Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Vol 1 3

"Hunt the Dark Knight": Newly awakened from his catatonia, the Joker has been slowly returning to his mad schemes while still incarcerated. He convinces his psychiatrist, the fame-seeking and Batman-hating [[Bartholomew Wolper (Earth-31)|Dr. Bartho

"Hunt the Dark Knight"
Cover
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Vol 1 #3
August, 1986
Executive Editor	Dick Giordano
Cover Artists	Frank Miller Lynn Varley
Hunt the Dark Knight
Writers	Frank Miller
Pencilers	Frank Miller
Inkers	Klaus Janson Todd McFarlane
Colorists	Lynn Varley
Letterers	John Costanza
Editors	Dick Giordano Dennis O'Neil
Previous Issue	Batman: The Dark Knight Returns # 2
Next Issue	Batman: The Dark Knight Returns # 4

A gun is a coward's weapon. A liar's weapon. We kill too often because we've made it easy... too easy... sparing ourselves the mess and the work.

— Batman

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #3 is an issue of the series Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1986. It was published on May 15, 1986.

Synopsis for "Hunt the Dark Knight"

Newly awakened from his catatonia, the Joker has been slowly returning to his mad schemes while still incarcerated. He convinces his psychiatrist, the fame-seeking and Batman-hating Dr. Bartholomew Wolper, that he is not only sane but regretful. Seeking to discredit Batman, Wolper intends to exhibit the Joker on a late-night show in order to "prove" that the Joker is actually a victim of Batman's own "psychosis". Not pleased with this turn of events, Yindel places a heavy guard on the building. However, she still sees the primary threat as Batman and intends to arrest him if he appears. As the police are occupied with attacking Batman, the Joker murders everyone in the studio with his "smile gas" and escapes. Batman follows him to Selina Kyle's, where the former Catwoman has become a depressed, alcoholic and overweight madame. The Joker uses two of her girls to drive local politicians to suicide. He then beats and dresses Selina Kyle up as Wonder Woman, leaving a clear clue for Batman to follow.

When the police burst into Selina's flat, Batman and Robin escape, but Yindel notices the young sidekick and adds "child endangerment" to the list of charges against Batman. But he then calls her up on her radio to say that it is up to her to rescue the Governor from another Joker threat. Yindel is left lost for words.

With the police on his heels, Batman, accompanied by Robin, tracks the Joker down to a county fair. They arrive too late to prevent the Joker from poisoning to death a group of young Cub Scouts, but Robin is dispatched to prevent the Joker's accomplice from blowing up a rollercoaster loaded with riders. Robin succeeds in getting the bomb clear of the ride on the moment of exploding, but in the fight that follows the Joker's accomplice is killed. Meanwhile, Batman pursues and defeats Joker in a bloody and violent showdown. Throughout the past days, the Batman has been preparing to do what he never could before: kill the Joker and end the cycle of meaningless deaths once and for all. But in the end, he still cannot bring himself to kill his old enemy, stopping himself before fully killing the Joker, leaving him paralyzed instead. The Joker, laughing madly, commits suicide by twisting his own broken neck, intending for the police to charge Batman with murder.

In the meantime, Superman has become an undercover agent for the American government and he travels to Gotham to persuade Batman to keep a low profile. However, tensions with the Soviet Union are reaching a head over U.S. support for a South American country named Corto Maltese, and Superman is called away to "deal with it". Also, the Sons of Batman have begun to make their presence known, taking an even more brutal - and deadly - tack towards criminals than Batman. Despite Batman's non-involvement, the actions of the "SOB's" only incenses the growing anti-Batman forces in the government and media further.

Appearing in "Hunt the Dark Knight"

Featured Characters:

• Batman

Supporting Characters:

• Ellen Yindel
• Robin (Carrie Kelley)
• Selina Kyle
• Superman

Antagonists:

• Bruno
  • Don, Rob
• Joker (Dies)
  • Abner (Dies)

Other Characters:

• Alfred Pennyworth
• Bartholomew Wolper (Dies)
• Commissioner Gordon
• Byron Brassballs
• David Endochrine (Dies)
• Gotham City Police Department
• Green Lantern (Mentioned only)
• Lana Lang
• Michelle
• Red Army
• Reporters
  • Lola Chong
• Ronald Reagan
• Ruth Weisenheimer (Dies)
• Sons of Batman
• Sunflower Standish
• Wonder Woman (Mentioned only)

Locations:

• Earth-31
  • Corto Maltese
  • Gotham City
    • Arkham Asylum
  • Washington, D.C.
    • White House

Items:

• Batarangs
• Joker Venom
• Utility Belt

Vehicles:

• Bat-Copter
• Bat-Glider
• Batcycle
  

Notes

• This series takes place in an alternate continuity from that of the mainstream DC Universe. It has been retroactively classified as an Elseworlds story.
• This issue is reprinted in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: The Dark Knight Saga Deluxe Edition, Absolute Dark Knight, and in black and white in Batman Noir: The Dark Knight Returns.
• Todd McFarlane inked at least one page of this issue.

Trivia

• Dr. Ruth Westheimer appears as one of the guests on the talk show whom the Joker kills.
• The "David Endochrine Show" is a parody of the Late Night with David Letterman.

See Also

• Cover gallery for the Batman: The Dark Knight Returns series
• Images from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Vol 1 3