Batman #36
"Did you miss me?" The Joker says, in an excellent full page spread. His pupils dilated, full of insanity and his grin seemingly more menacing than ever. And to be be honest, at first, I didn't. The Death of the Family had been such a stellar story that I didn't want a follow up yet. To me, the almost 2 years inbetween DotF and Endgame wasn't enough time to let that desire build. The Joker is by far one of the most over-used characters in all of Batman media. For good reason, of course, but with an excellent rogues gallery waiting behind the Joker some villains don't get their proper due.
So when I found out that he was in fact coming back just one story arc later, I was a little peeved. But after reading this issue, I can admit. I was wrong. I did miss The Joker.
Batman #36 continues the trend of Snyder and Capullo's run with complete craziness. The Joker's back to show Batman how wrong he was about The Joker. How everything he knew was wrong (a common theme in all of Snyder's run) and I can't wait to see it all play out. Snyder has such great control over the Joker's voice. It never feels out of character, it's always beyond frightening. The fight between Supes and Bats was top-notch action and well-paced. But really the issue doesn't take off until Joker appears on the page. It's an incredibly tense reveal, and the rest of the issue becomes the ride up before the large drop on a rollercoaster, and when it ends we're placed precariously at the edge ready to plummet.
Capullo, Miki, and Placensia once again prove why they are all masters of their craft providing an incredibly beautiful and real vision of Gotham and it's characters. Action is fluid and dynamic, each punch feels like it hurts. The Joker is terrifying (even more so now then when his face was cut off). All of this is thanks to the teams expressive pencils, solid inking, and beautifully disgusting colors.
If there's one thing I worry about going forward it's that they try to explain how Joker got his face back. I think it would almost be better if they chose to ignore that. It would only add to the mystery and mythos of just who, or what, the Joker really is.
As I said before, Batman #36 is the ride up before the big drop on a roller coaster. I can't wait for the drop.
So when I found out that he was in fact coming back just one story arc later, I was a little peeved. But after reading this issue, I can admit. I was wrong. I did miss The Joker.
Batman #36 continues the trend of Snyder and Capullo's run with complete craziness. The Joker's back to show Batman how wrong he was about The Joker. How everything he knew was wrong (a common theme in all of Snyder's run) and I can't wait to see it all play out. Snyder has such great control over the Joker's voice. It never feels out of character, it's always beyond frightening. The fight between Supes and Bats was top-notch action and well-paced. But really the issue doesn't take off until Joker appears on the page. It's an incredibly tense reveal, and the rest of the issue becomes the ride up before the large drop on a rollercoaster, and when it ends we're placed precariously at the edge ready to plummet.
Capullo, Miki, and Placensia once again prove why they are all masters of their craft providing an incredibly beautiful and real vision of Gotham and it's characters. Action is fluid and dynamic, each punch feels like it hurts. The Joker is terrifying (even more so now then when his face was cut off). All of this is thanks to the teams expressive pencils, solid inking, and beautifully disgusting colors.
If there's one thing I worry about going forward it's that they try to explain how Joker got his face back. I think it would almost be better if they chose to ignore that. It would only add to the mystery and mythos of just who, or what, the Joker really is.
As I said before, Batman #36 is the ride up before the big drop on a roller coaster. I can't wait for the drop.
A Look Inside
