Batman: The Killing Joke 1988 #[nn] First Printing - 9.4 - $65.00

Batman visits the Joker in Arkham Asylum only to discover he has been replaced by a double.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.

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 New printing: October 28, 2009.

• Batman: The Killing Joke - Inside front cover. Illustrated with a close-up of the raindrops from the first and last panel of the story.
• - Close-up of the raindrops from the first and last panel of the story.
• Batman: The Killing Joke - Story tells a comprehensive origin of the Joker based on the story ?The Man behind the Red Hood? from Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #168. The story remains controversial for the crippling of Barbara Gordon. The ?joke? is a gag that can be traced back in the comics of DC at least as far as Mutt & Jeff (DC, 1939 series) #6 (Fall 1942) in which Mutt suggests that Jeff climb up a spotlight beam. Jeff refuses, worried that the spotlight will be turned off and he?ll fall. Possibly not the first or only time the joke?s been told. Bob Kane?s signature appears in the photograph from page 10.
• - Close-up of the raindrops from the first and last panel of the story.
• Editorial Credits - Inside back cover. Illustrated with a close-up of the raindrops from the first and last panel of the story.
• Back Cover - Back cover shows a playing card featuring Joker on the top and Batman on the bottom.