THE JOKER: THE LAST LAUGH #6

COVER TAGLINE: None TITLE: Part Six: You Only Laugh Twice STORY ARC: The Last Laugh RELEASE DATE: November, 2001 COVER DATE: January, 2002 WRITER: Chuck Dixon, Scott Beatty PENCILER(s): Rick Burchett INKER(s): Mark Lipka, Dan Davis COLORS: Gina Going , Digital Chameleon LETTERS: Willie Schubert EDITOR(s): Matt Idelson COVER: Brian Bolland PRICE: $2.95 CHARACTERS: The Joker, Nightwing, Oracle, Black Canary II, Batman, Huntress II, Spoiler, Martian Manhunter, Robin III, Dina Bell; Shilo Norman, Vincent Del Arrazio, Johnson, Mike Akins, Lex Luthor, Rancor, Apeface, Warp, Multi-Man, Mister Mind, King Shark, Psimon, Mammoth, Carnivora, Hellgrammite, Black Mass; Polaris Cover Art None INTERIOR ART: PLOT: "It all ends here! The Joker's staked out scenic Gotham Cathedral as the spot to make his final stand against Batman's allies, and he's made sure no other heroes will interfere with his final revenge. Nightwing's decided that the Joker's actions finally need to be stopped - but will he go too far? And what is the fate of Tim Drake? Will he become the second Robin to die at the hands of the Joker?"

ISSUE SUMMARY: Joker is enraged that he has been robbed of the chance to kill Robin, but somewhat mollified by the fact that the Boy Wonder was eaten. Nightwing and the other Gotham crimefighters, meanwhile, mourn their loss and contemplate revenge on the Joker - Nightwing makes a break for Gotham Cathedral, where he is eagerly awaited. The Joker has erected an energy barrier around the square which only admits Batman and those close to him. In the Slab, Dina and Shilo have to resort to killing Multi-Man over and over again, until he gains the ability to reanimate dead tissue, which they use to resuscitate Black Mass. Mister Mind takes over his body and the Slab is returned to Earth, though at the South Pole. Inside Gotham Cathedral, Nightwing pummels the Joker relentlessly until Robin arrives on the scene, much to Nightwing's surprise. The Joker lies unbreathing, but he is brought back through artificial respiration. However, Nightwing will have to live with the knowledge that he killed the Joker, even if only for a few minutes. The Joker is returned to the Slab, but in many ways, he has won...

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