Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight # 145 2001 NM-

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #145 (published in July 2001 with a September 2001 cover date) is the explosive conclusion to the acclaimed four-part "The Demon Laughs" crossover storyline. Written by veteran scribe Chuck Dixon with pencils by legendary artist Jim Aparo, this issue features a famous, highly debated moral dilemma involving Batman's worst enemy.

The Plot

• The Joker is Dead: Picking up from the previous issue's cliffhanger, an alliance between Ra's al Ghuland the Joker has fallen apart. After the Joker attempted a double-cross, Ra's al Ghul shot him and left him to die. By the time Batman arrives, the Clown Prince of Crime has officially expired. 
• A Dip in the Pit: Batman realizes that the Joker is the only one who knows the final phase of Ra's al Ghul's global eco-terror plot. Left with no other choice to save the world, Batman drags his archenemy's corpse into a nearby Lazarus Pit to resurrect him.
• The Sane Joker: The magical, chemical waters of the Lazarus Pit temporarily heal the Joker's fractured mind, restoring him to temporary, lucidity and sanity. Wracked with sudden remorse and a clear mind, the sane Joker cooperates, providing Batman with the telemetry needed to track down the threat.
• Thwartering the Demon: Armed with the data, Batman travels to Antarctica to intercept Ra's al Ghul's submarine, destroying a deadly biological agent before it can be deployed. As the issue closes, the pit's temporary effects wear off. The Joker reverts back to his standard, manic psychosis, and Batman drops him back off at Arkham Asylum. 

Core Themes

• The Ultimate Moral Trade-Off: The issue forces Batman into a dark corner. To save millions of innocent lives, he must actively save the life of the person who has caused him the most personal torment, highlighting his absolute, unyielding dedication to human life.
• The Tragedy of Sanity: The brief window of a "sane" Joker serves as a haunting piece of psychological horror. It shows that beneath the clown makeup and laughter is a deeply broken man who is completely horrified by his own actions when forced to view them through a normal moral lens.