E78: The Killing Joke

The Killing Joke is the third episode of Batman: Shadow War's season seven. It is a Joker episode.

Plot
Batman and Batgirl are seen investigating a warehouse with illegal shipments headed by Sal Maroni and Sofia Falcone, who are dealing contraband including weapons, stolen goods, drugs, etc. The duo intervene and Sofia gets away, but Maroni along with his men stay to fight and Harvey Dent and James Gordon is notified. Batman and Batgirl work together to take down Maroni's mobsters and Maroni tries to take as much of the crates as he can before his hand is hit by a Batarang and Maroni shoots at Batgirl, pinning her down while shooting and wounding Batman.

Batman tells Batgirl to wait for backup and the cops arrive, with Harvey Dent manages to disarm and take down Maroni before arresting him, as well as the police officers arresting his men as well. Batman and Batgirl and Harvey talk while Batman treats his wound, with Harvey thanking him for the assist and then Gordon receives a call on another crime, so the duo go to the scene of the crime and Harvey tells the cops to head there as well as taking Maroni away.

Batman and Batgirl finds Joker and Harley Quinn at the Gotham Gazette, taking everyone hostage. Joker tortures Jack Ryder while Harley is messing around with Vicki Vale, so Batman and Batgirl break in and fight the two villains. When Joker tries to murder Batgirl, he discovers she's Barbara Gordon from a slip off her mask. Joker grins at his discovery and then escapes after trying to blow up the gazette with dynamite.

After this, Joker tracks Barbara to her house dressed up in holiday clothes with a camera and a loaded gun along with two thugs while having flashbacks of his possible origins. After this, Joker shoots Barbara through her spine to paralyze her from the waist down while his thugs beat up and capture Gordon. After taking some photos, Joker and his men take Gordon away and leave Barbara.

Batman visits Barbara in hospital and is notified that Gordon has been kidnapped by Joker. Meanwhile, Gordon is seen being psychologically tortured by the Circus of Strange and the two clownish criminals. Finally, Joker places Gordon in a cage and everyone laughs at his pain. Batman arrives to save Gordon, defeating the Circus of Strange and rescuing the commissioner, who has the cops called and wants Batman to bring him in and make him pay for what he did.

After easily defeating Harley, Batman pursues Joker throughout the theme park until they confront each other in the tunnel of love. The two have an violent and brutal battle, with Batman managing to disarm Joker of both his gun and knife, then manages to knock out Joke after deciding to spare his life for his horrific actions. With Gordon and Barbara reuniting while Batman is watching, Joker is seen badly beaten and Aaron Cash takes him to his cell in Arkham Asylum where he smiles.