Story: "The Great Pretender" (18 Pages)

Credits:

James Robinson (plot, script)
Christian Alamy (pencils, inks)
Ken Bruzenak (letters)
Judy Johnson (colors)
Dennis O'Neil (edit consults)
Neal Pozner (edits)

Feature Character:

Joker (last in Detective Comics #664)

Villains:

The Joker's goons

Other Characters:

King Joker
Batman (products of the Joker's imagination)

Note: Story continues in the next issue

Synopsis:

The Joker and his goons have given Gotham City a lovely gift - they have dosed some newborns with enough Joker toxins to give them his trademark grin, but not enough to kill them. They make their escape through the corridors of the hospital, and all of a sudden, the Joker wakes up... He is actually Joe White, a perfectly normal man in a Gotham City ruled by King Joker. But surely HE is the Joker? He gets himself up in Joker-like make-up, kills his wife, and makes his way to Castle Arkham to confront the King of Gotham, discovering him to be a huge, monstrous beast about to do battle with a predatory-looking Batman.

Second Story: "State of Seige Part One" (10 Pages)

Credits:

Len Wein (plot, script)
Tom Tenney (pencils)
Mike Christian (inks)
Bob Lappan (letters)
Buzz Setzer (colors)
Neal Pozner (edits)

Feature Character:

Gunfire (last in Bloodbath #2)

Supporting Characters:

Ben Nakashima
Yvette DuBois

Villains:

Dominion (Dominique DuChamp)
Oblivion Front (first appearance of all)

Other Characters:

André
Marcel (security guards at Van Horn Industries; first appearance; die)

Note: Story continues in the next issue

Synopsis:

Andrew Van Horn demonstrates his new-found powers to his colleagues at Van Horn Industries. Soon after this, they come under attack from a terrorist group called the Oblivion Front, led by Dominion, a former Van Horn employee. It seems this group is after the weapons that Andrew's father had amassed - a large collection of very powerful killing devices.

Third Story: "The Wall of Souls" (10 Pages)

Credits:

Walter Simonson (plot, script)
Jose Garcia Lopez (pencils, inks)
Gloria Vasquez (colors)
Bert C. Workman (letters)
Neal Pozner (edits)

Feature Characters:

Metron (last in ...; next in Zero Hour: Crisis In Time! #4)
Orion (last in ...; next in ...)

Villain:

Ligea (first appearance)

Synopsis:

Metron observes some interesting events at the Wall of Souls which surrounds the Source. Orion is tricked by one of those bound to the wall, who tries to use him to escape. But the Mother Box is able to help Orion, and he is safe.