Books: Joker

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Joker
Written by Brian Azzarello
Art by Lee Bermejo
2008




Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Beware the lavishness of the artwork within and plastered all over the cover (mmmmm rancid Joker teeth): they're an empty promise that the writing can't match. Told from the point-of-view of the Joker's latest henchman - Jonny Frost - a two-bit hoodlum with dreams of making of it big - this is an underwhelming story that putters around aimlessly before sinking to the depths (shouldn't a story have a point somewhere?). On the plus side: The design is amazing (the depiction of the Joker comes from the same place as Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight film) and the alternative versions of famous Batman baddies (Riddler, Killer Croc, Penguin) feel grounded but still radiate menace. But - well - I couldn't escape the feeling that it all could have been more scary, more dangerous and more thoughtful. Oh well. A disappointment - albeit a pretty one.

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Links: Death To The Universe Article: Good One, IGN Interview, The M0vie Blog Review, Newsarama Interview with Brian Azzarello.

Further reading: Lex Luthor: Man of Steel, Batman: Broken City, 100 Bullets, The Batman/Judge Dredd Files, DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore.

All comments welcome.