The Joker #2

The Joker (2021) (Single Issues) #2

by James Tynion IV, Sam Johns, Guillem March (Cover Art)

As the dust settles on Arkham Asylum and tragic recent events, The Joker is the most wanted man in the world-and powerful forces are lining up around the globe to hunt him...but where exactly is the Clown Price of Crime? Jim Gordon, facing his twilight years haunted by the madman, knows where to start the hunt, and he’s been given the go-ahead to pursue him...but will he be willing to pay the price? And what shocking revelation will Gordon stun Batman with before he departs?
And in the backup story, within the walls of Blackgate Penitentiary, Punchline has become the target of the Queen of Spades from the Royal Flush Gang. It’ll take everything Punchline has just to survive, while on the outside, Bluebird digs deeper into Punchline’s horrific past!

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Batman, Graphic Novels, Comic Book

33 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 13, 2021

About the author

Prior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.

Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.

Reviews

[Roxanne (The Novel Sanctuary)]

4.5

[Gordon]

It's insane that these two stories are written by the same person, because the Joker/Gordon story is absolutely incredible, but the Punchline backup is pure dogshit.

Joker/Gordon story: 5⭐
Punchline backup: 2⭐

[Irene ➰]

4.5/5

Another amazing issue.
With this one we finally see where the Joker is, there are new character's and the story goes on.

Punchline chapter was slightly less interesting but it's definitely needed to set a few things up.

[David Dalton]

Wow! Only the 2nd issue and this is FAST becoming a MUST READ each month. I am not a total Bat junkie, just came back for the Joker Wars and stuck around. Reading Batman, Detective, and Joker (plus the new Suicide Squad). I love the concept of this series. Good intelligent writing and I like the art as well. I certainly hope DC can maintain the high standards they are displaying right now.

[Kastie Pavlik]

I love this series. It's smart and told in a way that lets you in on Gordon's thoughts and plans through narration while the panels tell a the story of what's going on elsewhere. We get a few good surprises, a few reveals, and another example of the genius strategy that hides beneath the Joker's insanity. I may complain about Tynion in Batman, but his narrative storytelling is A+. The Punchline bonus story was okay. No real development on any front, just moving pieces on the board.

[Davide Saladino]

Continua un'ottima saga che vede protagonista il capitano Gordon.
La parte su punchline, che occupa la fine dello spillato, è terribile.

[The Wintermute System]

I just really don’t care about any of this…. Got this for free and I won’t be continuing this series.

[Annemarie]

Do you think they named this series after the Joker because the thought Jim Gordon wouldn't sell enough? I'd have gone for a Jim Gordon series in a heartbeat though, and that's really what this is, so far.
It's still not wowing me. I liked the father daughter moments a lot. Barbara looks a lot older than in the batgirl series (but I said the same about the current batman issues) Joker looks super different and extra creepy. Will I ever get used to everyone looking different all the time?

The story is still, kinda weak. The plot feels very contrived. All of a sudden Joker had one last attack on Arkham months after he left Gothman and killed many criminals who now want revenge? The court of owls gets shoehorned in as well? It feels like these things are happening independently from the Batman series as well.

My favourite part was about Punchline but even that was mostly about the Queen of Spades. The whole thing also feels kinda contrived for the sake of having conflict. I did liked the bluebird parts, and all the parts delving into who Punchline is as a person, since she is imo a very interesting character, and I'd love to learn more about her and her way of thinking. She is majorly messed up, but why, and how exactly?
The TikTak challenge... it worked, though I hate how dependent de punchline arc is on technology and how much this will be dated, even in a few years, as I can't imagine Tiktok being around forever.

[Benja Calderon]

Jim Gordon parece decidido, pero no todo es tan sencillo, necesita ayuda para llevar a cabo la misión que esta a punto de aceptar, situación que nos lleva a otra revelación y la instalación de una duda ¿qué tanto sabe Gordon sobre las identidades de la Bati-familia?

También, nuevos actores se suman a la caza y unos viejos conocidos muestran que tienen algo que decir frente al que parece la mayor amenaza para Gotham

Por otro lado, las investigación de BlueBird empieza a dar frutos, mientras Punchline, luego de su arrebato con la reina de la Royal Flush Gang, parece tener que lidiar con grandes consecuencias

[Etienne]

The Punchline story at the end is totally useless and uninteresting!! That being said, we are here for the Joker story!

It was awesome! Getting darker and darker, more complex as well. Lot of gangs and characters involved. I love the Jim Gordon development a lot and I can't wait to see where it's going. James Tynion at his best here!

[Catarina Prata]

I just enjoy how Gordon's "relationship" with the Joker and his way of thinking is being approached in this comic series. I love how we might have a morally grey hero on our hands, and every single person seems interested in finding and killing the Joker. He made some enemies and I am excited to know what his plan is.

[Tris]

I seriously think the Punchline story should get its own comic because it only gets a few pages per issue

[spencer]

4.5. This is really great. Tynion’s writing is strong and March’s art is terrifyinggg. I’m digging this a lot and can’t wait for it to delve more in future issues.

[Shawn Ingle]

More great writing and artwork. The dialogue is particularly strong. Even the Punchline arc is getting better.

[John]

The hunt for the Joker begins!

[Meaghan]

That reveal tho

[Laura]

Le tonnellate di Jim Gordon in questo albo.

[Steven Shinder]

I must've missed when Jim Gordon found out Barbara's Batgirl, but I really loved their discussion of whether or not the Joker should be killed.

[Devin Wilson]

I like an introspective, talky superhero comic.

But this is just too light on drama. Vanishingly little happens.

The backup story does nothing for me.

[Daly]

2.5⭐️ Gordon knows a little too much about Barbara’s double life. He knows she is Batgirl and wants her help finding the Joker.

[Benja Calderon]

Review de las versión en ingles acá