Search Comics, Titles, Creators & More
Browse
View Titles by Publisher or Series
New Comics
View the Weekly Releases
League of Comic Geeks - Home ×
  • Log in Sign up
  • Search
  • My Pull List
  • My Comics
Discover
  • Browse
  • New Comics
  • Stores
    • Browse Stores
    • Retailer Tools
  • Community
    • My Feed
    • Community Posts
    • Comic Discussions
    • Comic Reviews
    • Community Lists
    • Contributions
Log in Sign up
  • My Profile Navigation
DC Comics   ·   Released Jul 18th, 1990

Batman #451

  • Overview
  • Contributions
    Submit Corrections Submit New Variant Cover Contribution History
100
29 of 29 Liked It
4.1 Avg. Rating
Pull It
Have It
Read It
Want It

JUDGEMENTS!

Commissioner Gordon is troubled knowing that the man who crippled his daughter is still alive and has returned to Gotham. He remembers the torture he went through at the hands of the Joker and he decides to visit Barbara at the Gotham City Public Library, to tell her that he doesn't know what he will do when he confronts the madman.  Joker has in fact returned to Gotham, but he is not responsible for the crimes blamed on him. Joker has been recovering from his near death experience after his escape attempt which ended in a helicopter crash. Ever since, Joker has lost his natural madness and is filled with self-doubt. However, when a new "Joker" appears in Gotham, the real Joker turns his attention to this impostor and tries to figure out a way to get his madness back and reclaim his title as the only Joker in Gotham.  Batman on the other hand, is currently pondering what his reaction will be when he meets the man responsible for killing his second partner. His second son. Bruce tells Alfred that he has wanted to kill the Joker before, but Alfred tells him that he won't do it because he is anything, but a killer.  In the meantime, Curtis Base, the corrupt banker, is the man behind the Joker crimes. Using a mask to resemble the Clown Prince of Crime, Base started his criminal career and he has taken the role of the Joker very seriously, even to the point of considering a permanent transformation. However, such thoughts are set aside as he starts preparing his next crime with assistance from his regretful henchmen.  That night, as Base's henchmen prepare for the hit, they are unaware that Batman is out on the streets, looking for them. Batman eventually learns of the thugs' whereabouts, but the real Joker has also succeeded in learning that information. Joker finds one of the henchmen first and interrogates him about their "hit". The oblivious thug tells Joker everything, thinking that he is his boss, Curtis Base. By the time Batman arrives, Joker was gone and he could only find Base's thug tied-up.  From the thug's confession, Gordon and Batman learn about Curtis' activities and his next hit. By the time they get going, the fake Joker has already struck and is in the process of stealing money when he is confronted by the real Joker, who somehow is still unsure of himself and is unable to fight his imitator. Batman, Gordon and the Gotham City Police Department arrive in the middle of the confrontation, but they are unable to capture any of the Jokers as both of them were too clever for the baffled authorities.  The next day, Curtis sends a note to the GCPD Headquarters, telling Gordon and Batman to go to the place "where everything began". This is enough information for Batman to figure out where to go. An APB is broadcast on all radios about this cryptic message in order to let the real Joker known about Curtis' plan.  That night at the Ace Chemical Processing Plant, Fake Joker awaits inside for Batman and Gordon, unaware that the real Joker is coming as well. Fake Joker attacks Batman and Gordon, shooting the vats of acid surrounding them. Batman takes Gordon to safety before he goes to confront Fake Joker directly. At that precise moment, the real Joker drops on his imitator and tells him that nobody can replace the original. In a desperate attempt to become the one and only Joker, Curtis jumps into a vat of acid, not knowing that the contents are much stronger and deadlier that the ones that transformed the Joker.  Curtis suffers a slow and painful death inside the vat of acid and the real Joker is captured by Batman and Gordon. The madman seems mild as a result of his lack of confidence in his own madness and he doesn't fight back. As Gordon and Batman consider what to do with him, the rest of the GCPD arrives and watches as both Gordon and Batman decide to book the Joker, even though they both want to kill him.  Joker is taken back to Arkham Asylum once again, where the madness that surrounds the place actually helps him recover his lost insanity and confidence in his own criminal genius. Knowing that he will soon become his former self, Joker simply slides downward towards dementia.

Format
Comic
Page Count
32 pages
Cover Price
$1.00
Batman #451
PrevSeries Next
635
184
134

Other Covers

Add
Batman #451 Newsstand Edition

Creators

Marv Wolfman
Writer
Marv Wolfman
Jim Aparo
Penciller
Jim Aparo
Mike DeCarlo
Inker
Mike DeCarlo
Adrienne Roy
Colorist
Adrienne Roy
John Costanza
Letterer
John Costanza
Norm Breyfogle
Cover Artist
Norm Breyfogle
Dan Raspler
Associate Editor
Dan Raspler
Dennis O'Neil
Editor
Dennis O'Neil
Jenette Kahn
Editor-in-Chief
Jenette Kahn

Characters

Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon
Prime Earth
Batman
Bruce Wayne
Batman
Prime Earth
Commissioner Gordon
James Gordon
Commissioner Gordon
Prime Earth
Dana Hanrahan
Dana Hanrahan
Prime Earth
Joker
Joker
Prime Earth
Curtis Base
Joker
Prime Earth

Collected In

  • Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 3 TP
    Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 3 TP
    Batman: The Caped Crusader
  • DC Heroes & Villains Collection Special: Joker’s Dozen HC
    DC Heroes & Villains Collection Special: Joker’s Dozen HC
    DC Heroes & Villains Collection (2021)

Community Reviews

Me
Write a Review

Community Discussion

Me
Start a Discussion
You must be logged in to write a review for this comic.

More From Batman (1940 - 2011)

Previous
Batman #713
Aug 17th, 2011
Batman #713
Batman #712
Jul 20th, 2011
Batman #712
Batman #711
Jun 15th, 2011
Batman #711
Batman #710
May 18th, 2011
Batman #710
Batman #709
Apr 20th, 2011
Batman #709
Batman #708
Mar 16th, 2011
Batman #708
Batman #707
Feb 16th, 2011
Batman #707
Batman #706
Jan 19th, 2011
Batman #706
Batman Annual #28
Dec 22nd, 2010
Batman Annual #28
Batman #705
Dec 15th, 2010
Batman #705
Batman #704
Nov 17th, 2010
Batman #704
Batman #703
Sep 9th, 2010
Batman #703
Batman #702
Aug 25th, 2010
Batman #702
Batman #701
Jul 14th, 2010
Batman #701
Batman #700
Jun 9th, 2010
Batman #700
Batman #699
May 12th, 2010
Batman #699
Batman #698
Apr 14th, 2010
Batman #698
Batman #697
Mar 17th, 2010
Batman #697
Batman #696
Feb 17th, 2010
Batman #696
Batman #695
Jan 13th, 2010
Batman #695
Next

Log In

Already have an account with the League of Comic Geeks? Let's get you back to tracking and discussing your comics!

Forgot your password? Reset it.
Don't have an Account? Join Free!