The Joker #5

Synopsis

The Joker and his gang go against the Royal Flush Gang to steal paintings by Thaddeus Wilde.

Plot

4 AM, a warehouse in Gotham: The Joker and Southpaw break into the warehouse, killing the guard Art and stealing a box marked “Humoresque Novelty Co. Wildewood, Wisconsin.

Later… At the trailer camp, Ho-Home-on-Wheels: Joker and his henchman discuss the latest capper, and that is when Joker notices the newspaper headline that Wildewood is to commemorate the 100^th birthday fo Painter Thaddeus V. Wilde. This gives Joker an idea and the gang rolls out.

24 hours later in the sheriff of Wildewood’s office: The great grandson of Thaddeus Wilde, Arthur Wilde announces himself, and that he has returned to his home town to honor his great grandfather. Arthur explains that he has come to see “The Laughing Man” one of Thaddeus’s rarest paintings. The sheriff informs him that the painting is being delivered the next day and invites Arthur to watch.

Another 24 hours later: Joker’s gang is in the wood just outside of town and it is revealed that Arthur is in fact the Joker in disguise, and he has a plan to steal the painting. While watching the helicopter approach, it unknown to the Joker and the police that the Royal Flush Gang is hiding in the shadows. They quickly take out the police and guards, but they are not prepared for the Joker who steals the painting back and forces the Royal Flush Gang to flee.

Later at the police station, the Joker, again dressed as Arthur explains to his crew that is in fact Arthur Wilde and has been acting as the Joker to get his great grandfather wealth, which is hidden, and the Laughing Man painting is a treasure map. He then sends out a challenge to the Gang to steal the painting before he does.

The whole thing is a trap for the Gang and Joker catches them all and reveals the Laughing Man is just a giant puzzle. He then gets the Gang arrested, taking them out of his way.

Then that night the Joker frees his gang and explains to them that he was never Arthur Wilde. Arthur Wilde was the guard they killed in the warehouse. Joker had found the real Arthur’s diary and discovered where Thaddeus had hidden his treasure days ago and had already stolen it.

Notes

References JLA#43 and Joker #4

Credit is given with card puns: "Martin Pasko --who dealt the script! Irv Novick and Tex Blaisdell--who grand slammed the art! Julius Schwartz-- who shuffled it all a bit! Alfred Bester--who kibbitzed!"