I.III BATMAN II
BATMAN: THE LAST LAUGH (2010)
Greg Capullo, DC Comics ©
Logline
Freed once again from the confines of Arkham Asylum, The Joker is going to use Gotham City’s police commissioner Jim Gordon, and his daughter Barbara, to prove a deranged point. Batman teams up with a new vigilante, Black Canary.
Source Material
Batman: The Killing Joke
Plot Summary
Commissioner Gordon activates the Bat-Signal on the roof of the G.C.P.D. Batman arrives shortly after. When he does, he hands him a forensic report on bodies found in an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Gotham. The report is by Barry Allen of the C.C.P.D. Looking over the report, Batman concludes that the crime fits The Joker's M.O, though last they checked, he was still locked up in Arkham. When Batman returns to the Batmobile in crime alleyway, he discovers a young boy stealing the car tires.
Batman pursues the young boy to a rundown apartment. When he discovers the boy is an orphan and living on the streets, he contacts Leslie Thompkins, an old colleague of Bruce's father who helped him through the trauma and grief of his parents passing. Leslie agrees to take Jason in, giving the boy a full medical checkup.
Afterwards, Batman decides to pay The Joker a visit in Arkham. He sits opposite him in his cell and attempts to reason with him, convince him to resolve their never-ending feud and get the help he desperately needs. The Joker remains silent. Batman realises something isn't right as he begins to interrogate him. This person is not The Joker. He's escaped from Arkham Asylum.
Commissioner Gordon is having dinner with his daughter Barbara in his apartment. Barbara tries to convince her father to let her join the police force but he rejects the idea. As they finish eating there's a knock on the front door. Barbara answers it and is greeted by The Joker. A gun in one hand, and a camera in the other. She turns to run and warn her father but The Joker shoots her in the back. Before Gordon can do anything, two of The Joker's goons enter and restrain him. The Joker pistol whips Gordon, knocking him unconsciousness. The goons leave with Gordon as The Joker takes photos of Barbara who's in a state of distress, who then departs himself.
The Joker sets up shop in Amusement Mile, a derelict part of Gotham City. He reminisces on his past as a labourer at Ace Chemicals, a processing plant, before pursuing a career as a stand-up comedian, which he failed miserably at. Out of desperation, he agrees to help several criminals rob Ace Chemicals in a bid to support his pregnant wife. However, she tragically passes away and his criminal associates strong-arm him into committing the robbery. It goes awry and results in him falling into a vat of toxic chemicals which bleaches his skin white, stains his lips red, and dyes his hair green. The trauma drives him insane and is what leads to him becoming The Joker.
Batman arrives at Gordon's apartment to inform him of The Joker's escape but arrives to find Barbara paralysed and bleeding badly. He rushes her to the hospital as she explains what happened and how The Joker has abducted her father. Once she's admitted to the hospital, Batman returns to Gordon's apartment to look for clues regarding The Joker's whereabouts. He's interrupted by Black Canary, a new vigilante in Gotham City. She states that she's a friend of Barbara's and wants to help bring The Joker to justice.
Batman is initially reluctant to work with Black Canary, but after a brief scuffle between the two, she proves that she can handle herself. He agrees to partner up with her. Meanwhile, The Joker has Gordon chained up as an attraction and presents him with pictures of his daughter, paralysed and badly wounded. When the Gordon demands to know why The Joker is doing this, he responds that deep down everybody is as insane as he is, and that all it takes is just one bad day.
While Batman looks for clues regarding The Joker's whereabouts, Black Canary, in her civilian guise, Dinah Lance, visits Barbara at the hospital. She comforts her friend who is still processing the trauma. Dinah mentions her friend who is a physiotherapist, Dr. Kinsolving, who'll be able to help Barbara through her rehabilitation process. As they're talking, Barbara notices the bat-signal lit up in the sky out the window. Dinah dons her costume and heads toward the G.C.P.D. where she meets with Batman, Sgt. Bullock and Det. Lance on the building's rooftop.
Bullock hands Batman tickets for Amusement Mile which arrived in a Jack-in-the-Box on the department's front desk. Batman and Black Canary make their way to Amusement Mile in the Batmobile while Bullock and Lance lead a squad of police. The pair are greeted by The Joker and his goons. Black Canary subdues the goons as Batman pursues The Joker through the theme park. The G.C.P.D. arrive soon after and assist Black Canary. Once all of The Joker's goons are incapacitated, Black Canary searches for Gordon, who she finds confined and in a high state of mental stress. Black Canary rescues Gordon from his confinement and comforts him about Barbara, informing him that she's alive, and she's going to be okay. She's able to calm him as Bullock arrives with a medical team to escort him to the hospital.
Batman mercilessly beats The Joker. It's only when Black Canary and Bullock intervene that he stops, telling him that if he kills The Joker, then the madman wins. That it needs to be done by the book. Batman relents. He escorts The Joker back to Arkham Asylum. On the way there, Batman attempts to reach out to him to put a stop to their endless conflict, offering to rehabilitate him. The Joker declines and instead tells Batman a joke which reflects their situation. Batman installs his own security measures in The Joker's cell at Arkham.
Post Credits
Bruce returns to Wayne Manor and asks Alfred how Jason is doing. Alfred tells him to see for himself. Bruce and Alfred enter the Batcave to see Jason Todd training to become the new Robin.
Cast
Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War) … Bruce Wayne aka Batman
Tom Hiddleston (Thor) … The Joker
Scarlett Johansson (Iron Man 2) … Dinah Lance aka Black Canary
Elizabeth Olsen (Avengers: Age of Ultron) … Barbara Gordon
Michael Douglas (Ant-Man) … Commissioner Gordon
Aaron Johnson (Avengers: Age of Ultron) … Jason Todd
John C. Reilly (Guardians of the Galaxy) … Sgt. Bullock
Alexis Denisoff (The Avengers) … Det. Larry Lance
Laura Haddock (Guardians of the Galaxy) … Jeannie
Margy Moore (Iron Man 2) … Leslie Thompkins
Anthony Hopkins (Thor) … Alfred Pennyworth
