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In Batman Comics (1939-Present)

Hondo

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HONDO'S HISTORY #5: Batman Vol. 1 #5 Mar. 1941

Comics

batman

Comicbooks

DC Comics

DC Universe

Writer: Bill Finger
Cover Artists: Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson
Bruce Wayne and his ward Dick Grayson ponder about how quiet it has been since the apparent death of the Joker. Bruce then states that he really must be dead because they hadn't heard from him in a while. Meanwhile at the docks, a small boat carrying three people passes by a figure in the water desperately calling for help. They initially don't care to help but one of the men in the boat flashes a light on the person revealing him to be the Joker! They then rescue the Joker taking him back to an old abandoned factory, they introduce themselves as the the Queenie, Diamond Jack, and lastly Clubsy. The Joker questions the trio on their intentions, not to rescue him at first, and asks them what they were up to. They reveal to him that they are diamond smugglers and their reason for rescuing him was so that he could come up with a new racket for them.

The Joker comes up with new names for them: Black Queen, Jack of Diamonds and King of Clubs and he organizes a gambling ship in which they would take their guests' money at the gambling tables as well as stealing their jewels at night.

Two months later, Dick Grayson questions Bruce Wayne while he is shaving, whether or not he would go to check out the gambling ship called "The Deck". Bruce replies that he will, as he has his suspicions, as well as the recent report of recurring robberies. Later that evening, Bruce Wayne suspiciously analyzes the ship, while putting on the front of a bored playboy, he then dances with the Black Queen for a moment, but then goes out to the Deck of the ship to smoke. In the corner of the ship he overhears the plans of the four, planning to rob the empty Logan yacht later that night.

Bruce is discovered and then hit over the head by the King of Clubs and thrown off the ship. The Joker tries to shoot him, eliminating any chance of him being alive. They all assume he is dead but in reality the Joker's shot missed and Bruce only pretended to be shot. A soaking wet Bruce Wayne climbs out onto the wharf, he then goes to his apartment to acquaint Dick Grayson with what he has discovered. The two race to the Logan yacht as Batman and Robin in the Batmobile. They find the Joker, Black Queen, Jack of Diamonds, and King of Clubs looting the boat. The Joker escapes in his car with Batman following in the Batmobile, as Robin stays behind to fight the trio. As Batman chases the Joker on a narrow road, he is tricked by the Joker into falling off a cliff. Meanwhile the Joker arrives back at the Logan yacht, where the trio had captured Robin. They have also discovered while searching that Robin had a wireless communicator in his Utility Belt, enabling him to contact Batman. Doubting that Batman had died from falling off the cliff, the Joker contacts him using Robin's communicator. Batman is discovered to be alive and the Joker tells him to meet him back at the Logan Yacht unless he wants anything bad to happen to Robin.

Batman shows up and the Joker tells him to have a seat and the two play cards. The Joker cheats and Batman takes the chance to attack the Joker, putting the room into a frenzy. The Joker then escapes but not before double-crossing his partners and setting the ship on fire. The Black Queen, knowing that Batman is Bruce Wayne, shoots The Jack of Diamonds to save Bruce, but ends up dead herself when the Jack of Diamonds repays the favor by shooting her before he dies. As a last request, Batman and the Black Queen kiss and she then dies in his arms. Batman and Robin escape the ship, going after the Joker who goes into the Light House, he is defeated there and then pushed into the fast roaring water from the catwalk of the Light House by Robin.

Link preview image for Bruce Wayne (Earth-Two)

Bruce Wayne (Earth-Two)

The Batman (real name Bruce Wayne) was a tireless, courageous, and honorable crimefighter operating out of Gotham City. Having acted as a member of the Justice Society of America and fought various criminals in his own city for many years, he also trained...

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