The Joker #1 Review

Killing The Boogeyman

Written By: James Tynion IV, Sam Johns

Art By: Guillem March, Arif Prianto, Tom Napolitano, Mirka Andolfo, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Ariana Maher

Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: March 9, 2021

The Joker is the star of his very own new monthly series and that adventure starts here in the post-Joker War/Infinite Frontier era of DC Comics. Arkham has been reduced to ruin after the events of "A-Day" and the city of Gotham is in the grip of fear wondering what the Joker will do next. Really though, the Joker should wonder what's coming at him next because in this issue we'll explore Jim Gordon as he tries to pick up the pieces of his life after being infected by the Batman Who Laughs, leaving the police force and mourning the loss of his psychopathic son, James Gordon Jr. What will this new life for the once Commissioner look like and what does it have to do with the Joker? Let's jump into this issue and find out.

So while this series is called "The Joker" after what we get from this first issue it really feels like it should be called "Gordon" because that's who it's really about and the life that he'll lead after everything was taken from him after the past couple events at DC Comics. In that pursuit, we'll take a look at the past, the present and possibly look at what the future holds for our favorite former Commissioner as he stares into the void and searches for the Boogeyman that has consumed so much of his career and has affected so much of his life.

While a lot of this issue is recap and catch up so everyone who picks up "The Joker" out of nowhere will understand what's been happening not only with Jim Gordon but DC Comics as a whole right now, there is some intrigue still to be had........ You see, there's someone or something that wants the Joker dead and they want Jim Gordon to be the one to do it and that to me is a really big Mystery that I can't wait to see unfold as we further. I just wish that the Punchline backup had this level of intrigue as it tries to catch everyone up with what went down in her first one-shot because all you'll get new out of this is her trying to establish the pecking order inside Blackgate Prison

All in all, this book looks great all around and I'm really into the idea of Jim Gordon spending his retirement hunting down and trying to kill the Joker, not to mention finding out who or what is behind putting him up to the job. I just wish that recap sections of both the Jim Gordon parts and the Punchline parts were done in a way that made them a little more interesting and not just a feel like simple recap for people who have been reading what the Bat-Books have been putting out. I do look forward to this series though and I'm happy that DC and Tynion have found a way to make this ongoing feel like they have more in store for us than just parading the Joker around and simply hoping it sells on title strength alone.

Bits and Pieces:

While I love the way this book looks and the direction it's going, I was a little put off by the amount of recap that it throws at you because while I know you need that for new readers, for me it just came off a little too info-dumpy since I knew what they wanted me to know right away. That's me though and I'm sure a lot of people will appreciate the catch-up and even with my complaints on that matter, this is still an intriguing book that I look forward to seeing more of.

7/10