Customer Reviews

The Joker

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Ever wonder what it would be like to be in the employ of the Joker? Job security would certainly not be one of its selling points, nor would benefits like health and life insurance. In fact, it might be a good idea to purchase some beforehand. Just ask Jonny Frost, his new henchman. Brian Azzarello's much anticipated new Joker novel is seen and told through the eager yet anxious perspective of one of his new accomplices in crime, and no previous experience on the mean streets of Gotham is going to prepare him for the mayhem and madness that is to follow. This is a slightly different Joker than normally seen; more serious than silly, more reflective than refractive. He has just returned from yet another of his enforced sojourns in Arkham, this time released legally for a change, brutally back with a vengeance to reclaim lost turf, and heaven help anyone who gets in his way. Joining the party on various sides are Killer Croc, the Penguin, slightly reinvented incarnations of Harley Quinn and the Riddler, and the one unfortunate downside, an ineffectually depicted Harvey Dent. While this obviously is the Joker's story, it serves little purpose in the grand scheme of things to portray other villains as weaker in order to make the Joker loom larger. As Batman can attest, you're only as imposing as your adversaries. All of the rogues have delightfully different visual looks, thanks to the imaginative illustrations of Lee Bermejo, whose work overall ranges from simply remarkable to occasionally awkward. As for Batman himself, he is only seen briefly at the very end, a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion that did appear a bit abrupt and condensed, but then again, this is more about portent and personalities than plot and practicalities. Comparisons to the creators' fantastic Lex Luthor mini are natural and indeed inevitable. That tale took Lex in a completely different direction than usual, and was a major part of its appeal. While this project didn't break any shocking new ground, it thankfully didn't retread the same tiresome and inane gag fests and mindless mania that many of his stories do. Azzarello instead wisely incorporated his trademark grit behind the grin, added danger to the drama, and in the process possibly produced this generation's unique Joker saga. Fans of these two talented men expected no less.

I was really eager to get this book when I ordered it, the synopsis said that I should expect the Joker wreaking havoc on Gotham along with Harley Quinn, Two Face, Killer Croc and the Penguin. And that's what I got, essentially, but it was delivered in a manner that I was not expecting. While the art was beautiful and plot not horrible- albeit lacking some of the complexity I was expecting from an 100+ page book- I was taken aback by the complete butchering of certain characters, specifically Harley Quinn. I don't even need to describe how she was in the book, the artist's own words puts it perfectly.

"Visually, I threw her in a vinyl outfit and made her look as much like a junkie as possible. Harley Quinn is like a stripper to me. I don't want to know her name, I don't want to hear about her life, and I sure as hell don't want her to talk. Just dance, baby..."

Personally, had I read this before buying the book, I would have thought twice about getting it. In addition to the usually energetic Harley being turned into a stoic crack whore, Killer Croc is a gangster with a penchant for hanging out in a slaughter house, the Penguin is a total pushover and the Riddler is a sixties dope head that shows up for no more than three to five pages. If that's not how you want to see some of your favorite characters, then this comic is not for you.

Also, if you're not interested in reading this story from the perspective of Jonny Frost, the uninteresting one dimensional lowlife who is more annoying than Holden Caufield, then don't pick this thing up. He's really what ruined the comic for me. I was so distracted by his rather irritating commentary, explaining things that I can deduct for myself. While I suppose he was tolerable in the first read over, it really sunk in that this comic should have been called Jonny Frost, not Joker.

The Joker may have been the catalyst for all of the events that happened in the comic, but Jonny Frost was the main focal point and we are completely tied to his back, limited only to what he experiences and to what he feels. (Dang it.) I was expecting to be able to explore the Joker's mind, to see things from behind his eyes and go on a joyride of insanity. Instead Brian Azzarello gave me a story that forgot some of my favorite character's personalities and failed to live up to the expectations that a title as bold as Joker must have brought with it.

If none of the above issues bother you, then by all means get the book. The art really is lovely and the story is somewhat enjoyable. It's just hard to stomach if giving up your idealized vision of Gotham is much too hard.

This story just did not work for me. I understand the concept of "re-imagining" a character, but when it's taken this far, you might as well be writing about a different character all together. This is not the Joker. A sleazy kingpin of crime? Perhaps the writer thought he was writing a Daredevil book...All of the villains are a disappointment. Harley Quinn, the Riddler, Killer Croc are reduced to uninteresting, pathetic versions of themselves in order to make the Joker look like a commanding presence throughout the plot. Well, it doesn't work. I don't know what Azzarello was trying to do with the character, but the result is a muddled mess. So, the Joker is crazy..but he's really not? The small amount of character development we get is that he "hates everything"? How original. And now he's a rapist? Ugh. He's feared throughout the crime community because...he kills people? How creative! The plot is so shallow and meaningless. Apparently we're supposed to buy into the fact that this character is such a bad ass after he "takes back his city" (a ridiculous characterization), yet for some reason he fails to anticipate the arrival of Batman? This book is a mess. The art is good, but the likeness to Heath Ledger is such a cheap attempt to cash in on The Dark Knight. It's like DC was like, "Hey, we need to write a dark story involving the Joker so we can make money off of the movie hype." The result is not "dark" at all, it's just stupid. Go read The Killing Joke or The Man Who Laughs for a real Joker story.

JOKER is a chilling portrayal of everyone's favorite psychopath from the perspective of one of his henchmen. What makes this book interesting is that you get a fresh look at how the Joker operates behind the scenes.

The Story
The Joker is released from Arkham Asylum after he is declared sane and starts to take back Gotham City. He reunites with some of Gotham's more colorful characters and chaos ensues. This portrayal of the Joker is more realistic than some of the other books. He's a ruthless criminally insane drug addict who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

The Art
The art is creepy and unnerving to say the least. The characters are expressed well and have a more realistic and gritty look to them. There is some violence and disturbing gore.

The Dialogue
The dialogue is good and there are some good lines. As you are reading this, you really get an idea of what the Joker is like. At any point, he can flip out and kill just about anyone around him on a whim. It's really unnerving.

Overall
Not everyone will love this book. This is not a book about Batman trying to stop one of the Joker's Crazy Plots. It's not about Batman... it's not about Commisioner Gordon... it's not about Gotham City... it's not even really about the henchman... It's more of a behind the scenes psychological study of the Joker as he does what he does. Action fans will probably not be satisfied with the book and Batman fans will be wondering where the caped crusader was during all of this. If you want a high action Batman book, this is not for you. But if you ever wanted to see how the Joker operates and feel what it's like to be caught in the tangled web that he weaves, this is a must read.

Note: If you want a great Batman vs. The Joker story, read The Killing Joke.

The word `brutal' sums up this graphic novel perfectly.

A lot of people have been comparing this to the classic `Killing Joke' story, but I feel the only thing they have in common is the violence factor and boy does `The Joker' turn that up a notch. We get some graphic murder and some nasty beatings, both which are acceptable in any Joker centered story. However we also have the element of rape, which seems so out of character for the Joker that it left me feeling Brain Azzarello tried too hard to make him edgy in the worst way possible. It left a bad taste in my mouth, even if this was an independent take of the Joker.

While `Killing Joke' is set in the main stream comic universe, this is an alternative universe sort of affair, to which I am very grateful. Believe me, I much prefer the classic Clown Prince of Crime to the drug addicted degenerate here.

Looking at the artwork and the realistic approach to character designs you would be quick to think that is even related to the Nolan-universe (I'm talking about the Joker's Glasgow/Chelsea grin.) but this is also false, and a coincidence. I'll also go on record to say that I also prefer Nolan's anarchist to the sick person in this story.

The artwork is amazing, hands down, some of the best stuff I've seen in awhile. Lee Bermejo's stuff is gritty eye candy, and the use of colors is a wonderful way for certain scenes to be burned into your mind.

The story is fine enough, but not on par with `Killing Joke' in my opinion. `The Joker' is frantic and fast, and above all else is about mayhem and the gullibility of a man who wants nothing but respect and realization that to get it you have to become a monster. It ends quickly and the ending wasn't really satisfying.

Still, it was a pretty good ride for the most part.

Few writers have ever really "gotten" the Joker like Alan Moore did with the prolific Batman tale, The Killing Joke. Grant Morrison seems to get the character to a point, but more than anything, the Joker is just a little too difficult a villain for many writers to really grasp. Not so for 100 Bullets creator Brian Azzarello, whose original graphic novel The Joker finds the Batman arch-nemesis freed from Arkham Asylum and seeking to reclaim what's his. Whether this means joining up with Killer Croc, intimidating The Penguin, or royally angering Two-Face; Joker makes his mark, and Azzarello puts a distinct spin on the character from the perspective of a low-rent hood named Jonny, who himself seeks to claim a little piece of the action by working for Joker. With spectacular pencil work and paint work from Azzarello's Lex Luthor: Man of Steel partner Lee Bermejo; The Joker is the defining Joker tale for a new generation of readers, just as The Killing Joke was all those years ago. All in all, if you're a Batman fan in the very least, The Joker deserves a place in your library.

Although a beautifully put together book, the story will likely find a lot of Joker fans wanting. Despite the fact that Joker is in nearly every panel in the book, I never felt like I was reading a book about him. It felt more like a book about a crime boss who gets out of jail and takes revenge on his old city. This Joker doesn't seem to have a lot of flair. He just comes across as a grumpy crime boss. If you felt the Joker in The Dark Knight film was a bit too grim for you, this Joker is even less of a thrill.

On the other hand, if you can forget you'd ever heard of the the Joker, this book does a great job telling the story of a young criminal who works his way to be the right hand man of the city's most feared boss. There is plenty of gritty detail, and cinematic panels that really bring you into the story.

On the whole, I feel this book has more to do with Scarface than with Joker.

I admit, I was very very excited when this book was announced and I was practically salivating when I saw the images exactly one year ago. As the months came closer, I decided that I would get the duo's previous collaboration Lex Luthor: Man of Steel. I know I should stick to this book only so I shall keep the report brief. I am doing this to make a point. What I liked about the other book was that we got inside the head of Lex and the creative team gave us something new. Luthor was darkly charming and brilliantly captured. The phrases such as changing one's perception about the color green and 'truth' perfectly sum him up and I was getting chills about this upcoming project, and mind you, I am a big Batman/JOKER fan and I do not even read nor am I crazy about Supes/Metropolis.

Imagine my disappointment when I read this book twice in one day. It has its saving graces, sure, but overall, it lacked meat. It reminded me of a meal I once had at Acapulco where all I tasted was the sauce but not the content.

For starters, I think adding a secondary character to tell the story was detrimental. He was boring, pure fat, and took away from the main character. What Joker did to him after the showdown at the zoo clearly demonstrated, to me at least, that he was a mere sympathy plot device, a way to show you that joining the Joker's gang will result in nothing good. As I moved on into the storyline, I kind of more or less forgot about him, but there were other things I found wrong with the book.

My largest problem with the book was that there was no story period. Remember what I said earlier about the story lacking 'meat'? Basically it weaves in and out of scenes without any real development. Yes, I understand that we are trying to get into the world of Chaos Incarnate but that didn't mean that the creators could get lazy. Arkham Asylum demonstrated that while Joker is a force of chaos (I would argue that him pinching Bats was a way to remind him that he was 'human' and not a spirit in this dreamlike world)he still had a motivation, even if it was as simple as `laugh and the world laughs with you!' Joker had a role.

I understand that we are not supposed to analyze or over think the J-man's motivations, I understand that he 'just does things' but would it hurt to at least give it some substance? I am not asking for every detail to be explained to me but I would have at least like to have had a bridge here and there.

For example, we do not see Joker taking back his territory. It was all described second hand. What a rip off. No doubt most of it was done by the hands of Harley Quinn/Killer Croc/Johnny Frost but it took away any emotional intimacy and impact. The bank heist where Joker asks Harley to drop him off and the book gives way to a personal part of Johnny's life. WTF? I understand that this was supposed to be realistic and in doing so take away from more 'colorful' elements that you see in kid's cartoons or comics but this was asking for too much suspension of disbelief.

I admit, there were times when I was more offended with the book insulting my intelligence than the actual content itself. No, I am not looking for Dostoyevsky or Shakespeare for that matter but if you are going to ask me to believe that Joker can do all these nasty things and be human, then I am sorry, which brings me to my next point.

I knew that this was going to be a more 'gritty' and thus, uglier take on the characters, which believe it or not heightened the excitement factor for me. I knew it was going to be different and I was expecting a whole new world. Look, I wouldn't call myself pig headed. I knew what I was getting into when I intended on buying the book.

I can forgive that there were no traditional Joker gimmicks

I can forgive that there was no Joker cards

I can forgive that Joker lacked his worldly, sophisticated nature a la Batman/Spiderman: Disordered Minds. I knew that this Joker was going to be a brute and nothing more.

I can forgive that the Joker was a tad OOC

I can forgive that Joker does blow (which is a blatant rip off of Morrison's `no real personality' theory and given a realistic take)

There were some reviews that mentioned that the book was written as violent for the sake of violence and I would have to agree. Yes, Joker is not Ronald McDonald and no, I was not hoping to see any joy buzzers but what makes Joker `Joker' is his theatricality. This character could have been replaced with any thug and it would have had the same impact and that in turn hurts the characters impact because it makes him PREDICTABLE which was perhaps the worse crime of all. It's called being desensitized. I really wanted to LOVE the book (I like it in its own unique and stand alone way) but I just could not because there was nothing that separated the Joker from any two bit criminal. I was expecting another LL: MoS. Lex was treated as a brilliant, charming philanthropist. He was portrayed as a cunning and highly intelligent being. The Joker is the same, but no, I am supposed to believe that everything Joker does here is because he is 'insane' and 'disorderd' and 'broken'. All of that was an umbrella that was used to justify Joker's actions and if you ask me, I had to bite me tongue when I saw a brilliant criminal mastermind get reduced to a one note crazy.

To call this book GROUNDBREAKING is an insult to the true majesty of the Killing Joke. As an `Elseworld' I can buy it and enjoy it for that but there was nothing new here. There was nothing that made me think that Joker could do this or that. There was nothing that made me rethink Joker as a complex character. At best he was a rabid dog that needed to be shot.

Finally, let me touch upon Harley Quinn. She is my favorite character so naturally I was excited for her being here. Her first pictures didn't really surprise or upset me. Hell, I wasn't even offended when I saw what Azzarello said about her role in the novel. This was supposed to be an UGLY book and by that I mean taking away what we know about the characters and strip them away from what we are familiar with, in this case, Harley's lovable bubbly personality. Fine. This was supposed to be a crime noir-like book but even then it fell short of the goal.

As I mentioned before, I have no problem with change or new ideas. What I do have a problem with is lackluster writing and poor character development. This was demonstrated when Johnny caught Joker on his knees crying his eyes out in front of Harley. I can buy that Harley is obsessed with her Joker and would do anything for him, but I couldn't buy it the other way around. I never have and I never will as was demonstrated in her comic Batman: Harley Quinn when Joker is waxing poetic about how much he cares for her before he bursts up laughing like he was reciting a cheap line for a soap opera.

Canonically, Joker has been shown to mistreat Harley and ignore her, only using her when she is to his advantage. Okay, we got that. What Azzarello did here was, in a nutshell, a lazy way of telling us that Joker cares for her.

It's like the book was saying that Joker can do all these nasty things to all these people but look, he has a soft side! AWWW! Isn't that cute?! It was as if the book was asking me to forget that Joker treats her like a dog and that I should forget it for one simple moment that has no real value because Joker was probably under the influence. Later in the book we see that he easily disposes of her when a certain someone starts tracking him down. As a manic depressive episode I can buy it, but I can't buy Joker crying for Harley because he harbors any feelings for her as a legitimate when Joker has made a career of not giving a ****about her. It contradicts his canon (I know, I know it is out of canon) mistreatment of her. Also, if Joker wasn't high more than half the time I might have given it some credence. We already know that a humanized Joker cannot work as seen in Killing Joke and Going Sane. There is a big difference between being human and being a whimpering puppy. The scene with Joker crying on a cold Harley's lap was a poor echo of what Moore did in Killing Joke when Joker was crying with his wife after he momentarily snapped at her. At least that was believable, this one not so much.

All in all, I did not get anything very special out of this Harley. Yes, she had some nice costumes and a cool look but I felt as though the character could have been replaced by any girl and it still would have had the same effect. Her role I felt was dissonant and unoriginal as her purpose could have been fulfilled by any of Joker's goons.

The best parts for me where the nonJoker parts. I totally dug the Riddler's new look, I loved what Croc had to offer (he hasn't been this interesting since....oh, Knightfall IMHO). Best of all, I loved Two Face's part. Okay, so maybe Joker had some interesting bits, my favorites being when he knocks at a door and the guys answers 'who's there? Joker responds, the guy asks, 'Joe who?' before he notices the shark-like grin staring back at him. I also kind of laughed at the 'feel my muscle. Not that one' part too with the Penguin. These were the best moments but like roses in winter, it didn't make an impact. After a third reading, I have decided to be a little generous and award it half a star. It wasn't exactly original as Azzarello borrowed ideas already established by Moore and Morrison but as a stand alone and ugly tale, I kind of like it but I wouldn't pull it off the shelf as often as Killing Joke, Arkham Asylum, Going Sane, The Man Who Laughs, Joker: The Greatest Stories Ever Told, The Dark Knight Returns.

Overall, an interesting ride. I wouldn't compare it to the next Killing Joke EVER. It was a unique take on the characters but there was a lot left to be desired. There were a lot of loose ends and some fat that needed to be trimmed. I would get it for the art and some of the Easter eggs but overall, it was pretty `meh' for me.

This is not the Joker we're all used to...does that make it a great story? No. I thought this was going to be an epic Joker story, but it was a letdown. There really isn't much of a story. It's just the joker wondering around with Jonny Frost trying to take back Gotham City.

One thing that I thought would be interesting is that all of the villains have a `real world' look to them. This worked for awhile. But when I saw how the writer portrayed the Riddler, I just gave up on the story. I know the writer wanted the villains to more real than in previous books, but seeing this version of the Riddler was a joke.

The Joker is more of a thug than anything, and the other villains are cowards when it comes to the Joker. This is why the book didn't work for me. The only saving grace is the fantastic artwork (it has a Magnolia feel to it). Overall it was a disappointment.

I knew this story would be gruesome and that it was more of a "realistic" Joker, such as Christopher Nolan's Joker in The Dark Knight. But this Joker is simply a madman and nothing else. No humor (and Heath Ledger certainly brought humor to his Joker), just a sick psychopath.

Without spoiling anything, the ending especially ruined the whole book for me, when Batman finally shows up.

I have a decent collection of Batman graphic novels/TPBs and this is the only one I've turned around and sold.