JOKER: LAST LAUGH SECRET FILES #1

COVER TAGLINE: None STORY ARC: The Last Laugh RELEASE DATE: October, 2001 COVER DATE: December, 2001 PRICE: $5.95 FIRST STORY: A Clown at Midnight WRITER: Chuck Dixon, Scott Beatty PENCILER(s): Pete Woods INKER(s): Cameron Stewart COLORS: Tom McCraw , Digital Chameleon LETTERS: Kurt Hathaway EDITOR(s): Matt Idelson COVER: Walter Simonson, Tatjana Wood, Heroic Age CHARACTERS: The Joker, Nightwing; Oracle, Shilo Norman, Warden Zimmer, Dr Keaton, Dina Bell, Mammoth, Mister Mind, Chiller, Frag, Apeface, Hector Hammond, Captain Nazi, Rancor, Floro, Psimon, Multi-Man, Joe Gardner, Black Mass, Psycho Pirate, Bolt, Sudden Death, Charaxes, Punch, King, Fleeter, Sgt. Misura ISSUE SUMMARY: During a medical examination, the doctors at the Slab penitentiary wonder if there is any way to calm the Joker down. Later, Doctor Keaton proposes to Warden Zimmer and security expert Shilo Norman that the Joker be allowed limited contact with other prisoners, as a newly discovered tumour in his brain should make him much less of a threat. Norman disagrees, but is overruled. Joker then wastes little time in getting to know the more intelligent prisoners and beginning to formulate an escape plan. Nightwing takes Oracle out on a date, not allowing her to take even her mobile phone with her - strictly no work allowed; he's worried about her obsession with the Joker. Meanwhile, Dina Bell of the U.S. Marshals brings Charaxes to the Slab and meets up with Shilo Norman for a coffee. This is soon interrupted: once Joker knows about his tumour, he starts a full-scale riot

SECOND STORY: Touched WRITER: Dan Curtis Johnson, J.H. Williams III PENCILER(s): J.H. Williams III INKER(s): Mick Gray COLORS: Tom McCraw, Digital Chameleon LETTERS: Comicraft EDITOR(s): Matt Idelson CHARACTERS: Cameron Chase, Cliff Hansen, Joker, Barbara Gordon, Harley Quinn, Batman, Samantha Rollins, James Wheeler, Alan Reynolds, Neil Evans ISSUE SUMMARY: Following the D.E.O.'s tragic encounter with Gorilla Grodd, Agent Hansen (who survived) makes his way around the country interviewing various people whose lives have been scarred in some way through their encounters with the Joker. He is joined by Agent Chase, who is worried about him, realising that he's suffering some sort of survivor's guilt. When in Gotham, they are found by Batman, who sympathises with Hansen. Chase then gets a call telling her of the riot at the Slab, and both they and Batman make their way to where they can be of most help.

THIRD STORY: Joker's Hard Sell WRITER: Scott Beatty PENCILER(s): Leonard Kirk INKER(s): Al Williamson COLORS: Tom McCraw, Digital Chameleon LETTERS: Kurt Hathaway EDITOR(s): Ivan Cohen, Mike McAvennie CHARACTERS: The Joker ISSUE SUMMARY: The Joker tries to get the casual reader to but the comic by threatening to kill a 'dog'. But, as a fanboy frequenter of the DC message boards points out to him, you can't kill this particular dog - it's Multi-Man, and he can't really die. So, the Joker shoves a big gun in the fanboys mouth and hopes that this new incentive will persuade us...

FOURTH STORY: Worm Food WRITER: Jerry Ordway PENCILER(s): Peter Krause INKER(s): Dick Giordano COLORS: Tom McCraw, Digital Chameleon LETTERS: Kurt Hathaway EDITOR(s): Ivan Cohen, Mike McAvennie CHARACTERS: Mister Mind, Mary Marvel, Francis, Professor Bibbowski ISSUE SUMMARY: The students of Fawcett Area Technical College have helped the Captains Marvel to defeat Mister Mind, and all that remains is one drone worm, which Professor Bibbowski tells student Francis to put in the deep freeze for safekeeping. However, Francis chooses to take it as a souvenir and keep it in his fridge. The drone reawakens, with the consciousness of Mister Mind, and crawls into Francis' ear. However, it gets stuck and can't control the boy, almost getting blown up when Francis makes a bid for attention. Captured by Mary Marvel, the two are then incarcerated in the Slab.

FOURTH STORY: Science Fun Fact of the Day! WRITER: Jai Nitz PENCILER(s): Amanda Conner INKER(s): Jimmy Palmiotti COLORS: Tom McCraw, Digital Chameleon LETTERS: Kurt Hathaway EDITOR(s): Ivan Cohen, Mike McAvennie CHARACTERS: Joker, Harley Quinn, Satan, Darkseid, Scarecrow, Bane, Poison Ivy, Sivana, Frankenstein's Monster, Lashina, Dan, Dan, the Science Man, ISSUE SUMMARY: Dan Dan, the science man and his assistant Vincent demonstrate the extremely easy method of making lethal Joker gas. Sadly, Dan manages to gas himself - as he does so, Vincent reveals himself to be the Joker in disguise.

REVIEW: N/A