humanresources@whysoserious.com
November 23, 2007
humanresources@whysoserious.com was a clue that appeared in the first issue of The Gotham Times in the form of a classified ad correction:
Charming, handsome man with dazzling smile seeks amateur clowns for discreet encounters. No previous sense of humor necessary. Criminal record a plus. Interested? Write to humanresources@whysoserious.com in the full understanding that we have your email address and might send you alarming, disturbing or annoying material at any moment.
Upon emailing humanresources@whysoserious.com, the following reply was received by participants:
This led participants to find the clue hidden in the first issue of Thehahahatimes.com to find Whysoserious.com/personalityprofile.
Next investigation: GPD evidence tampering
November 27, 2007
A new email was sent from humanresources@whysoserious.com:
If you've finished my quiz, then it's time for the next step in the interview process, something to test your aptitude. Spaces count:
- Eighth
- Sixth
- Eighth
- Ninth
- Ninth
- Second
- Fourth
- Second
- Third
This clue was solved with Whysoserious.com/personalityprofile, leading to Whysoserious.com/mausoleum.
Next: Whysoserious.com/mausoleum
December 3, 2007
Another email was sent from humanresources@whysoserious.com:
Heads up, clown! Tomorrow means that there's one last shifty step left in the interview process:
Arwoeufgryo
By shifting each letter one key to the right on a QWERTY keyboard, "steprightup" was spelled, leading to Whysoserious.com/steprightup.
Next: Whysoserious.com/steprightup
December 4, 2007
Participants who received cell phones from the Joker via the Whysoserious.com/steprightup game received a text message from humanresources@whysoserious.com:
January 14, 2008
Participants with cell phones received the following text message:
Shortly after replying, the following message was received:
March 26, 2008
A new text message is received by cell phone owners, although from recruiting@rent-a-clown.com. We consider it to be part of the same investigation.
Replying resulted in this message, suggesting a new game before April Fool's:
For the phone-owners who did not manage to reply in time to participate, the following was sent:
March 30, 2008
Cell phone owners were called by a live person and informed that they were one out of 17 recruits who replied to the text message on March 26. They were given a letter and told to share their letter with other "accomplices". If a cell phone owner could not be contacted, their letter was given to a participant who was already called.
The list of letters is as follows, as compiled by participants who shared their letters on the Superherohype forums.
| Name | Letter | "As in" |
|---|---|---|
| The Schlone | W | |
| XnbombGiskard | E | Elephant |
| bassboy616 | Y | Yo-Yo |
| punk | R | Ransom |
| Pennyworth | V | Victim |
| ianskyvox | T | Thief |
| O | Operator | |
| Note: Original recipient of letter did not respond to calls | ||
| BriGonJinn | A | Assault |
| BigTonyVegas | N | Narcotics |
| EddieNashton | C | Clown |
| Screwpa! | A | Action |
| vlkers54 | L | Laugh |
| fceeviper | G | Gun |
| FlyingMonkey | C | Clown |
| Gerik | E | Elephant |
| Matt100 | L | Laundry |
| Fishtankbb | N | Network |
| Note: Was not able to report his letter until a day later, but the puzzle was solved by deducing the N | ||
| Gupfee | E | Elephant |
| GQJoker | A | Assault |
| Mr.Walken | Y | Yo-Yo |
| Giskard | E | Elephant |
A text message was also sent containing 6 extra letters:
This led to www.clowntravelagency.com.
Next: Clowntravelagency.com
April 24, 2008
New cell phones in a package intercepted by informants in the GPD MCU's Operation Slipknot were also associated with the Joker, since soon after the conclusion of the game, these new participants received a new text message from humanresources@whysoserious.com:
This led to Whysoserious.com/itsallpartoftheplan.
Next: Whysoserious.com/itsallpartoftheplan
June 9, 2008
All participants with Joker cell phones received the following text message:
Upon replying yes, a new message was received:
This alluded to an event that would occur on Friday, June 13.
June 13, 2008
True to his word, the Joker sent thumbnail images to the phones as clues.
- Group 1: All of these images depict a name of a Domino game variant, and the mask is a Domino mask. The solution is domino.
- Group 2: Each word is an anagram using letters from the word commercial.
- Group 3: Each fraction is a multiple of 3/8, multiplied 1x through 7x, only 2x is missing, so 3/8*2 is 6/16.
The entire solution is Dominoes commercial 6/16, which alluded to the Citizens for Batman-sponsored Domino's pizza giveaway on June 16.
Next: Gothamcitypizzeria.com
June 19, 2008
Cell phone owners received various text message clues, which turned out to be a word puzzle leading to Whysoserious.com/laughtilithurts.
The introduction message was the same, but the words differed even though they led to the same solution when unscrambled.
- Liar Thug Insult Hut (-un)
- Lash Guilt Thru Unit (-un)
- Align This Tutu Hurl (-un)
Next: Whysoserious.com/laughtilithurts
June 25, 2008
A new text message was received by conspirators with cell phones, saying either:
This complicated exercise is further discussed here. Solving the game led to Whysoserious.com/redballoons.
Next: Whysoserious.com/redballoons
July 1, 2008
Cell phone owners received the following text message at 12pm Eastern:
This led to Whysoserious.com/operator.
When the person replied, an acknowledgement was received:
The phones and their respective goons were later used that day in the exercise.
Next: Whysoserious.com/operator
July 7, 2008
A new text message was received by Joker phone owners, with a different word following the initial note:
- LAM
- BOB
- BLAM
- ZEAL
- BABEL
- ZOOM
- ME
- MAZE
- LAB
- AMBLE
All include letters in the word bamboozle, leading to Whysoserious.com/bamboozle.
Next: Whysoserious.com/bamboozle
July 10, 2008
Shortly after the discovery of Whysoserious.com/kickingandscreening, a mass email was sent to all subscribers who had answered the original ad correction:
Next: Whysoserious.com/kickingandscreening
July 11, 2008
All conspirators who had submitted their phone numbers in any aspect of this investigation (as well as Joker phone owners) were called by an unlisted number. The message consisted mostly of jumbled clips from audio recordings heard previously in the investigation. However, it also contained a new clip mentioning the Gotham National Bank, leading to the sixth episode of Gotham Tonight, which revealed the Joker had robbed the bank. The full phone call was later uploaded to stream in the background of Whysoserious.com. The transcript is as follows:
Gotham Cab...
You've reached the administrative offices of Saint Swithuns Church...
Rossi's Deli and Grill...
You've reached the Gotham City Ferry system. We're currently experiencing a service interruption on the Ferry Liberty.
You have 2 saved messages.
Hello? C-Can anyone hear me? Please help! [gunshot] OK! I'll read it!
I need to know if you, the people of Gotham, want change.
God! Karl! Officer down!
...me here...the Iceman!
[blast] What the hell was that?! What was that?! Are you trying to kill me?!
..it's all gone to hell...
Don't shoot! Don't!
[slam]
[grunt]
[slam]
...that the Gotham National Bank is in...
[Joker laughs]
