| BATMAN: I, JOKER
DC Comics-Elseworlds www.dccomics.com |
| Writer/Penciller/Inker:
Colourist: Letters?: |
Bob Hall
Lee Loughridge Albert T. De Guzman |
| In the past, I've done my share
of criticizing DC's Elseworlds line. The price is too high; they're
often unnecessarily given books the Prestige Format treatment; and the
stories haven't all been too impressive. But every once in a while,
a comic comes along that makes the Elseworlds line look good. This
is one of those comics.
In the future, the Batman (known here as Bruce) has taken complete control of Gotham City and become something far larger than life, a God. Every year, five criminals are surgically altered to resemble Batman's old foes (the Joker, the Penguin, Two-Face, the Riddler, and Ra's Al Guhl) and Batman hunts them down, thus proving his worthiness to his followers. This year, however, the faux-Joker is a bit more clever... First off, I just have to mention the cover- a brilliant image which stood out from the other crap on the shelves. Most impressive. Bob Hall is a comic vet, so I've probably seen his work (writing or art) somewhere else ... but this is easily the best thing he's ever done, either in art or writing. The characters of the Joker and the Bruce are captivating and come across effectively. Also, unlike some Elseworlds where the characters are virtually the same, they've just been slapped into a different setting (a piss-poor reason for an Elseworlds story), Hall really creates *different* characters. The Bruce is nothing like the Batman we've seen; and while the Joker does engage in some hysterics and manic laughter ... it's against his will. In this regard, Hall has, for the very first time, made the Joker a sympathetic character. And the Bruce is simply fascinating in his utter depravity and amoral nature, coupled with his megalomania. Very cool stuff. On the artistic side, Hall doesn't disappoint either. His Joker is both terrifying and sympathy-evoking (which I never thought possible), while his rendition of the Bruce is suitably terrifying and menacing. Hall's Gotham is also one of the creepiest and nastiest I've ever seen, too. So many Elseworlds have been
disappoiting dreck, not taking advantage of the Elseworlds possibilities
or just simply telling a boring, pointless story. Batman: I, Joker isn't
one of those. And you'll be doing yourself a favor in checking it
out ... although I still think $5 is a bit steep.
Score: A
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