Batman: Three Jokers #3

By Geoff Johns

Back at the Bat cave, the trio discuss how all the Jokers'd been tricking them for yrs, but BM can't figure why they'd want him to know of their joke of a Joker maintaining an ID, like RH's become, of who states when he'd finished, there'll be no Jokers left, since BM doesn't have the balls to end it. In the end, BM reigns in his temper, so they could all continue to work together, RH begrudgingly not buying it, since feeling BM's manipulating he and BG. They chat some more on what the original Joker's game is, and whether Bruce'd actually share Joker's real name if he knew it, BM claiming he would, if so. BM next is called to Gotham Asylum where they see Chill's been abducted, BM requesting to see his cell.

BM detects some unsent letters, 1 made out to Bruce Wayne, the cop with him suggesting he speak with the rev to know why the letters wouldn't've been sent. Meanwhile, BG and RH are standing in the shadows outside where cops are parked, RH asking to chat. BM is learning from the rev, Chill wrote the letters before he'd gotten sick, believing he'd changed. Back with RH, he expresses guilt for killing the Joker, and wouldn't do it again, since recognizing he'd trapped the 2 in to letting him go for all 3 being unmasked in the process.

BG grimly states her hope he did, since next time, she'll go through with coming forward. The 3 next go to the theater in a pic BM sees, and once inside, BM sees the footage of Joker asking Chill about Bruce's parents. RH goes through downstairs, and is bombarded by Jokers, as is BG upstairs. Onscreen, Chill replies not understanding his implication, and after Joker clarifies about reading the rev's notes and Chill's letters.

BM then seeing the serious Joker above him with a bound Chill in a chair as onscreen Chill admits to knowing the Wayne's, and hating them for everything they had. Meanwhile, Joker says he thinks Chill is the next perfeck new Joker, since it'd make him even, closer to BM. Onscreen, Chill admits he wanted whatever they had on them, but hadn't seen Bruce. Meanwhile, Joker's dangling Chill over the Joker acid as another Joker holds BG, and RH gets shot in the arm.

BM kicks the Joker as he's using a lighter to ignite the dynamite, which'd drop Chill into the vat. Chill onscreen meanwhile, doesn't realize, til after shooting them, of the Wayne's good work, and wants to apologize to Bruce. BM is made to save Chill from falling and Chill states of recognizing him when he catches his breath. He gives his sorry heartfelt, and then Joker laughingly states they're ready to die, he strapped to a bunch of sticks of dynamite.

Then, the Comedian Joker shoots the dynamite-strapped one, and gives himself up laughingly to BM. Outside with Gordy, RH gets denied again from BG, and if she doesn't think Gordy knew before, she drives away after calling him dad when he advised she end working with RH. BM sits inside the paddy wagon with the Joker, who calls out knowing all 3 masked avengers IDs, but doesn't care to tell anyone for making him stop opposing him, he still able to make it seem like he's another fake joker. Then, he decides to share how he'd planted the seed to have the other Jokers play their parts.

So, now Joker'd help heal BM's wound with Chill, it left himself being his greatest pain, and he'd be able to twist the knife until they died together. Bruce goes to Chill's deathbed and watches/stays with him when he dies. Bruce's next drives in Alaska as Jason leaves a love durpy letter to Barbara saying he'd give up being a mask if she gave him a chance to make her happy. Meanwhile, Bruce tells Alfred of knowing the Joker's ID the 1st wk he'd known him, but to protect the fam he'd started, who live in Alaska, he would keep it secret, the important thing about Joker not being his ID.

Great fucking ending, though! It cleans up way nice, most of these are appropriately violent, but relies more on the art, which carries perfectly for this one bitch of an ending.