HE'S BACK!!!!!
I have finally managed to get this issue I started out with #0 but got #14 before #13 because #13 was sold out but now the second printing has come out and I have finally managed to get it.
Plot
A number of strange events have been happening in Gotham and Comissoner Gordon believes that something bad is coming. The joker attacks the Police department and kills several cops and gets back his cut off face. In the batcave Batman has a discussion with Alfred he then radios the rest of the Bat family and tells them the Jokers back the Joker then appears on TV and says he will kill the mayor of Gotham.
Review
The second printing cover is different to the normal one and I love it is so creepy with all the light and the balloon it just looks really creepy.
This is probably the most hyped crossover of the year for DC the Joker is back and it’s happening in Batman which has already made a name for itself as one of the best books on the shelves and my favourite book and I’ve only read three issues! But now onto the actual review.
This issue starts off with James Gordon talking with Harvey Bullock about the strange things that have been happening in Gotham and how he thinks something big is coming this is an interesting way to start off an issue you immediately get the idea that this is going to be a very dark story arc and some of the choices for these omens are interesting one of them being a two headed Lion this is a clever way to start of the issue and the final panel to this scene is so good.
The best part of this issue in my opinion is the bit shown in the preview this scene is incredible so creepy and so well written. This scene starts off so well you kind of tell what’s going to happen from the panel on the previous page but the way we go from boring casual scene to serious creepiness is so good and well written. You don’t see the joker in this scene you see his shadow and his hand but it’s mostly his voice and his dialogue is so creepy and the stuff he says to James Gordon gives me goose bumps it is so good and the way you don’t actually see the Joker and this is a really clever choice as it really makes the Joker very creepy.
The Joker is probably the all-time greatest villain and has some truly great stories but sometimes he’s not characterized very well he can just be a little silly but in this he is so creepy his dialogue is perfect and this may possibly be the best version of the Joker I have seen in ages he is so good and one of the best parts of this issue.
I also liked the reactions by the other Batfamily members when they found out he was back Daiman seemed just plain arrogant and thought the Joker was some stupid villain who got his face chopped off. This whole scene characterizes everyone very well and we really get an idea of how the Joker affects these people.
What I love about this issue is how the Joker is replaying his first few crimes but in different ways as he kills the son of the first man he killed this is a great way to do it and I hope we see more of this in future issues. The man is John Claridge and before killing him the Joker forces him to announces the Joker is back on TV while the actual speech isn’t that scary it’ what the Joker does that is actually scary and continues the fantastic characterization of the Joker.
While Joker is on TV he says that he will kill the mayor when I first read this I thought this is too predictable since he even says he’s going to do this in the Dark Knight but he doesn’t and the people he kills (spoiler) instead of a smile on their face when he poisons them there is a frown this is clever and how he gives them this drug is also very clever.
The final scene once again ties into previous things the Joker has done and this time we are taken to the place where the Joker was born ACE or the place he got his face ruined this scene is great at first you think it’s the Joker but then it turns out it’s not merely his voice coming in on a radio. I also liked the reappearance of Joker’s original outfit the red hood gang outfit which I thought was a really nice touch to the issue.
The ending oh boy the ending is so shocking and such a twist.
Greg Capullo’s art is really good he draws such a great Batman and makes everything look so gritty like it should be with Batman.
Backup
Well this is frightening not in a violent sense but more psychological as Joker tortures Harley Quinn this is frightening stuff and the dialogue and art are so good and gritty it’s a great Backup.
Verdict
Brilliant issue this issue had so much hype but it is so worth it everything is perfect from the art to the backup to the shocking ending this is a comic to remember.
5 stars.
