Batman #289

In "Sign of the Skull," Batman confronts Skull Dugger, a man tormented by anhedonia—the inability to feel joy—driven to construct a sinister machine that siphons happiness from others at their most ecstatic moments. Written by David V. Reed and illustrated by Mike Grell, with inks by Vince Colletta and colors by Jerry Serpe, this 1977 issue delivers a chilling exploration of psychological torment and moral decay, all wrapped in Grell’s striking cover art.