Review: The Joker #3
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: James Tynion IV, Sam Johns
Artist:Â Guillem March, Mirka Andolfo
Letters: Tom Napolitano, Ariana Maher
Colors: Â
Reviewed by: Carl Bryan
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Summary
Following the events of Infinite Frontier #1, The Joker is the most wanted man in the world!
Positives
James Tynion IV closes his fingers on his pencil thus making the parties come closer to either capturing or killing the Joker. A family from Texas, a female Bane (Incidentally has Bane met his demise?), The Court of Owls and James Gordon.
It’s Gordon that finds the Joker first through a brilliant set of moves that Tynion IV’s writing explores. In fact, we really get to see that Gordon is not as dependent on Batman as it would seem. He’s quite the detective, lest we forget.Â
But it is brilliant that he employs his daughter Barbara/Batgirl/Oracle in this one. She, in turn, brings in The Spoiler and Cassandra Cain to aid in Jim’s endeavor to find the Joker.Â
The overarching question is “Will he kill The Joker…or not?” You’ll have to read as Jim has a clear shot. Let’s see what happens.
Positives 2.0
A female Bane…A female Bane!!! They did it with Thor…I mean…she is drawn beautifully.Â
Guillem March is incredible in his renderings. Nothing like a new gang to terrorize the Bat books. These Bane masks instill quite the fear. This pimple on Joker’s face is about to pop as all sides are converging where Joker has been vacationing.Â
Depending on Jim’s choice in whether to lower the boom on The Joker, let’s see what remains next issue.
Chapter Three 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. What a manipulative lady she is and I can’t help but think there is going to be another showdown between her and Harley.
But for now, she has to endure a full on prison while her trial awaits. Never known for someone to go right to a penitentiary to await a trial, but no one is like Punchline! Â
Negatives
None…seeds are being planted for a “long ball” game with The Joker, Bane, Gordon, and Punchline. Now add in the Court of Owls and this new juiced up Female Bane. Thrown in a Texas family bent on revenge. Joker’s walls are closing in!  Â
Verdict
BUY THIS BOOK! For those lucky enough to get on the ground floor of anything that James Tynion IV does, he’s one of the hottest authors the past few years. I am not sure how his imaginative faucet gets turned on, or where he is creating Joker stories. But I am drinking from his fire hydrant!  This should be on your shelf! Â
