InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "The evil in you comes out."

benicio127 (benicio127) wrote in scans_daily,
@ 2009-07-14 12:13:00

Entry tags:

char: batman/bruce wayne, char: joker, publisher: dc comics

The last time the Joker thought Batsy was dead....
This is a really, really great Joker story and sadly, underrated.

Going Sane was collected in Legends of the Dark Knight 65-68 (written in 1994 by J.M De Matteis) and can now be collected as a full trade paperback. The art is less than stellar, but the story more than makes up for it. (11 scans of a 100-page book)

I always thought this did an excellent job of showcasing the Batman & Joker relationship, perhaps IMO better than the Killing Joke. (There! I said it. Granted, if you can prove me otherwise, I'll gladly accept it.)

I can't imagine his breath would be nice.

So we start this little tale off with the Joker believing he's killed Batsy in a big explosion.

So, what's a clown left to do? Pack up his bag of tricks and head for some skin treatment centre.

Oh and become an average, mild-mannered Joe.

He begins a romance with his next-door neighbour, Rebecca.

But average Joe is having some problems. See, he keeps having nightmares. And won't play cards if there's a Joker in the deck. And keeps dreaming about bats and evil clown monsters coming to eat him....

And he's also potentially becoming more temperamental and abusive....

Creepy face is creepy.

Meanwhile, B-man's been recovering with a lady who's dubbed him Lazarus. (Anyone else getting images of romance novel covers right now? Fabio playing Batsy's role....)

He's considering quitting the vigilante life.

So Batsy comes back and average Joe/Joker reads this while walking along the river with Rebecca. (This is being told alongside the present story line in which the Joker has taken councilwoman Kenner hostage again)

Problem is, Batsy knows Joker is still out there.

The juxtaposition between the ultra-violence and the ultra-sweetness is interesting.

There's quite a tragic tinge to this because during the present fight with Batsy he's calling councilwoman Kenner "Rebecca" and for the briefest of moments sees Rebecca instead of her and spares Kenner's life.

So what do you think? Does it do the job it sets out to do?

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	xammax 2009-07-14 05:47 pm UTC (link)
	To me, its always best to keep in mind the guy in this comic is the same guy who was in Morrison's run, and in the Arkham comic. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	thehefner 2009-07-14 05:54 pm UTC (link)
	Agreed. I enjoy it on it's own merits, but not as some be-all, end-all Ultimate Joker. Especially if he continues to show up in non-Morrison comics. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

stig
2009-07-14 07:40 pm UTC (link)

Oh, definitely. I myself wouldn't dream of thinking that Morrison's iteration will last very long, or be the definitive version - I just generally enjoyed it more than others.

The above story is pretty good, but I think the art takes away from it a lot - I keep seeing stunted limbs, shifting skull structures, pupils pointing in different directions. But, for its time, it's still definitely above-average.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	benicio127 2009-07-14 07:42 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah, the biggest flaw of the book is the art. Other than that, it's a truly, truly great story. (Reply to this) (Parent)

jlroberson
2009-07-15 01:28 am UTC (link)

There IS no definitive Joker OR Batman. They're what the people working on them make them, and some are better than others, and all are valid. And I say this knowing that will include Moldoff, whose Batman I hate.

Morrison himself said this; he was presenting more of a meta-Batman, that was all of them.

>>I can't imagine his breath would be nice.

Morrison described it. He said it was very noxiously chemical, because of his own abuse of the venoms he makes.(which has also given him a tolerance for them)

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	benicio127 2009-07-15 01:47 am UTC (link)
	Morrison described it. He said it was very noxiously chemical, because of his own abuse of the venoms he makes.(which has also given him a tolerance for them) Hahahhahahaha yes, and then Harley proceeded to attempt to make out with him. ;-P (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jlroberson 2009-07-15 02:06 am UTC (link)
	He's her puddin'! She doesn't care how he smells! I'm also assuming she may be a bit used to them as well. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	benicio127 2009-07-15 02:08 am UTC (link)
	See and this is why I always tell people Harley is ~~probably~~ crazier than the Joker!!! (Reply to this) (Parent)

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