Batman #23.1

Writer:  Andy Kubert

Art:  Andy Clarke, Blond

DC is continuing their celebration of the anniversary of the New 52 launch.  Last year the month was honored with zero issues of all titles, and this year we ate treated to the villains taking over.

A big plus of this move is that DC seems to be benching a lot of their main creative staff, and letting their lesser-known staff take the reigns.   In this case, veteran Andy Kubert and journeyman Andy Clarke  step into the forefront and give us a tale of the Joker's past.  

The story we get here brings us a level of ridiculousness that we haven't seen in some time.  The idea of the Joker kidnapping a gorilla and training him to be his murderous protoge is just crazy enough to work.  Which it does, on some levels.

Where this story really shines, however, is in its depiction of the Joker's youth.  Sorry and art come together beautifully for a haunting look at the abuse the young boy endured.  However, when I think about the Joker's origins, I go back to Alan Moore's The Killing Joke.  The titular character acknowledges his memories are fractured, and that if he has to have a past he'd rather it be multiple choice.  This is my favorite version, but Kubert and Clarke's take has a great presence as well.  

My main issue lies with whether or not this was a story that needed to be told at this point.  In the overall scheme of things, this story accomplished very little besides humanizing the Joker for a moment and giving the reader some level if sympathy for him, nature vs nurture leading the way of the latter.  I don't know where we can place the blame, however.  DC undoubtedly had a thorough list of things the guest staff could and could not touch on in their stories.  If like to get my hands on a copy of those guidelines.

The Verdict...

This was a fine story with decent artwork.  It wasn't what I wanted, and I don't think it's what we needed.  Hopefully Villains Month picks up from here.