Written byPublished by DC Comics
Well, it had to happen.
The Joker has received his own giant anniversary special. It is a doozy too, full of some of the best talent that DC has to offer. I loved this edition and I love that DC is making still cool comics like this.
Scott Snyder and Jock begin the issue in style with a story that is dipped in horror. It focuses on Officer Gary Dell and his terrifying visions and trauma he has because of the Joker. It is a dark story that is psychological and sports some amazing artwork by Jock. Snyder does a great job scripting this as well and the book is off to a great start!
The next story is the origin of the villainous Punchline. It is surprisingly well handled and I did enjoy this. I am not a big fan of James Tynion IV’s run on the Batman title but this was pretty good. The art by Mikel Janin is decent as well and kicks off the book right.
Screenwriter Gary Whitta and podcaster Greg Miller team up with one of my favorite artists, Dan Mora. They tell a story that takes place a little bit in the future. The Joker has killed Batman. But he is still not satisfied. He is looking for something else. This is a great little story that has a nice twist at the end.
There is another fine tale by writer Denny O’Neill and the astonishing artist Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez. In it, the Joker joins the Dove Corps to rescue some refugees in Guatemala. It is a wacky tale that has some really great art. It is good to have two amazing classic creators like this on this special and this story in particular.
Writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Simone Bianchi are up next with a quick, but surreal story. We get to see the Joker in some of his classic appearances. We see where he has been and where he might be going. It also effectively demonstrates the relationship between the Joker and the Batman.
The awesome team of writer Paul Dini and artist Riley Rossmo are up next. This story shows the Joker waking up from a nightmare and Harley Quinn consoling him. He then goes on a “Joker Spree” as a result and shows things we normally see from his perspective. It is a completely cool story here.
The dream team of writer Tom Taylor and Eduardo Risso are up next. This one has the Joker going to the house of a former colleague that did him wrong. The former colleague’s son is there and wrongly assumes that the Joker is there for his birthday party as the entertainment. This gets wonderfully nuts as the Joker goes through the neighborhood trying to get kids to come to this birthday party. This was my favorite story of the issue and I just thought it was perfectly executed.
Writer Eduardo Medeiros and co-writer and artist Rafael Albuquerque are next. This story focuses on a disguised Joker committing a crime. The Joker meets a young boy named Robert and the story focuses on their relationship while a crime is happening.
Tony S. Daniel writes and draws the next story and it is perfectly crazy. The story starts off in a church’s confession booth and and it eventually involves the Joker. We get to see some of the Joker’s fantasies come out. It is a bit empty on story but a lot of fun nonetheless.
Finally, the classic team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo finish up the book that shows the aftermath of the Joker on shock treatment. I don’t want to say much more except this is an excellent final story that is unlike anything this creative team has ever done! It caps off the book nicely, making this yet another awesome anniversary special!
RATING: A
