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Batman (2011)
The Joker: Death of the Family
After having his face sliced off one year ago, The Joker makes his horrifying return in this new epic that features Batman's entire network of partners in crimefighting, including Batgirl, Catwoman, Nightwing, Robin, the Teen Titans and more. While The Joker threatens the very existence of Gotham City, these heroes --and villains--must find a way to survive.
Collects: Detective Comics #16-17, Catwoman #13-14, Batgirl #14-16, Red Hood and the Outlaws #15-16, Teen Titans #15, Nightwing #15-16, Batman and Robin #15-17, Batman #17. Also collects the portions of the following issues: Suicide Squad #14-15, Batgirl #13, Red Hood and the Outlaws #13-14, Teen Titans #14, 16, Nightwing #14 and Batman #13.
Collects: Detective Comics #16-17, Catwoman #13-14, Batgirl #14-16, Red Hood and the Outlaws #15-16, Teen Titans #15, Nightwing #15-16, Batman and Robin #15-17, Batman #17. Also collects the portions of the following issues: Suicide Squad #14-15, Batgirl #13, Red Hood and the Outlaws #13-14, Teen Titans #14, 16, Nightwing #14 and Batman #13.
429 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2013
155 people are currently reading
3022 people want to read
About the author
Scott Snyder
1,779 books5,118 followersScott Snyder is the Eisner and Harvey Award winning writer on DC Comics Batman, Swamp Thing, and his original series for Vertigo, American Vampire. He is also the author of the short story collection, Voodoo Heart, published by the Dial Press in 2006. The paperback version was published in the summer of 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 506 reviews
September 20, 2025
(B+) 76% | Good
Notes: Sampler plate, from bad to great, a tone and style medley, as genre goes, all horror shows: a mix of gross and deadly.
*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Part One ◦ Part Two ◦ Part Three ◦ Part Four ◦ Part Five ◦ Part Six ◦ Part Seven ◦ Conclusion & Epilogue
Notes: Sampler plate, from bad to great, a tone and style medley, as genre goes, all horror shows: a mix of gross and deadly.
*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Part One ◦ Part Two ◦ Part Three ◦ Part Four ◦ Part Five ◦ Part Six ◦ Part Seven ◦ Conclusion & Epilogue
September 8, 2017
Absolutely brutal, Snyder's entry in the Joker mythology after his extraordinary handling of the Court of Owls is a gripping and fascinating tale with great artwork. Well-worth your time.
September 1, 2019
4.5
The rating is based on the arc in its entirety, and not the individual titles. Obviously some are much better than others...
If you've already read all of the Death of the Family titles, this one isn't going to give you much new information, just a little snippet at the beginning from Joker's point of view.
However, if you've missed a few (or all) of the titles, this is an easy way to play catch-up with a really cool story arc from the Batverse.
Although I still think this particular story is so incredibly good, that it's worth tracking down every title connected with it.
Fine. Be lazy.
But you'll regret it someday...
The rating is based on the arc in its entirety, and not the individual titles. Obviously some are much better than others...
If you've already read all of the Death of the Family titles, this one isn't going to give you much new information, just a little snippet at the beginning from Joker's point of view.
However, if you've missed a few (or all) of the titles, this is an easy way to play catch-up with a really cool story arc from the Batverse.
Although I still think this particular story is so incredibly good, that it's worth tracking down every title connected with it.
Fine. Be lazy.
But you'll regret it someday...
March 26, 2020
It's a high end 3 star rating. The only Batman book I read each month is the main one by Snyder and Capullo, so whenever they do the big storylines like Death of the Family and Court of Owls, they don't feel much like events to me. But DC usually tie most of the bat-family titles into the storyline, therefore making the event-ish. The return of Joker after a year, and being what was at the time his New 52 debut, is a story worthy of being an event and it's worth tying the family books into it. Especially when that story is largely about The Joker going after the family to get at batman (hence the title: death of the family).
But because there's different titles by different creators in here, it's kind of a mix bag of good and bad. Most of it is good and the bits that stand out are the Robin and Nightwing parts.
But then others bring it down. The opening, taken from Detective Comics, is rather dull. And the Catwoman tie-in doesn't make much sense in both writing snd art.
They've also tried to combine the red hood and teen titans together here, which doesn't eventually work, but it starts off being a little confusing.
But the book is worth reading if you've been enjoying the Snyder run. There's also not much reprinted here from the Batman volume 3 collection (unlike the Joker Endgame hardcover which is mostly made up of Batman volume 7)
But because there's different titles by different creators in here, it's kind of a mix bag of good and bad. Most of it is good and the bits that stand out are the Robin and Nightwing parts.
But then others bring it down. The opening, taken from Detective Comics, is rather dull. And the Catwoman tie-in doesn't make much sense in both writing snd art.
They've also tried to combine the red hood and teen titans together here, which doesn't eventually work, but it starts off being a little confusing.
But the book is worth reading if you've been enjoying the Snyder run. There's also not much reprinted here from the Batman volume 3 collection (unlike the Joker Endgame hardcover which is mostly made up of Batman volume 7)
January 2, 2014
I sometimes forget what's at The Joker's core, and just how vile, horrifying, and brutal it is. Much of the time, writers get the silliness wrong by overdoing it, but I suppose that's more for the younger audience. His gags, though, only show how level the playing field is for him. Life and death are borderline parallels. A handshake is murder is rage is happiness is a hug is grief is madness. He's the unending joke of existence because it's all so indifferent in his eyes. Pain is a part of it, but so is breathing. He's able to endure anything and everything because he knows the means and the end can actually be the same thing. So for him to disappear for the year and come back even weirder and wilder and even more calculated than before, it's the most terrifying variation of the character. The Joker being fully unchained, if they were to ever finally do that story, would be one of the most heart-wrenching, most thorough visual essays on full-blown lunacy in all of its violent, terrible glory. There's no stopping him. He's the best villain because he's after nothing but villainy as a combination of freedom and boredom. There is no cure. There is no bargaining. There's strictly nothing but mayhem.
June 4, 2020
"The Joker: Death of the Family" was a gripping tale which had Joker take down Batman's allies one by one rendering Batman more and more isolated. The final chapter of the story i found to be very intense with several plot twists and shocking moments. This chapter also delved deeper into Joker's obsession with Batman in a very twisted way. This version of the Joker has removed his face and turned it into a skin mask he wears which i found to be a disturbing but a visually interesting take on the character. Overall, Death of the Family was a great Joker story that really pushes the chaotic and violent nature of this famous character.
January 20, 2023
I actually really liked this. The artwork was different to some of the other Batman comics I’ve read and I liked it.
October 29, 2021
SCORE: 75 | B+
TRIGGERS: graphic violence, domestic abuse, body horror
REVIEW: I get why they don't kill him, but if I was in the DC universe, The Joker would be dead by now. This book does an amazing job at showing just how awful the iconic villain can be by showing how he breaks down the Batfam (and others) one by one. I feel like, over the years, the character has been watered down somewhat due to his popularity and the need to be age appropriate for younger readers, but here he is highlighted as the absolute monster that he is. I'd recommend this to people who are already familiar with some other iconic stories such as The Killing Joke and Batman: Death in The Family as there are references to these throughout.
TRIGGERS: graphic violence, domestic abuse, body horror
REVIEW: I get why they don't kill him, but if I was in the DC universe, The Joker would be dead by now. This book does an amazing job at showing just how awful the iconic villain can be by showing how he breaks down the Batfam (and others) one by one. I feel like, over the years, the character has been watered down somewhat due to his popularity and the need to be age appropriate for younger readers, but here he is highlighted as the absolute monster that he is. I'd recommend this to people who are already familiar with some other iconic stories such as The Killing Joke and Batman: Death in The Family as there are references to these throughout.
September 7, 2018
What a bloated mess this is.
I really liked the basic premise of the story. The Joker thinks that Batman is being made less of an opponent because of his personal attachments, so to help Batman out the Joker is going to kill off his 'family'.
I get that the trade editions are collections of individual issues. So it's not really a cohesive and tightly told story. Reading it as a book though, and not as individual issues I felt like there was so much crap that wasn't necessary for the story, big parts of the story left out, and plot lines created that had no purpose in the overarching story.
I don't know if certain important issues were left out that told how certain events happened . I'm really not sure what the point of the Catwoman arc was in relation to the overall story, it wasn't a bad part of the story, it just seemed to exist outside of the rest of the manipulations the Joker was doing.
But, instead of filling in some details that probably would have made the conclusion of the book comprehensible, I did get to read way too many pages of Teen Titan's banter, and I guess see some character development in some character named Arsenal which I'm sure is good for him as growth but I really couldn't care less about in the current story I was reading.
Which made me think that if they could just take the relevant parts of the individual issues and piece them together this probably could have been a strong story, instead it just seemed like a really long story with a fairly unsatisfying and hurried conclusion.
I really liked the basic premise of the story. The Joker thinks that Batman is being made less of an opponent because of his personal attachments, so to help Batman out the Joker is going to kill off his 'family'.
I get that the trade editions are collections of individual issues. So it's not really a cohesive and tightly told story. Reading it as a book though, and not as individual issues I felt like there was so much crap that wasn't necessary for the story, big parts of the story left out, and plot lines created that had no purpose in the overarching story.
I don't know if certain important issues were left out that told how certain events happened . I'm really not sure what the point of the Catwoman arc was in relation to the overall story, it wasn't a bad part of the story, it just seemed to exist outside of the rest of the manipulations the Joker was doing.
But, instead of filling in some details that probably would have made the conclusion of the book comprehensible, I did get to read way too many pages of Teen Titan's banter, and I guess see some character development in some character named Arsenal which I'm sure is good for him as growth but I really couldn't care less about in the current story I was reading.
Which made me think that if they could just take the relevant parts of the individual issues and piece them together this probably could have been a strong story, instead it just seemed like a really long story with a fairly unsatisfying and hurried conclusion.
May 21, 2023
The Joker could possibly be the greatest villain in the history of comics. Not every Joker story is great, but on average putting the Joker in a story just makes it better. This volume does feature the Joker at his psychotic best. This Joker has actually had the skin cut from his face and basically reattached with fish hooks. As if he wasn't scary enough already!
It takes an epic story to truly give the Joker his glory, and this one manages to pull it off. Batman, in my opinion, has the greatest rogue gallery in comics, and the Joker stands atop the pile as the crown jewel. In this volume he interacts with the entire Bat-family. Batgirl, who he shot and crippled, Jason Todd, who he actually murdered, as well as Nightwing, Catwoman, the Teen Titans, and of course Batman himself.
Just a great volume and a must for any fan of Batman, or, of course, The Joker. I would recommend this even to non-Batman fans, however, there is a lot of back story to this one that only long time fans would understand. That being said, it's still probably the best of the "New 52" Batman stories so far.
It takes an epic story to truly give the Joker his glory, and this one manages to pull it off. Batman, in my opinion, has the greatest rogue gallery in comics, and the Joker stands atop the pile as the crown jewel. In this volume he interacts with the entire Bat-family. Batgirl, who he shot and crippled, Jason Todd, who he actually murdered, as well as Nightwing, Catwoman, the Teen Titans, and of course Batman himself.
Just a great volume and a must for any fan of Batman, or, of course, The Joker. I would recommend this even to non-Batman fans, however, there is a lot of back story to this one that only long time fans would understand. That being said, it's still probably the best of the "New 52" Batman stories so far.
August 6, 2016
Like any avid Batman fan, finding out that the Joker will be returning in the New 52 line-up was instantly gratifying, especially since I consider him my most favorite Batman villain ever since Mark Hamill's version in Batman: The Animated Series. But DC did not make having the Joker back a walk-in-the-park either. He is, after all, Batman's ultimate nemesis so you bet your ass they're gonna make a big crossover event about it. And that is exactly what is collected in this deluxe edition. From a more objective perspective, putting every Joker appearance since his grand return in one impressive volume is practical if you're the kind of fan who wants to keep track of everything. But in a more critical point of view, The Joker: Death of the Family is a problematic anthology only because some stand-alone stories do not connect with each other and there are quite a few that were better off not read if what you aim for is Joker's direct connection with Batman and the rest of the Robins (plus Batgirl).
To further illustrate my point, I will give a short description of each story included and whether or not you need to check them out in order to fully digest and appreciate Scott Synder's Death of the Family. What you should keep in mind is there is a separate collected edition that only included Scott Snyder's version of events and if you already have that but you feel like you also wanted to check out what the other writers have done in their crossover stories, I sure hope that my insights will help you discern for yourself if you still need to buy this particular edition. Don't worry about any major spoilers ahead.
DETECTIVE COMICS #16-17
Batman investigates a series of Joker-themed menace committed by mentally disturbed people who identify strongly with the clown prince of crime. Written by John Layman, this is a very engrossing story that one could view as the ripple effect of Joker's return to Gotham's outcasts. It examines the magnetism of the Joker as an elusive figure and why dangerous men like him appeals to a certain kind of lost individuals such as the ones featured here. If you follow the Detective Comics yourself, you will recognize that this is a continuation of the Emperor Penguin plot but readers who will just pick up this issue do not need to concern themselves with that because #16-#17 focuses entirely on the Joker groupies who call themselves The League of Smiles and what havoc they inspire.
RECOMMENDED: YES, only because it's a well-written exploration about the kind of madness that the Joker inflicts on frail-minded and anti-social people. The artwork by Jason Fabok and Andy Clarke is a tantalizing feat as well.
CATWOMAN #13-14
This is one of the stories that really do not add anything to Snyder's Death of the Family. The Joker trying to entice Catwoman to join whatever sick game he is about to perpetrate is not that much of a worthwhile read because I could never understand why he jilted Catwoman around in the first place. Aside from the occasional laughs I got from the Joker's sly if not heavy-handed gags to lure or belittle Catwoman, there really isn't anything to this story that has any effect on what is about to take place once the Joker confronts the Bat family.
RECOMMENDED: NO
SUICIDE SQUAD #14-15
The Joker visits Harley Quinn during a funeral and proceeds to torment her with a viciousness and cruelty that we haven't seen him do before. As a shipper and supporter of this duo, it was an unsettling situation to read and yet I still thought that this story presented the most daring if not erotic interactions between the Joker and his favorite pet/toy. I'm one of those fans who always considered Harley Quinn as the best companion to the Joker because she always understood perfectly what she was getting into whenever she commits heinous crimes for her Mr. J. She may be submissive to him but it's by choice and her own brand of insanity is the reason why the Joker wants her around and secretly needs her in his life. She's the captive audience, the willing participant and the ultimate groupie that someone with Joker's vanity and level of theatrics requires. In these issues, Harley Quinn tries to resist the Joker, recognizing that he is not the same man she gave up her sanity for in the first place. What follows is an intense read of why comics' arguably most dysfunctional relationship actually works.
RECOMMENDED: IT DEPENDS. If you're a shipper like I am, this is something you should check out. If not, it's really okay to skip this one.
BATGIRL #14-16
This is definitely my absolute favorite tie-in among all of the Joker crossover stories. It was just stunning and breathtaking in all the right places. The narrative is crisp with haunting monologues from Barbara Gordon especially her grim contemplation to kill the Joker herself (given the intimate level of destruction he inflicted upon her in The Killing Joke). The action sequences are amazing to peruse through. The Joker's baffling actions toward Batgirl were cringe-worthy with the misplaced sort of affection that made me sick to my own stomach. I have never realized how much their dynamics could work so compellingly until I read these issues.
RECOMMENDED: YES. This is a crossover story that works really well. Gail Simone's Barbara/Batgirl is incredibly sympathetic and quite menacing herself. You really root for her to succeed and drive a blade into the Joker's heart after the hell she's been through because of him.
RED HOOD #15-16; TEEN TITANS #15-16
In this collection, Red Robin and Red Hood stories were crammed together as one tedious and often derivative storyline. The Joker abducts the former Robins and their own respective teams try to save them. This is the most disengaging story of all especially if you don't follow Teen Titans or The Outlaws. Their appearances would confuse new readers and have also diluted the plot, to be honest. The only redemptive quality of these issues is the confrontation faced by Tim Drake and Jason Todd who really do have unresolved issues with their surrogate father, Bruce Wayne/Batman. The Joker tries to get them to turn against each other through bringing out those issues to light. If only we focused more on that and lessened the Teen Titans/Outlaws scenes then this crossover story could have been more enjoyable.
RECOMMENDED: NO
NIGHTWING #15-16
My second favorite tie-in next to Batgirl, the original Robin Dick Grayson in this story is taken for a twisted surprise when the Joker threatens to kill everyone he upholds and obliterate the place he once called home before he was whisked away by Batman long ago when his own parents were murdered. This was emotionally engaging especially if you're someone like me who had always loved Dick Grayson as the first Robin and followed his evolution to his own choice of hero, and separation from Batman's overbearing shadow. The Joker knew what buttons to push but Dick never truly gives in to the darkness and that says a lot about him and his devotion to the other Robins including Batman himself. Dick Grayson's resilence shines through in these issues even if he ultimately recognizes how messed up his entire childhood had been as the Boy Wonder.
RECOMMENDED: YES
BATMAN AND ROBIN #15-16
Damian Wayne, the current Robin and also Bruce Wayne's illegitimate son, is the focus of these issues. Unlike the other Robins who have their own personal encounters with the Joker before, Damian was able to challenge the Joker and call out his bluffs because he has no reason to fear him--at least not yet. Watching the Joker psychologically torture another Robin is really sickening and yet a pleasurable read to see unfold nevertheless. The highlight of this story is Damian's relationship with Batman which is rife with more complexities because the man underneath the cowl is also his own flesh and blood. Young as he is, Damian is also an intelligent Robin who is able to think quickly on his feet. His complete trust over Batman is the reason why the Joker is never truly able to break his will down.
RECOMMENDED: YES
BATMAN #17
Ah, the very bone and marrow of the Death of the Family itself. This was marketed as the most exciting and best Joker story yet which actually hurts its chances to survive and be appreciated as its own story, really. The hype built around it will mislead readers who tend to have overblown expectations. So I suggest you adjust your expectations and don't expect this to be an instant classic or whatever it is being marketed as. It's not. But it's still a very enjoyable read.
The entire point of the Joker's massively tormented (and, may I add, drawn out) return is to destroy the family that has made Batman weak because they humanized him. The Joker strongly believes that such relationships had reduced Batman into an ordinary and fallible man, and since the Joker's vanity is centered around the fact that he is unique and his nemesis is exactly as that too; and they are locked into an eternal battle of will and wits forever and ever (it's worth noting that there are lots of accidental homoerotic layers to the way the Joker pines over the Batman in Snyder's narrative framework), he thinks he's actually doing Batman a favor by eliminating his surrogate children and own son and heir. It makes perfect sense for the Joker to be this possessive and entitled to Batman. There's something vaguely pitiful about it too.
The seventeenth issue, Death of the Family was personally satisfying if you focus on the echoing thematic dissonance between the Batman and the Joker as the dichotomy that they've always been: order and chaos; and placing that in a more humanistic context where they are more than just mere concepts but also people who are afraid to own up and face the flaws of their humanity and how much they have alienated and often damaged the few people who are important to them. There is that poignant scene where Batman threatens to reveal to the Joker his real identity and the Joker actually flats-out refuses. That for me was a significant look at how the Joker wants to operate; he desperately wants to cut himself off from any kind of humanity including his own, but there is loneliness to that so it would be comforting for him to know that Batman will do the same as well, considering the only lasting and meaningful connection he ever had was with the Dark Knight.
If you don't believe the hype created around this story and the entire crossover event then The Joker: Death of the Family will be an impressive accomplishment that is worth the purchase. The writers have tried their best to add some new dimension to the Joker, particularly Snyder who I believe wanted to reveal just how much Batman and the Joker are intrinsically tied to one another. This for me is also a major milestone among Batman and his children and I'm interested to see how it plays out for everyone concerned since they basically just endured another traumatic event that should re-define their relationships.
RECOMMENDED OVERALL: 8/10
* If you don't have the same emotional investment on Batman, then these stories may receive lower ratings, but if you are just as addicted to the Dark Knight and his mythology as I am, then this is something that will move you deeply.
To further illustrate my point, I will give a short description of each story included and whether or not you need to check them out in order to fully digest and appreciate Scott Synder's Death of the Family. What you should keep in mind is there is a separate collected edition that only included Scott Snyder's version of events and if you already have that but you feel like you also wanted to check out what the other writers have done in their crossover stories, I sure hope that my insights will help you discern for yourself if you still need to buy this particular edition. Don't worry about any major spoilers ahead.
DETECTIVE COMICS #16-17
Batman investigates a series of Joker-themed menace committed by mentally disturbed people who identify strongly with the clown prince of crime. Written by John Layman, this is a very engrossing story that one could view as the ripple effect of Joker's return to Gotham's outcasts. It examines the magnetism of the Joker as an elusive figure and why dangerous men like him appeals to a certain kind of lost individuals such as the ones featured here. If you follow the Detective Comics yourself, you will recognize that this is a continuation of the Emperor Penguin plot but readers who will just pick up this issue do not need to concern themselves with that because #16-#17 focuses entirely on the Joker groupies who call themselves The League of Smiles and what havoc they inspire.
RECOMMENDED: YES, only because it's a well-written exploration about the kind of madness that the Joker inflicts on frail-minded and anti-social people. The artwork by Jason Fabok and Andy Clarke is a tantalizing feat as well.
CATWOMAN #13-14
This is one of the stories that really do not add anything to Snyder's Death of the Family. The Joker trying to entice Catwoman to join whatever sick game he is about to perpetrate is not that much of a worthwhile read because I could never understand why he jilted Catwoman around in the first place. Aside from the occasional laughs I got from the Joker's sly if not heavy-handed gags to lure or belittle Catwoman, there really isn't anything to this story that has any effect on what is about to take place once the Joker confronts the Bat family.
RECOMMENDED: NO
SUICIDE SQUAD #14-15
The Joker visits Harley Quinn during a funeral and proceeds to torment her with a viciousness and cruelty that we haven't seen him do before. As a shipper and supporter of this duo, it was an unsettling situation to read and yet I still thought that this story presented the most daring if not erotic interactions between the Joker and his favorite pet/toy. I'm one of those fans who always considered Harley Quinn as the best companion to the Joker because she always understood perfectly what she was getting into whenever she commits heinous crimes for her Mr. J. She may be submissive to him but it's by choice and her own brand of insanity is the reason why the Joker wants her around and secretly needs her in his life. She's the captive audience, the willing participant and the ultimate groupie that someone with Joker's vanity and level of theatrics requires. In these issues, Harley Quinn tries to resist the Joker, recognizing that he is not the same man she gave up her sanity for in the first place. What follows is an intense read of why comics' arguably most dysfunctional relationship actually works.
RECOMMENDED: IT DEPENDS. If you're a shipper like I am, this is something you should check out. If not, it's really okay to skip this one.
BATGIRL #14-16
This is definitely my absolute favorite tie-in among all of the Joker crossover stories. It was just stunning and breathtaking in all the right places. The narrative is crisp with haunting monologues from Barbara Gordon especially her grim contemplation to kill the Joker herself (given the intimate level of destruction he inflicted upon her in The Killing Joke). The action sequences are amazing to peruse through. The Joker's baffling actions toward Batgirl were cringe-worthy with the misplaced sort of affection that made me sick to my own stomach. I have never realized how much their dynamics could work so compellingly until I read these issues.
RECOMMENDED: YES. This is a crossover story that works really well. Gail Simone's Barbara/Batgirl is incredibly sympathetic and quite menacing herself. You really root for her to succeed and drive a blade into the Joker's heart after the hell she's been through because of him.
RED HOOD #15-16; TEEN TITANS #15-16
In this collection, Red Robin and Red Hood stories were crammed together as one tedious and often derivative storyline. The Joker abducts the former Robins and their own respective teams try to save them. This is the most disengaging story of all especially if you don't follow Teen Titans or The Outlaws. Their appearances would confuse new readers and have also diluted the plot, to be honest. The only redemptive quality of these issues is the confrontation faced by Tim Drake and Jason Todd who really do have unresolved issues with their surrogate father, Bruce Wayne/Batman. The Joker tries to get them to turn against each other through bringing out those issues to light. If only we focused more on that and lessened the Teen Titans/Outlaws scenes then this crossover story could have been more enjoyable.
RECOMMENDED: NO
NIGHTWING #15-16
My second favorite tie-in next to Batgirl, the original Robin Dick Grayson in this story is taken for a twisted surprise when the Joker threatens to kill everyone he upholds and obliterate the place he once called home before he was whisked away by Batman long ago when his own parents were murdered. This was emotionally engaging especially if you're someone like me who had always loved Dick Grayson as the first Robin and followed his evolution to his own choice of hero, and separation from Batman's overbearing shadow. The Joker knew what buttons to push but Dick never truly gives in to the darkness and that says a lot about him and his devotion to the other Robins including Batman himself. Dick Grayson's resilence shines through in these issues even if he ultimately recognizes how messed up his entire childhood had been as the Boy Wonder.
RECOMMENDED: YES
BATMAN AND ROBIN #15-16
Damian Wayne, the current Robin and also Bruce Wayne's illegitimate son, is the focus of these issues. Unlike the other Robins who have their own personal encounters with the Joker before, Damian was able to challenge the Joker and call out his bluffs because he has no reason to fear him--at least not yet. Watching the Joker psychologically torture another Robin is really sickening and yet a pleasurable read to see unfold nevertheless. The highlight of this story is Damian's relationship with Batman which is rife with more complexities because the man underneath the cowl is also his own flesh and blood. Young as he is, Damian is also an intelligent Robin who is able to think quickly on his feet. His complete trust over Batman is the reason why the Joker is never truly able to break his will down.
RECOMMENDED: YES
BATMAN #17
Ah, the very bone and marrow of the Death of the Family itself. This was marketed as the most exciting and best Joker story yet which actually hurts its chances to survive and be appreciated as its own story, really. The hype built around it will mislead readers who tend to have overblown expectations. So I suggest you adjust your expectations and don't expect this to be an instant classic or whatever it is being marketed as. It's not. But it's still a very enjoyable read.
The entire point of the Joker's massively tormented (and, may I add, drawn out) return is to destroy the family that has made Batman weak because they humanized him. The Joker strongly believes that such relationships had reduced Batman into an ordinary and fallible man, and since the Joker's vanity is centered around the fact that he is unique and his nemesis is exactly as that too; and they are locked into an eternal battle of will and wits forever and ever (it's worth noting that there are lots of accidental homoerotic layers to the way the Joker pines over the Batman in Snyder's narrative framework), he thinks he's actually doing Batman a favor by eliminating his surrogate children and own son and heir. It makes perfect sense for the Joker to be this possessive and entitled to Batman. There's something vaguely pitiful about it too.
The seventeenth issue, Death of the Family was personally satisfying if you focus on the echoing thematic dissonance between the Batman and the Joker as the dichotomy that they've always been: order and chaos; and placing that in a more humanistic context where they are more than just mere concepts but also people who are afraid to own up and face the flaws of their humanity and how much they have alienated and often damaged the few people who are important to them. There is that poignant scene where Batman threatens to reveal to the Joker his real identity and the Joker actually flats-out refuses. That for me was a significant look at how the Joker wants to operate; he desperately wants to cut himself off from any kind of humanity including his own, but there is loneliness to that so it would be comforting for him to know that Batman will do the same as well, considering the only lasting and meaningful connection he ever had was with the Dark Knight.
If you don't believe the hype created around this story and the entire crossover event then The Joker: Death of the Family will be an impressive accomplishment that is worth the purchase. The writers have tried their best to add some new dimension to the Joker, particularly Snyder who I believe wanted to reveal just how much Batman and the Joker are intrinsically tied to one another. This for me is also a major milestone among Batman and his children and I'm interested to see how it plays out for everyone concerned since they basically just endured another traumatic event that should re-define their relationships.
RECOMMENDED OVERALL: 8/10
* If you don't have the same emotional investment on Batman, then these stories may receive lower ratings, but if you are just as addicted to the Dark Knight and his mythology as I am, then this is something that will move you deeply.
January 14, 2022
This graphic novel includes all of the crossover stories from the Death of the Family story arc featuring the New 52's return of the Joker. The core story by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo can be found in Batman, Vol. 3: Death of the Family, although the key issues from the beginning and end of that core story are also included here.
This is a good story and a decent collection although I think it is Scott Snyder's work (Batman 13 and 17 included here) that stands far above the rest, and those are the only pieces of the story I'd already read. I'd recommend reading the core book first (Batman, Vol. 3: Death of the Family).
And maybe you would like to know: "What the heck happened to Joker's face?" In which case, before reading either this collection or Batman Vol 3, I'd recommend reading Detective Comics issue #1 (which can be found in this collection: Detective Comics, Vol. 1: Faces of Death).
Besides Batman 13 and 17, the rest of the issues included in this collection are:
Detective Comics 16-17: These two stories introduce a rather cool villain called the Merrymaker. This is a prelude of sorts to the Joker story.
Catwoman 13-14: I wasn't too impressed with these stories. I understand that sex appeal is one of Catwoman's defining characteristics, but it gets a bit ridiculous when they look for one half-baked excuse after another to make her parade around in her underwear.
Batgirl 13-16: These were interesting stories featuring Joker courting Batgirl in a way that's creepy enough to befit only the Joker
Red Hood and the Outlaws 13-16: I didn't enjoy these stories very much, I felt the plot was rushed and furthermore my enjoyment of the stories suffered from the fact that I've read only one issue from this series before, so I wasn't that familiar with the characters.
Suicide Squad 14-15 (fragments): These tell Harley Quinn's part of the story. These were decent but the most exciting and interesting part of this story I had already read since it was included in Batman 13.
Teen Titans 14-16: Again I didn't enjoy these stories as much I think because I'd never read any of the Teen Titans issues before so I didn't know or appreciate the featured characters.
Nightwing 14-16: Pretty enjoyable stories. The Joker is up to his usual tricks hatching diabolical schemes in this one, however I felt the complexity and extravagance of his scheme strained credulity, even for a superhero comic.
Batman and Robin 15-17: Again I didn't read any of the previous stories but these characters (Bruce Wayne and his son Damian) of course need no introduction. I enjoyed these stories; the artwork was cool and I found the themes were surprisingly mature considering the main character is a pre-teen. Some of the scenes were downright terrifying, including a creepy full page in which the Joker wears his face upside down, with teeth glinting behind eye sockets and eyes peering out between gaping lips. Really creepy -- but awesome -- stuff. The Batman and Robin series includes an epilogue that is interesting as well.
Conclusion:
If you were going to read only one book, I'd recommend reading Batman, Vol. 3: Death of the Family. It contains the best parts of the story. If you've already read that, then this book would be recommended reading if you wanted to know what happens to all of the supporting cast (the "Family" of the title) and how they ended up where they were in Scott Snyder's climactic scene. I think the climax still stands on its own without this extra background. Also, the climax is included here, so you could read this book as a standalone story if you wanted. Furthermore, I think this book would be better enjoyed if you've already read issues from the supporting series (such as those mentioned above). However, before reading either this or Batman Vol 3, I'd recommend reading Detective Comics issue 1 (which can be found in this collection: Detective Comics, Vol. 1: Faces of Death).
This is a good story and a decent collection although I think it is Scott Snyder's work (Batman 13 and 17 included here) that stands far above the rest, and those are the only pieces of the story I'd already read. I'd recommend reading the core book first (Batman, Vol. 3: Death of the Family).
And maybe you would like to know: "What the heck happened to Joker's face?" In which case, before reading either this collection or Batman Vol 3, I'd recommend reading Detective Comics issue #1 (which can be found in this collection: Detective Comics, Vol. 1: Faces of Death).
Besides Batman 13 and 17, the rest of the issues included in this collection are:
Detective Comics 16-17: These two stories introduce a rather cool villain called the Merrymaker. This is a prelude of sorts to the Joker story.
Catwoman 13-14: I wasn't too impressed with these stories. I understand that sex appeal is one of Catwoman's defining characteristics, but it gets a bit ridiculous when they look for one half-baked excuse after another to make her parade around in her underwear.
Batgirl 13-16: These were interesting stories featuring Joker courting Batgirl in a way that's creepy enough to befit only the Joker
Red Hood and the Outlaws 13-16: I didn't enjoy these stories very much, I felt the plot was rushed and furthermore my enjoyment of the stories suffered from the fact that I've read only one issue from this series before, so I wasn't that familiar with the characters.
Suicide Squad 14-15 (fragments): These tell Harley Quinn's part of the story. These were decent but the most exciting and interesting part of this story I had already read since it was included in Batman 13.
Teen Titans 14-16: Again I didn't enjoy these stories as much I think because I'd never read any of the Teen Titans issues before so I didn't know or appreciate the featured characters.
Nightwing 14-16: Pretty enjoyable stories. The Joker is up to his usual tricks hatching diabolical schemes in this one, however I felt the complexity and extravagance of his scheme strained credulity, even for a superhero comic.
Batman and Robin 15-17: Again I didn't read any of the previous stories but these characters (Bruce Wayne and his son Damian) of course need no introduction. I enjoyed these stories; the artwork was cool and I found the themes were surprisingly mature considering the main character is a pre-teen. Some of the scenes were downright terrifying, including a creepy full page in which the Joker wears his face upside down, with teeth glinting behind eye sockets and eyes peering out between gaping lips. Really creepy -- but awesome -- stuff. The Batman and Robin series includes an epilogue that is interesting as well.
Conclusion:
If you were going to read only one book, I'd recommend reading Batman, Vol. 3: Death of the Family. It contains the best parts of the story. If you've already read that, then this book would be recommended reading if you wanted to know what happens to all of the supporting cast (the "Family" of the title) and how they ended up where they were in Scott Snyder's climactic scene. I think the climax still stands on its own without this extra background. Also, the climax is included here, so you could read this book as a standalone story if you wanted. Furthermore, I think this book would be better enjoyed if you've already read issues from the supporting series (such as those mentioned above). However, before reading either this or Batman Vol 3, I'd recommend reading Detective Comics issue 1 (which can be found in this collection: Detective Comics, Vol. 1: Faces of Death).
November 29, 2013
This is quite simply the best Joker story I have read in years. DC Comics has perfectly woven a Joker story over the course of several New 52 books perfectly. I never felt that Gail Simone, Peter Tomasi or Scott Snyder were writing there own separate take on the Joker. Those group story brainstorming meetings must have been fantastic. The Joker is probably one of the greatest super villains ever made. Those of you who have always wanted to read comics or are just plain curious should definitely pick up this graphic novel up. I loved that all of the bat family have to face there own inner demons concerning there run ins with the joker in the past. I really enjoyed the cat mouse dialogue between Damian and the Joker. The Nightwing vs. Joker was fantastic. I really do not see how any Joker story is going to top this. The artwork in this book is exquisite. It can be bit dark and gritty but darkly beautiful. "Death of the Family" is a five star book all the way.
July 18, 2016
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and was brilliant as I really enjoy reading about the jokers story and his involvement with all the DC characters!
However, there were some sections that I have read before previously in other comics but I didn't mind reading them again.
However, there were some sections that I have read before previously in other comics but I didn't mind reading them again.
December 5, 2021
Joker’in devasa geri dönüş hikayesini bu sefer tüm karakterler gözünden anlatan "Death of the Family", detaylı ve derin bir hikaye bekleyen okuyucular için büyük bir hayal kırıklığı olmasının yanında gereksiz detaylarla da sıkıcı bir okuma deneyimi sunuyor. Tahmin edilebilir klişe olayların yanında fantezinin doruk noktasında Frank Miller’in noir atmosferinin fersah fersah uzağında bir sirk adeta. Çizgi roman ve Batman severler belki çok sevebilir fakat benim için önümdeki 7 devam kitabı gerçek anlamda sorgulatan bir okuma oldu.
05.12.2021
Londra, Birleşik Krallık
Alp Turgut
05.12.2021
Londra, Birleşik Krallık
Alp Turgut
June 8, 2023
Typical Joker messing up with the batfam.
December 3, 2025
PENDING REVIEW
4.30 - Great
4.30 - Great
February 15, 2021
Joker at his best fucked form
November 12, 2013
I want to give this five stars but just can't. This volume is a tremendous value as you get all of the "Death of the Family" tie-ins. It keeps you from having to buy the Batgirl, Teen Titans, Suicide Squad, Nightwing, Batman & Robin, and Red Hood trades. That being said, this is a collection of tie-ins, meaning the main story that took place in the actual "Batman" title is absent. It's strange that this one came out first as you have to read the other to know what is going on in this one.
While I am not a fan of the Catwoman, Detective Comics, Teen Titans or Suicide Squad series, having them in here is a bonus. The Batgirl chapter is astounding, the best outside of the main story. The Red Hood stuff is great too. This should come as no surprise as Joker previously paralyzed one and killed the other. Batman & Robin has been the best Bat series of the New 52 and you get that too.
This book isn't as comprehensive as the "Night of the Owls" book, but it's definitely solid.
While I am not a fan of the Catwoman, Detective Comics, Teen Titans or Suicide Squad series, having them in here is a bonus. The Batgirl chapter is astounding, the best outside of the main story. The Red Hood stuff is great too. This should come as no surprise as Joker previously paralyzed one and killed the other. Batman & Robin has been the best Bat series of the New 52 and you get that too.
This book isn't as comprehensive as the "Night of the Owls" book, but it's definitely solid.
October 1, 2013
I did not like this story nor this concept from the get go, and the ending only solidified my distaste.
January 13, 2019
Although individual parts of this were more or less well written and well drawn (and not always the same parts), there really was no coherent thread to the story which made reading this collection necessary.
For instance, the reason I picked this up was because at the beginning of Batman and Robin (Death of the Family), Damian is thinking about how Joker kidnapped Alfred, but that is the only scene in here of Joker kidnapping Alfred.
There's nothing here to explain the "Joe the Plumber" outfit Joker wears, either.
For everything extra in here, there seems to be as much left out.
And Joker's continual account of how the "family" weakens Batman, while the Joker wants him stronger, is like a broken record after a while. Is this supposed to be a madman's idee fixe, some kind of villainous Nietzscheanism, or the bastard offspring of Frank Miller's Dark Knight with Alan Moore's Killing Joke? In the end, I was none the wiser.
Get it or don't get it. Get it?
For instance, the reason I picked this up was because at the beginning of Batman and Robin (Death of the Family), Damian is thinking about how Joker kidnapped Alfred, but that is the only scene in here of Joker kidnapping Alfred.
There's nothing here to explain the "Joe the Plumber" outfit Joker wears, either.
For everything extra in here, there seems to be as much left out.
And Joker's continual account of how the "family" weakens Batman, while the Joker wants him stronger, is like a broken record after a while. Is this supposed to be a madman's idee fixe, some kind of villainous Nietzscheanism, or the bastard offspring of Frank Miller's Dark Knight with Alan Moore's Killing Joke? In the end, I was none the wiser.
Get it or don't get it. Get it?
Read
July 2, 2024Lest noen klassikere men litt småforvirra over alt som skjer her. Noen issues skummet jeg nesten igjennom. Bryr meg ikke så mye om dagens Teen Titans og Red Hood gjengen. Leste egentlig bare denne for å ha full kontekst for neste i serien. ...Hei Zero Year😏
April 6, 2021
He tardado y me ha costado pero ha estado genial.
Aunque no debería haberlo leído de noche 😋
Aunque no debería haberlo leído de noche 😋
March 23, 2016
So I read most of these tie in issue a while ago now. I loved the Batman storyline so much, so I thought reading them together would just make this tale even more epic.
After I was left with the overpowering feeling of "meh"...so giving this a 3 stars is being generous.
So my first issue was the fact that it never actually had most of the Batman story here. We get a very short part at restart which doesn't even have Joker in it. Then just the last issue from Batman #16, which I had tea a million times before. We're was the issue when Joker made his return? Where's the issues with Joker and Batman before he's captured? Those were some of the coolest parts of this storyline and they were nowhere to be seen! You don't even see how Batman was captured!!!
So majority of the book is just the tie ins to the event, most of hitch were sub par, but it would have been forgiven if it had all the issues of Batman. Catwoman's was definitely the worst. It didn't add anything to the story whatsoever...NOTHING! Anne Noccenti is by far the worst writer at DC at the moment and I have no idea how she gets any work!
Second issue with this collection was the order. Batgirls stories are near the start of the book, and she's captured. Yet Se keeps popping up in all the other tie ins as if she's still roaming about. Now I'm no expert but how did the editor not see this and fi it? Seems like an ongoing issue with a lot of the N52 collected editions in terms of chronological order. It just diminished my love of this story immensely.
After going into this book with huge excitement I was soon shot down and left as a disappointed blob on the floor. If they had just collected the entire Batman story here, then inserted the tie in issues (in order), they would have had a really solid book. Instead it fails to keep its intensity and loses all its potency. I really hope that the Court of Owls collection is better than this!!
After I was left with the overpowering feeling of "meh"...so giving this a 3 stars is being generous.
So my first issue was the fact that it never actually had most of the Batman story here. We get a very short part at restart which doesn't even have Joker in it. Then just the last issue from Batman #16, which I had tea a million times before. We're was the issue when Joker made his return? Where's the issues with Joker and Batman before he's captured? Those were some of the coolest parts of this storyline and they were nowhere to be seen! You don't even see how Batman was captured!!!
So majority of the book is just the tie ins to the event, most of hitch were sub par, but it would have been forgiven if it had all the issues of Batman. Catwoman's was definitely the worst. It didn't add anything to the story whatsoever...NOTHING! Anne Noccenti is by far the worst writer at DC at the moment and I have no idea how she gets any work!
Second issue with this collection was the order. Batgirls stories are near the start of the book, and she's captured. Yet Se keeps popping up in all the other tie ins as if she's still roaming about. Now I'm no expert but how did the editor not see this and fi it? Seems like an ongoing issue with a lot of the N52 collected editions in terms of chronological order. It just diminished my love of this story immensely.
After going into this book with huge excitement I was soon shot down and left as a disappointed blob on the floor. If they had just collected the entire Batman story here, then inserted the tie in issues (in order), they would have had a really solid book. Instead it fails to keep its intensity and loses all its potency. I really hope that the Court of Owls collection is better than this!!
September 4, 2014
When you were a small child, ever have another family member make your plate at the annual family Thanksgiving feast? This relative, in an effort to be kind, polite and fair, puts a little bit of everybody's strange concoctions on your plate, handing you this well-rounded slathering of Thanksgiving Equal Opportunity. The problem is - not everyone's a good cook. In fact, you pray to the Almighty that Uncle Bill stays the F*#@ OUT OF THE KITCHEN(!) every year, so you won't have to eat that dumpy, hairy Jell-O mold again. Last time, you thought you found a dead bug in it.
But you have to eat the mold because that kind, polite and fair relative put it on your plate and handed it to you. And while you eat, everyone's watching you - including Uncle Bill. So you gulp it down. You close your eyes, swallow, and hope next year things will be different. You can take it today because you've saved Aunt Margie's stuffing for last. It's the best - the pride of the harvest.
This collection of Joker: Death of the Family-related stories is a lot like that. There's good, bad and ugly. It oscillates between fantastic and terrible, depending on the team, and it's a bit rough to plow through at times. You're better off reading just the Batman stories in that other collection this one is coordinating with.
But you have to eat the mold because that kind, polite and fair relative put it on your plate and handed it to you. And while you eat, everyone's watching you - including Uncle Bill. So you gulp it down. You close your eyes, swallow, and hope next year things will be different. You can take it today because you've saved Aunt Margie's stuffing for last. It's the best - the pride of the harvest.
This collection of Joker: Death of the Family-related stories is a lot like that. There's good, bad and ugly. It oscillates between fantastic and terrible, depending on the team, and it's a bit rough to plow through at times. You're better off reading just the Batman stories in that other collection this one is coordinating with.
June 19, 2017
Είναι μια κλασική ιστορία Batman, σκοτεινή και disturbing όσο δεν πάει. Ο Joker παίζει με τα μυαλά των θυμάτων του όσο παίζει και με του αναγνώστη, καθιστώντας το κόμικ insta-buy για όσους γουστάρουν τα mind games του διεστραμμένου κλόουν. Επίσης εκτίμησα και τις αναφορές σε προηγούμενους τίτλους, αφού μέσα συχνά πυκνά βλέπουμε στοιχεία από το Killing Joke και το The Man Who Laughs. Παρόλα αυτά έχει ένα μεγάλο αρνητικό που σαφώς προκύπτει επειδή το διάβασα σε συγκεντρωτική έκδοση και όχι στα επιμέρους τεύχη - είναι τόσο μεγάλες οι ποιοτικές δυσαναλογίες στο σχέδιο που διαβάζεις Capullo και χαζεύεις ενώ μετά από 10 σελίδες βλέπεις μια μουτζούρα φωτεινή και καρτουνίστικη, ότι πιο αντικλιματικό για κάθε μπατμανικό κόμικ που σέβεται τον εαυτό του (χωρίς να αναιρείται το γεγονός ότι κάποιοι σχεδιαστές ήταν ε-ξαι-ρε-τι-κοι). Αυτό βέβαια αντανακλάται και στο σενάριο, όπου οι κοιλιές είναι τρομακτικές σε σημεία και οι αυξομοιώσεις στην συνοχή και την ροή συνεχείς, με αποτέλεσμα στο κομμάτι του Red Hood και Teen Titans να χάνομαι. Ενώ τα καλά του σημεία σε αποζημιώνουν, το διάβασα δανεικό και δεν ήταν από αυτά που θα θελα να έχω στη συλλογή μου.
October 1, 2016
Perhaps the selling point of this book is its sheer size. The Joker: Death of the Family is larger by a couple of issues compared with the first crossover arc, the Night of the Owls.
Not to be confused with the main Batman: Death of the Family story written by Snyder and drawn by Capullo, Joker: Death of the Family (JDotF) is a mashup of issues that spans across several bat-related titles, Nightwing, Batgirl and Suicide Squad to name a few.
JDotF focuses on how the Joker affected each members of the Bat family. Some interesting dynamics emerged, in particular with Barbara Gordon, who we all know the Joker paralyzed in The Killing Joke. Each character tie-in story ends up with them being kidnapped by Joker, leading to the dinner issue in the main story arc.
Joker: Death of the Family is not a necessary read in the Death of the Family storyline. In fact, I recommend against reading it so as not to tarnish the quality of the main arc. Completists (like me) obviously should have this in their comic shelf.
Not to be confused with the main Batman: Death of the Family story written by Snyder and drawn by Capullo, Joker: Death of the Family (JDotF) is a mashup of issues that spans across several bat-related titles, Nightwing, Batgirl and Suicide Squad to name a few.
JDotF focuses on how the Joker affected each members of the Bat family. Some interesting dynamics emerged, in particular with Barbara Gordon, who we all know the Joker paralyzed in The Killing Joke. Each character tie-in story ends up with them being kidnapped by Joker, leading to the dinner issue in the main story arc.
Joker: Death of the Family is not a necessary read in the Death of the Family storyline. In fact, I recommend against reading it so as not to tarnish the quality of the main arc. Completists (like me) obviously should have this in their comic shelf.
July 16, 2015
For my full review of the return of the Joker story see my review of the main storyline in Batman: Death of the family
This volume of tie-ins is fantastic. Some of the other New 52 tie-in collections don't really add much to the story, but this one does and it's essential if you're going to get the full Death of the Family experience, which I highly recommend.
This volume of tie-ins is fantastic. Some of the other New 52 tie-in collections don't really add much to the story, but this one does and it's essential if you're going to get the full Death of the Family experience, which I highly recommend.
February 11, 2015
I enjoyed this greatly. I think if I hadn't just read Prey I would have enjoyed it even more, but as I thought Prey was so amazing this just didn't quite live up to it.
April 3, 2015
Well, that was awful. Couldn't finish. It's all-new grimdark and Milleresque. No thanks.
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