Story: "The Killing Joke" (22 Pages)

Credits:

Alan Moore (plot, script)
Brian Bolland (pencils, inks)
Richard Starkings (letters)
John Higgins (colors)
Dennis O'Neil (edits)

Feature Character:

Batman (also appears in flashback)

Supporting Characters:

Alfred Pennyworth
James Gordon
Barbara Gordon (last in in flashback in Batman Annual #13; next in Batman Chronicles #5)
Harvey Bullock

Villains:

Joker (last in Justice League International Annual Vol. 1 #2; next in Batman #426; also appears as the Red Hood in flashback; see Comment)
Two-Face
Penguin

Other Characters:

Colleen Reece (behind the scenes; a friend of Barbara's)

Comment: The Joker's origin is told in flashback. However, whether or not this is his true origin has yet to be revealed. Only that he was known as the Red Hood and fell into a vat of chemicals that transformed him into the Joker is known for a fact.

Synopsis:

The Joker tries to break James Gordon's spirit by shooting his daughter, taking nude photos of her and kidnapping the commissioner, forcing him to look at the pictures of Barbara over and over again. His attempts to drive the commissioner mad are unsuccessful. When Batman arrives on the scene, Gordon insists that the Joker must be brought in by the book, though all three men acknowledge that in all probability either Batman or Joker will kill the other in the end.