Comic Title: Secret Origins Special #1
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: 1989
On Sale Date: August 15, 1989 Shipping Date August 15, 1989
Source: Amazing Heroes, #169

Shipping Date August 15, 1989
Source: Previews, #6

Shipping Date August 17, 1989
Source: Advance Comics, #8

Direct Market Date August 17, 1989
Source: Comic Shop News, #110, #112

Shipping Date August 15, 1989
Source: Amazing Heroes, #167, Page 14

Copyright Date August 15, 1989
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1989

Frequency: Annually
Cover Price: $2.00
Page Count: 64
Editor: Mark Waid

Title: "Original Sins"
Pages: 11

Writer: Neil Gaiman
Penciller: Mike Hoffman
Inker: Kevin C. Nowlan
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Tom J. McCraw

Reprinted In:
Batman:Featuring Two-Face and the Riddler TPB (1995)
Batman:Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?:The Deluxe Edition HC (2009)
Batman:Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? TPB (2010)
DC Universe by Neil Gaiman:The Deluxe Edition HC (2016)
DC Universe by Neil Gaiman TPB (2018)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Secret Origins Special #1; next appearance in Justice League America #31)

Villain(s)

• Joker (last appearance in Secret Origins #44; next appearance in Batman #442)

Guest Appearance(s)

• John Constantine (last appearance in Swamp Thing #88; next appearance in Hellblazer #23)

Other Character(s)

• Steve Jones (a reporter; dies in this story; see comment below; no further appearances)
• Helene, Kathy, and Nat (Steve's associates; see comment below; no further appearances)
• Nememiah O'Rourke (aka Knuckles; a former henchmen of the Penguin; first appearance; last appearance in Secret Origins Special #1; no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Two-Face (in a photograph)
• Riddler (in a photograph)

Comments:
This story serves as a framing sequence around three other stories. The second story is told entirely in flashback. The third story and fourth story occur between pages 8 and 9 of this story.

Steve Jones and his crew appear in the third and fourth stories between pages 8 and 9 of this story.

Synopsis:
Reporter Steve Jones and his crew have come to Gotham City to make a documentary featuring the costumed criminals of Arkham. They request interviews with inmates at Arkham Asylum and seek out leads for more contacts. Batman warns Jones away, but his warning does not deter the reporter. After interviews with a former Penguin henchman and a meeting with the Riddler, Jones is killed by the Joker.