The Joker- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #38
In Shadow of the Bat #38, released May 1995, The Joker is held up at Mercey Mansion with the Gotham citizens that his henchmen have abducted. This issue is pretty introspective on The Joker's part because he spends a lot of time remembering his life before crime- when he was just a failing stand up comedian. The book opens with The Joker doing some gags for a, literally, captive audience. When a man refuses to laugh The Joker shoots him.
The citizens that The Joker's thugs were abducting are graduates of Gotham University who had attended a comedy show The Joker put on, years earlier, and hadn't laughed at his jokes. This time doesn't go so well either
At this point Batman has heard about the abductions and has traced The Joker's whereabouts to Mercey Mansion. Batman and Norton arrive at the same time. Batman rushes to the stage, after The Joker executes another audience member, and attacks. Before Batman can really do any damage, though, Norton knocks him out with the butt of his gun. Norton wants The Joker to himself. However, The Joker is clever with his use of laughing gas and is able to escape.
For more details you should read the book yourself. However, it is important to note that this story is significant because it gives authenticity to the origin story of The Killing Joke and, via its prequel, provides a lot of insight into the mind of The Joker.
