Batman #511: The Night Before Zero

Quick answer

Batman #511: The Night Before Zero is cataloged as part of the The Killing Joke reading path, giving readers a specific checkpoint in that storyline rather than a generic issue listing. Gotham Vault connects it to Batman (Bruce Wayne), The Joker, Robin (Dick Grayson), Commissioner Gordon (James Gordon), Batman, and the broader 1994-09-30 Batman publication timeline.

Issue summary

A Zero Hour crossover issue. While on patrol, Batman and Robin stumble across the Joker being captured by Batgirl . Batman and Robin are shocked, considering the fact that Batgirl, aka Barbara Gordon , was shot and paralyzed by the Joker years ago. Upon entering the confrontation, the dynamic duo finds that they have entered a parallel version of Gotham: one where James Gordon was shot by the Joker during the Killing Joke and where now-commissioner Harvey Dent has outlawed vigilantism. As the Joker plans his caper to take out Dent, Batman finds that he can still contact the real Barbara Gordon (aka Oracle). Realizing that something bigger is happening, Batman nevertheless stops Joker’s plans. He finds that some of time has been restored, but that this alternate version Batgirl remains. Unsure what is happening, Batman contacts Superman . Notes: " DC Universe 19 " one page featuring Zero Hour and San Diego Comic-Con 1994. Story is in sync with Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #4 . Story continues in Superman: The Man of Steel #37 . The next issue is Batman #0 .

Characters listed for this issue

Batman (Bruce Wayne)The Dark Knight of Gotham. Billionaire by day, vigilante by night. No superpowers, just iron…VIEW APPEARANCES ›

The JokerThe Clown Prince of Crime. Gotham's chaos agent. No one knows his real story, and that's the…VIEW APPEARANCES ›

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Robin (Dick Grayson)Open this Gotham Vault character file to see linked appearances, story arcs, and related com…VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Commissioner Gordon (James Gordon)The one good cop in a corrupt city. Keeps the GCPD running and the Bat-Signal lit. Never los…VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Two-Face (Harvey Dent)Harvey Dent was Gotham's white knight DA until acid and a bad day turned him into something …VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)The first and greatest Batgirl. The Joker took her legs but not her spirit — she became Orac…VIEW APPEARANCES ›