Crime hasn't been all that good to me of late. I've been spending more time in Arkham Asylum than out. 
- — Joker
Batman #426 is an issue of the series Batman (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 1988.
Synopsis for "A Death in the Family (Part I of IV)"
Batman and Robin stake out the warehouse of a child pornography ring awaiting police backup, but Robin rushes in early against Batman's orders. While stopping the criminals, Batman mentally notes Robin's odd, moody behavior of late. After chiding Robin, Bruce returns home to discuss the situation with Alfred and decides to remove his ward from duty effective immediately. Jason overhears and angrily leaves.
Batman is soon called to Arkham Asylum after the Joker escapes. Commissioner Gordon tells the Dark Knight how the Joker used cleaning supplies to make his lethal laughing gas, killing eight men.
The Joker tells his associate Rupert of how his assets were seized during his incarceration, but reveals a cruise missile and launch vehicle in storage he obtained from a military contact. The Clown Prince of Crime decides to sell the weapon to Arab terrorists.
While walking through Gotham City, Jason Todd ends up in Crime Alley and visits his mother's friend, Mrs. Walker. Mrs. Walker gives Jason a box full of personal effects and sends the boy on his way.
Batman surprises Gaspar Taylor, a known associate of the Joker, but knocks him out before he can obtain any information. Searching the criminal's luggage, Batman finds a passport and visa for Lebanon. Over the next few hours, none of the Joker's former henchmen can be found.
While perusing his parents' personal effects, Jason finds his birth certificate with his mother's name marked out and beginning with the letter S. Realizing Catherine Todd was his stepmother, Jason uses his father's address book and the Batcomputer to locate three women that might be his biological mother. He leaves Wayne Manor to begin his investigation.
In the air, the Joker and his gang are en route to Lebanon aboard a stolen Navy cargo plane while Jason Todd is aboard an airliner.
Meanwhile, Batman finds the Joker's hideout and realizes his arch foe has left for Lebanon with a nuclear weapon to replenish his cash flow. Our hero quickly returns to the Batcave where Alfred informs him that Jason has run away. Batman is left with a dilemma: stay in Gotham City and locate Jason or stop the Joker.
Appearing in "A Death in the Family (Part I of IV)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
- Joker
- Rupert
- Gaspar Taylor (Single appearance)
- Two-Face (Flashback only)
- A ring of child pornographers (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Dr. Sheila Haywood (Cameo)
- Sharmin Rosen (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Catherine Todd (Flashback only)
- Willis Todd (Flashback only)
- Mrs. Walker (Single appearance)
- Shiva Woosan (Cameo)
Locations:
- Arkham Asylum
- Batcave
- Crime Alley
- Joker's warehouse hideout
- Wayne Manor
Items:
- Batcomputer
- Geiger counter
- A stolen cruise missile
Vehicles:
- Batmobile
- A stolen cargo plane
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in the Batman: A Death in the Family trade paperback.
- The Joker appeared last in Justice League International (Volume 1) Annual #2.
- Batman refers to the Joker's actions against Barbara Gordon. The Joker shot Barbara in Batman: The Killing Joke.
- Commissioner Gordon tells Batman that he's alerted the Justice League and the Teen Titans to the Joker's escape.
Trivia
- One of the newspapers in Gotham City is the Gotham Post.
- This issue establishes Jason Todd's middle name as Peter.
- One of the personal effects Jason finds is a deed for an acre of land in Virginia.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Detective Comics
Links and References
- Batman: A Death in the Family article at Wikipedia
- Batman article at Wikipedia
- Batman article at Toonopedia
- Batman article at Supermanica
- Batman article at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
- Batman page at DC Comics
- Batman: Yesterday, Today and Beyond
- Batman: The Dark Knight
| A Death in the Family | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part I: Batman #426 | Part II: Batman #427 | Part III: Batman #428 | Part IV: Batman #429 |