Writer: Bob HallPlot: After becoming a fan-favourite on national television, the Joker declares that he will commit suicide, as the ultimate step in his rehabilitation.
Hall's take on a lucid Joker continues to excite, as the mini ends in almost the same way it began - with a joke. Quick and painless, unless you were one of the unlucky few in the Joker's audience, throughout the series.
The only problem here is that Hall plays up the ratings-crazed media types a bit too much. Barry Dancer went from an egocentric guy in the first two books to a grovelling coward. I mean, I'm sure I'd turn as pale as the Joker, himself, if I was unlucky enough to get caught by him, but if I had Barry's character, I sure wouldn't prostrate myself to the point of licking the top (and bottom!) of the Joker's shoes.
Renata Englander, the woman with supposed psychiatric tendencies, also gives in a bit too easily, figuring she could get exclusive documentary rights to the Joker, as well as her own talk show. Well, at least for a few seconds, she got her final wish.
Cassandra Hahn, the Barry Dancer Show's producer, is the only one whose fascination with the Joker is believable, because he's romanced her on more than one occasion.
The story moves along quite well, where Batman goes on the comedy circuit as stale comic Oscar Bunbury. Unfortunately for Batman, his impersonation of Bunbury is a little too good, and as the Joker expected, his mortal foe shows up to spoil the fun.
This mini would have been great, except for the fact that Hall changed Barry and Cassandra into goofy villains. I have enough gumption to say that even Kite-Man could take them down. Well, he'd probably bust a nail, but he'd get the job done.
Despite this somewhat disappointing ending, it's still an excellent Joker tale on the whole, and a great look at how well his character can be done as a convincing comedic genius.
