Review: The Joker #8 
[ Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writers: Sam Johns, Â James Tynion IV
Artist:Â Sweeney Boo, Guillem March
Letters: Tom Napolitano, Ariana Maher
Colors:
Reviewed by: Carl Bryan
Summary
“I was never meant to question what I was or why I did what I did…
Jim Gordon was warned, to “head back to the light while you still can,” but his quest to apprehend The Joker is taking him deeper into darkness. Lady Bane isn’t interested in anyone ignoring her directives.
Could The Joker actually be innocent of the attack on Arkham Asylum? The curtain is pulled back more on Lady Bane’s origins which could mean a scapegoat for Gordon’s contracted task….to kill The Joker!
Punchline Back-Up: It’s a jailbreak as Bluebird must escape from Blackgate before Punchline and her gang can murder her!
Positives
Lady Bane’s revelations mean that there is more going on in Santa Prisca than met the eye. Bane is a legend, however, those behind building that legend could not let go of a potential demise of Bane. This issue contributes more than a chase to find Joker. It’s going to be the one that pulled back the curtain on explaining Lady Bane’s origin.
Sam Johns grasp of all things “Joker” is pretty extensive and the hidden lab with the missing Batman vial….yeah…no spoilers here on that one. But Sam Johns has obviously planted some seeds for a new catastrophe impending. If not, then this is one heckuva few pages that should be worthy of its own storyline.
Positives 2.0
Art is key in this book. The penciling, the shading, the colors are all popping. Purple never had it so good and Lady Bane is every bit of a baby born out of Venom. It is clear that Rosi Kämpe,and Guillem March did their homework in anatomy class!
Chapter Eight continues…
Oh…lest we not forget, another chapter of Punchline which has developed quite the cult like following both for readers and within the book. In such a short time with the Clown Prince, she surely has delved deep into his type of manipulative ways! She is scary in how she can manipulate everything from behind bars.  Again, in such a short time she has become connected to all things that can manipulate anyone! Love where this character is going! 
Negatives
Where is Alfred’s daughter? You cannot just drop that on us in issue #7 and then there’s no follow-through. I know we got a LOT of information about Lady Bane, but Julia Pennyworth’s existence is a pretty huge thing deserving some ink time!
Verdict
Two issues in a row and the main man (No…not Lobo…The Joker) has not made an appearance. There is a lot of stuffing to digest, but we need the main dish. Let’s hope The Joker is around the corner. Â
