Reviews

The Joker Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV

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georgiaxwhitehead's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

First off, a QUESTION! Did your copy of this (hardcover trade paperback) book have an actual, perfectly sized black mustache cut out and glued in the right place on Joker's face? Because mine did! From the moment I realized the mustache was a 3D object, it's stymied me because it's glued on the outside of the plastic protective sleeve in a manner that it will surely get torn off by accident or on purpose within 2-3 circulations. I'm doing my best to preserve it while it's in my care because it is brilliant if it's a gag that a reader added, and still brilliant (but maybe foolishly executed) if conceived by the producers!

Okay, now a brief review of the content: I never would have predicted a Joker series to be told from the perspective of former Commissioner Jim Gordon, who is now retired (I thought he had been killed toward the end of Tom King's run! I guess not!?). If it had been written by anyone of lower caliber than James Tynion, I wouldn't have checked it out because lez be honest, FUCK JOKER. But Tynion and Rosenberg set up a tale I actually loved to read.

monbro's review

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adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

cassie_grace's review

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4.0

It should really be called “Gordon” and to be clear that’s a point in its favor. I’ll follow Tynion wherever he wants to take me, but I’m not really a Joker fan. Tynion has the good sense to know that Joker isn’t a protagonist, he’s something that happens to protagonists.

So we follow James Gordon, recently retired police commissioner, as he takes a job to track down and kill The Joker. It’s very much a spy story, with mysterious benefactors and exotic locales and a whole posse of supervillains. It reminds me of Smokin’ Aces, with the Rogue’s gallery all trying to take out Joker for their own reasons.

The backup story is about Punchline, who I don’t really care about, and Harper Row, who I do care about, so again, kind of a mixed bag. It’s not as strong as the main storyline.

jhouses's review

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2.0

Una miniserie centrada en Jim Gordon, retirado de la policía y siguiendo la pista al Joker que se ha fugado (de nuevo) del Asilo de Arkham dejando tras de sí un reguero de muertos. Varios grupos con distintos intereses convergen sobre el payaso príncipe del crimen y los obligatorios flashbacks con homenajes visuales incluidos revisitan momentos claves de la carrera de Gordon como [b:Batman: La broma asesina|7625104|Batman La broma asesina|Alan Moore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1264112062l/7625104._SY75_.jpg|551787], [b:Batman: Año uno|3984062|Batman Año uno|Frank Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1217873488l/3984062._SY75_.jpg|2501570] o [b:Batman: No Man's Land|107105|Batman No Man's Land|Greg Rucka|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1358967823l/107105._SY75_.jpg|132888]. Se hacen largos los tres tomos y la historia tiene demasiado poco que ver con Joker y un final abierto muy improbable.

batlim's review

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

stefan_lennemyr's review

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tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It stands reasonably well on its own legs, but it’s obviously part of an ongoing series.
Great to be following Commissioner Gordon, and first and foremost to hear his thoughts both on current developments and earlier encounters with evil.
The script is grim but the artwork doesn’t invoke that feeling - it’s too nice and ordered.

has3000's review

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dark reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A tale of Gordon going on a hunt for the Joker after he took over the city and then disappeared from Arkham (and blew it up).

It’s pretty standard stuff for superhero comics, but it is fun nonetheless.