Art by: Marc Silverstri
Colars by: Arif Prianto
Letters by: Marc Silvestri
Cover art by: Marc Silvestri
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: November 1, 2022
Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #1 takes Gotham City by storm when an unstoppable killer with ties to the Joker forces Batman to partner with the Clown Prince of Crime to find out who (or what) is behind the monsters unleashed on Gotham's streets.
Is It Good?
Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #1 is pretty good. Not fantastic. Not terrible. Pretty darn good.
Silverstri's story focuses on the Dark Knight investigating a brutal murder of the "ripping your head and limbs off" variety perpetrated by someone or something matching the Joker's description. When Batman soon encounters the killer, he finds the culprit is more monster than man and definitely NOT the Joker. It's not long before the Clown Prince of Crime comes calling to ask for Batman's help, presumably because whatever created the monsters was stolen from the Joker.
Silvestri's premise is reasonably original, although it sounds like an amalgam of previous Batman stories reassembled in a new way. In terms of writing, the scene lengths and transitions are excellent, the pacing is rock solid, and Silvestri nails Batman's voice and even manages to work in a joke or two that fits Batman's personality to a tee.
The minor down point in this issue is the ease with which Batman agrees to work with Joker. It happens quickly with few questions from Batman to Joker, so their partnership feels mildly forced.
We're talking about Marc Silvestri, so the hook is in the art. How is the art? It's phenomenal. Character designs are detailed and gorgeous, Silvestri's trademark use of hatching adds gritty shadows in just the right spots, and the net result is some of Silvestri's best work.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Bits and Pieces:
Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #1 brings a new phase in the Batman/Joker relationship to life as a monstrous, unstoppable killer with ties to the Joker forces the perennial enemies to become partners. The story is an above-average Batman tale with solid pacing, plotting, and dialog, but the Batman/Joker relationship forms a little too quickly. Silvestri's artwork, however, is the best its ever been.
8.5/10
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