I’d still love to get this completed with an artist at some point in the future!
*None of the artwork below (except for the title image) belongs to me...
PAGE ONE
Following a series of bizarre child murders and the disappearance of a further ten, Batman (having been previously thrown off the scent by an uprising of Joker copycats) has tracked down the Clown Prince of Crime and attempted to apprehend him in an abandoned swimming baths building, where the Joker has been holding the kidnapped children. Batman, nearing fifty years of age, is alone, with Commissioner Gordon dead (killed, along with several GPD officers, by a bomb that Joker planted in an ice-cream truck outside of a school) and Robin in police custody (successfully framed by Joker for the murder of his first victim).
PANEL ONE
A wide shot of the scene with Joker standing atop a diving board, looking down at Batman (who cannot be seen in this shot) who has fallen down into the empty pool below. Joker holds a cinder block above his head, a frenzied smile on his face.
JOKER - All he wanted was a popsicle, Bats!
PANEL TWO
A close-up of Joker (from below, looking up at his face). His scars, make-up and age (fifty plus) all clearly visible and exaggerated.
JOKER - All he wanted was a popsicle –
And he ended up with his teeth and brains blown clean outta his head!
PANEL THREE
A shot from above, cinder block and Joker’s bony fingers just visible. Batman lies contorted on the tiled surface of the empty pool below, a few ribs cracked and his back severely injured. He appears small from this distance, like an insect.
PANEL FOUR
A closer look at Batman, his body curled into an almost fetus-like position. He grimaces in pain. His mask and suit is slightly burnt and melted due to sulphuric acid that Joker shot from a flower on his lapel, which caused The Dark Knight to lose his balance and fall from the diving board. Barbara Gordon speaks to Batman through radio system – she is offering assistance from back at the Batcave.
ORACLE - Are you okay Bruce?
JOKER - Oh, what fond memories the tinkling tune of an ice-cream truck brings.
DING DING – DONG – DING DING DING – DONG DONG!
PANEL FIVE
The side of Joker’s face, a manic smile showing his discoloured teeth. His eyes gleam as he reminisces, enjoying the moment.
JOKER - The excitement I’d feel as I pushed my way through the other children, my dollar folded tightly in my hand. Gordon must’ve felt somewhat the same.
He thought he had me.
PANEL SIX
Batman has rolled over onto his front and is pushing himself up from the ground. His teeth are clenched together and his cape bunched around his shoulders.
BATMAN - I’ll live.
JOKER - Pushing his way through those GPD officers like I had once pushed through those kids.
Dollar in hand, salivating and shaking, sugar fix coming right up and then –
PAGE TWO
PANEL ONE
Joker is throwing the cinder block down at Batman, his eyes and mouth even wider than before.
JOKER - KABLAMMO!
PANEL TWO
Batman rolls out of the way with a laboured dive as the cinder block hits the ground, smashing to pieces.
JOKER - Gone!
PANEL THREE
A large panel showing a close up of Joker’s head and torso. His hands are open-palmed and up by his face. He is smiling from ear to ear. The desolation of the building can be seen behind him – broken windows and discoloured walls.
JOKER - Wiped off the map. A red stain on the sidewalk. Smoke billowing up from a hole in the ground.
Was almost like watching a cartoon. When the TNT blows up, y’ know?
Half expected him to pull himself up –
Face black with soot, hair standing on end.
But no, he was gone. Him and six GPD officers.
I could see their limbs from the rooftop where I was. They looked like toothpicks.
Popsicle sticks.
PANEL FOUR
Joker is throwing his head back and laughing uncontrollably. His eyes are screwed shut.
JOKER - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
PANEL FIVE
Batman has pushed himself up onto his feet. He is resting his elbows on his thighs and looking down at the ground. Dust from the destroyed cinder block clouds around him
BATMAN - It’s over, Joker.
PANEL SIX
This panel is from the same angle as panel four. Joker’s head is in the exact same position as before, but his manic open-mouth laugh has been replaced by a somber expression. His eyes remain screwed closed.
JOKER - Is it?
Is it really?
PANEL SEVEN
A close-up of Joker’s eyes. His brow is furrowed in anger. His pupils are piercing, cold and dark like two bullet holes.
JOKER - Don’t play the naïve card. We both know it isn’t over.
PAGE THREE
PANEL ONE
A wide shot of Joker, now standing atop the diving board with one leg in the air, balancing precariously on the edge. His arms are out wide, helping him keep his balance.
JOKER - When it comes to cards, you see, I’ve always got one up my sleeve.
Sometimes I’ve got a whole deck!
PANEL TWO
The first full shot of Batman, who is now standing upright and looking up at the Joker. His arms hang down by his side, almost giving him a dejected and tired look. In the background, the kidnapped kids can be seen for the first time – strapped to steel girders in the corner of the empty pool. They are bound and blindfolded, but not much detail can be seen from this distance.
BATMAN - You’ve already killed ten innocent children. Haven’t you done enough?
They don’t have to die as well.
PANEL THREE
Joker is continuing to balance on the diving board, this shot is from the side, again showing much of the architecture of the building. Joker’s long coat flaps behind him.
JOKER - You’re right, Bats. They don’t.
But somebody has to.
ME.
PANEL FOUR
A close-up of Batman’s face, looking up at the Joker, his teeth clenched together in frustration. Too old and too tired for another one of Joker’s games.
PANEL FIVE
An almost mirror image of the previous panel, although this one shows the Joker’s face, teeth also clenched together. Excitement and anticipation.
JOKER - The kids are strapped to steel girders.
Along those girders are pipe-bombs.
Lots of ‘em.
PANEL SIX
Two concrete columns, somewhere in the basement of the building, are shown to be strapped up with C4 explosives. Red blinking lights can be see and it’s clear that there are enough bombs to obliterate the abandoned swimming baths.
JOKER - The rest of the building is rigged to BLOW.
C4.
PANEL SEVEN
A semi close-up showing Joker, head tilted to one side and a gloved finger pointing directly at himself.
JOKER - I know what you’re thinking… Bit advanced for me, right?
No, I didn’t have any help this time. Didn’t call in any favours.
This is all me.
PAGE FOUR
PANEL ONE
A wide shot, showing Batman from the waistline upwards. His face remains the same as the last panel he was shown in.
BATMAN - So what’s the punchline, Joker?
PANEL TWO Joker is spinning around on his one planted foot, his head flying backwards and his mouth wide open. His coat flaps open.
JOKER - HAHAHAHAHA!
You’re so much fun, Bats! Here’s the thing.
PANEL THREE
Joker now has both feet firmly on the diving board. He has turned away from Batman and is walking towards the ladder that will take him down to ground level. This shot shows him from behind.
JOKER - The explosives are linked to a pacemaker in my chest that I had fitted a year or so ago.
Wonderful doctor, so quick and thorough. I’ll have to give you his number.
PANEL FOUR Joker has craned his neck around almost 180 degrees, looking back towards Batman with a sickening smile on his face.
JOKER - Oh wait, I can’t - he’s dead now.
Silly me.
PANEL FIVE
Another shot of Batman, clearly incensed with the Joker. He clenches his fists together.
BATMAN - Joker, I swear to –
PANEL SIX This shot is 1/3 of the page, showing Joker climbing down from the diving board slowly, his hands gripping the rungs of the ladder. He tilts his head to look around the ladder at Batman, who is standing down in the empty pool. Again, he looks small, not so much like an insect but – unworthy. Joker is interrupting him, reveling in the fact that he is angering The Dark Knight.
JOKER - Basically, Bats, unless my heart stops thud-thud-thud then those kiddiewinks go -
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
BATMAN - This isn’t a game, Joker! These are the lives of TEN INNOCENT KIDS!
Ben Errington
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