Story: Hush, Chapter Nine: The Assassins (22 pages)
(previous part in Batman #615, next part in Batman #617)
Writer(s): Jeph Loeb
Pencils: Jim Lee
Inks: Scott Williams
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman, Selina Kyle / Catwoman, Talia Head, Ra's al Ghul, Sandra Woosan / Lady Shiva
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Lex Luthor, Pete Ross, Alfred Pennyworth, Harvey Dent / Two-Face, James Gordon, Barbara Gordon / Oracle (off-screen)
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added eventually.]
Story: Hush, Chapter Eight: The Dead (22 pages)
(previous part in Batman #614, next part in Batman #616)
Writer(s): Jeph Loeb
Pencils: Jim Lee
Inks: Scott Williams
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman, Dick Grayson / Nightwing, Selina Kyle / Catwoman,
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Alfred Pennyworth, Tim Drake / Robin III, Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Thomas Elliot (in flashback), Lucius Fox, Clarence, Edward Nigma / The Riddler, Joker, Harvey Dent / Two-Face
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
- Batman reveals to Catwoman that he is Bruce Wayne. [p. 21]
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Dick Grayson Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added eventually.]
Story: Hush, Chapter Seven: The Joke (22 pages)
(previous part in Batman #613, next part in Batman #615)
Writer(s): Jeph Loeb
Pencils: Jim Lee
Inks: Scott Williams
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman, Joker
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Jason Todd / Robin II (in flashback), Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn, Barbara Gordon / Oracle (in flashback also as Batgirl), Selina Kyle / Catwoman, James Gordon, Harvey Dent / Two-Face, Thomas Elliot, Sarah Essen
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
- The Joker shot Barbara Gordon in Batman: The Killing Joke. [p. 1]
- The Joker shot Sarah Essen in Detective Comics #741. [p. 1]
- The Joker killed Jason Todd in the Batman: A Death in the Family storyline, specifically in Batman #427. [p. 2]
- The "diplomatic immunity" the Joker had obtained was the status as an Iranian UN ambassador, given to him in Batman #428. [p. 3]
- The conversation between Batman and Nightwing about the Joker, that Batman refers to, happened in ?? [p. 2]
- That Harley Quinn loves the Joker is established in ?? [p. 7]
- The flashback of Batman carrying the dead Robin refers to a scene in Batman #428. [p. 13]
- Jim Gordon retired as Commissioner in the Officer Down storyline, specifically in Batman: Gotham Knights #13. [p. 19]
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added eventually.]
Story: Hush, Chapter Six: The Opera (22 pages)
(previous part in Batman #612, next part in Batman #614)
Writer(s): Jeph Loeb
Pencils: Jim Lee
Inks: Scott Williams
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added soon.]
Story: Hush, Chapter Five: The Battle (22 pages)
(previous part in Batman #611, next part in Batman #613)
Writer(s): Jeph Loeb
Pencils: Jim Lee
Inks: Scott Williams
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added soon.]
Story: Hush, Chapter Four: The City (22 pages)
(previous part in Batman #610, next part in Batman #612)
Writer(s): Jeph Loeb
Pencils: Jim Lee
Inks: Scott Williams
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added soon.]
Story: Hush, Chapter Three: The Beast (22 pages)
(previous part in Batman #609, next part in Batman #611)
Writer(s): Jeph Loeb
Pencils: Jim Lee
Inks: Scott Williams
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added soon.]
Story: Hush, Chapter Two: The Friend (22 pages)
(previous part in Batman #608, next part in Batman #610)
Writer(s): Jeph Loeb
Pencils: Jim Lee
Inks: Scott Williams
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added soon.]
Story: Hush, Chapter One: The Ransom (22 pages)
(next part in Batman #609)
Writer(s): Jeph Loeb
Pencils: Jim Lee
Inks: Scott Williams
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman, Waylon Jones / Killer Croc, Selina Kyle / Catwoman, Pamela Isley / Poison Ivy
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Nails Nathan (Former C.I.A. operative), Tommy Harper (gun runner for the I.R.A.), Carlos Valdez (Chilean Mercenary), Spider Hancock (Gotham City muscle), Edward Lamont
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
- The cover tagline is: It begins here!
- The page with the credits has a new introductory textbox, sort of like a voice-over in tv opening credits. It says: "I made a promise on the grave of my parents to rid this city of the evil that took their lives.By day, I am Bruce Wayne, billionaire philanthropist. At night, criminals, a cowardly and superstitious lot, call me...BATMAN" [p. 5]
- Batman carries at least one small cartridge with acid. [p. 1]
- There are a variety of functions integrated in Batman's cowl, and visible to him through his lenses. It has night vision, and the height, weight, and sex of the opponent are displayed, then a database query follows, and further available information is shown. [p. 1]
- The cowl gadgets also point out vulnerable spots and help with targeting. [p. 2]
- Batman has small baterangs with poisoned tips, that will paralyze the hit muscles. [p. 2]
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added soon.]
Story: Officer Down, Part One: These Are Your Rights (22 pages)
(continued with an interlude in Batgirl #12, next part in Robin #86)
Writer(s): Greg Rucka
Pencils: Rick Burchett
Inks: Rodney Ramos
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman, James Gordon
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Selina Kyle / Catwoman, Lt. Harvey Bullock, Stacy, Eric Cohen, Andy Kasinsky, Renee Montoya, Crispus Allen, Tommy Burke, Dagmar Procjnow, Vincent Del Arrazzio, Joely Bartlett, Officer Rich (really Jordan Reynolds), Officer Lowell (Rich's partner), Stanley (criminal), Steve (GCPD cop), Vanessa (GCPD cop)
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
- Commissioner James Gordon is shot. [p. 21]
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
James Gordon Character Details:
Trivia:
- The M.C. U. celebrates at a pub called "Kelly's Plough," off Moench. [p. 2]
[Note: This entry is based on the TPB edition of the issue.]
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added eventually.]
Story: The Killing Joke (48 pages)
Writer(s): Alan Moore
Pencils: Brian Bolland
Inks: Brian Bolland
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman, Joker (also as Red Hood in a flashback), James Gordon, Barbara Gordon / Batgirl
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Harvey Dent / Two-Face, Jeannie (the Joker's wife), Alfred Pennyworth, Colleen Reece, Harvey Bullock, Oswald Cobblepot / Penguin
Synopsis:
It's a rainy night. Batman meets James Gordon in front of the Arkham Asylum. Batman is there to visit the Joker, Gordon waits outside the cell. Batman wants to talk to the Joker to break their vicious cycle of mutual obsession, that he thinks will lead one of them to kill the other in the end, and he doesn't want Joker's murder on his hands. The Joker sits there silently playing solitaire, Batman grabs the Joker's hand and notices that the white skin is not genuine but make-up. It turns out the Joker has escaped Arkham Asylum once again. The Joker is at an abandoned carnival ground, which he prepares as the scene for his next crime. He wants to prove that anyone will go insane under the right circumstances, that he is not different from the rest. To illustrate this, he tries to drive James Gordon insane. He shoots James Gordon's daughter, Barbara Gordon, causing her permanent paraplegia, assaults her sexually (at least he removes her clothes), and takes photographs of her. He has James Gordon beaten up, then kidnaps him and brings him to the carnival to torture him. There the Joker puts Gordon in a bizarre scenario to drive him mad. Gordon's clothes are removed, a collar is put around his neck, and he's tortured with a tazer by two weirdly dressed midgets. In a ghost train ride he's shown the pictures of Barbara, as she lies naked and injured, again and again, and taunted and mocked by the Joker, who tells him that human existence is mad, random and pointless, and madness the appropriate response. Meanwhile Batman tries to find a lead on the Joker, but nobody knows anything. The Batsignal appears and Harvey Bullock gives Batman an invitation and entry ticket for the carnival that the Joker has sent to Batman. As Batman arrives at the carnival, he and the Joker grapple briefly with each other, but the Joker buys some time by spraying acid at Batman, and runs into the House of Fun. Batman frees James Gordon, who's been put in a cage outside. Gordon didn't go mad, and insists that the Joker must be brought in by the book, to prove to the Joker that their way works. The Joker tells Batman what he wanted to prove, that they are not different, that they both have been driven mad by one bad day, only that Batman refuses to admit to his madness, and insists on pretending that life makes sense when it does not. Batman replies that Gordon is as sane as ever, that not everybody cracks, so maybe it was the Joker himself all along. They fight, the Joker's gun is empty and he admits defeat, and asks Batman what he's waiting for. Batman explains that he doesn't want to hurt him, that he thinks that maybe tonight is the last chance for them to escape their suicide course. He offers to help him, to rehabilitate him but Joker says that it is too late for that. He says it reminds him of a joke, and he tells Batman a joke of two guys trying to escape a lunatic asylum, and though Batman is reluctant to laugh at first, in the end he cracks up too, and they stand together in the rain, laughing, as the police comes to pick up the Joker.
Intercut with the main story are flashbacks of Joker's memories, telling a possible origin story for the Joker: To get money for his wife and the baby they were expecting, the Joker agreed to lead two men from the Red Hood mob into the chemical plant where he used to work, before he gave up his job as a lab assistant to become a comedian. The same day the robbery is supposed to take place, his wife dies in a freak accident with a baby-bottle heater, but the mobsters insist that he still has to come along. They make him wear a red hood and cape, also to draw attention to him, instead of them, but the Joker doesn't realize this. The robbery in the chemical plant doesn't go as planned, because security procedures have been changed since then. Batman appears on the scene, confronting the Joker, because Batman thinks he's "Red Hood," the leader, not realizing that the mask is worn by different people. The joker flees, and jumps into a vat with chemicals to escape through some sewage system, but the chemicals transformed his face, skin and hair to his "Joker" appearance, seeing this he goes mad, and becomes obsessed with Batman.
Important Continuity Events:
- The Joker offers a possible origin story.
- The Joker shoots Barbara Gordon, the bullet hits her spine, this results in her paraplegia. [p. 14]
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
- Batman is convinced he and the Joker will end up killing each other. He wants to avert that outcome, to save or rehabilitate the Joker. [p. 5]
Barbara Gordon Character Details:
- Barbara worked at the library. [p. 13]
- Barbara had nightmares as a kid about the Joker, because her dad told her stories about him. [p.13]
- She has yoga classes with her friend Colleen. [p. 13]
James Gordon Character Details:
- James Gordon keeps scrapbooks for newspaper articles relating to Batman, Catwoman, and possibly other costumed heroes and villains. There are at least so many that Barbara thinks he needs a filing system. [p. 13]
Joker Character Details:
- Before he became the Joker he wanted to work as a stand-up comedian, but wasn't very successful. [p. 8]
- He and his wife Jeannie were expecting their first child. [p. 8]
- He felt he was a looser. [p. 9]
- Jeannie thought he was funny and good in bed. [p. 9]
- Joker was a lab assistant, but quit to be a comedian. [p. 16]
- To get money for his family he gets involved with crime, he agrees to get the others through the chemical plant where he used to work. [p. 16]
- The Red Hood gangsters ask him to wear a bow tie and a suit since it's their trade mark. [p. 23]
- His wife died as she was testing a baby-bottle heater. [p. 23]
- The Joker is disfigured as he jumps into a vat with chemicals while running from Batman, terrified by Batman's appearance. [p. 32]
- He goes mad seeing his disfigured face on top of loosing his wife, as he realizes what a black, awful joke the world was. [p. 33]
Note about the Joker origin story: The Joker himself says, he prefers to have multiple pasts and that he remembers different versions, so it isn't certain that his memories here are the "true" origin story. [p. 40]
Trivia:
- Harvey Dent's number in Arkham is 0751. [p. 3]
- The Joker's number in Arkham is 0801. [p. 3]
- Batman has a "family" photo in the Batcave, it shows Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Alfred (?), another woman in a costume (she's ?), another man in a regular suit (he's ?), a dog, and a small child (or maybe a puppet ?) in a bat costume. [p. 11]
- The visible trophies in the Batcave are a dinosaur, the huge penny, and some penguin. A Bat-gyrocopter is also visible, it's suspended from the ceiling with a chain. [p. 11]
- The newspaper articles seen in Gordon's scrapbook are "Asylum Security Uproar. Maniac Escapes Again. Crimefighter Unavailable For Comment. Vicki Vale Exclusive" in the Gotham Examiner, for the current day incident, and one from the first time Batman encountered the Joker, saying "Bat-Garbed Vigilante Critically Injures Murderer. Disfigured Homicidal Maniac In Hospital" [p. 13]
- The Joker's gun has two barrels, one for the bullets, another one where a flag with "click click click" written on it comes out when the gun is empty. [p. 44]
Story: Batman: Year One, Chapter 4: Friend In Need (22 pages)
(previous part in Batman #406)
Writer(s): Frank Miller
Pencils: David Mazzucchelli
Inks: David Mazzucchelli
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman, Selina Kyle / Catwoman, Lieutenant James Gordon (promoted to Captain)
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Barbara Gordon (James Gordon's wife), Sergeant Sarah Essen, Alfred Pennyworth, Jefferson Skeevers (narcotics dealer), Trish (news anchor), Tom (news anchor), Judge Rafferty (off-screen), Harvey Dent, Sergeant Merkel, Arnold Flass, Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb, Agee (off-screen, from the Gotham Gazette), Holly, "Roman" Falcone, Johnny (Falcone's nephew), James Gordon, Jr. (son of James and Barbara Gordon, born in this story), Judge Norton, Joker (off-screen), Grogan (off-screen)
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Selina Kyle Character Details:
James Gordon Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is based on the TPB edition of the issue.]
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added eventually.]
Story: Batman: Year One, Chapter 3: Black Dawn (22 pages)
(previous part in Batman #405, next part in Batman #407)
Writer(s): Frank Miller
Pencils: David Mazzucchelli
Inks: David Mazzucchelli
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman, Selina Kyle / Catwoman, Lieutenant James Gordon
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Barbara Gordon (James Gordon's wife), Sergeant Sarah Essen, Holly, Branden (head of the Gotham City SWAT team), Praeger, Fenton, Sussman, Art, Pratt (officers of the GCPD SWAT team), Sergeant Merkel, Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb, Detective Swanson, Alfred Pennyworth (off-screen), Captain Pierce (off-screen), Stan
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Selina Kyle Character Details:
James Gordon Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is based on the TPB edition of the issue.]
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added eventually.]
Story: Batman: Year One, Chapter 2: War Is Declared (22 pages)
(previous part in Batman #404, next part in Batman #406)
Writer(s): Frank Miller
Pencils: David Mazzucchelli
Inks: David Mazzucchelli
Characters:
Bruce Wayne / Batman, Lieutenant James Gordon
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Barbara Gordon (James Gordon's wife), Sergeant Merkel, Albert Blume, Branden (head of the Gotham City SWAT team), Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb, Arnold Flass, Sergeant Sarah Essen, "Roman" Falcone, Harvey Dent, Marian, Charlie, Sergeant Feck, Detective Shelly, Detective Learner
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
James Gordon Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is based on the TPB edition of the issue.]
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added eventually.]
Story: Batman: Year One, Chapter 1: Who Am I, How I Come To Be (22 pages)
(next part in Batman #405)
Writer(s): Frank Miller
Pencils: David Mazzucchelli
Inks: David Mazzucchelli
Characters:
Bruce Wayne (not as Batman yet), Lieutenant James Gordon, Selina Kyle (not as Catwoman yet), Arnold Flass, Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Thomas Wayne, Martha Wayne (Bruce Wayne's parents, in flashback),Wilson, Stahnsen, Renny (detectives in the GCPD); Stan (a pimp), Holly, Stevie, Jackie, Tom
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Selina Kyle Character Details:
James Gordon Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is based on the TPB edition of the issue.]
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added eventually.]