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"Last Laugh": Jimmy Olsen is in Manhattan on the trail of some high-tech ninjas. Superman guides him from outer space and even helps him gain access to their lair with a subtle dose of heat vision. When Jimmy enters the building, he finds the Re

Quote1 You're a photographer. You have the all-seeing eye on the camera, but your lens cap is still on. You're out of focus! You can't see the big picture! Quote2
Joker

Countdown #50 is an issue of the series Countdown (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 2007.

Synopsis for "Last Laugh"

Jimmy Olsen is in Manhattan on the trail of some high-tech ninjas. Superman guides him from outer space and even helps him gain access to their lair with a subtle dose of heat vision. When Jimmy enters the building, he finds the Red Hood beating down all of the ninja. After the fight concludes, he asks him about the death of Harlequin. The Red Hood doesn't know a lot about the incident, except to say that she was killed by an extraterrestrial humanoid. He further tells him that a second similar alien showed up and fought with the first one. Jimmy doesn't understand why an alien would murder Harlequin without reason. The Red Hood tells him that if is looking for answers to questions beyond reason – he should pay a visit to the Joker.

In Greenwich Village, Mary Marvel visits the curio shop of Madame Xanadu. Bereft of her powers, she asks Xanadu to help her find Freddy Freeman. Xanadu tells her that her future is cloudy, filled with dark clouds. She tells her that she will soon be tested.

In the Batcave, Batman spars with Karate Kid. The Kid insists that his name is Trident (a name once used by a trio of criminals known to plague the New Teen Titans). During the fight, Karate Kid manages to snag Batman's utility belt and pulls it away from him. Black Lightning is present and approaches Karate Kid from behind. He zaps him with a small electrical burst, and the Kid falls to the floor. He then says that Superman must have miscalculated Karate Kid's skill level.

In Keystone City, the Rogues gather around for a small party. Weather Wizard is barely conscious, and Heat Wave is dicing lines of cocaine on a glass coffee table. Mirror Master appears inside the glass and exits the table. The Rogues are still on edge about the presence of the Trickster and the Pied Piper. They feel that these former Rogues have gone soft and are too cozy with the Flash. Mirror Master tells them they require a display of loyalty if they wish to continue associating with them. He says that a meeting is scheduled for the following evening, and concludes by saying, "Oh, an' if yeh don't show up, we'll hunt yeh down and kill yeh".

Later, Jimmy Olsen goes to Arkham Asylum in Gotham City. He visits the cell of the Joker and tells him that his daughter is dead. The Joker feigns being remorseful, then confesses that he doesn't have a daughter. He rambles on about Jimmy's failure to see the "big picture", then lapses into a fit of hysterical laughter. Jimmy begins to walk away from his cell when suddenly Killer Croc appears and looms over top of him.

Appearing in "Last Laugh"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

  • None

Notes

Trivia

  • This issue contains an ad for an upcoming Countdown issue. The ad is a close-up of Red Robin wearing a button that reads, "I Found Ray Palmer".
  • In his cell, the Joker remarks, "Nurse Ratchett won't let me watch the World Series". This is a reference to the 1975 film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which took place at a mental health facility. One of the supporting cast members, Nurse Ratchett, refused to allow inmate R.P. McMurphy (played by Jack Nicholson) to watch the World Series.
  • In the Keystone City scene, Heat Wave remarks, "You both flip-flop more than a Massachusetts senator". His remark is in reference to United States senator John Kerry who ran against President George W. Bush in the 2004 Presidential election. Kerry's opponents often accused him of "flip-flopping" with regards to his voting record in the Senate.


See Also

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