Countdown Presents the Search For Ray Palmer: Crime Society – Issue 1

As the Jokester and the Challengers From Beyond battle the Crim Society on Earth 3 (as shown in Countdown #31) the Jokester thinks back on his life.As a failed stand-up comedian, his life was in trouble until he met a girl called Eve with whom he fell in love. She vanished, however, and his life returned to normal until he saw his manager killed by Owlman of the Crime Society. He chose Owlman to be his comedic foil and began telling jokes about him until he became successful. Owlman eventually confronted him and mutilated his face, inadvertently turning him into the Jokester. As the Jokester, he battled Owlman and his sidekick Talon until hemet the Riddler Family and discovered not only was Eve actually one of three personalities that made up Three-Face, but that she had had a daughter, Duela, who – on meeting the Jokester – calls herself the Joker’s Daughter.Becoming part of the Riddler Family, the Jokester’s life was eventually turned on its head when Duela introduced them to her boyfriend who turned out to be Talon. Losing his temper, the Jokester disowned Duela who left with Talon; moments later the Crime Society attacked, killing the Riddler and mutilating Three-Face. Back in the present, the battle with the Crime Society ends with Jokester leaving with the Challengers From Beyond, unknowingly watched by Three-Face who had survived the attack.