Testifying in his own defense, Jack Napier articulates how he didn’t receive proper treatment because he was a super-criminal. The police didn’t submit proper evidence or paperwork due to Joker’s unstable mental condition. He argues that the gatekeepers of Gotham needed a villain like him so that they could extract more money from the city. Jack Napier is released and becomes something of a symbol for protester on mistreatment of minorities.

Jack arrives at his old hangout and finds Harley waiting for him. Harley wants to put the makeup back on Napier but he wants to talk. Jack apologizes to Harley for all the unhealthy behavior, thanks her for the support and asks her to marry him. Ironically Harley thinks he’s acting crazy and starts punching and kicking him. Until she is stopped by the older version of Harley Quinn with the red and black jester outfit. Harleen Quinzel helps the bloodied and bruised Jack out the door and to her house.

Victor Fries, Mr. Freeze, is staring at his wife who is in a state of cryogenic freeze. Victor and Bruce Wayne start an experiment with mice on reversing the “Freeze-Tech”. Barbara is enamored with the adorable mice. Before seeing the results of their experiment Mr. Freeze removes his helmet. He suffers from an immediate aging for all the time he spent in frozen suspension. Adding to his misery they don’t have a cure for his wife’s disease so she will remain in a state of suspension.

Harley takes Jack home to her modest apartment. Jack is shocked that he didn’t know there were two Harley Quinns. Harley explains how he didn’t notice with a full diagnosis. She tells him about how they fell in love and the thrill of being with the Joker. She relays how she was competing with Joker’s obsession for Batman and how she came to understand that she wasn’t the object of his affection.

She came home and found a beaten and bloodied Robin in the basement. Harley saved Robin but in that moment realized that Joker was jealous of Robin because he was closer to Batman. Harley showed Batman where Robin should be but he was gone. Jack cannot remember if he killed Jason Todd and no one else knows. Jack wants to save Gotham from corrupt politics and vigilantism and he wants Harley to help him.

At a 1% fundraising event, one of the event attendees, Pierce, is being investigated as one of Jack Napier’s gatekeepers. On the television Napier and Harley talk about their settlement for Batgate and how they are donating it to build a library for Backport. Jack Napier accuses Batman of being the enforcer for the wealthy. Pierce confirms that he is taking advantage of Batman’s war on crime and has made millions. Bruce Wayne is livid and punches out his bodyguard and Pierce.

In an area by the docks, Jack Napier and Harleen Quinzel have a meeting with the super criminals. Jack suggests that they work together to beat Batman and the GCPD and that he lead the group, they disagree on all counts. There was a bigger plan than mere words. Mr. Napier stole Mad Hatter’s top hat and he uses a dissolved form of Clayface to boost the mind control. The entire super-criminal underworld is now under his control.
- Ron C.

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