NS: The Joker is getting his own monthly comic from DC

[cyberghostface]

Comic book fans everywhere know that The Joker is the most dangerous villain ever to menace Gotham City. But in March, Batman writer James Tynion IV and artist Guillem March go global with The Joker’s brand of terror and mayhem in The Joker, a new monthly ongoing series from DC.

After an unthinkable attack on Gotham City, the Clown Prince of Crime has become the most wanted man in the world! The Joker is doing his best to stay several steps ahead of law enforcement overseas, but Jim Gordon, facing retirement, realizes this is the last manhunt of his life and vows to track down Gotham’s worst nemesis, completing his storied career. But there are some mysterious and deadly forces that are also on the hunt for The Joker, and they’re not going to let Gordon slow them down or get in the way.

“When I was approached by DC about the concept of an ongoing series spotlighting The Joker, I thought, ‘What would that book even look like?,’” said Tynion. “I’m excited to share this story in a way that honors everything that a series about The Joker can be, while coming at if from an exciting, unexpected angle. I’m also thrilled to continue working with Sam and Mirka to expand the Punchline story we began in November as a back-up feature in this new ongoing Joker series. The Joker War was only the beginning of the terror and mayhem we’re creating!”

More info here.

Covers:

Comments

[mistersandman]

And here I was thinking Batman/Detective Comics already published the monthly adventures of the Joker. Wasn't Joker War meant to let the character lie low for a while?

[icon_uk]

I know it's news that will cheer your heart and I wish you well with it.

For myself, I'm past done with DC's Joker obsession and super-saturation of the market. Count me out.

[lordultimus]

Yeah, I know, Joker oversaturation, but the character will survive as always. What worries me is the Punchline back-up, as it seems that overpromoting a brand-new character can backfire much more easily.

[blueprintstyles]

at least it sounds like Gordon's going to be a balancing factor

[dan_ingram]

I wonder if he'll be competent or just playing Daffy to Joker's Bugs Bunny, like he does in Harley's show

[lucean]

I was a bit skeptical when I saw the initial announcement as I don't know how Joker would work in this context, but then I saw that it would feature Jim Gordon hunting him down and I was all in. It also helps that I really enjoyed Tynion's take on the character.

With that written, this does feel like a situation where it is a maxi-series being marketed as an on-going.

[reveen]

I don't understand what the Joker could have possibly done that would count as unthinkable at this point without straight up nuking Gotham flat.

[scorntx]

At this point, nuking Gotham would probably be an act of extreme gentrification.

[filthysize]

Copyright infringement.

[caivu]

*weary sigh*

[thanekos]

Joker: World Tour, featuring " Joker pops over to Santa Prisca, sends Bane some taunting beach photos ".

[silverhammerman]

Gotta say that this looks a little odd after Joker War seemed like a natural place to kind the character a break. That said, I've always considered Tomb of Dracula to be a personal favorite, so I'm by no means averse to a villain-centric title. If nothing else I actually think there's a chance that there's a chance this might lead to spotlighting some aspects of the character that aren't just based around mass murder.

[agent8]

"there's a chance this might lead to spotlighting some aspects of the character that aren't just based around mass murder."

There's a chance I'll win the powerball too, but I'm not banking on it. IMO Joker has been deliberately stripped of every nuance and every aspect of character that is NOT directly related to mass murder, the more horrific the better as far as DC powers that be are concerned.

[silverhammerman]

That's fair, but this has "mysterious and deadly forces that are also on the hunt for The Joker," which might mean a classic dynamic of "the supervillain has standards/cares about theming/the art of crime/etc" bringing them into conflict with even worse villains. Of course it could just as easily play out as the Joker dunking on a bunch of neophyte villains who aren't on his level, and that's probably more likely, but there are multiple ways the series might go, and there's a chance it could be good.

[themajesticmoose]

The only reason I might end up buying this is because apparently Harper Row is going to be featured in the back up story

Because I could not care less about the Joker but I do care about a cool bisexual superheroine

[deh_tommy]

Why single out that she’s bisexual?

[alicemacher]

Because there are still far too few heroic or positive characters, in any medium, who specifically identify as bi.

Instead, we're still getting:

-- The "depraved bisexual," a stock villain (usually but not always a woman) who uses seduction as a weapon against good guys of whatever gender;

-- The "comic relief promiscuous bisexual" , (good, bad OR neutral; usually but not always a man), whose ONLY character trait is "will do anyone with a pulse -- and has," makes constant sexual advances to the protagonist(s), and/or regales them with innuendo-laden anecdotes about their latest bedmate; and/or other types of slut-shaming;

-- The "erased bisexual" character who's clearly being written as bi, but the writers and/or executives are afraid to use the term for whatever reason, so instead we get "I don't like labels" or "I just like people." Now there are individuals in real life who do decline specific orientation labels, and obviously there's nothing wrong with their doing so. But when you have multiple characters in a work who are attracted to both women and men, yet not one of them ever identifies as bi, that sends the message, however unintentionally, that bisexuality is not real, that you gotta be either gay, straight or ace (when fictional works even bother to acknowledge asexuality exists, that is).

So as a proud bi woman, I say bring on more sympathetic or heroic characters who are neither afraid nor ashamed to identify that way!

[shakalooloo]

This is really good news. Joker fans get their book all about him, and the Batman titles will have his appearances cut down to only once every THREE story arcs.

[leahandillyana]

Does it mean that JT3 will no longer be writing main Batman title?

[cyberghostface]

He’s doing both.

[lego_joker]

Hm... anyone remember what the last big "Joker goes overseas" story was? Was it Europa?

[dc2houseofmystery]

If this is the Hannibal Season 3a pastiche I hope it is, then I'm interested. Gordon hot on the heels of a criminal mastermind, yes and yes. There's so much potential here. Joker pretending to be other villains! Oberon Sexton style disguises!

I'm too optimistic.