Review: The Joker #1

For the first time since 1975, we have an ongoing Joker book. With countless appearances in Batman and being possibly the only villain from the best Rogues Gallery in comics that DC love to use, is now really time for even more Joker? Apparently so.

This book is more about the ramifications of the Joker rather than any new big plot, at least not yet. Instead we get a kind of revised Year One Dark Knight Returns vibe, with Jim Gordon being the focus. Whilst Year One is a seminal piece of work for both Batman and Gordon, this aspect is more Year One after Jim leaves the boys in blue. Without the GCPD, Gordon is feeling the weight of Jokers past crimes, of Gordon’s own failings and of a city that seems to revere the chaos. When he gets a new job offer, maybe Gordon will be able to rid Gotham and himself of the greatest of evils.

James Tynion IV, the writer behind The Joker War is carving out quite a chunk of the Batman universe. Not since Chuck Dixon possibly, has there been a writer who has taken on board so many sub plots and ideas on how to drive Batsman forward. Taking a step back and giving the Joker his due is just one example of how Tynion has weaved a tangled web. It’s an interesting book; using Gordon as the proxy means that we get a lot of Joker without actually seeing him, reducing the idea that too much of a bad thing minimises its threat. There are other little details and plots hidden in plain view that will no doubt have an impact on the story to come. The monologue is terse; you can feel the rawness of Gordon’s pain throughout.

Guillem March provides the art and in doing so, demonstrates his versatility brilliantly. First up, we have t he Year one vibe, this time driven via the square jaw art. There are homages throughout the book, mainly from the excellent yet divisive The Killing Joke. As the story progresses, March’s more stylised art, which you may be used to from other DC books, raises its lovely long neck. It is almost couture. I am not going to lie; I am a huge Guillem March fan and the flexibility of the art really shines through. The colors are provided by Arif Prianto whose scheme has an inherent darkness which underscores Gordon’s mood. There are touches of lightness but even they cannot defend against the encroaching despairing mood. Tom Napolitano delivers a font that looks like a diary entry, another nod to Year One.

Of course, there is a second attraction to this book and that the Punchline back-up. Despite having more Punchline in her story than appearances of the Joker in his, this book is more about two forgotten members of the extended Bat family, Harper and Cullen Row. Is there a couple of characters that people care less about? Following on from the Punchline Special from last year, Sam Johsn with Tynion continue with the Orange is the New Punchline, whilst also diverting the readers attention with the social media frenzy that the newest Joker’s moll. Somewhere along the line, I do feel that Punchline has lost some of her charm. I can’t put my finger on it, but here she comes across like a wannabe Harley.

The art is provided by Mirka Andolfo who continues her movement away from a mature look, revelling more in cartoon. The figure work especially looks to drive movement forward, hard to do with so little real action. Colors are provided by Romulo Farjardo Jr. who goes for a bright scheme which seems at odds with the vibe of the story. Finally, Ariana Maher supplies a font that is svelte and narrow.

This is an odd book for sure. Originally I wanted to read this for the Punchline books, given how I think that Joker is over used. yet, by focussing on Jim Gordon we actually have a character that we have loved for years, regardless of how he was mistreated by the Batman Who Looks Like Judge Death story. Tynion has certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons with this book.

Writing (Tynion IV) – 4 Stars
Writing (Johns & Tynion IV) – 3 Stars
Art (March) – 5 Stars
Art (Andolfo) – 3 Stars
Colors (Prianto) – 4 Stars
Colors ( Farjardo Jr.) – 3.5 Stars

Overall – 4 Stars

Written by; James Tynion IV & Sam Johns
Art by; Guillem March & Mirka Andolfo
Colors by; Arif Prianto & Romulo Farjardo Jr.
Letters by; Tom Napolitano & Ariana Maher
Published by; DC Comics

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network