Batman Three Jokers Book One

10/8/2020

Batman Three Jokers Book One (See below for preview images)

Batman created by Bob Kane & Bill Finger

Writer: Geoff Johns
Illustrator: Jason Fabok
Color Artist: Brad Anderson
Letterer: Rob Leigh

Cover Illustrated and Colored by Jason Fabok and Brad Anderson

In this new 3-issue mini-series Batman is faced with a puzzling trio of crimes that leave the city of Gotham spinning out of control.

Three separate crimes, each baring the Joker’s unique M.O., are committed one night in Gotham.  While this would normally be an easy solve for Batman, these three crimes all happened at the exact same time within city limits of Gotham.

How can there be three separate crime scenes all with Joker’s signature all committed at the same time?  Isn’t there only ONE Joker?

The poor souls that have fallen prey to these dastardly deeds are members of the Moxon crime family, “the Fatman”, and three homeless men.

Various things like fingerprints being chemically removed from the victims’ hands and the fact that these same chemicals damage DNA.  They also cause extensive nerve damage to facial muscles causing the jaws of the victims to break and distort into the creepy permanent signature smile of the Joker himself.  Unfortunately, the deformation also makes dental record identification impossible.  All of this put together means that there is very little chance of identifying any of the three homeless victims.

Are these three crimes clues or are they distractions?  The Joker has always been a clever adversary, usually trying to stay three steps ahead of the Bat.  But, as usual, mistakes are made.  As Batgirl shows up to help Batman investigate, they are intrigued by the location of one of the crimes, Ace Chemicals, the birthplace of The Joker.

Without having any clue as to what chemicals anyone has been exposed to at the site, assumptions are made that toxicity may be high.

It’s a race against time and who knows how many Jokers as Batman and Batgirl try to uncover the truth and save Gotham City once again from the tyrannic treachery of the frivolous funnyman and his cohorts.

THE END

This series has incredible potential to be truly amazing.  The story kind of jumps around and is a little rough in this first issue but does have some interesting stuff going on and certainly makes you look forward to the next issue.

The artwork is beyond fantastic and really, the book would be worth having just for the artwork.  Fabulous line work and incredible color bring each and every panel to full life, making each page a living, breathing piece of artistic genius.

I absolutely picked up on a serious darkness looming over the story which motivates me to read more.  The whole plot of the story isn’t completely clear yet, but I have a feeling it will explode in book two.

Appearances in this book made by: Batman, Batgirl, Red Hood, Joker

RATINGS
Overall 4.5/5
Artwork 5/5
Story 4/5