Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #68

Issue Details

Synopsis

GOING SANE PART 4 - THE DELUGE! During a harsh thunderstorm in Gotham City, Batman comes face to face with Joker, who is once again holding Councilwoman Elizabeth Kenner hostage. This time Joker called the cops himself and demanded that Batman meet him upon a city rooftop. With a knife to Kenner's throat, Joker tries to blast Batman with a trick violin. Batman is able to get out of the way in time. Joker makes off in a one-man jet pack. Batman uses his Batrope to grab onto him, but Joker cuts the line and heads out to sea.  A flashback shows Joseph Kerr and Rebecca Brown in a quaint little cottage in rural Pennsylvania. Joseph is so happy about Rebecca's acceptance of marriage that he keeps asking her over and over again. His happiness seems almost like lunacy to Rebecca. Once again, he brushes it off as a harmless josh. The couple decides to go for a walk in the rain when they come upon a small brook. Joseph has a map that shows a footbridge somewhere, but when he goes to look for it, he sees Batman's picture in a newspaper with the story proclaiming his return. Joseph proclaims his love for Rebecca again and asks her to stay put while he goes to look for the footbridge. Out of her sight, Joseph jumps into the small river which washes him downstream. When he comes out of the water, the Joker persona has once again taken over him completely.  Present day, Joker now has Kenner on a boat, speaking to her as if they are lovers going on a honeymoon. Batman catches up to them in his own makeshift ski-boat. Joker proclaims that Batman will not take him down and will not take Rebecca away from him, a statement that confuses himself. Batman tells Joker to give Kenner up onto a police helicopter circling the sea. At first, he refuses, but suddenly sees Rebecca's face instead for a split second and finally gives her to the chopper. Joker has his boat wired to explode in thirty seconds and proceeds to leave with his jet pack, but Batman grabs onto him. Unfortunately for both men, the jet pack runs out of gas, and the two are caught in the explosion. Batman is able to grab an unconscious Joker as well as a helicopter ladder, which takes them to safety.  Joseph Kerr is proclaimed missing and presumed dead with no body having ever been found, leaving Rebecca sad and grieving for the love of her life, Joker is locked up in Arkham Asylum, and in the small town of Accord, Dr. Lynn Eagles receives a thank you in the form of flowers from Batman.