- "Hey, I got a delivery. I have a gift basket for Dr. Van Criss."
"You're not on the access list. I can't let you in, sorry."
"Hey, cool if I leave it with you? I'm way behind today." - ―Joker's Henchman to Security guard[src]
The Kidnapping of Van Criss was an attack orchestrated by the Joker, in order to deactivate Harley Quinn's nano-bomb neck implant, so she could be successfully rescued. Needing the help of its creator, scientist Van Criss, Joker's Gang broke into Van Criss Laboratories to kidnap him.
Background[]
- "Blah blahblah blahblah blahblah blah blah. All of that chit chat's gonna get ya hurt [...] You're gonna be my friend."
- ―Joker to Hunter Griggs[src]
After the arrest of Harley Quinn, the Joker began a search of all prisons in the United States to find Quinzel's whereabouts. Eventually, his henchman Jonny Frost informed his boss that Quinzel's location had been discovered, revealing that she was in Belle Reve Federal Penitentiary, a clandestine prison located in Louisiana. Upon learning this, the Joker arranged a meeting with Hunter Griggs, Belle Reve's security officer, who was gambling at a nightclub. Griggs was intimidated by the Joker, who mockingly presented himself as a friend to help him free Quinzel.
Later, Enchantress, a candidate member of Task Force X, broke out of Amanda Waller's control, awakening her brother Incubus to attack Midway City and retake his reign that was overthrown centuries ago. In response, the remaining members of Task Force X, including Quinzel, were transferred to Midway City to confront the two beings. After being injected with a Van Criss Laboratories-designed Nano-Bomb in the neck, Quinzel received a message from the Joker warning her of an eventual escape.[1]
Kidnapping[]
Joker and his gang assault Van Criss Laboratories.
Knowing that Harley Quinn could be killed with the Nano-Bomb if she staged an escape, the Joker's Gang drove to the Van Criss Laboratories headquarters, intending to raid the facility and defuse Quinzel's explosive. Upon arrival, a henchman explained to security that he had been hired to leave Van Criss with a gift basket, which contained explosives. Once the security guard had it in his hands, the gift basket was detonated, allowing the Joker and his gang to enter the facility. The Joker then approached the security guard to beat him to death.
Soon, the Joker's assailants rampaged through the scientists and assistants in the lab with little resistance, eventually reaching Van Criss' office, which was protected by bulletproof glass. When Criss refused to let them in, the Joker revealed that they had taken his wife hostage, holding her at knifepoint. Seeing his wife's pleas, Criss allowed the Joker into his office, where the latter, seeing one of the explosives, activated it to inject Criss.[1]
Aftermath[]
Joker attack Task Force X.
Fortunately for the Joker, Van Criss was successfully kidnapped, forcing him to deactivate Harley Quinn's Nano-Bomb in order to free her from A.R.G.U.S. confinement. Following Amanda Waller's rescue from the John F. Ostrander Federal Building, the Joker staged a new attack on the top of the building, hijacking an Air Force helicopter. Finally, notified of the nano-bomb's deactivation, Quinzel reunited with her lover, at the same time as Rick Flag attempted to detonate it, but was unsuccessful.[1]