4
r IT'S A
HARVEY'S HEAP...
BRANP NEW SPORTS CAR- OR A
^
BEATER, PEPENPINtS HOW YOU
^ LOOK AT IT.

ANP THIS CAR, IT

HAS TWO OWNERS- NOT
VERY CREATIVE OWNERS
^ EITHER- .

^-SINCE THEY COULPN'T

COME UP WITH 5£PABATE
OOPPAMH NAMES WHEN
THE OPPORTUNITY
S. PRESENTEP ITSELF. ^
’so
WHICH
ON£\S
y
W OKAY. —
1
.
AY
PISSEP PON'T ft}
OFF AT KNOW. ‘

ME?
. .

u i
Nfe!
A
f

l(, 4^^v v\\

l
i‘ i i

I'LL CALL
HIM, FINP
OUT.

HE WON'T
TAKE YOUR
CALL.

WHAT
WAS
THAT?

I MEAN I
PON'T THINK
HE WILL.

WELL... CW5
HARVEY PROBABLY
WON'T. .
 T

"...I MIGHT GE
LUCKY ANP GET THE
OtHOf ONE."
 #
tj/r 'xJW,
>.pk
,-•

ALL
RIGHT ALL RIGHT,
HARVEYS...
you WANT
TO BE TOUGH GUYS
ABOUT THIS?

r pine. pine.
^
LONG AS I KNOW
WHAT THB RULES
ARE, I CAN MAKE
'EM UP AS I GO
v ALONG! *

ar^-'.k m T'35
o \ 0 I

agy^lJ'r .«c^y^

^jp!! \\

O r.o ^_;-
^
^
J
] Wv^(wbJ
-
r"
1

Li
<
 TWO AGAINST
ONE, EH, HARVEYS?
THAT'S THE WAY
YOU WANT TO
PLAY GOTHAM?

OKAY.
OKAY
THEN.

BOYS-
 "WE
SHOULP
GO."

7 B WHY HE PIP THEN.

WHA T HE PIP. MAPS SENSE
TO NOBOPy THERE.
I

/ \ ) J 1

LKl/Ti

NOBOPy
BUTME.
 WHEN I
WAS A KIP, MY
SCUMBAG
STEPPATHEP,
ONCE—

ONLY

I'P NEVEP BEEN OUT IN

THE WOOPS BEFOPE, ANP BUT THE TIME WITH
I HAVEN'T BEEN THEPE MY STEPP.ATHEP.
SINCE. PEALLY. I CAUGHT A TOAP.
ANP I TOOK HIM
HOME IN A BOX.
I PEP HIM BUGS THAT
I'P CATCH... POACHES
MOSTLY, SINCE THAT'S
WHA T WE HAP, MOSTLY.

r,
J

HOT pa V|

vi; .-Jo * 1
-5

APTEP IT PAINEP, I'P TAKE HIM UP ON THE POOF

OF OUP BUILPING TOO. SEEIN' IT WAS OUTSIPE, I
PIGUPEP HE'P LIKETO HOP APOUNP UP THEPE. ANP
I THINK HE PEALLY PIP. I LIKE TO THINK THAT.

il9j HI gf
Ik'
wmftllBS
fill
BUT J
NEVER
PIP.

HOW'S THE
FOOP HERE,
FROST?

PWl

I PON'
KNOW WHAT
YER TALKIN'
ABOUT.

FRANKLY,
A
I PON' 6IVE
RAT'S ASS
WHAT YOU
. KNOW... a

I KNOW A
MAN THOU6H,
THAT POES.
r
JONNY'S
FINISHEP,
. missy-

J WENT
WITH THECOF.
ITS BEST, I'VE
FOUNP, TO PO
WHAT THEY SAY
WHEN THEY'RE
AROUNP. I HAP NO I

tPEA THOUGH...
wmw
iBSIg|H.
r

you KNOW
you ARE INVOLVEP
WITH A 5ICK MAN
WHO WILL SEE
. you PIE? *

HE WILL STANP
OVER YOUR bopy,
WITH YOUR SLOOP
ON HIS HANPS ANP
I PROMISE yOU HE
. WILL LAUSH...

NOT BECAUSE
yOUR LIPE MEANS
NOTHING TO
. HIM- .

BUT
BECAUSE
PEA TH, POR
HIM-
JLJ.
 I PON'T
PEMEMBEP
LEAVING HAPVEY
PENT'S OFFICE.

I MUST'VE WALKEP.
MY LEGS ACHEP FROM
WALKING. WALKEP. ANP
KEPT WALKING...

ALL THE WAY UP TO

THE TOP OF THE
WOPLP.

TOO LONG. I PON'T

KNOW WHY. MA YBE IT
WAS BECAUSE...
 IT WAS THE
LAST PLACE I
WANTEP TO BE.

YOU'RE
LATE.

THAT A
PROBLEM?

JONNY
JONNY...

1 PON'T
HAVE ANY
PROBLEMS.
 NONE
AT ALL, ZIP,
ZILCH, NAPA,
UNLESS...
WAIT-
APE you
SAyiN'...

NO...
COU6H... NO,
JOKER.

WAS JUST
.

KIPPINS.

lu if
WELL,
SO WAS I
THEN.
/

BliflJOKER-
jig P
Bm
IJ j

M f APPOINTMENT.
yep N [> psHT^aiyi I
El 1 os'a^. Vl|rrjlil
(
HE'S HERE.
)
TOO. JHII IUJ

SHOW THE '^11

If PROBLEM CHILP If fj
IN, CROC. tJflr
 "JOKER, you...
you EXPECT SOME
TROUBLE OUT OF
THIS <suy?"
"NO. BUT I VO
EXPECT YOU TO,
JONNy."

THAT'S
WHYI KEEP you
,
AROUNP. .

HOLA,
EPWARP.

JOKER.

MMM.

WHEN THE WORLP IS

ASA INST YOU, WHERE'S
THE SAFEST PLACE
w TO HIPE?
 HEHEHE
HEHHEH.
I PONT
GET YOU. EPWARP.
YE? MOTIVATIONS-- YOU'RE
W/Sf, BUT YOUR H'W/'S ARE
COMPLETELY LOST
ON ME. A

you
MISHT CALL
PUZZLING.
IT

STRANSE,
HOW THAT SOUNPS,
. ISN'T IT?

SHALL WE
SET POWN TO
BUSINESS?
 I CO ULP
CARE LESS ABOUT
. ANYONE ELSE'S.
HOW
PIP YOU
ACQUIRE-

AH. SETTING
EVERYONE'S
ATTENTION.
 LET'S
PO THIS
AGAIN.

^ EPWARP--
IF I WEPE you-
I'PSET OUT
. OF TOWN.

— you'p
KNOW THAT THE
SAFEST PLACE
. TO HIPE... .

IS IN
SANITY.
 .

THE PEAL WITH THE RtPPLER

WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH. .

THAT IS, IF YOU

PIPN'T COUNT THE
ONE IN HIS HIP.

pi
Hj

THA T HAP PUT JOKEP IN A

GOOPMOOP. WHICH WAS
COOP FOP EVERYONE.

IT HAP THAT
TYPE OF PERSUASIVE TURNEP OUT TO
EFFECT ON EVERYONE IT BE JUST THE CALM
TOUCHEP. SUNNY PAYS BEFORE THE STORM.
AHEAP. RIGHT?
 WHEN IT HIT- ANP
GOPPAMN PIP IT HIT-
J THOUGHT I WAS PEAP.
IF NOT FEE THE NOtSE-
SHA TTERING ANP RINGING
IN MY EARS, I WOULP
HAVE BET I WAS.

I WOULP HAVE LOST

THAT BET. BUT IT
WAS A BIGGER ONE
THAT! WAS ON THE
WRONG ENP OF.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT
THA T IN THA T TYRE OF
SITUA TION, TP GIVE
AS GOOP AS I'P GET.

THAT I WAS THE

GUY WHO WENT
KINP A
1

POWN SWINGING.

ANP ITS TOUGH

WHEN YOU LEARN
FROM YOURSELF
THAT YER NOT.

IT MAKES YOU
WONPER ABOUT
OTHER THINGS YOU
BELIEVE TO BE TRUE
ABOUT YOU.
 ONE LOOK AT THE
STORM MAPS ME
REALIZE I WAS IN
WAY OVER MY HEAP.

THEY WERE COPS.

OFF-PUT/. BUT ON A
PAYROLL.

>

THE TIME
PENT MENTIONEP
HAP COME.
 . \ 3:33
isuess 1
THAT'S \
TRUE. K

THEY SAY
THERE'S NO
HONOR AMONG
THIEVES.

mjr" {/mm
s frfl T? W wrRf^fl
a- J7

1 Cs%7 oi
•
kWr* w™
(.«« Kira'
v*U fZi
flW; r*- -

"* Jc
T -5

BUT IS THAT
EXCLUSIVE TO
THIEVES?

MAYBE
JUST

m
THERE'S
NO HONOR,
PERIOP.

ki -riia
Mh' ii
AM If! | IV SAY
YER UNPER
ARREST...
HUM
 PENT WOULPN'T BE
HAPPY. 1 KNEW THAT.
ANP I CAREP ABOUT
IT. HIS TIME CAME...
 REALLY COULPN'T STOP.
LAUGHING SO HARP HE WAS
CHOKING LIKE HE WAS
,

GONNA...

SO HARP HIS FACE

WENT REP, ANP HIS
EYES GOT WET.

I SWEAR IT WAS
COMING UP STRAIGHT
FROM HIS LUNGS. REAL
PRY. NO SPIT AT ALL.

JUST A COUGH.
MAYBE THAT'S ALL
HE WAS POIN'...
 -

HARVEY PENT WAS

THE RACKETS IN FROM FRUIT STAMPS TO
GOTHAM. OYSTER BARS. HE GOT A
TASTE. THE PRICE OF
POIMG BUSINESS WAS
POING IT WITH HIM.

WE- I MEAN JOKER

PECIPEP TO RAISE THAT
PRICE. I WOULPA SAIP
PENT IS PEAP. ENP OF
STORY.

JOKER. THOUGH,
WASN'T LOOKING FOR
AN ENPING. I PIPN'T
GET THAT.

Jjtgli '
1 i

oyt
'
IrldfflSdLim
ThW

mm JTy \/y yJ

Pi'
 HE SAT IN
A CHAIR FOR
PAYS ANP
PIPN'T (SET UP.
WE PIP WHAT
WE PIP, BUT HE
P!PN‘ MOVE...

WE MAPS
(SOTHAM A
TOILET...
 HELLO?

WHY,
HARVEY.

I NEVER
KNOW WHO IT
IS I'M TALKING
k. TO -
^

YES, YOU'RE
RIGHT. WE
NEEP TO
. TALK...
 '...TO 1 we BOTH
-ACS." |n
AGRee, THINGS
GOT OUT OP
. HANP... ^
gl ...IT
IT IS.
IS THE
THCRB'S NO
WAY
!j„V USE PLACING ANy
BLAME B\THEZ. ,

If-'.

Hi

IT'S ALL ABOUT

esos WITH MeN IN
. OUR POSITION.
^ SLIGHTS ARe ^
TAKEN WHBRe NONB
WBRe MEANT, ISN'T
. THAT RIGHT? >
 YOU'RE
NOT FUNNY,
JOKER.

THE POINT
IS TO REACH AN
UNPBR3 TA NP!N(5 .

TWO
MAKE A PEAL,
HARVEY? EXACTLY.

THAT WASN'T
MEANT TO BE
FUNNY...
 ?

vjj.ilj

Rd

Rj.

r I MEAN
TO HAVE
WHAT'S MINE. ANP WHAT
< HARVEY. J THE HELL IS
THAT
I'M
ASKIN6
FOR IT.
 I WASN'T
.
TALKING
you...
TO ^ I WAS TALKING TO ^
YOU. THERE'S A LOT OP THINSS
PEOPLE IN OUR POSITION CAN
SET AWAY WITH... MURPER
^ BEINS ONE... ^

jv/ves
AIN'T TWO
OF THEM.
"
8ISAMY IS LIKE
TAX EVASION. ONCE
A PROSECUTOR HAS
A CRIME HE CAN TRY
IN THE PUBLIC EYE...
 f
...I PON'T
NEEP TO EXPLAIN
MYSELF FURTHER
TO YOU TWO,
^ PO I?

NO, JOKER,
^
'COURSE YOU
PONT. I'LL APMIT,
EMBARRASSING
IT'S
V FOR ME... ^

'...BUT WHAT CAN

you po? love's
A FUNNY THING.

' FUNNIER THAN >

YOU'LL EVER BE.
I KNEW THERE WAS
ALWAYS A CHANCE
THIS COULP
\ HAPPEN... >

~ THAT HIS ^
HAPPINESS
COMPROMISEP
r 50 I MAPE CERTAIN ^
OUR BEST IT COULPN'T. I HAVE A
^ INTERESTS. ,
MAN ON SPEEP PIAL WILL
MAKE EVERYTHING IN THAT
V CASE THERE PISAPPEAR. . AH, AH,
AH— NAUGHTY,
NAUGHTY.

H NAUGHTY?...^®

^
¥
f#7‘
/ /r -LIKE
f| YOU GOT
L*— ,

\ ROOM TO
V TALK. . )lr/J
 NOT
MUCH..

WHAT
THE—
WHAT THE
HBLLPIP YOU
PO TO ME!?

m W K W /
 /Mk
I'M THROUGH i^yT /C*»y\fe,V
MONKEYING
AROUNP.

^ YOU WANT TO TELL ME

ABOUT WHAT’S FUNNY? YOU
THINK EITHER OP YOU CAN
^ MAKE ME LAU6H? a

I'LL TELL YOU

\l - " \ (
WHAT'S FUNNY- THAT 1
YOU THINK THIS IS 1
X
1

L \ ABOUT MONEY.

/ I PONT ^
CARE ABOUT
MONEY.

^ ~
HOW'S
THAT FOR FUNNY.
TWO-FACE? OR
SHOULP I CAUL
^ YOU... a
 HANPS OFF THE
MERCHANPISE.

/T
iy jjUr
^ YOU ARE My
/

0/45W REGISTER
. NOW, (SOT IT?

ANP
ONE MORE
THING...
 PRIVE HER HOW
WHEREVER. GIVE HER MUCH?
.
SOME MONEY.

WHATEVER
IT WAS
WORTH.

"joNNy jONNy.
LET'S STAy OUT
TONI6HT."

THAT
MAKES US
SVEN, NO?
 <5RAB ME
SOME BROWN
LIQUOR...

I'M IN
THE /HOOP
FOR BROWN
LIQUOR.

y , i\ Y 'JN=(n

WHAT ABOUT YOU, JONNY ANP

JONNY? WHAT ARE YOU IN NAME
s. THE MOOP FOR? . IT-- TAKE ITS /HZ YOU'RE IN
IT... SANPBOX. IT WITH
ME.

IN IT WITH
JOKER.

WHERE
TP WANTS?
TO BE...
 ...UNTIL.
WAS THBPB.
I
¥d)
^shhhj

il '

ms§E&&

WHAT
ARE WE
PONS? ysjy f^iwr'l >S^Sf f^m\
\
m f]Mm 'lEJ
1-5SS Bli? 1# i

fc i/l 1

SAIP SHUT
. UP!

WHA?
 BECAUSE HE you
WAS RIGHT-- HB KNOW WHAT I
WASN'T CRAZY. HATB. JONNY
JONNy?

V .
~

*
0 (^. EVERyTHINiS /^^

Iniwm ’UMFIS,

IS IT
you've
LBARNBP
A LOT...

OR yOU'RE ANP By
SMARTER THAN THE By, I'M
you LOOK? NOT SAYING
THAT yOU'RE
RIGHT.

WHY PO
YOU HATB
yOURSELP?

you
ARE CLOSE
THOU6H. I'LL
5IVE you
. THAT.

7a
 I CAN'T
THINK OP A
WORSE WAY
TO PIE.

ANP I KNOW ALL

OF THE BAP WAYS,
INSIPE ANP OUT.

MY
FRIENP... JONNY
JONNY...

WHAT J
HATE MORE THAN
EVERYTHING...

THAT CONFESSION..
FROM A MAN WHO
NEVER CONFESSED..
.IT KILLS? MS.
 WANT
TO HEAR
SOMETHING
FUNNY?

~ ^
WHEN I WAS...
GONE, I MET A MAN
WHO WAS OBSESSEP
WITH PRIVIN6 A CAR
AROUNP THE WORLP
^ IN ONE PAY.
^
K HE SWORE UP ANP ^
POWN HE COULP PO IT,
ANP HE TRIEP TO, MANY
TIMES, FROM WHAT I
UNPERSTANP.

"AT THE ENP OF THOSE FAILEP

PAYS... HE'P SIT ON THE SIPE
OF THE ROAP CURSINS HIS BAP
LUCK. EVENTUALLY, A COOP
SAMARITAN WOULP STOP."

"AFTER SLAUGHTERING THE

SAMARITAN-- ANP ANYONE ELSE
WITH THE SAMARITAN- LIKE HIS
WIFE, CHILPREN- HE'P PUT THEM
IN HIS CAR, SET IT ON FIRE, ANP
PRIVE OFF IN THEIRS."
HE NEVER NO, HE WAS...
MAPE IT? GONE. BUT THAT'S
NOT THE POINT.

THERE
IS ONE, I'M
ASSUMING.

HE 8LAMEP
SO you THE CAPS FOR
PON'T GET HIS FAILURES.
IT,JONNY
JONNY?

IT NEVER CROSSEP
HIS MINP THAT WHAT HE
BEUEVEP HE COULP PO
WAS IMPOSSIBLE. APMIPE
THAT.

PRIVE,
JONNY
JONNY.
 r
OF COURSE NOT-
HE POESN'T HAVE A

.
FUNNY BROKEN BONE
IN HIS BOPY.
OH, BUT HE'S SOT ^
HIS HANPS ON THE RUS,
JONNY. EVERYTHINS- HE'S
LET ME... WE HAVE TO SET
^ OFF THE RUS... ^
-AVi
lil Jki in
IrVlfV 1

sLAi

WHAT SOPPAMMIT-
CAN'T YOU FEEL
RUS? IT SLIPPING
. AWAyl?

TRUTH BF TOLP. J WASN'T

FEELING ANYTHING AT ALL. IT
WAS ASIF. THOUGH MY HANPS
weee on the wheel...

I WAS JUST ALONG

FOP THE PIPE. THINGS
WERE MOVING THAT
WAY FOP ME.

ANP THEN... CROC'S

POOP WAS AJAR
WHEN WE GOT THERE.
 AMP THEM... JOKER
PU5HEP IT OPEN. BUT HE
PtPN'T WANT TO.

-T'- M
SPseapsr^
WHEN WE HEARP
THE LAUGH...

FEELING THAT.
I HOPEP...

F
i

ff

1Ly

...IT WAS ABOVE

THE ONE I WAS
ALPEAPY ON.
 WEI?AN. JOKE* SETTING THE
STREETS ON EIRE. PRAGGING
ME- SPITTING ANP SCREAMING
THROUGH TEARS.

JOKER, I
MEAN.

I WAS
LAUGHING.
 ANP
EVERYBOPy
KNOWS.

r' you WEAR ^

YOUR SHAMS LIKE
A BAP6E. BECAUSE
YOU PONT HAVE THE
BALLS TO ACTUALLY
^ PIN ONE ON. --
 yes...
JUST LOOK
AT you...
PESPERATE TO
BE FEAREP, YOU WANT
TO BE PERCEIVEP AS A
MONSTER, PRAPEP IN
^ BLACK.

yOU LEAVE
THAT LITTLE
WINPOW...

' A GLIMPSE AT THE

PERFECTION UNPERNEATH.
OBVIOUS- THE CHISELEP
SOOP LOOKS- NOT THE
JAW. THE MOUTH OF A
^ MONSTER...
 WHY PO
you LET IT
BE SEEN?
TELL ME
WHY.
 MY NAME IS JONNY
FROST, BUT 1 PON'T
HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT,
90 1? YOU KNOW I'M
SOMEBOPY...

I'M ON THE TOF

OF THE WORLP, YOU
LOOKING POWN. KNOW
WHAT I
SEE?

PO YOU WANT
TO KNOW WHAT
I SEE?
 ONE THAT HAS
BEEN AROUNP LONGER
THAN GOTHAM. THE
CITY INEECTEP.

A P/SEASE THArS
OLPER THAN ANY
CITY. HELL. ITS
PROBABL Y THE SAME
PISEASE THAT BUILT
THE FIRST ONE.
THERE WILL.
ALWAYS BE
A JOKER.

i^#
...JUST A
BATMAN.

THE Mil
 «
writer
series
m
Brian has been writing comics professionally since the mid-1990s. He is the
and cocreator with Eduardo Risso of the acclaimed Vertigo monthly
100 BULLETS, which has won multiple Eisner and Harvey awards.

DC Comics include BATMAN and JONNY

Brian's other writing credits for
DOUBLE (both with Risso), SUPERMAN (with Jim Lee), SGT. ROCK: BETWEEN
A HARD PLACE AND HELL (with Joe Kubert), LEX LUTHOR: MAN OF STEEL
(with Lee Bermejo), DR. 13, and an Eisner-nominated run on HELLBLAZER.
He has also written FILTHY RICH for the VERTIGO CRIME line.

He has been cited as one of Wizard magazine’s top ten writers and has been
profiled and/or reviewed in Entertainment Weekly, GEAR, The Chicago
Tribune, and countless other publications. He lives in Chicago with his wife,
artist Jill Thompson, and he finally has a website.

Lee began drawing comics in 1997 for WildStorm Studios in San Diego at
I
age 19. This project marks the third collaboration with Brian Azzarello,
the first being BATMAN/DEATHBLOW: AFTER THE FIRE, followed by
LEX LUTHOR: MAN OF STEEL. He has also done a number of other
short projects, including GLOBAL FREQUENCY with WARREN ELLIS,
SUPERMAN/GEN 13 with Adam Hughes, and HELLBLAZER with Mike Carey.
Recently, he has worked primarily as a cover artist, doing covers for
HELLBLAZER for Vertigo and The Stand and Daredevil for Marvel Comics.
Currently, he’s writing and drawing a graphic novel for DC Comics. In 2003
he moved to Italy, where he hopes to eventually earn enough money to get
away from it all. He can't keep doing this work with these people.

MICK
Mick Gray grew up wanting to be an artist and car designer. At the sugges-
Mick became a draftsman, getting on-the-job training at 16
tion of his father,
and an Associate’s Degree in Technical Illustration at 20. In 1988 his best
friend suggested him to local comic book publisher Slave Labor Graphics.
On a whim, Mick brought down his portfolio of technical illustrations. He was
instantly hired to ink backgrounds like buildings and cars... and he’s been
busy ever since.

Mick isan Eisner Award-winning inker and has worked continuously for
DC comics on such projects as SON OF SUPERMAN hardcover (J.H. Williams
III), SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (Barry Kitson),
ZATANNA (Ryan Sook), PROMETHEA (J.H. Williams and most recently III)

BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL (Rags Morales), TEEN TITANS GO! (Alexander Serra)

m
and JSA (Dale Eaglesham).

Patricia Mulvihill
wrn
began her professional career as a book jacket painter and
graphic designer before unwittingly detouring into comics. Projects include
WONDER WOMAN, BATMAN, LOVELESS, and 100 BULLETS. When not work-
ing she is often devising plans to slip away and travel. She is an Eisner Award
winner and has been a colorist for DC Comics for over a decade. Trish lives
in New York City.
 WITH LEE BERMEJO

BATMAN/DEATHBLOW:
AFTER THE FIRE

FDR TOMORROW
SUPERMAN: BATMAN: DOCTOR 13:
FOR TOMORROW BROKEN CITY ARCHITECTURE
VOLS. 1 & 2 WITH EDUARDO RISSO AND MORALITY
WITH JIM LEE WITH CLIFF CHIANG
_
SEARCH THE GRAPHIC NOVELS SECTION OF DCCOMICS.COM FOR ART AND INFORMATION ON ALL OF OUR BOOKS!
^ %
vn
! §
«, - 4 It
KBf
tatir* •>