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BATMAN

BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #54 August 2004 [$2.95] Cover Credit: Lee Bermejo (art)

Story: "Pushback. Book Five" (30 Pages)

Credits: A.J. Lieberman (plot, script); Al Barrionuevo and Javier Pina (pencils); Francis Portela and Jimmy Palmiotti (inks); Clem Robins (letters); Brad Anderson (colors); Nachie Castro (assistant edits); Matt Idelson (edits)

Feature Characters: Batman (also in flashback to the night the Joker became the Joker), Robin III

Villains: Riddler (also in flashback prior to his career as the Riddler), Joker's henchmen, Joker (also in flashback to origin), Penguin; Oliver Hammet (a corrupt policeman appears in flashback only)

Guest Appearance: Green Arrow I

Other Character: Jeannie (the Joker's wife, dies in flashback)

Comment: Joker's possible remembrance of the past from The Killing Joke is implicitly declared canonical by this issue

Comment: Story continued from previous issue and continues in the next issue

Synopsis:

Plans to keep the Riddler safe are advanced, as the Joker reveals to Penguin just why the name Oliver Hammet means so much to him. Twelve years ago, he and his wife were about to have a child, but he was pressured by a criminal gang to help them with a break-in to a chemical plant. In the midst of this break-in (disguised in an opaque red hood), he encountered Batman and plunged into a vat of chemicals, being physically altered. And when he staggered home, he discovered that his wife had died in an explosion. And now he learns that Edward Nigma had witnessed corrupt police officer Oliver Hammet set the fire and ensure the woman died. Now that the Joker knows who killed his wife, he wants nothing more than to find the man and kill him.