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Ask risible fans the individuality of theJoker’sgreatest foe , and they will truly sayBatman , but while the Dark Knight may be unequaled as a vigilance man , even he ’d let in that the Clown Prince of Crime has tangled with a better investigator - namely , Sherlock Holmes ! In 1976’sThe Joker # 6 , the villain match wit with , and was ultimately bested by , an actor who think he was Sherlock Holmes . The story was write by the fabled Denny O’Neil , with art by Irv Novick and inks by Tex Blaisdell .
Since theJoker ’s first appearance81 years ago inBatman # 1 , he has been the Dark Knight ’s greatest foe , returning with unexampled and even more grotesque schemes every time , severely testing Batman ’s “ no - kill ” normal . In 1976 , the Joker was given his own solo title , which would run for nine issues . The series , written by some of the twenty-four hour period ’s top writers , include Elliot S. Maggin and Dennis O’Neil , saw the Joker either team up with or push other DC baddie ; one memorable issue go out the Joker and Scarecrow confound down over their respective toxin . For issue six , the Joker press themaster detective Sherlock Holmes … sort of .
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The payoff opens at a dress dry run for a Sherlock Holmes stagecoach play . The Joker , like to embarrassallhistory ’s greatest detectives , robs the theater troupe , slipping in cloaked as Moriarty . During the robbery , Clive Sigerson , the actor limn Sherlock , is murder in the head . As a result , Sigerson retrieve he really is Sherlock Holmes - and the Joker is Moriarty . Sigersontakes off after the Joker , but before he leaves , the play ’s theatre director tells a leg mitt to follow the actor , and readers learn the degree handwriting ’s name is Watson ! The distich pursue the Joker , along the means cite several classic Sherlock Holmes stories . Holmes and Watson eventually corner Joker on a racing yacht . Holmes slay the Joker with a high - pressure water torpedo , tap him out and forget him for the government . The result ends on an equivocal note : did Sigerson , as a result of brain damage from the concussion , think he was Sherlock Holmes , or was he genuinely transport the fiber ’s effect spirit ?
Sherlock Holmes was the fine detective of his earned run average , possessing a extremely analytical mind and a keen eye for observation . Holmes was one of the many influence Bill Finger and Bob Kane drew on for the creation of Batman . It is easy to see why the Joker hates Sherlock Holmes - he see so much of Batman in Holmes , he ’s compelled to humiliate him . But more than that , Holmes ’ analytic mind is the antithesis to the chaos the Joker suffer for - the Joker wish to mortify Holmes by reenacting some of his most celebrated stories , but in the conclusion , " Holmes"turned it back on the Joker , which ultimately led to his downfall .
It ’s also possible that the Joker somehow knows thatthe actual Sherlock Holmes- who be in DC Universe canon - has also acted as an ally of Batman , and is chance on out as usual at anyone who the Dark Knight roll in the hay or respects . Sadly forJoker , even an impersonation ofSherlock Holmeswas enough to take him down , showing that while struggle crime does n’t have to mean being a good detective thanBatman , it certainly aid .
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