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Batman by Chip Zdarsky
Batman, Vol. 3: The Joker Year One
BATMAN VS. THE JOKER, MORE BRUTAL THAN EVER!
Following the cataclysmic events of the Gotham War, Batman finds himself completely isolated from his family, struggling to keep the rage of Zur-En-Arrh in check. But he can’t stop, because he’s out there, haunting the city, taunting the Dark Knight: The Joker. And the new Batman is ready to stop him once and for all. But wait…Batman is also battling a legion of himself! What has Zur done?
Plus, the terrifying tale of “The Joker Year One”: a mysterious figure from Batman’s past has come into The Joker’s orbit, changing the Clown Prince of Crime forever! What secrets does the re-formed Red Hood Gang have for Batman’s future? Collects Batman #139-144.
Following the cataclysmic events of the Gotham War, Batman finds himself completely isolated from his family, struggling to keep the rage of Zur-En-Arrh in check. But he can’t stop, because he’s out there, haunting the city, taunting the Dark Knight: The Joker. And the new Batman is ready to stop him once and for all. But wait…Batman is also battling a legion of himself! What has Zur done?
Plus, the terrifying tale of “The Joker Year One”: a mysterious figure from Batman’s past has come into The Joker’s orbit, changing the Clown Prince of Crime forever! What secrets does the re-formed Red Hood Gang have for Batman’s future? Collects Batman #139-144.
232 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2024
About the author
Chip Zdarsky
945 books905 followersChip Zdarsky is a Canadian comic book artist and journalist. He was born Steve Murray but is known by his fan base as Chip Zdarsky, and occasionally Todd Diamond. He writes and illustrates an advice column called Extremely Bad Advice for the Canadian national newspaper National Post's The Ampersand, their pop culture section's online edition. He is also the creator of Prison Funnies and Monster Cops.
Source: Wikipedia.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
October 8, 2024
After boring readers with his tedious recounting of how Bruce Wayne learned the skills in his youth to become Batman (he trained with masters of multiple disciplines around the world - whodathunkit!?) in The Knight, Chip Zdarsky does a truncated version of that same, needless story with The Joker. Yup, unfortunately Zdarsky’s Batman run still isn’t improving in this third volume, The Joker Year One.
The first half of this book sees the Batmen of Zur-En-Arrh and Failsafe make a return and, considering they were in the first couple books which were terrible, I expected a rehash to be just as bad but… this was the one part of the book where I wasn’t totally comatose with what Zdarsky was doing.
Joker wants to meet Zur-En-Arrh, who is happy to oblige, and the encounter is intriguing because Zur doesn’t have the same qualms as Bruce about killing Joker. But this interesting angle is short-lived as Failsafe quickly takes centre stage and it’s more Batman vs (essentially) the T-1000 once again. Which means lots of splosions and running - ho hum.
Then we’re into the title story where we learn that one of Bruce’s mentors from The Knight also decided to train the Joker as well for some reason. Meanwhile, Gordon battles corruption within the GCPD (just like in Batman: Year One) and, in the present, Batman deals with an audible virus spread by laughter that’s turned everyone in Gotham into Jokers. None of which was at all interesting and has mostly been done before and better by others, while the mentor thing was, like in The Knight, irrelevant and dull.
The book closes out with the backups from these issues where Vandal Savage returns to Gotham and is hinted that he might become the new commish, and the other story is Failsafe and the Batmen of Zur-En-Arrh doing some pointless posturing.
Jorge Jimenez’s art is as good as it’s ever been - his art in the first half of the book is fantastic. Andrea Sorrentino’s art is ridiculously good - far too good for the crappiness of Zdarsky’s story - and, drawing the Joker Year One pages, Giuseppe Camuncoli cleans up his art a bit to pay tribute to David Mazzucchelli’s art style on Batman: Year One.
As solid and consistent as the art on this series has been, it’s not reason enough to be reading Chip Zdarsky’s unremarkable Batman stories in this dreary run. His one idea for his Batman seems to be “constantly reference previous, better stories and provide unnecessary origins” - The Joker Year One matches that vision to a T. Crappy stuff yet again - no wonder Batman’s sales these days are losing out to Transformers.
The first half of this book sees the Batmen of Zur-En-Arrh and Failsafe make a return and, considering they were in the first couple books which were terrible, I expected a rehash to be just as bad but… this was the one part of the book where I wasn’t totally comatose with what Zdarsky was doing.
Joker wants to meet Zur-En-Arrh, who is happy to oblige, and the encounter is intriguing because Zur doesn’t have the same qualms as Bruce about killing Joker. But this interesting angle is short-lived as Failsafe quickly takes centre stage and it’s more Batman vs (essentially) the T-1000 once again. Which means lots of splosions and running - ho hum.
Then we’re into the title story where we learn that one of Bruce’s mentors from The Knight also decided to train the Joker as well for some reason. Meanwhile, Gordon battles corruption within the GCPD (just like in Batman: Year One) and, in the present, Batman deals with an audible virus spread by laughter that’s turned everyone in Gotham into Jokers. None of which was at all interesting and has mostly been done before and better by others, while the mentor thing was, like in The Knight, irrelevant and dull.
The book closes out with the backups from these issues where Vandal Savage returns to Gotham and is hinted that he might become the new commish, and the other story is Failsafe and the Batmen of Zur-En-Arrh doing some pointless posturing.
Jorge Jimenez’s art is as good as it’s ever been - his art in the first half of the book is fantastic. Andrea Sorrentino’s art is ridiculously good - far too good for the crappiness of Zdarsky’s story - and, drawing the Joker Year One pages, Giuseppe Camuncoli cleans up his art a bit to pay tribute to David Mazzucchelli’s art style on Batman: Year One.
As solid and consistent as the art on this series has been, it’s not reason enough to be reading Chip Zdarsky’s unremarkable Batman stories in this dreary run. His one idea for his Batman seems to be “constantly reference previous, better stories and provide unnecessary origins” - The Joker Year One matches that vision to a T. Crappy stuff yet again - no wonder Batman’s sales these days are losing out to Transformers.
March 23, 2024
A weak Year One story that has too much going on, yet manages to provide very little quality or substance. It's forgettable, however, that's okay as the whole thing is pointless pandering anyway. The other storylines that have been thrown into this collection are definitely better, but nothing more than okay. Zdarsky needs to pull his act together and show that he's got an actual plan for the rest of this run, otherwise we are all in trouble....
July 15, 2024
I am very much over the Zen-En-Argh thing (or whatever the hell he's called). None of it makes any sense. This entire volume was pretty much a waste of time. I've liked Zdarsky's other stuff but this is a waste of paper although one covered in great art.
January 5, 2025
This volume collects two three-part stories: ‘Mind Bomb’ and ‘The Joker: Year One’.
I really enjoyed the former and really didn’t like the latter. Averages out to three stars. Them’s the breaks. Bada-boom, bada-bing…
I really enjoyed the former and really didn’t like the latter. Averages out to three stars. Them’s the breaks. Bada-boom, bada-bing…
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September 21, 2024Feeling mixed on this one, especially compared to the last two Zdarsky volumes (and his excellent Batman: The Knight as well). I told myself after volume 2 that I hope Zdarsky writes Batman for years to come, but this volume was so frustratingly inconsistent.
The book is comprised of six issues: the first three continue the story from what was established at the beginning of Zdarsky’s run, and it’s escalating nicely. The second three are a Year One for the Joker, expanding on his mythology and origins. Here, Zdarsky is trying to tie Joker into his own work on Batman’s origins (the aforementioned The Knight comic book), while also obviously referencing and expanding on such stories as the iconic Killing Joke. Ultimately, the whole thing feels sloppy and a little pointless. We simply don’t need any of it. The more we pry into Joker’s mind and past, the less of a force of evil/nature/mystery he becomes.
I have plenty of faith that Zdarsky will get back on track after this, but I have no idea what the point of any of this was.
The book is comprised of six issues: the first three continue the story from what was established at the beginning of Zdarsky’s run, and it’s escalating nicely. The second three are a Year One for the Joker, expanding on his mythology and origins. Here, Zdarsky is trying to tie Joker into his own work on Batman’s origins (the aforementioned The Knight comic book), while also obviously referencing and expanding on such stories as the iconic Killing Joke. Ultimately, the whole thing feels sloppy and a little pointless. We simply don’t need any of it. The more we pry into Joker’s mind and past, the less of a force of evil/nature/mystery he becomes.
I have plenty of faith that Zdarsky will get back on track after this, but I have no idea what the point of any of this was.
September 5, 2024
I like zdarsky's batman but this kinda sucked. Fucked up that sorrentino is using ai generated batfleck to paint over
October 13, 2024
A volume in 2 distinct parts, neither of which is particularly exceptional or infamous.
The first goes back to the Zur En Aarh/Failsafe main plot and even though I'm still not hooked and my suspension of disbelief is once again sorely tested the various conflicts - internal/external - between Batsy and Zur are pretty well handled, even if the "Terminator" aspect of the first volume, which quickly proved tiresome, returns.
The second - Joker Year One - is less so. It needlessly mixes 2 distinct timelines that are supposed to have a link between them. The one in the past, which takes up most of the story, is pretty solid and well illustrated by Camuncoli with some very nice colouring. The second is in a VERY different mood, illustrated by an ultra-creepy Sorrentino, and has little more than a reference to a character's name to make the link when it could have been an independent story with no problem. I missed something here.
And above all, this second part is yet another irrelevant distraction from the main arc.
I'll give it a 3*, though, because the plots are globally well constructed and the artists (Jimenez/Camuncoli/Sorrentino) very good.
The first goes back to the Zur En Aarh/Failsafe main plot and even though I'm still not hooked and my suspension of disbelief is once again sorely tested the various conflicts - internal/external - between Batsy and Zur are pretty well handled, even if the "Terminator" aspect of the first volume, which quickly proved tiresome, returns.
The second - Joker Year One - is less so. It needlessly mixes 2 distinct timelines that are supposed to have a link between them. The one in the past, which takes up most of the story, is pretty solid and well illustrated by Camuncoli with some very nice colouring. The second is in a VERY different mood, illustrated by an ultra-creepy Sorrentino, and has little more than a reference to a character's name to make the link when it could have been an independent story with no problem. I missed something here.
And above all, this second part is yet another irrelevant distraction from the main arc.
I'll give it a 3*, though, because the plots are globally well constructed and the artists (Jimenez/Camuncoli/Sorrentino) very good.
October 6, 2024
After the dull crossover event that was "The Gotham War", Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jiménez can get back into telling their ongoing narrative that is going on throughout their Batman run, involving Zur-En-Arhh who is determined to take over Bruce Wayne’s mind and become the Batman that he thinks Gotham needs.
The first three issues titled “Mind Bomb” opens the Joker once again wreaking havoc, and as Batman prepares to confront his arch-nemesis, this is where Zur-En-Arhh makes his move. Although the Joker is a chilling presence that Jiménez draws to great effect, he isn’t really the focus. Through Bruce’s inner monologue and the mental battle that he has with Zur-En-Arhh, Zdarsky in a similar vein he did with Daredevil nails what makes Batman psychologically tick and how it always seems he is at odds with himself.
When it comes to Jiménez, you want him to draw action sequences and he really delivers here as through the first three issues of this volume, Batman goes from battling the Joker, being mentally confronted by the alternate versions of Zur-En-Arhh, to a rematch with the robotic antagonist Failsafe. These issues throw a lot of stuff, from referencing the three Jokers, which continues to be a strange plot point that has popped up through DC in recent years, whilst a character from Zdarsky’s limited series Batman: The Knight is featured, and yet Jiménez makes it all look snappy and fun.
A change of pace happens halfway through the volume with “The Joker: Year One”, which finally explains the origins of the Clown Prince of Crime. Alright, let’s just get this out of the way, there is no definitive version of the Joker, as we learned from the cinematic interpretations there have been on the character, or even Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s The Killing Joke, which is referenced here.
In the context of this storyline, which takes after the events of the “Zero Year” arc from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman run, a mysterious figure from Batman’s past arrives and mentors the man who will become the greatest evil that Batman will face. Throughout his run, the stories that Zdarsky have been telling are built upon past storylines from other creators, and thus the remixing of existing elements can be divisive. Whether you think a personal connection between Batman and the Joker works or not, and that has varied in quality throughout media history, may result how you feel about this particular arc, which has some great character stuff with James Gordon, whilst Giuseppe Camuncoli draws an effectively creepy Joker.
(Quick disclaimer: Andrea Sorrentino, who draw a subplot within “The Joker: Year One”, has been accused of using AI-generated images for this comic, which he denied doing. Whilst I may have problems with this subplot from a writing standpoint, I will not be discussing Sorrentino’s work here.)
Concluding with two backups, one about Vandal Savage’s rise to power in Gotham (drawn by Jorge Corona), and the other is about Zur-En-Arhh communicating with his multiversal brethren (drawn by Dustin Nguyen), this latest volume ends on a good note that makes me excited what Zdarsky and Co. have in store with the Dark Knight.
The first three issues titled “Mind Bomb” opens the Joker once again wreaking havoc, and as Batman prepares to confront his arch-nemesis, this is where Zur-En-Arhh makes his move. Although the Joker is a chilling presence that Jiménez draws to great effect, he isn’t really the focus. Through Bruce’s inner monologue and the mental battle that he has with Zur-En-Arhh, Zdarsky in a similar vein he did with Daredevil nails what makes Batman psychologically tick and how it always seems he is at odds with himself.
When it comes to Jiménez, you want him to draw action sequences and he really delivers here as through the first three issues of this volume, Batman goes from battling the Joker, being mentally confronted by the alternate versions of Zur-En-Arhh, to a rematch with the robotic antagonist Failsafe. These issues throw a lot of stuff, from referencing the three Jokers, which continues to be a strange plot point that has popped up through DC in recent years, whilst a character from Zdarsky’s limited series Batman: The Knight is featured, and yet Jiménez makes it all look snappy and fun.
A change of pace happens halfway through the volume with “The Joker: Year One”, which finally explains the origins of the Clown Prince of Crime. Alright, let’s just get this out of the way, there is no definitive version of the Joker, as we learned from the cinematic interpretations there have been on the character, or even Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s The Killing Joke, which is referenced here.
In the context of this storyline, which takes after the events of the “Zero Year” arc from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman run, a mysterious figure from Batman’s past arrives and mentors the man who will become the greatest evil that Batman will face. Throughout his run, the stories that Zdarsky have been telling are built upon past storylines from other creators, and thus the remixing of existing elements can be divisive. Whether you think a personal connection between Batman and the Joker works or not, and that has varied in quality throughout media history, may result how you feel about this particular arc, which has some great character stuff with James Gordon, whilst Giuseppe Camuncoli draws an effectively creepy Joker.
(Quick disclaimer: Andrea Sorrentino, who draw a subplot within “The Joker: Year One”, has been accused of using AI-generated images for this comic, which he denied doing. Whilst I may have problems with this subplot from a writing standpoint, I will not be discussing Sorrentino’s work here.)
Concluding with two backups, one about Vandal Savage’s rise to power in Gotham (drawn by Jorge Corona), and the other is about Zur-En-Arhh communicating with his multiversal brethren (drawn by Dustin Nguyen), this latest volume ends on a good note that makes me excited what Zdarsky and Co. have in store with the Dark Knight.
January 19, 2025
Комікси Чіпа Здарскі загалом викликають у мене цікавість, але його робота з Бетменом стає дедалі більш спірною. Після перших двох арок, які хоча й були недосконалими, але містили цікаві ідеї, ми отримали новий сюжет — «Джокер. Рік перший», який, на жаль, розчаровує. Чіп Здарскі підійшов до Бетмена так, як Джокер до своєї вечірки: з усмішкою до вух, але без жодного плану.
Комікс поділений на дві лінії: минуле і майбутнє. У першій частині ми бачимо, як Джокер після своєї трансформації зіштовхується із новим ворогом — учителем Брюса з минулого, який намагається зробити з Джокера «агента хаосу». Попри спроби розширити лор персонажів, усе виглядає натягнуто й надумано. Друга сюжетна лінія, яка відбувається в майбутньому, розповідає про «джокеропокаліпсис», спричинений Джокером, і боротьбу Бетмена за повернення контролю. Сюжет здається одноманітним і позбавленим логіки, зокрема через повторювані кліше.
Джокер у цьому томі втрачає усе, що робить його особливим. Він, із загадкового принца злочинності, перетворюється на пересічного злодія з перевантаженим бекґраундом, що лише шкодить його образу. Бетмен, хоч і постає сильним і самотнім, не демонструє нових граней свого характеру. Його конфлікт із Джокером у цій історії позбавлений драматизму та напруги, що робить їхню боротьбу абсолютно невиразною.
Головний недолік цього тому — він відчувається зайвим. Вставки про минуле Джокера та "трьох Джокерів" не додають нічого цікавого, а лише розмивають його образ. А використання великої кількості художників також на мою думку роблять все гірше, адже через це немає можливості проникнутися атмосферою розповіді. І це не проблема художників, вони всі є хорошими у своєму стилі. Окрім Соррентіно, бо він виглядає вирішив використати ШІ для створення свого малюнку.
«Джокер. Рік перший» можна порівняти із черговим жартом Джокера — яскравим, голосним, але таким, що не викликає ні сміху, ні страху. Замість того, щоб розвивати персонажів і конфлікти, історія губиться у спробах зробити щось «глобальне» і «шокуюче», що призводить до плутанини та розчарування. Віра в цю серію тримається так само хитко, як останній вдих після зустрічі з газом із чергового «жарту» Джокера.
Комікс поділений на дві лінії: минуле і майбутнє. У першій частині ми бачимо, як Джокер після своєї трансформації зіштовхується із новим ворогом — учителем Брюса з минулого, який намагається зробити з Джокера «агента хаосу». Попри спроби розширити лор персонажів, усе виглядає натягнуто й надумано. Друга сюжетна лінія, яка відбувається в майбутньому, розповідає про «джокеропокаліпсис», спричинений Джокером, і боротьбу Бетмена за повернення контролю. Сюжет здається одноманітним і позбавленим логіки, зокрема через повторювані кліше.
Джокер у цьому томі втрачає усе, що робить його особливим. Він, із загадкового принца злочинності, перетворюється на пересічного злодія з перевантаженим бекґраундом, що лише шкодить його образу. Бетмен, хоч і постає сильним і самотнім, не демонструє нових граней свого характеру. Його конфлікт із Джокером у цій історії позбавлений драматизму та напруги, що робить їхню боротьбу абсолютно невиразною.
Головний недолік цього тому — він відчувається зайвим. Вставки про минуле Джокера та "трьох Джокерів" не додають нічого цікавого, а лише розмивають його образ. А використання великої кількості художників також на мою думку роблять все гірше, адже через це немає можливості проникнутися атмосферою розповіді. І це не проблема художників, вони всі є хорошими у своєму стилі. Окрім Соррентіно, бо він виглядає вирішив використати ШІ для створення свого малюнку.
«Джокер. Рік перший» можна порівняти із черговим жартом Джокера — яскравим, голосним, але таким, що не викликає ні сміху, ні страху. Замість того, щоб розвивати персонажів і конфлікти, історія губиться у спробах зробити щось «глобальне» і «шокуюче», що призводить до плутанини та розчарування. Віра в цю серію тримається так само хитко, як останній вдих після зустрічі з газом із чергового «жарту» Джокера.
April 14, 2025
The beginning story, “Mind Bomb,” bringing the Joker back into Zdarsky’s Batman is an okay story with Batman still trying to fight Zur-En-Arrh. But I’m not sure why the Joker is even there though…
I reject any idea to flesh out the Joker’s backstory, so when I saw that this volume features a story that expands on the Joker’s history following Absolute Batman: Zero Year and the flashbacks in Batman: The Killing Joke, I had a feeling this wouldn’t be for me. Although I enjoyed Killing Joke, I see that as just a possible origin and tend to side-eye anything that would attempt to further expand on that and try to make it canon. This book does that and I’m not quite sure why it’s necessary.
I reject any idea to flesh out the Joker’s backstory, so when I saw that this volume features a story that expands on the Joker’s history following Absolute Batman: Zero Year and the flashbacks in Batman: The Killing Joke, I had a feeling this wouldn’t be for me. Although I enjoyed Killing Joke, I see that as just a possible origin and tend to side-eye anything that would attempt to further expand on that and try to make it canon. This book does that and I’m not quite sure why it’s necessary.
January 9, 2025
This was terrible and we didn’t need it at all. Zdarsky’s Batman run has been sooo sooooo bad. The run started off ok, but he really overused both Failsafe and Zur-En-Arrh. He also can’t even write Joker halfway decent. This whole book and previously Gotham War should just be retconned into oblivion and probably the next book too which I have decided to skip since it just seems to be more Zur-En-Arrh and Joker bullshit. Hopefully the book after that one will be better. It certainly sounds more interesting, but with the way this run has been going it will probably be disappointing.
December 18, 2024
Some really cool art but the whole thing feels a bit jumbled and incoherent at times.
December 29, 2025
The stories within this graphic novel start with the Joker using Batman's own mind-nemesis Zur against him. Though it's not clear how Joker knew about it, or what all came about of the whole thing. This leads into The Joker: Year One, once again going back to just after his time with the Red Hood Gang, and early days of Batman and Jim Gordon. Doctor Daniel Captio ends up training Joker like he did Batman, to create ultimate chaos...or something. Again, things not all that clear. In the midst of all this is some futuristic (?) story where Joker has unleashed one of his gasses turning the world (?) into Joker zombies...or something. Also utterly not clear what, if anything, this has to do with the Year One story, or how or why it happened or exactly how it was resolved. Following the conclusion of these stories, was a Batman story called The Savage Garden of Gotham. However, the artwork was so abysmally amateurish and awful, I just skipped those issues. Not worth wasting my time on something so bad. After that was apparently the wrap up for the Zur story line, but that whole Zur thing is one of the stupidest plots they ever came up with for Batman, so, done with this book, finally. Generously calling it 2* because the Joker thing wasn't that uninteresting, just totally unnecessary and proof they produce way too many Batman comics resulting in an utter lack of originality in trying to keep them going.
February 28, 2026
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Batman (Vol. 3): The Joker Year One by Chip Zdarsky is a mediocre collection featuring two stories, “Mind Bomb” and “The Joker: Year One”. It picks up right after the forgettable Gotham War with Batman now alone in his war against crime, isolated from the Bat Family after recent events. The story thus focuses on Batman’s inner psyche, through the imprisoned persona of Zur-En-Arrh who seeks his release from the confines of Bruce’s mind, convinced that he might have what Gotham needs to assure the safety of its inhabitants. This volume collects Batman #139-144.
Batman (Vol. 3): The Joker Year One by Chip Zdarsky is a mediocre collection featuring two stories, “Mind Bomb” and “The Joker: Year One”. It picks up right after the forgettable Gotham War with Batman now alone in his war against crime, isolated from the Bat Family after recent events. The story thus focuses on Batman’s inner psyche, through the imprisoned persona of Zur-En-Arrh who seeks his release from the confines of Bruce’s mind, convinced that he might have what Gotham needs to assure the safety of its inhabitants. This volume collects Batman #139-144.
November 20, 2025
If you want to read Chip Zdarsky’s full run, you’ll want to read Batman/Catwoman The Gotham War first. I missed that when I read this, and it was noticeable.
Pretty mixed on trade. I liked the culmination of the Zur En Ah and Failsafe stuff quite a bit, though some of the alternate universe stuff was a little too silly. The Joker storyline was interesting, but sort of went nowhere. The last few bits about Vandal Savage felt a little from out of nowhere. I’m guessing that comes from some crossover that wasn’t ever mentioned with an editors note.
The art by Jorge Jimenez and Gueseppe Camuncoli was amazing. I’m usually a big fan of Andrea Sorentino, but this was his worst work in years. And I’m not just talking about the obvious and egregious AI slop; the rest of it was overly referenced from Batman movies.
Pretty mixed on trade. I liked the culmination of the Zur En Ah and Failsafe stuff quite a bit, though some of the alternate universe stuff was a little too silly. The Joker storyline was interesting, but sort of went nowhere. The last few bits about Vandal Savage felt a little from out of nowhere. I’m guessing that comes from some crossover that wasn’t ever mentioned with an editors note.
The art by Jorge Jimenez and Gueseppe Camuncoli was amazing. I’m usually a big fan of Andrea Sorentino, but this was his worst work in years. And I’m not just talking about the obvious and egregious AI slop; the rest of it was overly referenced from Batman movies.
February 28, 2025
What a disjointed mess with supposed AI art integrated into it.
September 24, 2025
Did not finish. Started out great then a couple of issues had multiple pages with Ai generated pictures. No thanks.
September 29, 2024
The art style jumping around was fun- I love the Arkham call back. Joker splitting his personalities like Batman (all bat fans know that Bruce is the mask) makes sense and is interesting but the overall Batman mindfuck story is not for me! Get back to the street level stuff.
October 8, 2024
There is a lot about this book that is really good, and a lot of things are set up for later or explained in the past, but there is too much going on.
As a continuity lover, I am really glad that elements of Batman Knight, the 3 Joker's, and the Joker's personalities are brought together. However, this book is all over the place. The different artwork to show what era (past, earlier present, or present) the book was set in, but it is still very easy to get lost in this book.
This book touches on Zur-En-Arrh, Failsafe, early currupt Gotham, returns from the Gotham War (I think not quite an explanation), the fall out from the Gotham War, the Bat Family, the Joker and more??? It is too much for one book.
This is trying to read 4 books/stories at the same time. I have faith that Chip Zdarsky will bring everything together in the end, but wow, I have no idea how, especially with all the other stuff coming up in the DCU. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery.
As a continuity lover, I am really glad that elements of Batman Knight, the 3 Joker's, and the Joker's personalities are brought together. However, this book is all over the place. The different artwork to show what era (past, earlier present, or present) the book was set in, but it is still very easy to get lost in this book.
This book touches on Zur-En-Arrh, Failsafe, early currupt Gotham, returns from the Gotham War (I think not quite an explanation), the fall out from the Gotham War, the Bat Family, the Joker and more??? It is too much for one book.
This is trying to read 4 books/stories at the same time. I have faith that Chip Zdarsky will bring everything together in the end, but wow, I have no idea how, especially with all the other stuff coming up in the DCU. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery.
March 26, 2024
Note: This is only regarding the three pertinent issues.
This was a fine exploration of the origination of the Joker. The art is inoffensive and the zombie-apocalypse aspect was an interesting take.
Read via DC Universe Infinite.
This was a fine exploration of the origination of the Joker. The art is inoffensive and the zombie-apocalypse aspect was an interesting take.
Read via DC Universe Infinite.
December 11, 2024
This volume was a mixed bag because I actually really enjoyed “Mindbomb” but I wasn’t too crazy about “Joker Year One.”
I’ve been enjoying the escalation of the Zur-En-Arrh/Failsafe storyline as it’s gone along, mostly because I appreciate how it actually subverts the very concept of Batgod and paints it as a bad thing that has plagued Bruce for years and is now finally blowing up in his face.
While Zdarsky definitely goes in an interesting direction for Joker’s new origin, I honestly don’t entirely know how I feel about it. Connecting Batman and Joker so definitively and intrinsically feels like a bit much, and as a big fan/apologist of Geoff Johns’s “Three Jokers,” it’s disappointing that this arc seemingly renders it definitively non-canon. I especially don’t like how much the future storyline reminded me of Tom King’s “One Bad Day: Riddler” book, where the Joker is all like, “Well I’m actually such a genius that I’ve only LET you beat me for all these years and I could’ve actually killed you whenever I wanted.”
And then the backups were nothing amazing, just setup for future stories. Turns out Vandal Savage managed to survive being blown up by a meteorite or whatever and is immortal again but the catch is that he can’t leave Gotham for reasons, otherwise he’ll die or something. He waves his dick around for a bit and says “I’m in charge” to a bunch of no-name billionaires before deciding to work with probably the Court of Owls to become Gotham’s new police commissioner. And finally, we see Zur-En-Arrh download his mind into Failsafe, but before that, he also waves his dick around and says “I’m in charge” to a bunch of multiversal Zurs.
I’ve been enjoying the escalation of the Zur-En-Arrh/Failsafe storyline as it’s gone along, mostly because I appreciate how it actually subverts the very concept of Batgod and paints it as a bad thing that has plagued Bruce for years and is now finally blowing up in his face.
While Zdarsky definitely goes in an interesting direction for Joker’s new origin, I honestly don’t entirely know how I feel about it. Connecting Batman and Joker so definitively and intrinsically feels like a bit much, and as a big fan/apologist of Geoff Johns’s “Three Jokers,” it’s disappointing that this arc seemingly renders it definitively non-canon. I especially don’t like how much the future storyline reminded me of Tom King’s “One Bad Day: Riddler” book, where the Joker is all like, “Well I’m actually such a genius that I’ve only LET you beat me for all these years and I could’ve actually killed you whenever I wanted.”
And then the backups were nothing amazing, just setup for future stories. Turns out Vandal Savage managed to survive being blown up by a meteorite or whatever and is immortal again but the catch is that he can’t leave Gotham for reasons, otherwise he’ll die or something. He waves his dick around for a bit and says “I’m in charge” to a bunch of no-name billionaires before deciding to work with probably the Court of Owls to become Gotham’s new police commissioner. And finally, we see Zur-En-Arrh download his mind into Failsafe, but before that, he also waves his dick around and says “I’m in charge” to a bunch of multiversal Zurs.
September 23, 2024
(3.5 stars, really)
DC has evidently inaugrated a same day release for both their hardcover and paperback releases (at least on some books), so the TPB of Batman Vol. 3 has come out pretty hot on the heels of Vol. 2. And like that book, this one is a bit of a disappointment. Don’t get me wrong; Jiminez, Camuncoli, and Sorrentino’s art is amazing; the latter’s depiction of Joker especially nightmarish (are they photos?), but Zdarsky is all in on the whole Zur En Arrh persona of Batman, who exists in a partioned part of his mind, put there as a personality within, to be used as needed. I really liked Failsafe, the Batman creation designed to take him out if he crosses the line and kills someone, but the whole ZEA thing has run its course and is getting pretty tiresome by this point, about 12-18 issues into Zdarsky’s run. We meet a couple of Batman’s mentor/trainers again (both from Zdarsky’s first Batman mini-series, Batman: The Knight), and one of them, the self-styled “smartest man in the world,” decides to train the Joker just like he did young Bruce Wayne. I don’t buy into the whole “three (or is it four) Jokers” thing that seems to be prevalent in Batman books these days, and this journey back into how he came to be is kind of tedious. But … once again, like Vol. 2, this is still a decent read, with great art, and I’m grateful to have Zdarsky continuing to write Batman. He’s so much better than some of his contemporaries.
DC has evidently inaugrated a same day release for both their hardcover and paperback releases (at least on some books), so the TPB of Batman Vol. 3 has come out pretty hot on the heels of Vol. 2. And like that book, this one is a bit of a disappointment. Don’t get me wrong; Jiminez, Camuncoli, and Sorrentino’s art is amazing; the latter’s depiction of Joker especially nightmarish (are they photos?), but Zdarsky is all in on the whole Zur En Arrh persona of Batman, who exists in a partioned part of his mind, put there as a personality within, to be used as needed. I really liked Failsafe, the Batman creation designed to take him out if he crosses the line and kills someone, but the whole ZEA thing has run its course and is getting pretty tiresome by this point, about 12-18 issues into Zdarsky’s run. We meet a couple of Batman’s mentor/trainers again (both from Zdarsky’s first Batman mini-series, Batman: The Knight), and one of them, the self-styled “smartest man in the world,” decides to train the Joker just like he did young Bruce Wayne. I don’t buy into the whole “three (or is it four) Jokers” thing that seems to be prevalent in Batman books these days, and this journey back into how he came to be is kind of tedious. But … once again, like Vol. 2, this is still a decent read, with great art, and I’m grateful to have Zdarsky continuing to write Batman. He’s so much better than some of his contemporaries.
November 20, 2024
Batman Vol. 3: The Joker - Year One collects issues 139-144 of the DC Comic series written by Chip Zdarsky with art by Jorge Jiménez, Jorge Corona, Mike Hawthorne, and Dustin Nguyen.
As Bruce Wayne takes steps to distance himself from the Batfamily and work alone, Zur-En-Arrh finds the perfect opportunity to gain control of Bruce’s mind. Zur-En-Arrh finds a way to escape Bruce’s body and implants himself within the near indestructible Failsafe robot, and sets forth on a mission to take out Bruce once and for all.
Meanwhile, the Joker has returned to cause chaos. We get a flashback of Joker’s origin and how he trained with one of Bruce’s old mentors, using his teaching to create his own personality back-ups.
This volume is complicated. Not only does it build on themes already built, but ties into Zdarsky’s own Batman origin The Knight, Scott Snyder’s Zero Year, and Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke. I don’t believe we actually needed the tie-in to Zero Year, but learning that Joker’s different personalities mirrors Bruce’s own Zur-En-Arrh was interesting.
I fear this book is starting to spin out of control. For volume 2 I said that I hope Zdarsky writes Batman for years, but I’m rethinking that the more I read. The story is getting sloppy without an end of sight. Fans turned on Tom King for similar reasons even though I felt the story King was trying to tell was more important to Batman mythos. Hopefully this gets back on track.
As Bruce Wayne takes steps to distance himself from the Batfamily and work alone, Zur-En-Arrh finds the perfect opportunity to gain control of Bruce’s mind. Zur-En-Arrh finds a way to escape Bruce’s body and implants himself within the near indestructible Failsafe robot, and sets forth on a mission to take out Bruce once and for all.
Meanwhile, the Joker has returned to cause chaos. We get a flashback of Joker’s origin and how he trained with one of Bruce’s old mentors, using his teaching to create his own personality back-ups.
This volume is complicated. Not only does it build on themes already built, but ties into Zdarsky’s own Batman origin The Knight, Scott Snyder’s Zero Year, and Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke. I don’t believe we actually needed the tie-in to Zero Year, but learning that Joker’s different personalities mirrors Bruce’s own Zur-En-Arrh was interesting.
I fear this book is starting to spin out of control. For volume 2 I said that I hope Zdarsky writes Batman for years, but I’m rethinking that the more I read. The story is getting sloppy without an end of sight. Fans turned on Tom King for similar reasons even though I felt the story King was trying to tell was more important to Batman mythos. Hopefully this gets back on track.
March 23, 2024
Genuinely one of the best arcs in the mainline Batman comics since Snyder’s run. I know that part of what makes the Joker such a fascinating character is his enigmatic nature but I personally always wanted to know more about his origin following The Killing Joke, and Zdarski absolutely kills it here. He gives the fans what they want to read and it’s so damn entertaining. Joker is a monster, through and through, don’t get it twisted. However, he was human at one point and seeing that side of him before his complete transformation is fascinating beyond words. It feels like this has been a story that was waiting to be told since the character’s conception in 1940 and I loved every panel.
November 25, 2024
3.5 Stars.
Basically two storylines here, neither super strong on their own, but more like setup for the future.
1) Mind Bomb - The Failsafe/Zur-En-Arrh plotline continues. Pretty interesting as Zur goes after Joker, determining he wants to put him down for good, all while Batman fights multiversal versions of Zur (funniest of which when he was fighting the Keaton version of Zur, he defeated him because he couldn't turn his head LOL). This ends with Zur, now permanently in Failsafe's robotic body, taking over as Batman in Gotham while Bruce and Joker are locked up somewhere.
2) Joker Year One - While locked up, Joker tells the story of how he began. Most of it has to do with police corruption, and there was another plot about the Bat-Family being controlled by Joker... but when Bruce mentioned the lights in Gotham going out due to something with Duke, I got confused as to whether it was all flashback or not. Either Bruce is out of Failsafe's jail and we never got the story how OR Joker's "Year One" story has occured a lot closer then we thought... especially when you factor in the whole Jim Gordon still being a detective. The timeline for this wasn't handled the best, at least for me.
Overall, the story is ok, but this get higher rated for the art. Sometimes switching styles mid-story, it works and creates a creepy vibe that Joker stories should have.
Recommend... but with a little hesitation. Really hoping Vol 4 clears up things.
Basically two storylines here, neither super strong on their own, but more like setup for the future.
1) Mind Bomb - The Failsafe/Zur-En-Arrh plotline continues. Pretty interesting as Zur goes after Joker, determining he wants to put him down for good, all while Batman fights multiversal versions of Zur (funniest of which when he was fighting the Keaton version of Zur, he defeated him because he couldn't turn his head LOL). This ends with Zur, now permanently in Failsafe's robotic body, taking over as Batman in Gotham while Bruce and Joker are locked up somewhere.
2) Joker Year One - While locked up, Joker tells the story of how he began. Most of it has to do with police corruption, and there was another plot about the Bat-Family being controlled by Joker... but when Bruce mentioned the lights in Gotham going out due to something with Duke, I got confused as to whether it was all flashback or not. Either Bruce is out of Failsafe's jail and we never got the story how OR Joker's "Year One" story has occured a lot closer then we thought... especially when you factor in the whole Jim Gordon still being a detective. The timeline for this wasn't handled the best, at least for me.
Overall, the story is ok, but this get higher rated for the art. Sometimes switching styles mid-story, it works and creates a creepy vibe that Joker stories should have.
Recommend... but with a little hesitation. Really hoping Vol 4 clears up things.
November 1, 2024
My hate for this run grows with every volume. Not one redeemable, worthwhile thing here, and the worst part is I looked ahead and there's still SO much more Zur. 😞
May 20, 2025
The Mind Bomb arc is really good, the Joker arc is okay (I’m seriously sick of that sadist) and the other stuff is filler. A little too much going on perhaps.
June 2, 2025
Dios este arco fue estúpidisimo, solo salvado por borrar del canon los 3 jokers
August 30, 2026
It was pretty ok. There were some cool parts and some very cool artwork. The story can just be hard to follow and that makes it hard to follow. It jumps around between different points in time. They develop Jokers backstory a little more and it makes the Joker make more sense as a character.
December 12, 2024
IDK—I keep feeling strange hit or misses with Zdarsky’s Batman. I’ll just have to keep reading and see. But this Joker Year One arc felt to strange to read, like a fever dream.
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