Crime has learned my name, and it has recoiled. 
- — Batman
Batman Confidential #7 is an issue of the series Batman Confidential (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 2007.
Synopsis for "Lovers & Madmen (Part I) - It's Funny"
After operating as the Batman for nearly a year, Bruce Wayne has nearly perfected his crime fighting technique. He has cultivated a reputation for himself and the crime rate in Gotham City has dropped significantly.
As Bruce Wayne, he attends a special exhibition of Picasso's "Harlequins" at the Gotham Museum of Modern Art. There he meets curator Lorna Shore. That evening, Batman consults with Captain Gordon about a bizarre break-in at Kirsch's Diamonds.
Jack drowns his sorrows out at a local pub where he strikes up a conversation with Leena. His current line of work doesn't yield him the amount of excitement that he feels it should. He tells Leena he's a securities broker, but in reality, Jack is a bank robber.
That night, Jack and his crew break into a bank, killing several guards. Batman bursts into the room and begins subduing the criminals. Jack smiles, finding Batman "ridiculous."
Appearing in "Lovers & Madmen (Part I) - It's Funny"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Jack
- Mister Berlanti (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Gotham City Police Department
- Harleen "Leena" Quinzel
- Lorna Shore (First appearance)
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Gotham Museum of Modern Art
- Kirsch's Diamonds
- Wayne Manor
- Batcave
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- Includes DC Nation editorial #69 by Jann Jones.
- This issue begins a six-issue story-arc, which gives greater insight into the origin of the Joker.
- The events from this issue take place forty-two weeks after Bruce Wayne first becomes Batman.
- The Joker tells Harley that his name is Jack, but he may have been lying.
- Earliest chronological appearance of the Joker and Harley Quinn.
- Collected in Batman: Lovers and Madmen.
Trivia
- It is revealed that Batman briefly wore the yellow bat-shield on his chest as popularized during the Bronze and Copper Age era of DC's publishing, but he discontinued using it, citing that it was "silly".
- Harley refers to the Joker as "Mister J." for the first time.
- One of the paintings in the museum's Picasso exhibit resembles the Joker.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Joker Recommended Reading
- The Joker (Volume 1)
- The Joker (Volume 2)
- Batman: The Killing Joke
- Batman: The Man Who Laughs
- "Batman: Lovers and Madmen"
- "Batman: A Death in the Family"
- Joker: Devil's Advocate
- Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
- "The Joker's Last Laugh"
- "Superman: Emperor Joker"
- "Superman/Batman: With a Vengeance!"
- The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told
- Joker (graphic novel)