Barkham Asylum 2024 FCBD Special Edition #1

by Yehudi Mercado

When the Super-Villains of Gotham get thrown into Arkham Asylum, their henchpets go to the maximum-security pound known as Barkham Asylum. Fur flies when Jester, The Joker’s dog, gets a tough-talking stray cat named Penny tossed into lockup with him. But they’ll have to work together to figure out what the evil Dr. Hugo Mange is up to. And the only way to stop this terrifying team-up is to win the talent show and get visitation with their masters at Arkham on the hill. Because The Joker is sure to help! What could go wrong with that plan? This Free Comic Book Day Special Edition includes a chapter of the new DC middle-grade graphic novel Barkham Asylum, created by writer and artist Yehudi Mercado. Don’t miss the mischievous pets of Gotham’s Super-Villains in an escape adventure!

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Dogs, Batman

29 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2024

About the author

Yehudi Mercado is a former pizza delivery driver and art director for Disney Interactive. He is currently a writer-artist-director living in Los Angeles by way of Austin Texas.

Reviews

[cloverina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew this wouldn't be great, but how could I resist picking up something with the title "Barkham Asylum?" Unfortunately, it doesn't even show the parts in Barkham Asylum. I was interested to see what it would be like and how they'd riff on Batman rogues. Also, how much it would hold up as an all-ages book. It seems like it would be almost exclusively enjoyable for younger kids, though. Not bad for what it is but of course I won't be seeking out more.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barkham Asylum 2024 FCBD Special Edition #1

The Joker's dog helps a stray cat to get food and begins to reconsider his life choices.

A corny, screwball adventure with a great sense of humour soaked into every page.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, honestly, this feels like someone thought of the pun first, then wrote a story for it, taking some cues from The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries, maybe. (Just a guess, based on the advert for it in the back.)

It's MOSTLY competent with good art and writing, but of all things, there's an error on the cover, where Joker dog (Jester) is behind *yet on top of* the cat (Penny). Unless he's levitating for some reason. On the whole, I'm not really sold on the story enough to get the complete book once it's out. I still might, depending heavily on what books I see and think, "Yeah, sure, I'll get that today," but certainly not on Day One. (To be fair, it's very hard for me to remember when books are released to get them on Day One even if I'm absolutely looking forward to it.)

I guess recommended for superhero/talking animal fans?

Edit: Forgot to mention the bonus preview for Diana and the Hero's Journey! It looks cute, but I will most likely forget about it unless I see it on the shelf at the store. The preview focuses mostly on a flashback, so that's unfortunately not terribly exciting. We'll see, though.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jester and Chuckles are watchdogs on the team.

Chuckles is very gruff and reserved; Jester wants to lift his buddy’s spirits.

Chuckles may not live up to his moniker, but Jester finds an appreciative feline who does enjoy his offbeat humor.

After an assist involving pizza, Penny aims to aid Jester.

Explosions. The Batman shows up.

The attempts at comedy weaken as the story continues.

Lots of hijinks. Ends on a cliffhanger.

Also includes a sneak peek of Diana and the Hero’s Journey. Meh.

[James Norton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice goat

This is one of those comics that could use a lot more goats, big ones little ones, goats with bells on. I doubt they write comics for the other half of the population anymore but I think little boys would like to see little goats hopping from fence post to fence post and bouncing around even if the only thing the little boys could do is carry buckets of water around.

[Colby Fitzsimmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really mediocre. To be honest if it wasn't free I would be really sad I paid money for it. The barkham asylum story is stretching for something new but it is just okk. Diana hero journey thing is written well, I just couldn't care less.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kid's Stuff

A fun preview of a graphic novel in this free comic book day giveaway. Joker's dog and his new found cat friend are caught up in a raid of the villains lair and sent to the animal equivalent of Arkham Asylum.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the shorter Wonder Woman teaser much better than the title story. It isn't surprising that Gotham is so messed up that pets are put in handcuffs.

The Wonder Woman one is a young Diana being told a story. It is really cute.

[Rhys Causon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew I wasn’t the target demographic… but still… if this is what DC thinks kids want to read they are out of touch.

Frankly it’s only getting two stars because of the Baby Wonder Woman story that was included. And that’s only because the art was decent. Didn’t really care for the story.

[Garth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024 - Year of The Bat (366 Days of Batman)

Day 126: Fun but definitely written for the young’uns. Good palate cleanser before diving back into a new Bat series.

[amelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why is the joker 2019 joker

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute! I really liked the characters a lot. I look forward to checking out the full title when it comes out!

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dog tales

Good color artwork. The joker has dogs where he once had hyenas. Kiddie stuff. Diana as a child hears about a talking dog,good preview.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute story, kids will definitely like it. The name of the story was the highlight for me. Great pun.

[Avi Alany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really entertaining. I love Yehudi Mercado's stuff and look forward to reading the rest of this book.

[Holly Letson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The jokes were lame, and just didn't land. I really liked Penny.

[Emma Dargue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite good. Essentially a short story about the jokers pets.

[John Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute

It’s great kids book that adults can read to the kiddies to start their love of comics and the joy of reading

[Nikki Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short tease into the Barkham Asylum series - which involves the Jokers pack of clown dogs that act as his guard dogs while he is committing crimes around Gotham.

[Robert Kimberlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS PRETTY AWESOME. I LOVE DOGS AND CATS. I WILL GET THE COLLECTION SOON.

[Daniel Perlino · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept was fantastic, but the delivery was lackluster, to say the least.