The Joker: Devil's Advocate
| The Joker : Devil's Advocate | |
|---|---|
 Cover to The Joker : Devil's Advocate. Art by Graham Nolan. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Format | One-shot |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | 1996 |
| No. of issues | 1 |
| Main character(s) | The Joker Batman Robin James Gordon |
| Creative team | |
| Created by | Chuck Dixon Graham Nolan |
| Written by | Chuck Dixon |
| Artist(s) | Graham Nolan |
| Inker(s) | Scott Hanna |
| Letterer(s) | John Constanza |
| Colorist(s) | Pat Garrahy |
| Editor(s) | Scott Peterson |
| Collected editions | |
| The Joker : Devil's Advocate | ISBN 1-56389-240-5 |
The Joker : Devil's Advocate is an American one-shot superhero comic book written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by Graham Nolan, published by DC Comics in 1996.[1] Several recurring characters of the Batman family appear in the story, such as Robin, James Gordon, Barbara Gordon, and Alfred Pennyworth.
Plot summary
The United States Postal Service issues a commemorative series of stamps featuring some of the great comedians in American history. The Joker, greatly disgruntled by the fact that no stamp was printed in his name, vandalizes the post office. Subsequently, a succession of deaths occurs in Gotham City as a result of licking the back of the stamps, and the Joker's gruesome grin is drawn on the victims' faces. The Joker is caught by Batman and Robin while attempting to rob the post office's vault. The District Attorney seeks to hold the Joker responsible of all the crimes, and the Clown Prince of Crime is eventually found guilty, being sentenced to death for the first time after many inane attempts to get away with an insanity plea. The Joker is offended of being accused of a ludicrous crime, citing that a mastermind like him would operate on a much smarter level, and therefore considers himself innocent. However, Batman is convinced as well that he is guiltless, and aims to prove it.
A scrap of paper is found, with a partial address on it. After finding out that it is a storage container, the police break in and finds a hoard of Joker venom. Further investigation leads to the discovery of a man linked to the storage company, who happened to be the husband of a former victim. As he is questioned by the police, he confesses everything, holding himself responsible for the crimes, and the Joker receives a pardon from the Governor seconds before being electrocuted. As the story ends, the Joker is seen in Arkham Asylum, expressing his joy at being alive, only to be shattered when Batman informs him that it is due to his investigation. The issue ends with a series of stamps, with the Joker's face on one of them.
Characters
- Batman
- Robin
- The Joker
- James Gordon
- Alfred Pennyworth
- Barbara Gordon
- Harvey Bullock
- Renee Montoya
- Billy Pettit
- Sarah Essen-Gordon
- Stan Kitch