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A nice surprise Oct 28, 2009
Although the story itself is a bit simple, what really shines in this book is the way Joker interacts with the rest of the characters and in specific with the narrator. I enjoyed how Frost was sucked into the black hole that is Joker and how at the end, his life seemed so irrelevant.
There are some nice lines along the way, that will echo in your mind for a couple of days.
Batman's part in this story is a small but powerful one, despite the fact the he only gets a few words.
To sum up, the main goal of this story is to show things through a Joker perspective. But don't fool yourself if you think you'll fall prey to the cliché compassion and empathy devices that most authors use in trying to redeem their villains. And of course, the artwork is top notch, but that you already knew just by looking at some pictures.
As a negative point, I would say the unrealistic power grip that Joker has on the rest of Gotham's city villains. I would have preferred a bit more balance.
 The best comic ive got Oct 22, 2009
This is one of the best dc comic i have ever bought. the storyline is great and the pictures are truely amazing. i highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the joker.
The Joker?! Released from Arkham?! Talk about Insanity! Oct 15, 2009
The premise of Joker is nearly unbelievable; however, given that premise, the story is believable beyond a shadow of doubt. Joker, in Joker, is in prime form, after being released from Arkham Asylum (for reasons never told, much like the vague and contradicting answers given in The Dark Knight about Joker's scars) and is starting from scratch, with nothing; no money, no help, and he considers "his city" in the toilet due to the negligence and greedy of his former associates. Anyone who thought they had the last laugh when Joker went away is in for the surprise of his life.
Joker's story is top notch; the reader is escorted through a journey with Joker as he tries to reinsert himself into the bowels of Gotham City through the vantage point of a henchman named Jonny Frost, Joker's newest loyal member, and the only guy who picks Joker up from Arkham. Joker starts calling in his old boys to deliver a message: the Joker that they all feared (and readers love) is back. The cast of characters include The Penguin, Killer Croc (in a more human rendition), Two-Face, Harley Quinn, the Riddler, and Batman.
The portrayal of Joker in this graphic novel is the side of Joker that I have always loved more than the others. As you can see, the imagery is strikingly similar to the Heath Ledger portrayal in The Dark Knight, with the ratty faded purple suit and makeup/scars. This is not the bright purple outfit, smiling, wise cracking jester (although Joker does have some great funny moments, although they are most likely only funny to Joker and the reader, as it should be). This Joker is out for blood and no joke will satisfy. The story is gruesome in parts but completely within the realm of plausibility, considering the subject matter.
For the most part, the illustrations are absolutely stunning, and do an excellent job of making the Joker, his associates, and Gotham come to life. This is a back alley story with only a couple of scenes in "higher society," and Lee Bermejo makes the setting a place you don't want to be, night or day. The only (minor) problem I have with the art is that the style switches from panel to panel during some of the story. At times, it is 100% illustration (and well done) and then the next panel will appear almost like a real picture or computer generated image (smudged for grits sake). While I appreciate both styles, I am a person that prefers consistency from panel to panel, from beginning to end.
The only other drawback of Joker is the fact that it is so short. Joker definitely should have been serialized since there is enough material here for several books of the same size. Many times, Joker does something where the plot would have benefited from a little more background (or visualization during the moment, since many times Joker just does stuff with no explanation). Although an excellent story, it almost left me unsatisfied since I felt it could have been a lot deeper, less rushed, and more impactful than it was; however, given the length, it does pack quite a punch.
Good reading,
J.Stoner
Azzarello understands The Joker, but isn't afraid to break with traditions Sep 21, 2009
I don't normally review things, but I just read this graphic novel and connected with it so profoundly that I had to review it (don't worry, no spoilers).
First, the art: I'm not an artist and can only review the art as an unschooled amateur. That being said, I think the art is fantastic. The panels vary in level of detail, from good to incredible. The most important panels have tremendous detail lavished on them, which has the effect of focusing the reader's attention on important scenes (mimicking the way human memory attaches more detail to certain events and powerful images). The coloring and inking are rich, adding layers of depth and emotion to the panels. Most panels are top-lit, casting deep shadows down on people's faces. The top-lighting both allows more details (and emotions) to be seen and creates a sense that the viewer really is down low with the scum of society. Perhaps most importantly, the character designs are gripping. Killer Croc's animal qualities, though clearly setting him apart, are well synthesized with human features to allow him the full range of human expression (important for the gritty humanistic story). Harley Quinn is gorgeous and entrancing. And most importantly, the Joker is great. They went with the movie design of scars at the edges of his mouth, and I didn't realize until now why that is so effective. It makes his mouth look like a wound across his face; his tight-lipped scowls look like old scars remembering past violence, and his open-mouthed laughs look like fresh wounds ready to eject blood at any moment. The wrinkles around his eyes look like dancing flames when he's angry or ecstatic. The most expressive parts of his face (mouth and eyes) transfigure him from a human into a monster.
Next, the narrative: The story is told from the perspective of a low-level grunt who acts as Joker's driver. This allows the reader to identify with the narrator (he's very human), but gives complete access to the Joker. It also creates a bigger impact as the narrator gets sucked into the Joker's world, allowing the reader to get thrilled and terrified by the highs and lows of working with a force of nature so dangerous and powerful as he. The writing is powerful; simple to understand but often deep in meaning (with numerous great one-liners or conversations). There are two kinds of characters in this book, the human and the mythical. The human characters (the narrator, his ex-wife, numerous gangsters) are very believable and well portrayed even if they only appear briefly. The mythical characters (Joker, Killer Croc, etc) have human attributes, but embody something more. This is all very well and consistently demonstrated in the dialogue.
Last, the story elements (or "meaning"): This graphic novel truly grasps the nature of the Joker. Graphic novels in general are great because they are the mythology of modern times. Like the ancient pagan gods and legends, the mythical characters in comic books embody aspects of the human condition without actually being fully human, so their interactions allow a human story to be told in a way that can't otherwise be done in today's monotheistic/atheistic culture. The battle between Joker and Batman is the battle between chaos and order, the battle between the self-destructive aspects of the human psyche that always threaten hell-on-earth with the willpower and self-discipline that make civilization possible. This battle is perfectly presented here, though unusually from the side of The Joker. He appropriately employs Killer Croc, an always hungry beast-man who embodies the power of the animal but is limited by his intelligence (thus eager to serve Joker to get in on bigger action, as is the narrator). It's interesting to watch the narrator get drawn in by the seductive power they represent and try to act like them, and the consequences that follow. Even the brief explanation of Batman's costume is pregnant with meaning, especially when juxtaposed with Joker's.
As should be clear, I thought this was a great graphic novel, and highly recommend it. The only caveat is that it is very adult, with depictions of graphic violence and despicable acts. Don't get it if that kind of thing bothers you.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
great book Sep 04, 2009
this was a great book. this really show how crazy the joker is if you had no idead
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