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Detective Comics (1937-2011)
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #476
The Joker's big fish story concludes! Batman and Commissioner Gordon race across Gotham City, trying to stay one step of the Joker as his insane scheme to copyright his Joker Fish leads to more mayhem! 'The Laughing Fish' part 2.
19 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1978
About the author
Steve Englehart
1,374 books101 followersSee also John Harkness.
Steve Englehart went to Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. After a stint in the Army, he moved to New York and began to write for Marvel Comics. That led to long runs on Captain America, The Hulk, The Avengers, Dr. Strange, and a dozen other titles. Midway through that period he moved to California (where he remains), and met and married his wife Terry.
He was finally hired away from Marvel by DC Comics, to be their lead writer and revamp their core characters (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern). He did, but he also wrote a solo Batman series (immediately dubbed the "definitive" version) that later became Warner Brothers' first Batman film (the good one).
After that he left comics for a time, traveled in Europe for a year, wrote a novel (The Point Man™), and came back to design video games for Atari (E.T., Garfield). But he still liked comics, so he created Coyote™, which within its first year was rated one of America's ten best series. Other projects he owned (Scorpio Rose™, The Djinn™) were mixed with company series (Green Lantern [with Joe Staton], Silver Surfer, Fantastic Four). Meanwhile, he continued his game design for Activision, Electronic Arts, Sega, and Brøderbund.
And once he and Terry had their two sons, Alex and Eric, he naturally told them stories. Rustle's Christmas Adventure was first devised for them. He went on to add a run of mid-grade books to his bibliography, including the DNAgers™ adventure series, and Countdown to Flight, a biography of the Wright brothers selected by NASA as the basis for their school curriculum on the invention of the airplane.
In 1992 Steve was asked to co-create a comics pantheon called the Ultraverse. One of his contributions, The Night Man, became not only a successful comics series, but also a television show. That led to more Hollywood work, including animated series such as Street Fighter, GI Joe, and Team Atlantis for Disney.
Steve Englehart went to Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. After a stint in the Army, he moved to New York and began to write for Marvel Comics. That led to long runs on Captain America, The Hulk, The Avengers, Dr. Strange, and a dozen other titles. Midway through that period he moved to California (where he remains), and met and married his wife Terry.
He was finally hired away from Marvel by DC Comics, to be their lead writer and revamp their core characters (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern). He did, but he also wrote a solo Batman series (immediately dubbed the "definitive" version) that later became Warner Brothers' first Batman film (the good one).
After that he left comics for a time, traveled in Europe for a year, wrote a novel (The Point Man™), and came back to design video games for Atari (E.T., Garfield). But he still liked comics, so he created Coyote™, which within its first year was rated one of America's ten best series. Other projects he owned (Scorpio Rose™, The Djinn™) were mixed with company series (Green Lantern [with Joe Staton], Silver Surfer, Fantastic Four). Meanwhile, he continued his game design for Activision, Electronic Arts, Sega, and Brøderbund.
And once he and Terry had their two sons, Alex and Eric, he naturally told them stories. Rustle's Christmas Adventure was first devised for them. He went on to add a run of mid-grade books to his bibliography, including the DNAgers™ adventure series, and Countdown to Flight, a biography of the Wright brothers selected by NASA as the basis for their school curriculum on the invention of the airplane.
In 1992 Steve was asked to co-create a comics pantheon called the Ultraverse. One of his contributions, The Night Man, became not only a successful comics series, but also a television show. That led to more Hollywood work, including animated series such as Street Fighter, GI Joe, and Team Atlantis for Disney.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 5, 2026
(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: Far less fear and panic here, more cat-and-mouse pursuit, the fishy scheme runs out of steam, not really bearing fruit.
*Progress update
Notes: Far less fear and panic here, more cat-and-mouse pursuit, the fishy scheme runs out of steam, not really bearing fruit.
*Progress update
June 9, 2019
I really enjoy reading about this older Joker! It's so awesome to see how much this one character has changed, grown, adapted throughout the years! This issue continues the events of the last issue but is more focused on the Joker parts of it and less about recapping the events of the previous issues. Something that did bug me was someone just happened to drop something for Batman that would be the key to stopping the Joker. I don't like these easy story devices and would have liked at least some explanation for it. Overall, I loved seeing the 70's version of The Joker and Batman battling against each other!
August 26, 2019
Iconic cover and classic battle between Batman and The Joker.
July 24, 2025
”Sign of the Joker”
Commissioner Gordon, the Batman and Chief O’Hara (!) are on a stake out at Mr. Jackson’s waiting for the Joker. It’s Joker Weather (which seems a lot like Batman weather!).
The cat comes in, dragging a Joker fish. A fish with a smile. The cat immediately attacks Batman. Who dies with a smile on his face.
But of course, it was Mr. Jackson disguised as the Batman, while Batman disguised as the victim.
A 3a on TV, the Joker claims that if he doesn’t have a copyright on Joker fish, the next Commissioner will die.
Batman realizes that the Joker must be broadcasting nearby because ‘No TV station is broadcasting at this hour’. So he smashes a window to get out of the house and go search for him. He was wearing his costume under his clothes. Which is good, cause I wouldn’t want to see him undressing the corpse.
In the rain, Batman sees what looks like Hugo Strange’s ghost! On the ground, he finds a Vapor Analysis Meter. Obviously it was left for him to find. Obviously.
At the Joker’s Ha-Hacienda, the Joker contemplates what the vegetarians will feel about his fish. And the idea of Joker burgers!
Meanwhile Rupert Thorne is driving Silver St. Cloud which was hitch-hiking. She is smoking in his car. She’s gotten away from Gotham so she could think about Bruce and herself. Rupert is glad for the silence.
”Thank god this skirt doesn’t talk much!”
Rupert thinks Silver will protect him from the ghost of Hugo Strange.
When the news announces the murders by the Joker, Rupert spouts off about how the Batman is the cause of all the cities problems. This causes Silver to tell him off and accuse Rupert of grafting off of Gotham for years! This causes Rupert to kick her out of the car. Not actually kick, but just let her out in the rain.
She wanders over to an airfield and tries to charter a plane.
Rupert meanwhile looks for another hitch-hiker and finds Hugo Strange’s ghost.
I’m not sure how they decided who to guard, but Batman and the police and staking out until dawn the same night when Batman spots a cop that is the Joker in disguise! He detected him with the Vapor Analysis Meter because of the gas that Hugo Strange had sprayed on the Joker. I’ll bet he’ll carry one in his utility belt from now on!
Joker runs. Batman chases. The Joker taunts him as they fight.
”The Joker is Trump!”
Silver shows up in a cab because the Joker announced the location on TV.
The Joker uses his acid spraying flower to fend off Batman. Then lightning strikes the Joker and he goes into the Gotham River. As Batman walks along the river looking for the Joker, Silver approaches him.
She tells him she love’s him, but…
”Don’t call me!”
Okay, that was a fantastic issue. Lots of action, great art, lots of drama. I’m not sure Silver’s the brightest bulb in the bunch, but she’s compelling. 5 stars.
Commissioner Gordon, the Batman and Chief O’Hara (!) are on a stake out at Mr. Jackson’s waiting for the Joker. It’s Joker Weather (which seems a lot like Batman weather!).
The cat comes in, dragging a Joker fish. A fish with a smile. The cat immediately attacks Batman. Who dies with a smile on his face.
But of course, it was Mr. Jackson disguised as the Batman, while Batman disguised as the victim.
A 3a on TV, the Joker claims that if he doesn’t have a copyright on Joker fish, the next Commissioner will die.
Batman realizes that the Joker must be broadcasting nearby because ‘No TV station is broadcasting at this hour’. So he smashes a window to get out of the house and go search for him. He was wearing his costume under his clothes. Which is good, cause I wouldn’t want to see him undressing the corpse.
In the rain, Batman sees what looks like Hugo Strange’s ghost! On the ground, he finds a Vapor Analysis Meter. Obviously it was left for him to find. Obviously.
At the Joker’s Ha-Hacienda, the Joker contemplates what the vegetarians will feel about his fish. And the idea of Joker burgers!
The artist actually has a picture of the Joker turning the corner of the page!
Meanwhile Rupert Thorne is driving Silver St. Cloud which was hitch-hiking. She is smoking in his car. She’s gotten away from Gotham so she could think about Bruce and herself. Rupert is glad for the silence.
”Thank god this skirt doesn’t talk much!”
Rupert thinks Silver will protect him from the ghost of Hugo Strange.
When the news announces the murders by the Joker, Rupert spouts off about how the Batman is the cause of all the cities problems. This causes Silver to tell him off and accuse Rupert of grafting off of Gotham for years! This causes Rupert to kick her out of the car. Not actually kick, but just let her out in the rain.
She wanders over to an airfield and tries to charter a plane.
Rupert meanwhile looks for another hitch-hiker and finds Hugo Strange’s ghost.
I’m not sure how they decided who to guard, but Batman and the police and staking out until dawn the same night when Batman spots a cop that is the Joker in disguise! He detected him with the Vapor Analysis Meter because of the gas that Hugo Strange had sprayed on the Joker. I’ll bet he’ll carry one in his utility belt from now on!
Joker runs. Batman chases. The Joker taunts him as they fight.
”The Joker is Trump!”
Silver shows up in a cab because the Joker announced the location on TV.
The Joker uses his acid spraying flower to fend off Batman. Then lightning strikes the Joker and he goes into the Gotham River. As Batman walks along the river looking for the Joker, Silver approaches him.
She tells him she love’s him, but…
”Don’t call me!”
Okay, that was a fantastic issue. Lots of action, great art, lots of drama. I’m not sure Silver’s the brightest bulb in the bunch, but she’s compelling. 5 stars.
August 14, 2021
Let me admit in the beginning, I am an avid fan of joker who yet values the character of Batman. This explains why I found some aspects of the issue quite disturbing.
Firstly, joker's apparent death happened suddenly and ridiculously; which is either resulted by the lack of illustration or overlooked elaboration. Either ways I was like: *what the actual -----*
Secondly, for God's sake, Batman deserves to be a complex mature character and not to be overshadowed by his enormous *lovers*.
That's it, I'm still exploring through old comics to find respectable joker stories. While 'The Killing Joke' has raised my expectations.
Firstly, joker's apparent death happened suddenly and ridiculously; which is either resulted by the lack of illustration or overlooked elaboration. Either ways I was like: *what the actual -----*
Secondly, for God's sake, Batman deserves to be a complex mature character and not to be overshadowed by his enormous *lovers*.
That's it, I'm still exploring through old comics to find respectable joker stories. While 'The Killing Joke' has raised my expectations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2026
Grade: 81% (B)
Detective Comics #476 continues the Laughing Fish arc and opens with one of its best moments, the drug-influenced cat going after its rightful owner rather than Batman in disguise, a stroke of genius that turns out to be purely the comic’s invention rather than the episode’s. After that standout sequence, the issue diverges from the animated adaptation, expanding into a third target. It loses a little momentum in the back half compared to #475, but remains a genuinely enjoyable close to the arc.
Detective Comics #476 continues the Laughing Fish arc and opens with one of its best moments, the drug-influenced cat going after its rightful owner rather than Batman in disguise, a stroke of genius that turns out to be purely the comic’s invention rather than the episode’s. After that standout sequence, the issue diverges from the animated adaptation, expanding into a third target. It loses a little momentum in the back half compared to #475, but remains a genuinely enjoyable close to the arc.
January 31, 2025
The laughing fish story just falls off at the end of this one, seems like the next issue obviously continues the Silver St Cloud and ghost of Hugo Strange stories
Follow me 22 years in the future to the continuation to Laughing Fish, to Legends of the DC Universe #26, also written by Steve Englehert
Follow me 22 years in the future to the continuation to Laughing Fish, to Legends of the DC Universe #26, also written by Steve Englehert
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews