Batman: Three Jokers #2

By Geoff Johns

Joker starts by harassing a blonde suburban wife, and her son must act like Joker is their long lost hubby and pop. The other Joker comes in and breaks his fantasy though, the mannequin and stuffed bear actually being sat with, as he reminds how 1 of them is dead due to leading Batman to them for more fun. Batman meanwhile's met up with commish Gordy regarding a dirty judge recently murdered and his connection to Arkham Asylum's easy in easy out policy, Batgirl interrupting to inform BM of Red Hood's own killing. Back at the Batmobile, the 2 chat of what they could do about RH, BM not believing they could, yet do anything.

BG qs BM on how he could let RH loose when he knew he hadn't healed properly from what Joker'd done to him. BM states he'd been hoping he'd turn out like BG (Hopes and dreams, ey?). Meanwhile, RH's breaking a guy's bones after he'd cooperated, so he'd be around for the cops to discover. BM decides to start in Blackgate, since he can't track RH, yet.

BM reveals to BG the fingerprints on the dead judge was Joe Chill, which's why he hadn't shared with Gordy. Bruce...BM, goes to Chill's cell after composing himself, then kicks the door in after announcing they needed to chat. BG comes up behind him as he notices the cell's empty, Chill moved to infirmary for having Stage 4 cancer, and most likely only had wks left. The 2 now wonder who'd used Chill's prints, BM hearing from Alfred of RH using his hood's tech an got a location, suspecting he'd found the 2 Jokers.

RH goes into the chained up abandoned pool, and sees a bunch of people floating in it, 1 man surfacing with Joker smile, and pleading for help, RH kicking him in the face. The Jokers then grab him from behind, and strip him, tying him to a chair. The Joker who starts engaging with RH reveals a detail about the Joker, and how it hurts when he laughs, continuing on how he'd done the same to RH to where he'd made it so he always felt pain, and his relief came from inflicting it on others, being similar to himself. So, the Joker replaces RH's mask back on before cracking him in the head with a crowbar.

RH states weakly how the Joker better finish him this time, but Joker replies how he's hoping RH does rise from the grave, literally again, so this time he returns as the Joker. When BG and BM arrive at the abandoned pool, they meet the many men from in the pools, laughing in droves surrounding them. As BM struggles, he shouts to BG of they pushing a button on his belt, making "it" come. Next, the Batmobile barrels into the room killing many.

They then find Jason on the floor, he obviously in shock, but but telling BM how easy it'd been for him to replace him so many times with other Robins. BG gets Jason to her apt to sleep, he instead looking at a helpful book on pain management, and using her shower. They share a kiss after a heartfelt moment, but Barbara makes sure to clarify it was one time, and they're going to focus on the job. Last, Joker gets Joe Chill, who is conscious, to put on his pageboy hat and with camera rolling asks why he killed the Wayne's.

Nice! Onward!