Batman #260

Issue Details

Synopsis

THIS ONE'LL KILL YOU, BATMAN! The Joker breaks out of his cell in Arkham Asylum by poisoning the guards with his Joker Venom. Once free, he tries to escape but is confronted by Batman. However, Joker has released several inmates of the Asylum, forcing Batman to fight them instead of concentrating on capturing the main criminal. While Batman is fighting the inmates, Joker drugs him with a special variation of the Joker Venon, which causes Batman to laugh uncontrollably during times of horror, leaving him helpless in battle. Joker is able to escape and Batman is assisted in the fight against the inmates by Two-Face, who acted after the clean side of his coin came up. Batman also learns that it was Two-Face who gave the anonymous tip about Joker's escape, which is why Batman was able to reach Arkham in order to stop the Joker, even though he failed.  A few hours later, Batman is informed that within the next 72 hours, the drug will make him laugh himself to death unless he can find the one doctor who can save his life before the Joker does. Batman tries to reach one doctor in Gotham City, but the man is murdered by the Joker, forcing Batman to travel to England to find the only other doctor capable of curing him.   Unfortunately, the Joker has reached the doctor first and he forces Batman to struggle against the forced laughter as he tries to save the doctor from being murdered by the Joker, with him as witness. Batman manages to overcome the urge to laugh by thinking of different situations from murder or death and he ultimately manages to stop the Joker and save the doctor. With the Joker captured, the doctor creates an antidote for Batman, curing him of the compulsive laughter. THE GRADE A CRIMES! An "Early Bird" crime wave hits Gotham City during the eerie hours before dawn. As Batman and Robin investigate the crime scenes, they find a pattern; the crimes happen between 3 to 4 a.m., the guard is taken by surprise and shot in the back and only valuable gems are stolen. When the dynamic duo find a white button torn from a white suit at the next heist, they realize the master criminal behind the spree are a group of jewel thief disguised as a milkmen delivery drivers.   Following the criminals to their secret barn hideout, Batman and Robin defeat them and put an end to their crime ring. THE PERFECT CRIME -- SLIGHTLY IMPERFECT! When Kaye Daye, member of the Mystery Analysts of Gotham City is to receive a Sherlock Award for her latest book "The Stars Do Kill", the Mystery Analysts soon become involved in an mysterious attempt on Kaye's life. However, Batman with the help of the others manage to foil this plot and save Kaye before her cousin's hired thugs can murder her and she could cash in on the family inheritance. THE CASE WITHOUT A CRIME! Batman and Robin recall the events that happened once when there was a misunderstanding and they tried to solve a nonexistent crime. THE PEARL OF PERIL! Alfred captures two criminals who operated in restaurants after they pick Alfred's paying check from the table. THE RIDDLER'S PRISON-PUZZLE PROBLEM! Batman receives a notice that a book he has ordered is ready to be picked up at the library. He is immediately suspicious because he never ordered any books. He goes to the library to examine the book with caution when it suddenly explodes. Just as the explosion occurs, the librarian snaps a picture. They develop the picture and find that the explosion revealed a riddle “why is a Diamond like a stew?” Batman deduces that the answer is that they both have Carrots but Karat is a measure used in gold. He also noticed that the author of the book that exploded was Moreland who also happens to be a prominent gold collector in Gotham. Batman arrives at Morelands office and interrupts the Riddler in the middle of a burglary. After a lengthy tussle with the Riddler and his henchmen, Batman apprehends the thieves with the help of Robin. The Riddler is turned over to the authorities but not before he makes a phone call to his bail bondsman who has instructions to arrange his release. The Riddler makes bond and leaves his jail cell. Batman then enters the jail cell to examine it for any clues that Riddler has left behind. He discovers a mirror with writing that appears suddenly. It forms another riddle, “Why is a room filled only with married people like an empty room?” Batman figures that the answer is that it hasn’t a single person in it. He further concludes that the word bachelor is a synonym for a single person. He recalls that he has read about a bachelor Diamond on display at the museum and heads towards the location. He once again interrupts the Riddler and his gang in the middle of a robbery. As the dynamic duo struggles with the gang, they smash containers of glue against their utility belts. They subsequently trap Batman and Robin behind a booby trapped grating gate that has dropped from the doorway trapping them inside. The caped crusaders are helpless since their utility belts are glued shut. The Riddler sets up a final clue outside the grating fence by setting up lettered blocks. The only problem is that the blocks face away from Batman and will be scattered when the booby trapped fence is set off. Batman then uses handfuls of jewels to pick off the blocks and knock them down on the floor in order so they can be read even after the explosion. He then detonates the explosion and finds the blocks on the floor still intact. They form yet another riddle, “Why must a dishonest man stay indoors?” Batman reveals the answer to be “ so no one can ever find him out”. He deduces that the phrase no one can also stand for #1. Robin adds that there is a Canever street outside of town and it fits the address of the Artistic Glass Company. They head to the location where they find the Riddler attempting to steal valuable artistic glass art pieces. Batman and Robin apprehend him once again and turn him over to the authorities.