Story: "Wildcard!" (22 Pages)

Credits:

Marv Wolfman (plot, script)
Jim Aparo (pencils)
Mike DeCarlo (inks)
Adrienne Roy (colors)
John Costanza (letters)
Dan Raspler (associate edits)
Denny O'Neil (edits)

Feature Character: Batman

Supporting Characters:

Tim Drake (next in Detective Comics #618)
Alfred Pennyworth
James Gordon
Dana Hanrahan (last in issue #444)
Vicki Vale (last in Detective Comics #613; next in issue #455)

Villains: Curtis Base ("the Joker", first appearance)
Joker
Gag
Pun (Base's henchmen)

Other Characters: Judge William Patricks (deceased)
Yodo (a Japanese associate of Bruce Wayne)
Marty (Base's aide, dies)

Synopsis:

A series of gag-based murders takes place in Gotham, and the chief suspect - the Joker - is soon spotted at the scene of one of the crimes. However, both Batman and Commissioner Gordon begin to suspect this could be the work of a copycat. Elsewhere, the Joker fumes at the misuse of his name and image, while the true culprit, businessman Curtis Base, begins to exhibit signs of insanity.