The Joker [Hardcover]

Brian Azzarello (Author), Lee Bermejo (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: November 4, 2008

"You will be blown away."—AIN'T IT COOL NEWS

Brian Azzarello brings to THE JOKER all the visceral intensity and criminal insight that has made his Vertigo graphic novel series 100 BULLETS one of the most critically acclaimed and award-winning series of all time.

This original graphic novel tells the story of one very dark night in Gotham City. The Joker has been mysteriously released from Arkham Asylum, and he's none too happy about what's happened to his Gotham City rackets while he's been "away." What follows is a harrowing night of revenge, murder and manic crime as only The Joker can deliver it, as he brutally takes back his stolen assets from The Penguin, The Riddler, Two-Face, Killer Croc and, of course, The Batman, and heaven help them all.

Told through the eyes of his loyal (but naive) henchman Jonny Frost, JOKER is a true noir crime novel: a harrowing journey into a city of rain-soaked streets, dirty sheets and nothing but bad choices.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

An original hardcover graphic novel that tells the story of one very dark night in Gotham City--from the creative team behind the graphic novel Lex Luthor: Man of Steel.

The Joker has been mysteriously released from Arkham Asylum, and he's none to happy about what's happened to his Gotham City rackets while he's been "away." What follows is a harrowing night of revenge, murder and manic crime as only The Joker can deliver it, as he brutally takes back his stolen assets from The Penguin, The Riddler, Two-Face, Killer Croc and others.

Brian Azzarello brings to The Joker all the visceral intensity and criminal insight that has made his Vertigo graphic novel series 100 Bullets one of the most critically-acclaimed and award-winning series in all of comics.

A Look Inside The Joker
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

A Disease That Infected Gotham City	Pick Your Poison
The Joker	The News Spread

From Publishers Weekly

Building on Heath Ledgers performance in The Dark Knight (although long before the movies debut), Azzarello creates a memorably cringe-worthy story. Rather than a natty Clown Prince of Crime, this Joker looks like a glam rocker gone to toxic seed. Newly released from Arkham Asylum, he begins disorganizing the criminal establishment of Gotham City. Although he claims to want power and money when he confronts Two Face and his peers, he really seems just to enjoy playing with people—shooting them, setting them on fire or skinning them alive. Accompanying him is Jonny Frost, a young thug who takes a long time to recognize the drawbacks of seeing a vicious sociopath as a role model. Like Jonny, however, readers may find that, horrifying as the Joker is, they cant take their eyes off him. Even Batman, when he inevitably enters the action, functions largely as the Jokers partner in a dance of death. Azzarello has learned how to create a menacing, morally ambivalent atmosphere in his years of scripting 100 Bullets, and Bermejos jagged, shadow-saturated art sustains the mood. The result is fascinating but extremely dark. (Nov.)
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (November 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401215815
• ISBN-13: 978-1401215811
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 0.6 x 10.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (185 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Joker Returns November 4, 2008

By Jon Repesh

Format:Hardcover

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.

38 of 45 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Great art, good story, frustrating characters January 17, 2010

By Marina P

Format:Hardcover

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fly's Perspective of a Psychopath's Web (Spoiler Free Review) February 11, 2009

By Poisoned Blade

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.