Batman #93

[cyberghostface]

 

Comments

[tcampbell1000]

I expect there'll be complaints about the first scene here, but come on, there's no other way this could've gone. If the hero's new big villain doesn't hand them their ass or at least come close to it in their first encounter, then what are they even doing here, really?

I like the angle that Harley sees Punchline as just a younger version of herself, whereas Punchline seems to have very different reasons for being at the Joker's side, though I hope they're a bit more nuanced than just angry nihilism. She doesn't seem to have much of a sense of humor at all... which keeps her from being a Harley clone but risks losing our interest. The DC movies tried setting themselves apart from Marvel by dialing back the humor too, and that didn't work out so well.

Points for the "Joker's Millions" reference. Not sure where this is gonna go from here, but at least it feels fresh... and there are less timely subjects that the prospect of a truly unbalanced psychopath with way too much cashola.

[shakalooloo]

With Punchline being so seemingly dedicated to not being funny, to not even smiling, they should have just called her Straight Man. Every comedy act, even the Joker, requires a straight man.

[deh_tommy]

To be fair, calling anyone (let alone your big villain) “Straight Man” potentially brings something different to mind.

[remial]

back in college, one of my best friends was the head of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Alliance. His boyfriend did not like me, but my friend and I were both huge fans of puns. (another thing the boyfriend wasn't a fan of)
one day at lunch, the boyfriend complained about me, asking my friend why he associated with a breeder like me. (his words not mine)

my friend, without a beat, said, "I am a punster, and every punster needs a good straight man."

his boyfriend got up and moved to a different table, and wouldn't eat with us after that one.

[janegray]

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[deh_tommy]

*slow clap*

On a different note...”Breeder”? The fudge?

[remial]

well, I'm straight, so...

[toby_wan_kenobi]

As a fellow punster, I applaud your friend's wit and simultaneously question his choice of boyfriend.

[beoweasel]

Or maybe Tsukkomi, for the Boke and Tsukkomi performances, which is roughly analogous.

[lonewolf23k]

Joker already has a Straight Man. He's called Batman.

[coldfury]

I never thought I'd live to see the day that Harley Quinn was the Worf to Joker's new girlfriend.

[icon_uk]

As soon as they introduced Punchline I think I knew it was coming. It's the only way the Punchline can establish her credentials....

In terms of the Punchline fight, Harley's filling in the Nightwing role in Batamn stories, but in reverse. (I would have used Worf-ing too, but but the batfamily have their very own example)

Harley is someone who Punchline, as the new villain, can take down to show what a serious threat they are without actually having to demonstrate anything about themsleves.... I'm sure there will be a return match later on where Harley bests Punchline.

I appreciate I perhaps overused the name Punchline here, but since they don't seem keen on giving Punchline a memorable design, personality or motivation I need SOME way to remind myself of who she is.

[janegray]

I do really like her hair and makeup. Reminds me of Pierrot clowns.

But her outfit is as bland as it can get, and the way she is drawn to put emphasis on her breasts takes the fun out of it (compare and contrast when Guruhiru was drawing Gwenpool, they put emphasis on her body language to underline her over-the-top presence).

[redmagpie]

Yeah, March;s art makes it really hard to take the fight seriously.

[scorntx]

And to think, only a year ago she was Worfing Wonder Woman and Superman.

Ah, well. Easy come, easy go.

[deh_tommy]

At least Punchline kind of struggled and had the benefit of mooks to distract Harley, vs. Harley singlehandedly taking out the Trinity without breaking a sweat.

[tcampbell1000]

Yeah, SERIOUSLY. Plus, she has the advantage that Harley doesn't really KNOW her, viewing her as a victim she should save rather than a ruthless enemy, whereas every major superhero should know Harley's deal by now, it's not like she's been shy about advertising it.

[cypherfdp]

I'd contrast this introduction with Azula's, but I feel like it's kinda played to talk about how great Avatar was at this point. Instead, I'll take this opportunity to say that I hope Harley continues to see herself as Punchline's eventual shoulder to cry on when she inevitably beats her in their rematch.

[scorntx]

-"He's the Joker. He jokes!"-

He does?!
Huh.


(and holy strategically placed word balloon, Batman.)

[icon_uk]

I think that might be the scariest aspect of this.

In Punchline, Joker might finally have found someone who genuinely thinks he's funny.

Harley realised he isn't, every Robin past and present knows he isn't, even BATMAN knows he isn't... but this woman does.

[deh_tommy]

Oh man I love that idea.

[zachbeacon]

Eh, it depends on the Joker. Hamill has his moments and Tudyk is hilarious.


I don't see anything funny about THIS guy though

[mastermahan]

Personally, a good Joker *should* be funny, in a gallows humor sort of way. Otherwise he's just a clown-themed serial killer.

[crinos]

Yeah no way Harley is dead from that.

I mean she's a Gotham city villain and she used to fuck the Joker, she's probably walked away from worse shit than that.

[salamangkiero]

If they keep her injury severe enough that she won;t be able to speak for some time.... dang, a real harlequin.

[locuatico]

Either Joker buys One Hundred Billion 1$ lottery tickets or I call bullcrap on this.

[zachbeacon]

Personally I hope he swims in it like Scrooge McDuck

[armycat23]

I think the problem with the this whole storyline is that not only is the Joker's methods boring and cliche, but that the status quo will be established at the end. The Joker is not going to continue to be rich, and Bruce Wayne will have some trickery to get his money back. All in all, this whole story arc will be fairly pointless and unimaginative. Punchline is more shallow of a character than I imagined. With Harley Quinn, at least theres a proper buildup and an inner conflict.

Punchline is a one note character....and she freely admits that herself. To make it worse? It's not even a note unique to her. In short, shes boring and her appeal will get stale.

[cyberghostface]

“ All in all, this whole story arc will be fairly pointless and unimaginative.”

Can you tell us what happens since you’ve read it already?

[armycat23]

Sure....the joker will not keep batmans money and batman will get it back. I already told you this, so your question is redundant.

[cyberghostface]

So in other words the status quo will remain status quo which applies to every other character under the big two (with occasional exceptions but even those get undone eventually)?

[armycat23]

Lolz at your "special occasions" comment. If that wasnt a "backdoor excuse" to neglect what's being told than I dont know what is. I'm done with this...because it's just making me shake my head.

[cyberghostface]

I said what I said. You might as well stop reading anything from Marvel or DC if your issue is things will eventually get back to normal. Yes Bruce Wayne will get his fortune back just as Superman will eventually get his secret identity back. Sometimes it will last longer than others like when Daredevil was outed but even he went back to normal.

[lego_joker]

Ehh, I'll give Tynion points on one thing - it's been a dog's age since anyone made the Joker legitimately interested in money. You can go some legitimately interesting and/or funny directions with that.

[jaxjyls]

Punchline's speech sounds like a bunch of 'Joker' and 'Society' memes mashed together.