• Airdate: September 22, 1992
• Director: Kevin Altieri
• Writer: Carl Swenson

     On April Fool's Day, The Joker uses a barge carrying trash soaked with laughter gas to, well, gas the people on the streets of Gotham. Bruce hears of it on the radio and makes his way to the scene while Joker struts the streets looting stores. Batman, working off a sample, learns that the gas will leave people with permanent insanity if they are exposed to it for a prolonged period of time. Unfortunately, Alfred also finds himself a victim of the gas.
     Batman arrives by Batboat to the barge Joker and his henchmen are on, fighting the human ones off before coming into conflict with Captain Clown, Joker's android. Batman is almost drowned whilst being locked in a barrel, but escapes and makes his way to the junkyard that Joker and his goons are at. After taking out the henchmen and Captain Clown once and for all, he follows The Joker inside, avoiding giant gears and molten metal as he makes his way towards the villain.
     The Joker almost escapes using a garbage chute, swinging across the fire of the incinerator that Batman almost falls into. Joker is finally cut off by Batman on a walkway and begins to throw razor sharp cards at him, which Batman is able to avoid. Joker attempts to get away and almost ends up falling into the fire below, begging for Batman to save him, who teases him by resting on the guardrails and contemplating it before saving him.
     At home, Alfred is cleaning up the priceless vase he broke while under the effects of the gas. He's upset that he had broken such an expensive piece of Bruce's, who tells him that everything will be fine and he will just take it out of Alfred's salary, before following it up with "April Fool's."

     Exploring The Joker again very soon after his debut episode, oddly in another holiday themed episode, The Last Laugh is an enjoyable if lighthearted and forgettable episode in the line-up the series has. It's fun for what it is, but doesn't necessarily have much that would make you want to revisit it in the future. The main reason a lot of people may unexpectedly remember this episode is because it's the one that gives us 'Captain Clown.' Though Captain Clown itself isn't much to write home about as a secondary villain in the episode (the android feels like a way to have Batman get a bit more destructive/violent with a henchmen without censors up-in-arms about Batsy beating the holy heck out of a human), it is memorable simply for the fact that it leads to an absolutely great and hilarious reading from Mark Hamill.

     Though it is a fun episode which may not beg for a re-watch, there are still quite a few things to point to as being really great.
     The plot is quintessential 'classic' Joker, gassing the citizens of Gotham so that he could leisurely stroll the streets and rob stores without hassle, all while spouting quite a few shopping puns. The Joker doesn't quite straddle that line between jokester and murderous psychopath he does in Christmas With The Joker here, but it still captures the atmosphere of some of the most standout Joker tales from the 60's era of comics. He can be, and is, extremely dangerous, but he does balance it with, well, his namesake.
     There is one fantastic moment that does showcase his more bloodthirsty side in the episode. After locking Batman in a trashcan that locks down, he proceeds to make sure Batman has 'air holes' by viciously stabbing at the drum.

     The episode marks the debut of Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred, and he fits into the role with ease. I think I may have mentioned it already, but it's worth here considering their back and forth in the episode; Bruce and Alfred were always some of my favourite parts of the series, and one that I will revisit down the line.
     To a lesser extent, this episode also brings forth the first appearance of Batman's awesomely designed Batboat.
     Not to mention, the sinister yet playful theme playing throughout the episode is absolutely amazing.

     The Last Laugh holds a lot of action in its 22-minute runtime, with one particular moment near the end, with Batman escaping near death in flames, being wonderfully animated. With some great touches in animation, there is also an absolutely beautiful and unnerving shot of The Joker here, sitting atop compacted metal on a conveyor belt, grinning sinisterly while awaiting Batman. It's the image I used above, and while it has its impact simply from the screenshot, seeing it in motion with the shadows passing his face is a must.

     The Last Laugh would make a good back-to-back watch with Christmas With The Joker. Both are fun and enjoyable, but aren't episodes that really stay with you for long afterwards as a whole. They don't have the depth and gravitas of some of the most acclaimed episodes of the series, but they're also not ones you would regret watching at all. Just like Christmas With The Joker, The Last Laugh is a fun romp pitting Batsy against Joker.

     If that makes it hard for you to decide if it's worth watching just to relax with, remember that this is also episode that gave us that magical still of Batman.

Great Lines and Moments
* The establishing shot of Wayne Manor, that makes it look like it has the bat-ears, is fantastic.*
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(after Batman destroys Captain Clown)
Joker: "You killed Captain Clown… you killed Captain Clown!"
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*Joker runs towards Batman near the end when he has the option to run the opposite way. Come on, man.*
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* The Joker tosses some extremely sharp Joker 'cards' at Batman, with him catching one right out of the air, like a boss. Because he's Batman.*
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* The floor/mirroring shot of Alfred picking up the broken vase in the final scene is also fantastic.*