Throwback Thursday: Batman: Joker's Daughter #1 Review

Still a Mess, but a Better Mess

Written by: Marguerite Bennett
Art by: Meghan Hetrick
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: February 5, 2014

If you were around during the New 52, you experienced the crazy push that DC was giving Joker's Daughter.  Seriously, I don't think any character got so many chances...and so little respect that she did.  This issue was the second attempt at a one-shot origin story (the first was during Villains Month) and while it was the better of the two, it still stunk.  Enjoy... - Jim


Ok, we have to agree on one thing before we start.  Batman: The Dark Knight #23.4 never happened. The issue Eric Shea from Weird Science gave a 2.0/10 is just a figment of our imagination.  When Eric said to save yourself the money and buy a different book, he was talking about a book that didn't exist. When you think of Joker's Daughter, please think of this book because while it is far from perfect, it's so much better than a book that doesn't exist.

The Joker's Daughter is a mess.  A strange girl looking for an identity.  Finding Joker's face is either the best or worst thing that ever happened to her.  She desperately wants to find her "Daddy" and prove to him she is worthy of his love.  At least that's what she thinks half of the time.  The other half she is just plain crazy.

Marguerite Bennett is given a pretty sweet gig.  She gets to reboot the hyped Joker's Daughter after Ann Nocenti tried her best to ruin her.  Bennett does a pretty good job given the material she has to work with.  That's the main problem, though.  The Joker's Daughter is not a good character.  She comes off as Harley Quinn without the humor.  Bennett gives us an overly violent psychopath who is just pathetic and sad.  She jumps between identities, but none of them are interesting.  I know that DC is trying their best to push her, but I wouldn't care if this is the last I see of her.  

All is not lost, though.  We get an appearance of the Anchoress, the Bennett villain from her Batman Annual.  I really like her and even though I wish Bennett did more with her here, it was nice to see the character again.  The end also teases the Joker's return, but we'll just have to wait and see with that one.

The art of Meghan Hetrick is pretty good, but a bit inconsistent.  I'm not familiar with her work, but I'll keep an eye on her in the future.

Bits and Pieces:

Batman: Joker's Daughter #1 is Marguerite Bennett's attempt at a better Joker's Daughter story and in that way, it's a success.  Unfortunately, the Joker's Daughter may not be worth the effort.  Bennett and Meghan Hetrick do their best, but in the end I can't recommend this book.  It's still much better than a book that doesn't exist, though.

5.5/10