Review of 'The Joker' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
First, once you get past the early stories that were geared at children, you get a great look at one of the more enduring villains in comic history. His first appearance is full of nonsensical and unnecessary violence and his character eventually grows entirely into that character, despite some time as a childish, whimsical bad guy. His relationship with Batman is intriguing, and I think that they are shown to be two sides of the same coin; each, without question needs the other. The Joker reminds Batman of his need not to give in and become a crimefighter without rules, without order. He needs the anarchy of the Joker to remind him why he chose the path he did. And the Joker, well, he needs someone to break in two, someone to crush, someone to turn evil. And who better that the epitome of law and order?
"The Laughing Fish," …
First, once you get past the early stories that were geared at children, you get a great look at one of the more enduring villains in comic history. His first appearance is full of nonsensical and unnecessary violence and his character eventually grows entirely into that character, despite some time as a childish, whimsical bad guy. His relationship with Batman is intriguing, and I think that they are shown to be two sides of the same coin; each, without question needs the other. The Joker reminds Batman of his need not to give in and become a crimefighter without rules, without order. He needs the anarchy of the Joker to remind him why he chose the path he did. And the Joker, well, he needs someone to break in two, someone to crush, someone to turn evil. And who better that the epitome of law and order?
"The Laughing Fish," "Laughter After Midnight," "Case Study," and "Hush Chapter 7: The Joke" are great.
Second, and more important . . .
For the love of God, get this collection of classic Joker tales and read no more than the second one, "The Joker's Comedy of Errors." Apparently, "boner" used to mean a mistake, and in the comic, Joker makes a boner during a crime, the newspapers (yep, there were such things) run the story, and he then sets up a bunch of crimes that mirrored great "boners" throughout history to redeem himself. Here are some great lines from the comic:
"So! They laugh at my boner, will they?! I'll show them! I'll show them how many boners the Joker can make!"
"This emphasis on boners has given me an idea for a new adventure in crime! Gotham City will rue the day it mentioned the word boner!"
"Yes -- there are more boner crimes to come! But more important -- soon, Batman will make the boner of the year!"
"What does he mean Bruce? How can he force you into a boner?"
"Let's continue our study of the greatest boners of all time."
"Batman -- we've got to stop the Joker! Those boner crimes are making us look bad! And I'm worried about the boner he's readying for you!"
"It is well that I am ready to trick him into his boner! Then the tables will be turned!"
"You were so busy forcing me into a boner, you forgot you were committing one yourself!"
"Let's hope we've the last of things like boners -- and Jokers!"