Joker

If you’re like me then, even though you do love and adore the Bruce-man, whenever the Joker was involved you have always felt that you never got enough. Again, if you’re like me, you’ve proably been watching the series, reading various comics (all of which ended far too soon) and you’ve thought, “Hey wouldn’t it be great to just follow the Joker around for a day?” Well Happy Fans, I am so please to announce that your wish has come true…

“Joker” is gritty, yes, distinctly “Ledgeresque”, for sure, but the thing that stands out is the depth of the storytelling. Writers and Readers will be impressed with arch of the story and the “main” character (better descibed as the narrator, put the Joker in any story and there really is only one main character) manages to hold his own as a device and a character. The narrator, Jonny Frost, is the audience, watching, following, and on some level, understanding the Clown Prince. After all, if you’ve been following the Joker in any capacty, you have established SOME theory as to the “how” and “why” and “what will he do next”?

Art fans will be delighted as well. If you think you “know” comic illustrations and are prett sure what to expect, you’ll be impressed with how…intellectually illustrated the book is. Panel after panel is brillantly motivated into the next. Also, certain physical similarities between Jonny Frost and The Joker are to strictly be ignored…or not, depends on how you’re reading the story (from the panels I had seen, I was sure “Joker” was a retelling of the Joker’s backstory, happy suprise!) Also, the storyline is not “one night” as the description…describes, a brillant tension is created by the fact that the story is better paced than that. Also, definitely get the hardcover – behind the jacket is one of the best panels in the comic impressed on the front in lieu of a cover title, very cool.

Harley fans may be somewhat disappointed at her role in this particular comic. Azarello’s promise about her character is pretty much fulfilled throughout the book. Don’t go in expecting her usual witty comments and fawning demeanor. This Harley is basically silent and more of a muscle than ever before. There are times where she seems more of force of nature herself rather than anything understandable. She even appears and disappears within the story in a kind of ethereal manner, at one point you’re not sure if she’s dead or alive until she pops out of something. However, The Joker is given such a rigorous character analysis in the book, perhaps the writers meant Harley to be the bastion of mystery for a change. There are, however, a few key panels that give an insight into this Harley’s and this Joker’s relationship. No spoilers here…but let’s just say a famous Arleen Sorkin quote was taken to heart.

For the die-hard Batfans who like nothing more than watching their boy descend from the skies and drive a bad guy six inches into the pavement…well, let’s just say this is a Joker fanz novel. (Yes, novel, whch is how strongly it reads.) However, instead of obligatory panel after panel of Batsy brooding in his lair trying to figure out where the Joker is…ever wonder what the Joker was doing while inbetween those moments that he KNOWS Batman is watching? Again, the psychological tension created by the ABSENCE of certain characters is one of the book’s strengths. While The Joker is typically pictured as the ultimate one in control, half the time pulling Batman’s strings and ultimately being brought down at the last moment, Azzarello gives us the Joker’s downward spiral in a unique turn. And when the big climax is revealed, we are left knowing absolutely, one-hundred percent, who is the ultimate BAMF of Gotham City. The results may – fittingly – suprise you.

A good Batman universe story, about Joker, for those in need of one.

This is a sort of spiritual successor to Christopher Nolans “The Dark Night”. The Joker in this GN has the same facial scarring as Heath Ledger(R.I.P) in that movie and is easily as sociopathic if not more so. It’s a good look into the mind of a desperate and deranged individual, and the type of people he attracts. Joker is more cut-throat and crazy than ever. I’d love to see this joker as “the” Joker in the main cannon.

Not only is the story wonderful, but the artwork is beautiful in a gritty, Gotham sort of way. The palette and intricacies of the drawing and shading bring a sense of depth and danger to the streets of Gotham. You can almost feel the Batman hiding just out of frame, in the shadows, stalking his prey.

A Striking look into the madness that is Joker.