Story: "Soft Targets Part Four" (22 Pages)

Credits:

Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka (plot, script)
Michael Lark (pencils)
Stefano Gaudiano (inks)
Clem Robins (letters)
Lee Loughridge (colors, separations)
Nachie Castro (assistant edits)
Matt Idelson (edits)

Feature Characters:

Lt. Ron Probson (dies)
Cpt. Maggie Sawyer
Det. Renée Montoya
Det. Crispus Allen
Det. Marcus Driver
Det. Josie MacDonald
Det. Eric Cohen
Det. Andi Kasinsky
Det. Tommy Burke
Det. Dagmar Procjnow
Det. Josh Azeveda
Det. Trey Hartley
Det. Romy Chandler
Det. Nate Patton
Sgt. Vincent Del Arrazio
Det. Joely Bartlett
Sgt. Jackson Davies
Det. Nelson Crowe
Comissioner Michael Akins

Supporting Character:

Stacy

Villain:

Joker

Guest Appearance:

Batman

Other Characters:

Angie Molina
Simon Lippman

Comment: Story continued from previous issue

Comment: All sixteen of the major crimes unit detectives are shown, each with their partner, on page 5 of this issue. As an aid to any readers who are unsure which is which, they are, from top to bottom: Allen and Montoya, Driver and MacDonald, Cohen and Kasinsky, Burke and Procjnow, Hartley (with the glasses) and Azeveda, Chandler and Patton, Del Arrazio and Bartlett, Davies and Crowe (with the pipe).

Synopsis:

The Joker is in custody at the Gotham Central precinct, and the people of Gotham return to their Christmas shopping. However, the detectives know that Joker has kidnapped Angie Molina, a barely respected but very high-profile news broadcaster, and plans to kill her in a few hours. They comb likely places, but make little progress until Romy Chandler realises that the most likely place, given the time of year is the stock room of a large toy store. At the precinct, the Joker escapes from his restraints, killing Lieutenant Probson and several uniformed officers, and almost killing Stacy before being shot himself by Captain Sawyer. And across town, Nate Patton attempts to rescue Molina - Batman arrives on the scene and rescues Molina, but Patton is badly injured in the ensuing explosion. Probson is dead, along with several key public figures, Nora Fields is injured, Patton is unconscious, but the Joker soon comes round in hospital. As Sawyer says to the commissioner, that's hardly fair, but it's typical Gotham.