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Batman: Three Jokers #1-3
Batman: Three Jokers
30 years after "The Killing Joke" changed comics forever, "The Three Jokers" re-examines the myth of who, or what, is the Joker and what is at the heart of his ongoing battle with Batman? New York Times bestselling writer Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok, the writer/artist team that waged the "Darkseid War" in the pages of Justice League, reunite to tell the ultimate story of Batman and The Joker!
After years of anticipation, the epic story is finally here: find out why there are three Jokers, and what that means for the decades-long battle between the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime. In this powerful, emotional story Batman, Batgirl and Red Hood - all past victims of the Joker - work together to solve a mystery unlike anything they've ever faced before!
After years of anticipation, the epic story is finally here: find out why there are three Jokers, and what that means for the decades-long battle between the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime. In this powerful, emotional story Batman, Batgirl and Red Hood - all past victims of the Joker - work together to solve a mystery unlike anything they've ever faced before!
160 pages, Hardcover
First published November 17, 2020
About the author
Geoff Johns
2,646 books2,301 followersGeoff Johns originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Film. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990s in search of work within the film industry. Through perseverance, Geoff ended up as the assistant to Richard Donner, working on Conspiracy Theory and Lethal Weapon 4. During that time, he also began his comics career writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. and JSA (co-written with David S. Goyer) for DC Comics. He worked with Richard Donner for four years, leaving the company to pursue writing full-time.
His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005, 2007 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff also developed BLADE: THE SERIES with David S. Goyer, as well as penned the acclaimed “Legion” episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as staff writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN.
Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank.
His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005, 2007 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff also developed BLADE: THE SERIES with David S. Goyer, as well as penned the acclaimed “Legion” episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as staff writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN.
Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 824 reviews
December 26, 2020
The Criminal, The Clown, and The Comedian.
How many times have you heard that {insert random comic here} will forever change the mythos of {insert random character here}? If you've been reading comics for any amount of time, probably more times than you can count.
I think this time around Geoff Johns actually managed to do it.
Except for that one incredibly weird plot hole at the end.
I can see where this actually helps shore up some of the inconsistencies (if you want to call them that) in the Joker's past while paying homage to several of the iconic storylines that have become canon to this character. And it still manages to bring something new and daring to his origin story.
The story involves the three members of the Batfamily who have been most affected by Joker - Batman, Batgirl, & Red Hood. Barbara and Jason have both been traumatized by a different Joker than the original Joker that Bruce started fighting way back in the day.
Without spoiling any of the great plot twists and turns, the general gist is that they have to find a way to stop these Jokers before they make more of themselves. <--don't worry, that doesn't even scratch the surface.
I'm not personally a huge Joker fan, nor am I what most people would consider a huge Batman fan. In other words, I don't read their comics just because I feel compelled by an obsessive love for the characters. But this was well worth the read for anyone who enjoys the DC universe.
And as a bonus, you don't actually need to have kept up on everything that has happened for the past few years in order to read this. I'm pretty sure anyone with a vaguely working knowledge of these characters would be able to enjoy it.
However, if you're looking for Barbara & Jason's original stories and want to read them for yourself?
Batman: A Death in the Family
Batman: The Killing Joke
Ok, now I do have one major problem with the story, and I would love to hear what anyone else thought about it, but it involves talking about a MAJOR spoiler. So please don't click on this unless you've already read the story.
How many times have you heard that {insert random comic here} will forever change the mythos of {insert random character here}? If you've been reading comics for any amount of time, probably more times than you can count.
I think this time around Geoff Johns actually managed to do it.
Except for that one incredibly weird plot hole at the end.
I can see where this actually helps shore up some of the inconsistencies (if you want to call them that) in the Joker's past while paying homage to several of the iconic storylines that have become canon to this character. And it still manages to bring something new and daring to his origin story.
The story involves the three members of the Batfamily who have been most affected by Joker - Batman, Batgirl, & Red Hood. Barbara and Jason have both been traumatized by a different Joker than the original Joker that Bruce started fighting way back in the day.
Without spoiling any of the great plot twists and turns, the general gist is that they have to find a way to stop these Jokers before they make more of themselves. <--don't worry, that doesn't even scratch the surface.
I'm not personally a huge Joker fan, nor am I what most people would consider a huge Batman fan. In other words, I don't read their comics just because I feel compelled by an obsessive love for the characters. But this was well worth the read for anyone who enjoys the DC universe.
And as a bonus, you don't actually need to have kept up on everything that has happened for the past few years in order to read this. I'm pretty sure anyone with a vaguely working knowledge of these characters would be able to enjoy it.
However, if you're looking for Barbara & Jason's original stories and want to read them for yourself?
Batman: A Death in the Family
Batman: The Killing Joke
Ok, now I do have one major problem with the story, and I would love to hear what anyone else thought about it, but it involves talking about a MAJOR spoiler. So please don't click on this unless you've already read the story.
March 31, 2024
"There are 3". I remember the line from the side issue of the Darkside War. Batman is given ultimate knowledge, and he asks about the Joker. The answer is cryptic.
I waited years for this book, and I could not be anything other than a Black Label book. I don't know if it is going to be folded into the main continuity or not,it is not what I expected, but it is every bit as good as I hoped for.
The heroes most affected by the Joker's rampages are not on the trail of the Jokers. Can genius counter madness? Can the scars of the past be healed or redeemed?
Great story and artwork. I was hooked on the first page. Witness or relive the most defining moments of these characters' lives. I think Jason and Barbara get more time than Batman in this book, but given their past, I think this is fair. It's not the most action-packed comic, but it's a monumental story.
Each chapter/ issue starts with that issues' front cover and a varient. I really like the hardcover format. Great story, great artwork, and great characters.
I waited years for this book, and I could not be anything other than a Black Label book. I don't know if it is going to be folded into the main continuity or not,it is not what I expected, but it is every bit as good as I hoped for.
The heroes most affected by the Joker's rampages are not on the trail of the Jokers. Can genius counter madness? Can the scars of the past be healed or redeemed?
Great story and artwork. I was hooked on the first page. Witness or relive the most defining moments of these characters' lives. I think Jason and Barbara get more time than Batman in this book, but given their past, I think this is fair. It's not the most action-packed comic, but it's a monumental story.
Each chapter/ issue starts with that issues' front cover and a varient. I really like the hardcover format. Great story, great artwork, and great characters.
November 26, 2020
I don't know fully what to think of this one. The Joker has always been one of my favorite comic characters, and one of the things I've liked about his is that he constantly re-invents himself without it breaking canon. Depending on the story he can be a harmless prankster, a psychopathic serial killer or a mobster with a twisted sense of humor. All very different, but all fitting.
The idea here is that there have been three individuals called the Joker. First the Criminal, the more serious professional, with his eyes always on the job (a throwback to the Golden Age). Next up is the Clown, the Joker who presented himself as something of a deranged entertainer, who used gimmicks like acid flowers and razor sharp cards (a nod to the Silver Age). Finally we have the Comedian, very clearly The Killing Joke's Joker, the psychologically complicated psychopath that comes up with the most horrific plans, but also at times seems the most sympathetic (the Modern Era).
The plot follows Batman, the Red Hood and Batgirl as they try to track down the three before they can create a new Joker. This aspect I like, because choosing Jason Todd and Barbara Gordon as the two to accompany Batman on this case, gives a bit of closure. After all, of all the "Batfamily" they are the two who have been harmed by the Joker the most in classic story lines. Here we see how they react, and their very different approaches to this. We see how they've healed and the scars (both physical and emotional) that remain.
Which we're dealing with multiple versions of the Joker it is inevitable that one take will appeal to the reader more than others. One page in this ranks up as one of my favorite pages in Batman history now, because it is the perfect sum up of one of the trends I personally like about the Joker. It's a major spoiler, but it's such a wonderful moment.
There's a lot of depth here and the art... the art is beautiful. Despite having three versions of the same character, I found it very clear the entire time which Joker was in each panel. The art at times seems very reminiscent of The Killing Joke, and I personally won't complain about that. Jason Fabok is the true hero of this book.
Now, my issues. First, as I said, I'm not actually a big fan of the multiple Joker idea. While it was fun for a story, I honestly hope it doesn't really get brought back up again. Let this be it's own thing. We don't really need an explanation of the Joker. Every version contradicts the past versions in some way, but the Joker is one of the few characters in comics who can make that work. As Alan Moore once wonderfully put it for him: "If I have to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice."
Second issue and this one is a major spoiler.
Final thoughts: Wonderful art. At times a very clever story and wonderfully plays with the history of the Joker in relation to Batman and his allies. That said, it tries to "explain" the Joker, and in doing so creates its own problems. 3.5/5 stars
The idea here is that there have been three individuals called the Joker. First the Criminal, the more serious professional, with his eyes always on the job (a throwback to the Golden Age). Next up is the Clown, the Joker who presented himself as something of a deranged entertainer, who used gimmicks like acid flowers and razor sharp cards (a nod to the Silver Age). Finally we have the Comedian, very clearly The Killing Joke's Joker, the psychologically complicated psychopath that comes up with the most horrific plans, but also at times seems the most sympathetic (the Modern Era).
The plot follows Batman, the Red Hood and Batgirl as they try to track down the three before they can create a new Joker. This aspect I like, because choosing Jason Todd and Barbara Gordon as the two to accompany Batman on this case, gives a bit of closure. After all, of all the "Batfamily" they are the two who have been harmed by the Joker the most in classic story lines. Here we see how they react, and their very different approaches to this. We see how they've healed and the scars (both physical and emotional) that remain.
Which we're dealing with multiple versions of the Joker it is inevitable that one take will appeal to the reader more than others. One page in this ranks up as one of my favorite pages in Batman history now, because it is the perfect sum up of one of the trends I personally like about the Joker. It's a major spoiler, but it's such a wonderful moment.
There's a lot of depth here and the art... the art is beautiful. Despite having three versions of the same character, I found it very clear the entire time which Joker was in each panel. The art at times seems very reminiscent of The Killing Joke, and I personally won't complain about that. Jason Fabok is the true hero of this book.
Now, my issues. First, as I said, I'm not actually a big fan of the multiple Joker idea. While it was fun for a story, I honestly hope it doesn't really get brought back up again. Let this be it's own thing. We don't really need an explanation of the Joker. Every version contradicts the past versions in some way, but the Joker is one of the few characters in comics who can make that work. As Alan Moore once wonderfully put it for him: "If I have to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice."
Second issue and this one is a major spoiler.
Final thoughts: Wonderful art. At times a very clever story and wonderfully plays with the history of the Joker in relation to Batman and his allies. That said, it tries to "explain" the Joker, and in doing so creates its own problems. 3.5/5 stars
August 30, 2022
The best part of this book is the first page where Batman just runs the Batmobile over his parents' graves. It’s so fucking hilarious to me every single time I read it, like is there nowhere else you can park in that big-ass yard you got Bruce?
I was honestly never going to read this eye-rollingly bad story again, but I recently had a conversation with another GR user on a recent Batman review I did (s/o Dave). And when we talked about Bat books that made us stop caring about the character, I named this as one of the ones that broke me. And that conversation with Dave made me think: Is this book as horrible as I remember it being?
And no it isn’t, hence the two stars.
But is it good either?
Also no, hence the two stars.
It’s more of a “Why the fuck does this even exist” kinda comic.
And can Geoff Johns just stop making shitty sequels to better Alan Moore books already? I guess Doomsday Clock wasn’t nearly as miserable as this, but it also wasn’t a great story by any means.
I just don’t get the hype. I will admit the art is gorgeous (at points), some of the stuff with the 3 Jokers is alright, and the Joe Chill arc is WAYYYY better than it has any right to be, but that’s about all I liked. I despised how both Jason Todd and Barbara Gordon were written here and every single fucking thing regarding their horrendous subplot, how overindulgent Fabok’s art got at times, and everything about the ending and the connections with The Killing Joke. God, I fucking hated that ending so much. That ending is my Joker origin story. And John’s voice for Batman is not the best, with there being some scenes in the third issue that irked the fuck outta me. Can Batman be an actual father for once and not just an abusive asshole? I swear he was nicer in fucking Reptilian. This would no doubt be a one-star book if Fabok’s art wasn’t there to (barely) save it.
And look I know Jason Fabok’s art is amazing and all that, but did this book really need the constant 9-panel grid layout bullshit on mostly every fucking page? Really? And on top of that, Fabok also has one whole page in here dedicated to one of the most pointless pages in comic book history (and no I am not kidding, this is really what happens): Jason Todd walks up to a gate after getting off his bike and tapping the sign out front. He then takes a crowbar off his back and breaks the lock off the gate before entering the building. Like why? That is so fucking over-indulgent and unnecessary. That sequence adds literally nothing to the story, so why even write it in? I don’t mind wordless action sequences or movements that build tension up, like Jorge Jimenez did a great job with that in the otherwise pretty dogshit Joker War, but this particular sequence gets nothing added to it because of that page. So yeah, Fabok's art is good, but it's not flawless and moments like that highlight why.
I just don’t get the overwhelmingly positive reception this book gets, but whatever this book clearly isn’t my kind of Batman book. It really is just too fucking self-serious and bland for me to get anything out of it. The ending is also laughably stupid and I think I lost a good amount of brain cells by the time I turned the last page. Not as terrible as I remember it being, but also not good by any stretch of the imagination. This is like Joker and Flashpoint Batman: Knight of Vengeance for me all over again, because I just don’t understand the love for these horrendous and pointless books at all. I’m glad people like them, but that just couldn’t ever be me.
I was honestly never going to read this eye-rollingly bad story again, but I recently had a conversation with another GR user on a recent Batman review I did (s/o Dave). And when we talked about Bat books that made us stop caring about the character, I named this as one of the ones that broke me. And that conversation with Dave made me think: Is this book as horrible as I remember it being?
And no it isn’t, hence the two stars.
But is it good either?
Also no, hence the two stars.
It’s more of a “Why the fuck does this even exist” kinda comic.
And can Geoff Johns just stop making shitty sequels to better Alan Moore books already? I guess Doomsday Clock wasn’t nearly as miserable as this, but it also wasn’t a great story by any means.
I just don’t get the hype. I will admit the art is gorgeous (at points), some of the stuff with the 3 Jokers is alright, and the Joe Chill arc is WAYYYY better than it has any right to be, but that’s about all I liked. I despised how both Jason Todd and Barbara Gordon were written here and every single fucking thing regarding their horrendous subplot, how overindulgent Fabok’s art got at times, and everything about the ending and the connections with The Killing Joke. God, I fucking hated that ending so much. That ending is my Joker origin story. And John’s voice for Batman is not the best, with there being some scenes in the third issue that irked the fuck outta me. Can Batman be an actual father for once and not just an abusive asshole? I swear he was nicer in fucking Reptilian. This would no doubt be a one-star book if Fabok’s art wasn’t there to (barely) save it.
And look I know Jason Fabok’s art is amazing and all that, but did this book really need the constant 9-panel grid layout bullshit on mostly every fucking page? Really? And on top of that, Fabok also has one whole page in here dedicated to one of the most pointless pages in comic book history (and no I am not kidding, this is really what happens): Jason Todd walks up to a gate after getting off his bike and tapping the sign out front. He then takes a crowbar off his back and breaks the lock off the gate before entering the building. Like why? That is so fucking over-indulgent and unnecessary. That sequence adds literally nothing to the story, so why even write it in? I don’t mind wordless action sequences or movements that build tension up, like Jorge Jimenez did a great job with that in the otherwise pretty dogshit Joker War, but this particular sequence gets nothing added to it because of that page. So yeah, Fabok's art is good, but it's not flawless and moments like that highlight why.
I just don’t get the overwhelmingly positive reception this book gets, but whatever this book clearly isn’t my kind of Batman book. It really is just too fucking self-serious and bland for me to get anything out of it. The ending is also laughably stupid and I think I lost a good amount of brain cells by the time I turned the last page. Not as terrible as I remember it being, but also not good by any stretch of the imagination. This is like Joker and Flashpoint Batman: Knight of Vengeance for me all over again, because I just don’t understand the love for these horrendous and pointless books at all. I’m glad people like them, but that just couldn’t ever be me.
January 10, 2021
I enjoyed this one!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
November 1, 2020
After teasing us in Justice League: Darkseid War and DC Rebirth and a 4 year wait, Geoff Johns finally delivers Three Jokers.
I went back and reread DC Rebirth so you wouldn't have to. These are the only three panels in DC Rebirth that reference Three Jokers.
I love how this begins with Batman getting patched up, focusing in on his many scars and then flashing back to how he got them. Eventually, we move on to the Jokers after similar glimpses into Batgirl and Red Hood. Apparently, the Jokers have committed three different crimes at the exact same time. The three Jokers, The Criminal (Golden Age), The Clown (Silver Age), and The Comedian (The Modern Age) are striving to create the next Joker.
Where Johns shines though is in the portrayal of our three heroes. Batgirl hearkens back to her 70's roots, very strong and independent. She's dealt with the trauma of being paralyzed and hones herself into an even stronger character. Meanwhile, Jason Todd is the complete opposite. He's still completely broken, lashing out for vengeance after being beaten (nearly) to death by the Joker and left for dead.
Jason Fabok does some real heavy lifting in this. Several sequences are told almost completely by the art alone. I love how he shows all three heroes in parallel, breaking into the same location through different means. It's a masters class in sequential art. Fabok is such a great Batman artist. His art hearkens back to Brian Bolland in Killing Joke.
I went back and reread DC Rebirth so you wouldn't have to. These are the only three panels in DC Rebirth that reference Three Jokers.
I love how this begins with Batman getting patched up, focusing in on his many scars and then flashing back to how he got them. Eventually, we move on to the Jokers after similar glimpses into Batgirl and Red Hood. Apparently, the Jokers have committed three different crimes at the exact same time. The three Jokers, The Criminal (Golden Age), The Clown (Silver Age), and The Comedian (The Modern Age) are striving to create the next Joker.
Where Johns shines though is in the portrayal of our three heroes. Batgirl hearkens back to her 70's roots, very strong and independent. She's dealt with the trauma of being paralyzed and hones herself into an even stronger character. Meanwhile, Jason Todd is the complete opposite. He's still completely broken, lashing out for vengeance after being beaten (nearly) to death by the Joker and left for dead.
Jason Fabok does some real heavy lifting in this. Several sequences are told almost completely by the art alone. I love how he shows all three heroes in parallel, breaking into the same location through different means. It's a masters class in sequential art. Fabok is such a great Batman artist. His art hearkens back to Brian Bolland in Killing Joke.
November 21, 2020
A crime family wiped out, a comedian murdered during a live stream and a trio of corpses dressed to look like the Red Hood, splayed across the grounds of Ace Chemicals - all appear to have been killed by the Joker at the same time. But that’s impossible - how could the Joker have been in three places at once? Unless there are three Jokers: a Criminal, a Comedian, and a Clown. Three vigilantes - Batman, Batgirl and Red Hood - hunt down Joker(s) across three chapters in Three Jokers.
Geoff Johns writes his second sequel to an Alan Moore ‘80s classic (the first being the Watchmen sequel, Doomsday Clock) with Three Jokers being the sequel to The Killing Joke. What, no V for Vendetta sequel, Geoff? You’d think the time would be right - instead of railing against a Thatcherite government, you could cast Trump in that role. Who knows, maybe there is one in the works? Or not, given that the fat orange baby is out now.
Three Jokers is also the fulfilment of Johns’ tease from over four years ago in DC Universe Rebirth, the last teased storyline from that bumper issue (it’s been so long “Rebirth” isn’t even a thing anymore!). So was it worth the wait? Yay and nay. As ever with Papa Johns, I’m vexed by some of his narrative choices but overall I didn’t dislike the book. Jason Fabok draws some incredible pages here too, so Three Jokers isn’t a bad comic by any means.
And here I’ll say SPOILERS for the rest of this review to anyone who hasn’t read it yet but is planning to - my rec for the latter is above.
*
So I’ll just get right into my biggest problem with this story: it’s pointless.
Batman reveals that he’s known Joker’s real name and identity since the first week he met him, but doesn’t say anything further, saying that his name/identity isn’t important and never was. I totally agree with this and wouldn’t have wanted Johns to have given us those details anyway. So I wasn’t expecting to find out Joker’s full deets and we didn’t get it.
But: I was expecting to find out what the point of the three Jokers was. Have there always been three Jokers since the very beginning or is this a recent development - ie. Joker’s latest demented scheme? We didn't find that out either and that was disappointing.
Also, what’s the thinking behind producing multiple Jokers? One Joker - the Criminal - posits that the plan is to make a “better Joker”. What does that mean? Apparently, Joker(s) wants to create a Joker with a meaningful background to Batman to tie the two characters more closely together. On the one hand, The Killing Joke was an origin story and having its sequel also centre around origins is fitting, as is the motivation for Joker wanting to be closer to Batman, which is a recurring motive for Joker; on the other hand, it reads less like something Joker would want and more like something DC, as a corporate entity, would want for Joker - like we’re reading the minutes of a brainstorming meeting about a revision of one of DC’s most popular characters!
And what form does this actually take - making a “better Joker”? Nabbing a vat load of chemicals and throwing dozens of randos into it! How does that make a better Joker? That aspect of the story was completely stupid - what, Joker(s) just hoped that the arbitrary strangers they picked up would somehow have deep meaning to Batman?? What was a better idea was Joker(s) considering turning Jason Todd into the new Joker, or even Joe Chill - both have massive personal significance to Batman, but Jason would’ve been the only real choice, not least because Chill here is dying of Stage 4 cancer.
But what really underscores the futility of this entire concept of a “better Joker” is how it ends. Because it turns out only the Criminal was interested in making a “better Joker” while the real Joker was just going along with it until he got bored of it all. And even then the real Joker doesn’t explain why he felt the need to create other versions of himself! The book’s premise is a let-down because the “better Joker” concept is never realised, or fully committed to, or explained properly.
The thing I’ve seen most Alan Moore fans really get wound up about - and let’s be clear, nothing Geoff Johns wrote was ever going to placate that crowd - didn’t really bother me: the reveal that the Comedian’s wife and child are alive and kicking in Alaska. Eh, whatevs. I get that Johns had to do something to build on The Killing Joke - it’s not THAT bad, it’s just underwhelming.
The other critiques I have are smaller: Batman is uncharacteristically very accepting of Jason shooting Joker in the head - I guess guns don’t really bother him anymore? How is it a surprise to Batman that Joe Chill has been in a prison hospital for two months receiving treatment for terminal cancer - Batman keeps tabs on the Joker’s wife and child, who’re living in the middle of nowhere, who escaped Gotham years ago, but he doesn’t keep tabs on the man who murdered his parents, changing his life’s trajectory to becoming Batman, and living in the same city as him?! Also, in this story Gordon doesn’t know Barbara is Batgirl - which is crazy given how useless her mask is at hiding the features of her face anyway - but she flat out tells him by calling him “Dad” at the end - why??
Ok: the stuff I liked! As much as some parts of the story rang false to me, I was never bored reading it. This is an action-packed page-turner of a read. Johns throws in perfect cliffhangers at the end of each chapter to keep you interested and wanting to see what happens next, from the Joker execution at the end of the first part to the Joe Chill abduction at the end of the second. The showdown at the Monarch Theatre was exciting and unpredictable and I loved that Babs got to have payback of a sort by smashing Joker’s camera into his face yelling “Smile!” - a great callback to the infamous scene in The Killing Joke where he shoots and cripples her.
And this was a pleasant surprise: the story is as much about Babs and Jason as it is Bruce. We see the devastation Joker has wreaked not just on Bruce’s life but on Babs (The Killing Joke) and Jason (A Death in the Family). I liked that Johns acknowledged this, incorporated them into the sequel and delved into the psychological damage the Joker has caused these characters - and did so convincingly. You got a strong sense of the anger and frustration both Babs and Jason feel towards Joker and Batman too, for allowing Joker to continue to exist and create ever more suffering and turmoil.
I also liked that Johns toyed with the idea of a relationship between Babs and Jason. If Babs was going to be with someone in the Bat Fam, I always thought the more interesting choice would be Jason, not Grayson; Dick’s too “good”, like Barbara - Jason has that streak of malevolence to him that adds a frisson of excitement to the relationship (opposites attract, right?). Anyway, like everything else here, it doesn’t stick unfortunately.
Unlike Johns’ writing, Jason Fabok’s art is flawless. This is an absolutely stunning book and I loved looking at every page. There’s so much cool stuff here: the smiling shark, the design of the Red Hood helmet after Joker’s torture, the subtle differences in design between the Three Jokers, the Batman scar sequence that shows the years of physical trauma he’s endured, the homages to Brian Bolland, the numerous fight sequences. I can’t fault any of it, I can only gush at the skill that Fabok used in bringing this all to life - full marks on the art!
Like I said, Three Jokers is not a bad comic. It’s never boring, it looks amazing, and there’s some remarkably decent character work scattered throughout. What stops it from being a great comic is that it never delivers on what it sets up, making it an ultimately unsatisfying read. Three stars for Three Jokers!
Geoff Johns writes his second sequel to an Alan Moore ‘80s classic (the first being the Watchmen sequel, Doomsday Clock) with Three Jokers being the sequel to The Killing Joke. What, no V for Vendetta sequel, Geoff? You’d think the time would be right - instead of railing against a Thatcherite government, you could cast Trump in that role. Who knows, maybe there is one in the works? Or not, given that the fat orange baby is out now.
Three Jokers is also the fulfilment of Johns’ tease from over four years ago in DC Universe Rebirth, the last teased storyline from that bumper issue (it’s been so long “Rebirth” isn’t even a thing anymore!). So was it worth the wait? Yay and nay. As ever with Papa Johns, I’m vexed by some of his narrative choices but overall I didn’t dislike the book. Jason Fabok draws some incredible pages here too, so Three Jokers isn’t a bad comic by any means.
And here I’ll say SPOILERS for the rest of this review to anyone who hasn’t read it yet but is planning to - my rec for the latter is above.
*
So I’ll just get right into my biggest problem with this story: it’s pointless.
Batman reveals that he’s known Joker’s real name and identity since the first week he met him, but doesn’t say anything further, saying that his name/identity isn’t important and never was. I totally agree with this and wouldn’t have wanted Johns to have given us those details anyway. So I wasn’t expecting to find out Joker’s full deets and we didn’t get it.
But: I was expecting to find out what the point of the three Jokers was. Have there always been three Jokers since the very beginning or is this a recent development - ie. Joker’s latest demented scheme? We didn't find that out either and that was disappointing.
Also, what’s the thinking behind producing multiple Jokers? One Joker - the Criminal - posits that the plan is to make a “better Joker”. What does that mean? Apparently, Joker(s) wants to create a Joker with a meaningful background to Batman to tie the two characters more closely together. On the one hand, The Killing Joke was an origin story and having its sequel also centre around origins is fitting, as is the motivation for Joker wanting to be closer to Batman, which is a recurring motive for Joker; on the other hand, it reads less like something Joker would want and more like something DC, as a corporate entity, would want for Joker - like we’re reading the minutes of a brainstorming meeting about a revision of one of DC’s most popular characters!
And what form does this actually take - making a “better Joker”? Nabbing a vat load of chemicals and throwing dozens of randos into it! How does that make a better Joker? That aspect of the story was completely stupid - what, Joker(s) just hoped that the arbitrary strangers they picked up would somehow have deep meaning to Batman?? What was a better idea was Joker(s) considering turning Jason Todd into the new Joker, or even Joe Chill - both have massive personal significance to Batman, but Jason would’ve been the only real choice, not least because Chill here is dying of Stage 4 cancer.
But what really underscores the futility of this entire concept of a “better Joker” is how it ends. Because it turns out only the Criminal was interested in making a “better Joker” while the real Joker was just going along with it until he got bored of it all. And even then the real Joker doesn’t explain why he felt the need to create other versions of himself! The book’s premise is a let-down because the “better Joker” concept is never realised, or fully committed to, or explained properly.
The thing I’ve seen most Alan Moore fans really get wound up about - and let’s be clear, nothing Geoff Johns wrote was ever going to placate that crowd - didn’t really bother me: the reveal that the Comedian’s wife and child are alive and kicking in Alaska. Eh, whatevs. I get that Johns had to do something to build on The Killing Joke - it’s not THAT bad, it’s just underwhelming.
The other critiques I have are smaller: Batman is uncharacteristically very accepting of Jason shooting Joker in the head - I guess guns don’t really bother him anymore? How is it a surprise to Batman that Joe Chill has been in a prison hospital for two months receiving treatment for terminal cancer - Batman keeps tabs on the Joker’s wife and child, who’re living in the middle of nowhere, who escaped Gotham years ago, but he doesn’t keep tabs on the man who murdered his parents, changing his life’s trajectory to becoming Batman, and living in the same city as him?! Also, in this story Gordon doesn’t know Barbara is Batgirl - which is crazy given how useless her mask is at hiding the features of her face anyway - but she flat out tells him by calling him “Dad” at the end - why??
Ok: the stuff I liked! As much as some parts of the story rang false to me, I was never bored reading it. This is an action-packed page-turner of a read. Johns throws in perfect cliffhangers at the end of each chapter to keep you interested and wanting to see what happens next, from the Joker execution at the end of the first part to the Joe Chill abduction at the end of the second. The showdown at the Monarch Theatre was exciting and unpredictable and I loved that Babs got to have payback of a sort by smashing Joker’s camera into his face yelling “Smile!” - a great callback to the infamous scene in The Killing Joke where he shoots and cripples her.
And this was a pleasant surprise: the story is as much about Babs and Jason as it is Bruce. We see the devastation Joker has wreaked not just on Bruce’s life but on Babs (The Killing Joke) and Jason (A Death in the Family). I liked that Johns acknowledged this, incorporated them into the sequel and delved into the psychological damage the Joker has caused these characters - and did so convincingly. You got a strong sense of the anger and frustration both Babs and Jason feel towards Joker and Batman too, for allowing Joker to continue to exist and create ever more suffering and turmoil.
I also liked that Johns toyed with the idea of a relationship between Babs and Jason. If Babs was going to be with someone in the Bat Fam, I always thought the more interesting choice would be Jason, not Grayson; Dick’s too “good”, like Barbara - Jason has that streak of malevolence to him that adds a frisson of excitement to the relationship (opposites attract, right?). Anyway, like everything else here, it doesn’t stick unfortunately.
Unlike Johns’ writing, Jason Fabok’s art is flawless. This is an absolutely stunning book and I loved looking at every page. There’s so much cool stuff here: the smiling shark, the design of the Red Hood helmet after Joker’s torture, the subtle differences in design between the Three Jokers, the Batman scar sequence that shows the years of physical trauma he’s endured, the homages to Brian Bolland, the numerous fight sequences. I can’t fault any of it, I can only gush at the skill that Fabok used in bringing this all to life - full marks on the art!
Like I said, Three Jokers is not a bad comic. It’s never boring, it looks amazing, and there’s some remarkably decent character work scattered throughout. What stops it from being a great comic is that it never delivers on what it sets up, making it an ultimately unsatisfying read. Three stars for Three Jokers!
November 15, 2021
"I just healed your greatest wound. So now I can be your greatest pain. ME!!!" -- Joker
Lots of other reviewers have dissected and/or taken to task Batman: Three Jokers, but purely for a standalone story intended for mature audiences - which is what DC's Black Label component is known for - I thought this was an exceptionally good volume featuring the 'Bat' family. Drawing on that longstanding psychological trauma affecting Bruce Wayne's Batman (witnessing his parents' murder as a child), Jason Todd's Robin-turned-Red Hood (savagely beaten and left for dead by the Joker), and Barbara Gordon's Batgirl (being shot by the Joker and suffering paralysis), this damaged crimefighting trio investigates Gotham City's latest lawbreaking issue . . . which appears to be not one but THREE separate Jokers leaving a trail of death and destruction. This is one of those dark graphic novels - and I don't just mean because the majority of it takes place at night, like a proper Batman story should - with its depicted violence (the copious blood splatters freely like a DePalma or Tarantino movie) and humor (the Joker, of course, with his continual off-color bon mots), and that helps give the tale some needed edge. It would be be easy for this book to feel like a retread - how many times has a serious Batman vs. Joker showdown been depicted? - but yet it was effective.
Lots of other reviewers have dissected and/or taken to task Batman: Three Jokers, but purely for a standalone story intended for mature audiences - which is what DC's Black Label component is known for - I thought this was an exceptionally good volume featuring the 'Bat' family. Drawing on that longstanding psychological trauma affecting Bruce Wayne's Batman (witnessing his parents' murder as a child), Jason Todd's Robin-turned-Red Hood (savagely beaten and left for dead by the Joker), and Barbara Gordon's Batgirl (being shot by the Joker and suffering paralysis), this damaged crimefighting trio investigates Gotham City's latest lawbreaking issue . . . which appears to be not one but THREE separate Jokers leaving a trail of death and destruction. This is one of those dark graphic novels - and I don't just mean because the majority of it takes place at night, like a proper Batman story should - with its depicted violence (the copious blood splatters freely like a DePalma or Tarantino movie) and humor (the Joker, of course, with his continual off-color bon mots), and that helps give the tale some needed edge. It would be be easy for this book to feel like a retread - how many times has a serious Batman vs. Joker showdown been depicted? - but yet it was effective.
November 23, 2020
Jason Fabok draws himself a heckuva Batman. That alone is worth an extra star.
January 5, 2022
Meh.
Yes, Geoff Johns writing is, as always good, and yes Jason Fabok and Brad Anderson do a very good job with the art.
This was supposed to tie it all together, harken back to the brilliant Killing Joke, answer lots of questions, be the next great event that changes DC forever.
Shrug.
I liked it, don’t get me wrong, any time with the chaotic evil crown prince of crime is going to be fun, and there is Batgirl – yes, and of course Red Hood, and doesn’t Jason Todd have a right to have some anxiety about the fiend who beat him to death?
Altogether entertaining, but life changing? No.
Yes, Geoff Johns writing is, as always good, and yes Jason Fabok and Brad Anderson do a very good job with the art.
This was supposed to tie it all together, harken back to the brilliant Killing Joke, answer lots of questions, be the next great event that changes DC forever.
Shrug.
I liked it, don’t get me wrong, any time with the chaotic evil crown prince of crime is going to be fun, and there is Batgirl – yes, and of course Red Hood, and doesn’t Jason Todd have a right to have some anxiety about the fiend who beat him to death?
Altogether entertaining, but life changing? No.
October 28, 2020
The premise of this one is that there isn't just one Joker but three... and that there has been for years. It's an interesting concept and I think Geoff Johns did a great job of exploring it. The artwork was pretty darned good, too.
There was a good dynamic here between Batman, Batgirl and the Red Hood. This was actually my first encounter with the new Red Hood, as the last time I read Batman regularly Jason Todd was still dead. Honestly, I think I'd've rather he stayed dead but the character works well in this book.
Similarly, the last time I read the Batbooks, Barbara Gordon was still in a wheelchair. It was good to see her geared up as Batgirl again and she's an essential part of this story.
Geoff Johns' work has always been wildly variable in quality in the past but I'm very glad I took a chance on this book.
There was a good dynamic here between Batman, Batgirl and the Red Hood. This was actually my first encounter with the new Red Hood, as the last time I read Batman regularly Jason Todd was still dead. Honestly, I think I'd've rather he stayed dead but the character works well in this book.
Similarly, the last time I read the Batbooks, Barbara Gordon was still in a wheelchair. It was good to see her geared up as Batgirl again and she's an essential part of this story.
Geoff Johns' work has always been wildly variable in quality in the past but I'm very glad I took a chance on this book.
February 13, 2024
باتمان: 3 جوكر، هي قصة تجعلك تقترب لأقرب ما يكون من فلسفة الجوكر، بالإضافة إلى المزحة القاتلة بالطبع، ورغم أن التركيز الأساسي هنا على الجوكر، ولكن هناك جزءاً لا بأس به حول شخصية باتمان وفلسفته أيضاً.
ما هي المرارة الأكبر التي يحملها "باتمان" بداخله؟ ماذا لو استطاع أن يمر بها ويتعافى منها؟ ماذا لو هناك 3 جوكر؟ يعيثون بجوثام فساداً، ويقتلون بوحشية، في نفس الوقت، ستصبح المدينة مليئة بالذعر والخوف.. ولكننا نعلم أن خطة الجوكر أكبر من كُل ذلك، هو يلعب مع باتمان لعبة ما، أو كما يقول له، يُخبره بمزحة، هل تقتل المزحة؟
وجود شخصية "بات جيرل" و"ريد هود"، كانا مُكملين للأحداث، لخلفيتهم المُرتبطة بالجوكر، فهو كاد يقتل كلاً منهما، وربما نستطيع أن نقول أنه نجح في ذلك، بشكلاً ما بالطبع. في أحد الاشتباكات قال الجوكر لريد هود أنني لو قولتلك سيصبح كُل ذلك ليس له معنى، هو يُحب أن يجعلك تُعاني، تعيش وتُعاني، فلو مُت انتهت معاناتك! تراه أسوأ شخص في العالم، أو أكثرهم شراً وكراهية، ولكنك لا تستطيع أن تُنكر أن شخصية الجوكر تحمل فلسفة مُثيرة للاهتمام، ومن المُمتع أن ترى نشأتها بهذا الشكل، وربما يساعد هذا الكوميكس أن يُبدد الغموض قليلاً عن شخصية الجوكر وخلفيتها.
إجمالاً
قصة رائعة، رسوم مُبهرة، وفلسفة مُثيرة للاهتمام، والأهم أنك لن تتوقف إلا قبل أن تُنهيها من فرط الإثارة والجنون.
يُنصح بها بالطبع.
October 31, 2020
What started out as a promising and superhyped series, crumbles down to a poor joke by the end.
The art by Jason Fabok is truly magnificient throughout the series, and the storytelling is great as well, but the problem is in the plot itself.
Three Jokers continues from the revelation made years ago in "The Darkseid War" that there are in fact three Jokers. All the hype and build up turns into 'was this story really necessary?' by the end.
Three Joker has phenomenal artwork but a dissapointing plot.
The art by Jason Fabok is truly magnificient throughout the series, and the storytelling is great as well, but the problem is in the plot itself.
Three Jokers continues from the revelation made years ago in "The Darkseid War" that there are in fact three Jokers. All the hype and build up turns into 'was this story really necessary?' by the end.
Three Joker has phenomenal artwork but a dissapointing plot.
January 24, 2021
I picked this up only because I read great reviews for it. In any other world, I would have just given it a pass, but not only did the premise end up being interesting, but its grandiloquent darkness and fantastic artwork really paid off.
I've read the best ones of the series. Killing Joke, Death in the Family. I think this one deserves to inch up there with the others. :)
Story-wise, it fills a lot of great plot holes in a sweeping, world-building explanation that feels quite compelling. Three Jokers? The Criminal, The Clown, and The Comedian. What if they were all different?
I keep thinking of psychology and obsession, of course, but this has a feel to it that is fully consistent with his origin story AND the creation of so many baby jokers in his crews. The chemical weddings. The madness.
So yeah, I'm on board for this. Great food for thought. Can't say that about most comics. :)
I've read the best ones of the series. Killing Joke, Death in the Family. I think this one deserves to inch up there with the others. :)
Story-wise, it fills a lot of great plot holes in a sweeping, world-building explanation that feels quite compelling. Three Jokers? The Criminal, The Clown, and The Comedian. What if they were all different?
I keep thinking of psychology and obsession, of course, but this has a feel to it that is fully consistent with his origin story AND the creation of so many baby jokers in his crews. The chemical weddings. The madness.
So yeah, I'm on board for this. Great food for thought. Can't say that about most comics. :)
January 5, 2021
So is Geoff Johns just going to be a full-time Alan Moore tribute band from here on out what with Doomsday Clock and now this sequel to Batman: The Killing Joke? (Don't get me started on his Green Lantern run and the echoes of Swamp Thing.) He does also bring in elements of Batman: A Death in the Family as Batman teams up with Batgirl and Red Hood -- the two members of the Batman family most traumatized by the Joker in the aforementioned tales -- to find out why there suddenly seem to be three Jokers running around.
And boy, is the multiple Joker scenario the worst idea. Horrible. Hate it. Already retconning it away in my mind.
I'm also wiping *that kiss* from my mind, the second worse idea in this book. Stupidest Batman Family kiss since the one in the Batman: The Killing Joke animated adaptation.
And isn't the ending of this book pretty much the same as Doomsday Clock? Does Johns have no other twist in his bag of tricks?
I should probably rate this one-star, but I did get an involuntary buzz off the DC fanboy service and Easter eggs. And boy, don't those pages just look great as Jason Fabok does a Dave Gibbons/Brian Bolland fusion?
Does the Black Label mean this isn't in continuity? Or like Killing Joke, it's in continuity when DC wants it to be?
And boy, is the multiple Joker scenario the worst idea. Horrible. Hate it. Already retconning it away in my mind.
I'm also wiping *that kiss* from my mind, the second worse idea in this book. Stupidest Batman Family kiss since the one in the Batman: The Killing Joke animated adaptation.
And isn't the ending of this book pretty much the same as Doomsday Clock? Does Johns have no other twist in his bag of tricks?
I should probably rate this one-star, but I did get an involuntary buzz off the DC fanboy service and Easter eggs. And boy, don't those pages just look great as Jason Fabok does a Dave Gibbons/Brian Bolland fusion?
Does the Black Label mean this isn't in continuity? Or like Killing Joke, it's in continuity when DC wants it to be?
March 9, 2022
Better than it has any right to be.
July 30, 2021
Interestingly enough, I think that most people found this story to be a little on the basic side; however, I enjoyed it. It's not my favorite story related to the Joker. Everyone pretty much knows that goes to the current title that Tynion is writing; however, Johns explored the Joker in a way that I wasn't anticipating and the art by Fabok really brought the story together. If you didn't know there is a slight reference to Three Jokers in Rebirth. This story is centered around the idea that there are three different Jokers and it's up to Batman, Batgirl, and Red Hood to figure out which one is possibly the real Joker. I had a lot of fun trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but I feel like the character exploration really sent this home. There was commentary about the trauma faced by all characters that made the story feel more real. This may not have been the intent, but there are characters in this book that are forced to face their trauma in unexpected ways and it shapes them into the characters they become. Overall, I thought it was a solid comic. I'm not sure what everyone else was expecting, but this is one that I would read again.
May 8, 2021
It’s uncommon for a comic to change how I feel about a character, yet this happens for me here with Joker. Is it retconning? Sure as hell is. But it gives another dimension to Joker’s pervasiveness. My only real complaint is seeing the Origin for the 1000th time. Ultra violent and beautifully illustrated, Three Jokers is fantastic.
February 24, 2022
6.3/10
An interesting and intriguing story but falls a bit short in the end.
The art is top notch.
An interesting and intriguing story but falls a bit short in the end.
The art is top notch.
November 29, 2020
This definitely was not what I was expecting. I do like that this tried to give more context to the Joker, and I do think it was well done (mostly). I think the Jason/Barbara romance wasn’t necessary, but it wasn’t horrible either. I’m not a Dick/Barbara shipper so I don’t really care about that, and I do think that Barbara would be a good influence on Jason following this story, but.... eh, I think she could do that as just a friend.
The ending about the Clown Joker’s identity.... I’m not sure that it was really necessary. In Snyder’s New 52 run they alluded to the Joker being a mythical/mystical figure for the darkness in Gotham and I really like that approach. I can appreciate that John’s was calling back to The Killing Joke, but the point of that story was that the Joker himself doesn’t really even remember his origin, so it’s usage in this volume seems... amateur-ish if I’m being honest. And the ending with Bruce in Alaska.... I mean I guess since apparently there is gonna be a sequel but tbh it was just completely unnecessary. I don’t care about or need a Son of Joker storyline, just let him be some random agent of chaos that’s obsessed with Batman. It can just be that and still be great.
Overall I do think this is an enjoyable volume, but it is definitely problematic. I think it was an interesting exploration of the Joker, but I think John’s take is ultimately a failure, for me at least.
The ending about the Clown Joker’s identity.... I’m not sure that it was really necessary. In Snyder’s New 52 run they alluded to the Joker being a mythical/mystical figure for the darkness in Gotham and I really like that approach. I can appreciate that John’s was calling back to The Killing Joke, but the point of that story was that the Joker himself doesn’t really even remember his origin, so it’s usage in this volume seems... amateur-ish if I’m being honest. And the ending with Bruce in Alaska.... I mean I guess since apparently there is gonna be a sequel but tbh it was just completely unnecessary. I don’t care about or need a Son of Joker storyline, just let him be some random agent of chaos that’s obsessed with Batman. It can just be that and still be great.
Overall I do think this is an enjoyable volume, but it is definitely problematic. I think it was an interesting exploration of the Joker, but I think John’s take is ultimately a failure, for me at least.
March 9, 2022
This is mandatory read for all Batfans, there's a lot of character defining moments for everyone involved in this book, so the less said about it, the better, just pick it up and read it, this is a phenomenal story with spectacular art by Jason Fabok.
You know, one of the things that always annoyed me about this genre, particularly with Batman and DC, is that most of their books end up feeling like pointless filler, but every now and then, a book like the Three Jokers comes out in which the story takes significant steps forward, these books feel like the real deal, books like Year One, The Long Halloween, The Killing Joke, Death in the Family, The Court of Owls, and so on, and this one in particular gave me the feeling that the story of Bruce Wayne is very much at the end of the line, which I know won't ever happen, but part of me really wish it did, just like I prefer to pretend that Peter Parker died in the nineties, his story would have been so much better, but I digress.
Three Jokers is essential read for DC fans.
You know, one of the things that always annoyed me about this genre, particularly with Batman and DC, is that most of their books end up feeling like pointless filler, but every now and then, a book like the Three Jokers comes out in which the story takes significant steps forward, these books feel like the real deal, books like Year One, The Long Halloween, The Killing Joke, Death in the Family, The Court of Owls, and so on, and this one in particular gave me the feeling that the story of Bruce Wayne is very much at the end of the line, which I know won't ever happen, but part of me really wish it did, just like I prefer to pretend that Peter Parker died in the nineties, his story would have been so much better, but I digress.
Three Jokers is essential read for DC fans.
December 23, 2020
Wait... this comic is actually good? Hold up... GREAT? I am shocked right now!
What’s it about?
There’s a situation in Gotham where somehow there were 3 different Jokers doing Joker-y things at the same time. Now Batman, Batgirl and Red Hood have to figure out what’s going on, what the big plan is and how to stop the Joker(s)!
Why it gets 5-stars:
The story is actually good. When just hearing about it, it honestly sounds ridiculous. In fact when I saw all the hype I was just like “Oh my gosh, this sounds fucking ridiculous. THREE Jokers?” but it actually ends up making sense and being interesting. You really gotta read it to see what I mean. It’s a very dark and intriguing tale that was quite unexpected.
The art works perfectly for the story. Very well drawn and detailed with a style that suits this book’s tone very well.
Johns writes these characters surprisingly well. Batman is written the way I like him. This book’s Batgirl might actually be the most well written and interesting Batgirl I’ve read. Red Hood manages to be both a bad-ass antihero and a well written person. The Jokers are all very well written, interesting villains. Fabok helps by drawing the emotions of these characters very well in a way that makes them seem like people.
This book’s pace is perfect! I never felt bored but I didn’t think this book was too rushed either. It goes at a pace that is honestly perfect.
This book is very unpredictable. I sometimes complain about the predictability in superhero comics but holy shit that isn’t the case here at all. This story surprised me quite a few times and it kept me in suspense throughout!
The dialogue is very well written.
This book is surprisingly emotional throughout. I wasn’t expecting a Batman comic to be so damn heavy but it really is!
The ending is great and completely shocked me. I may forever see Batman and Joker in a different way after this!
Overall:
I used to think Joker was an overrated villain TBH but between that masterpiece film in 2019 and this masterpiece comic in 2020, there might not be a better time to be a Joker fan!
I’m not gonna sugarcoat it: I kinda expected this comic to suck. I mean... THREE Jokers? That sounds ridiculous. I am pleasantly surprised to say this is actually one of my favorite Batman comics ever now!
The story is surprisingly brilliant, the artwork is amazing, the pace is perfect, there’s more suspense than I expect from a Batman story, it is both darker and more emotional than usual. I honestly can’t find anything to complain about here! I mean, really, this is even coming from someone who isn’t typically a big Geoff Johns fan (this is actually the first time I’m giving a book of his 5-stars).
Highly recommended!
5/5
What’s it about?
There’s a situation in Gotham where somehow there were 3 different Jokers doing Joker-y things at the same time. Now Batman, Batgirl and Red Hood have to figure out what’s going on, what the big plan is and how to stop the Joker(s)!
Why it gets 5-stars:
The story is actually good. When just hearing about it, it honestly sounds ridiculous. In fact when I saw all the hype I was just like “Oh my gosh, this sounds fucking ridiculous. THREE Jokers?” but it actually ends up making sense and being interesting. You really gotta read it to see what I mean. It’s a very dark and intriguing tale that was quite unexpected.
The art works perfectly for the story. Very well drawn and detailed with a style that suits this book’s tone very well.
Johns writes these characters surprisingly well. Batman is written the way I like him. This book’s Batgirl might actually be the most well written and interesting Batgirl I’ve read. Red Hood manages to be both a bad-ass antihero and a well written person. The Jokers are all very well written, interesting villains. Fabok helps by drawing the emotions of these characters very well in a way that makes them seem like people.
This book’s pace is perfect! I never felt bored but I didn’t think this book was too rushed either. It goes at a pace that is honestly perfect.
This book is very unpredictable. I sometimes complain about the predictability in superhero comics but holy shit that isn’t the case here at all. This story surprised me quite a few times and it kept me in suspense throughout!
The dialogue is very well written.
This book is surprisingly emotional throughout. I wasn’t expecting a Batman comic to be so damn heavy but it really is!
The ending is great and completely shocked me. I may forever see Batman and Joker in a different way after this!
Overall:
I used to think Joker was an overrated villain TBH but between that masterpiece film in 2019 and this masterpiece comic in 2020, there might not be a better time to be a Joker fan!
I’m not gonna sugarcoat it: I kinda expected this comic to suck. I mean... THREE Jokers? That sounds ridiculous. I am pleasantly surprised to say this is actually one of my favorite Batman comics ever now!
The story is surprisingly brilliant, the artwork is amazing, the pace is perfect, there’s more suspense than I expect from a Batman story, it is both darker and more emotional than usual. I honestly can’t find anything to complain about here! I mean, really, this is even coming from someone who isn’t typically a big Geoff Johns fan (this is actually the first time I’m giving a book of his 5-stars).
Highly recommended!
5/5
May 28, 2021
Reread: 28/05/21
Its the same review I had last time but just the fact that 2nd time reading you notice so many things and the art is so spectacular, so detailed and then there is the thing with Babs and Jason and the tension there and the big revelations in the end about Bruce knowing Jason all this time. It was a madly good volume and Johns gets the nuanced things that makes Bruce, Babs and Jason these complex characters who have all been hurt by the joker and trying to move on. Also Bruce knowing such stuff wow and confirming that Comedian is the definitive version is something.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------One of the best batman stories ever, we pick up with the mystery of 3 jokers from Rebirth and we have Batman, Batgirl and Red Hood working together to solve the case. Three subsequent murders happen in one night and they team up to find how this happened by the same person Joker and so the suspicion of there being 3 jokers is confirmed and then we have the part where they go to some aquarium where they confront the clown (3rd) and he is doing silliness with them but has like gaggy, joker sharks which was cool to see and meanwhile Batman has to go somewhere and Jason does something unspeakable when Joker Clown starts taunting him. The second part is Red Hood having to answer for what he did, Babs and Bruce figuring out what they will do with him, until he goes to a swimming pool and confronts the two jokers and what he witnesses there is horrifying and they torture Jason badly until bruce and babs have to rescue him, meanwhile Bruce discovers Joe chill is missing and we learn more about why, what he did and the Jokers want him to be the new Joker, and then we have the final confrontation between these 3 and its epic, and what happens in the end is heartbreaking and so much mystery is revealed about Joker, and that moments between Jason and babs and the letter was heartbreaking. This is one of the best Batman stories period and the artwork is kinetic and each panel is so well detailed, maybe Jason's career best! And possible hints of a sequel!
Its the same review I had last time but just the fact that 2nd time reading you notice so many things and the art is so spectacular, so detailed and then there is the thing with Babs and Jason and the tension there and the big revelations in the end about Bruce knowing Jason all this time. It was a madly good volume and Johns gets the nuanced things that makes Bruce, Babs and Jason these complex characters who have all been hurt by the joker and trying to move on. Also Bruce knowing such stuff wow and confirming that Comedian is the definitive version is something.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------One of the best batman stories ever, we pick up with the mystery of 3 jokers from Rebirth and we have Batman, Batgirl and Red Hood working together to solve the case. Three subsequent murders happen in one night and they team up to find how this happened by the same person Joker and so the suspicion of there being 3 jokers is confirmed and then we have the part where they go to some aquarium where they confront the clown (3rd) and he is doing silliness with them but has like gaggy, joker sharks which was cool to see and meanwhile Batman has to go somewhere and Jason does something unspeakable when Joker Clown starts taunting him. The second part is Red Hood having to answer for what he did, Babs and Bruce figuring out what they will do with him, until he goes to a swimming pool and confronts the two jokers and what he witnesses there is horrifying and they torture Jason badly until bruce and babs have to rescue him, meanwhile Bruce discovers Joe chill is missing and we learn more about why, what he did and the Jokers want him to be the new Joker, and then we have the final confrontation between these 3 and its epic, and what happens in the end is heartbreaking and so much mystery is revealed about Joker, and that moments between Jason and babs and the letter was heartbreaking. This is one of the best Batman stories period and the artwork is kinetic and each panel is so well detailed, maybe Jason's career best! And possible hints of a sequel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2022
Batman: The Killing Joke storia a fumetti scritta da Alan Moore e disegnata da Brian Bolland più di trent’anni fa, è da sempre uno dei miei graphic novel preferiti di tutti i tempi, per non parlare del mio amore verso il Joker, serial killer psicopatico e criminale dal senso dell’umorismo malato e farneticante, per questo motivo, quando ho visto in fumetteria questo recente volume che nelle intenzioni degli autori avrebbe dovuto ridefinire per sempre il Principe della Risata, l’ho aperto per dargli un’occhiata con timore misto a diffidenza.
Al primo impatto, la trama letta in quarta di copertina è semplicemente qualcosa di aberrante se siete fan di lunga data del personaggio: Batman ha scoperto che il Principe Pagliaccio del Crimine non è un unico individuo, ma in realtà esistono ben tre Joker, e il loro piano diabolico è ormai in atto da anni.
Aggiungiamo a questa il prezzo non proprio economico, ed in teoria sarebbe dovuto essere sufficiente a farmi desistere dall’acquisto, facendomi riporre sdegnato ed indignato il cartonato dove l'avevo preso, ma dopo una rapida scorsa alle recensioni su Goodreads ed una seconda occhiata alle splendide tavole disegnate da Jason Fabok, alla fine ho deciso di dargli una possibilità e l’ho acquistato.
La storia si é rivelata essere quella prospettata nella sinossi: il Joker criminale e pianificatore della Golden Age, il Clown buffone e camp, ma non per questo meno pericoloso e mortale della Silver Age, ed il folle Comico psicopatico della Modern Age, che sparò alla sventurata Barbara Gordon rendendola invalida, per poi cercare di far impazzire il padre in Batman: The Killing Joke, hanno commesso dei crimini nello stesso momento, dandosi da fare nel tentativo di creare un nuovo Joker, come aveva già fatto a suo tempo l’originale.
Sorpresa, la storia funziona e si lascia leggere che è un vero piacere, i personaggi splendono di vita propria, ed il trio di eroi spezzati, feriti ognuno in modo diverso nel corpo e nella psiche, che collaborano insieme per risolvere il caso su quale sia il vero Joker e, nel caso di Jason e Babs, chiudere i conti con lui per le sofferenze subite in passato, risplende davvero per dinamiche e caratterizzazione, complici un Geoff Johns ed un Jason Fabok davvero in forma smagliante, che scrivono ed illustrano una delle storie di Batman più cupe, belle e disperate di sempre, omaggiando e rendendo infine canonico nell’universo DC a fumetti il capolavoro di Moore e Bolland.
Peccato davvero per quell’ultimo paio di pagine finali di cui avrei fatto volentieri a meno, che buco di trama a parte rovinano quasi del tutto quanto costruito prima nel corso di un volume fino a quel momento magistrale, e di cui non posso parlare senza fare spoiler pesanti per chi non l'ha ancora letto.
Senza di quelle, e magari anche senza quel comportamento da scolaretti adottato ad un certo punto da un paio di personaggi, che almeno in teoria dovrebbero essere decisamente più maturi, e sul quale ancora nutro qualche dubbio che una futura lettura dissiperà o confermerà, questa sarebbe stata probabilmente una recensione da cinque stelle.
Questo Batman: Tre Joker é stato comunque una gran bella ed inaspettata sorpresa, una storia che sulla carta non aveva davvero diritto ad esistere, ma che si è invece rivelata essere una delle migliori storie a fumetti mai scritte e disegnate su l'antagonista per antonomasia del Cavaliere Oscuro.
Ed il Batman disegnato da Jason Fabok è semplicemente uno dei più belli di tutti i tempi.
Quattro bat-stelle, ma avrebbero potuto, e dovuto, essere cinque.
January 16, 2021
Geoff Johns has done creditable work with many a DC character. This newest effort is actually quite ambitious and had the makings of a 5 star comic. It falls short, but not by much.
A crime spree is underway in Gotham. It is being caused by three different Jokers. Each Joker seems to embody an archetype of the Joker's personality. The three archetypes are the Criminal, the Clow and the Comedian. Each aspect is linked to the three heroes- Red Hood, Batman and Batgirl.
The three band together to try to figure out which is the real Joker and how to defeat his archetypes. There. No more spoilers. Does this sound intriguing? Well it ought to be. I appreciated the different aspects of the Joker's personality, it was well done. I also appreciated the story, most of it, as a good detective story. The art? Jason Fabok's art is amazing and I loved it.
Perhaps some plot holes about how Joker did all this (it is assumed it has to do with the Chemicals). My problem would be to find that "perfect mix" for someone to become a Joker, versus justbeing juiced with Joker juice. I also had issues with the logic behind Red Hood and his actions (not necessarily what he did, but how the others reacted. I found it odd.). These minor quibbles did detract enough for this to "only" be a 4 star comic.
However, the art and the story combine to put it heads and shoulders above a lot of the pap masquerading as comic stories these days. I think it was a great Batman/Joker story and any fan of either will appreciate this interesting story. Did I mention the art is stellar? Highly Recommended.
A crime spree is underway in Gotham. It is being caused by three different Jokers. Each Joker seems to embody an archetype of the Joker's personality. The three archetypes are the Criminal, the Clow and the Comedian. Each aspect is linked to the three heroes- Red Hood, Batman and Batgirl.
The three band together to try to figure out which is the real Joker and how to defeat his archetypes. There. No more spoilers. Does this sound intriguing? Well it ought to be. I appreciated the different aspects of the Joker's personality, it was well done. I also appreciated the story, most of it, as a good detective story. The art? Jason Fabok's art is amazing and I loved it.
Perhaps some plot holes about how Joker did all this (it is assumed it has to do with the Chemicals). My problem would be to find that "perfect mix" for someone to become a Joker, versus justbeing juiced with Joker juice. I also had issues with the logic behind Red Hood and his actions (not necessarily what he did, but how the others reacted. I found it odd.). These minor quibbles did detract enough for this to "only" be a 4 star comic.
However, the art and the story combine to put it heads and shoulders above a lot of the pap masquerading as comic stories these days. I think it was a great Batman/Joker story and any fan of either will appreciate this interesting story. Did I mention the art is stellar? Highly Recommended.
September 7, 2023
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
We all come from somewhere. With no one having the same starting point as everyone else, it’s what comes next that shapes us into the being we are today. For some, their origin is a mystery far bigger than life and there’s nothing more terrifying than a psychopath, with unknown origins, whose becoming fundamentally questions human nature. Alas, the Joker is one of them and his story has always been a secret until today. Following The Darkseid War Saga during the New 52 Justice League comic book run, Batman discovered a terrifying truth regarding the Joker: there are three of them. Despite being teased for years, lastly during DC Comics’ latest relaunch with DC Universe: Rebirth #1, writer Geoff Johns finally teams up with legendary artist Jason Fabok and colourist Brad Anderson to complete this highly-anticipated, mysterious, and strange story in a three-issue limited series published under the DC Black Label imprint.
What is Batman: Three Jokers about? Three simultaneous Joker sightings have been reported in Gotham City, occurring at distinct locations with different victims, thus indicating specific motives that confirms the Clown Prince of Gotham’s hand in the matter. While the thought baffles the minds of many, one hypothesis remains on the table: the Joker was never one man. Accompanied by Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) and Jason Todd (Red Hood), two former victims of the Joker’s brutal crimes, this Bat Family embark on a journey to unravel this terrifying mystery while revisiting their past tragedies, the very life-changing events that have shaped them into the heroes they are today. Unfortunately for them, this mystery will send them down a highly-emotional trip down memory lane and none of them will come out of it unscarred once again.
Shattering sales records, this highly-anticipated story drove every Gothamite to follow the publishing of this limited mini-series during the pandemic as it delivers another controversial chapter in the DC Universe lore, alongside the recently completed story of Doomsday Clock, this time exploring the Joker’s identity. What fans will finally be able to discover with this unconfirmed canonical tale published under an imprint usually reserved to stand-alone and unconnected stories, will, however, leave them divided as this creative team looks to retcon some of Batman’s past adventures, notably Batman: The Killing Joke, to establish a story revolving around the existence of three distinct Jokers.
With countless pages of silent story-telling (little to no dialogue), the story mostly revisits Bruce Wayne, Barbara Gordon, and Jason Todd’s traumas while exploring the coping mechanisms they’ve established as superheroes today, on top of their bond with one another. While one would imagine that this graphic novel would answer many questions that have been floating around the Joker’s origin, it mostly introduces a myriad of more questions for fans to reflect upon, many that will continue to be unanswered, and some that are due to inconsistencies and plot holes that will leave readers baffled by the ludicrous plot developed before them.
Despite telling an unnecessary story that struggles to effortlessly retcon well-established lore, writer Geoff Johns doesn’t fail to build excellent characterization. The suffering of each of these three heroes is portrayed with masterful authenticity, from Batgirl’s fierce determination and enviable sense of justice to Red Hood’s broken self and brutal modus operandi. Even the Joker’s personality is perfected, exploring every delusional and maniacal traits that composes his character, from his love for theatrics to his cynical and anarchic manipulation of others—nothing is left unexplored. Unfortunately, it is the narrative that does not raise to the challenge set by expectations and necessities.
The artwork is also a flawless component to this graphic novel. Artist Jason Fabok, having showcased countless times his ability to draw over at DC Comics with his iconic character designs, displays once again his talent with stunning artwork, especially with his mind-boggling splash pages. Add in colourist Brad Anderson who brings life to these characters in an astonishing fashion, you are continuously scanning these pages in absolute wonderment. It’s not surprising to see that they went with silent story-telling as the artwork speaks for itself, sometimes without much action at all, but the little details, whether it’s in the transition between panels or the subtle nod to old school character designs, make all the difference.
Batman: Three Jokers is an unnecessary retcon serving as a potential origin story for the Joker while exploring trauma, pain, and closure in three of the Clown Prince of Gotham’s victims.
November 21, 2020
Less happened in this than I thought would be happening. Maybe all the hype around it made me expect mind-blowing and world-changing things to happen, which sadly did not.
I think the Jokers left too many clues, it was so easy to piece it all together. Some parts were just unnecessary. And, as always, I'm left wondering what time this takes place in and where the rest of the batfam are...
Still this was a very solid story. It would've been 4 stars if not for that stellar ending. I would definitely welcome a sequel just to see what happens next with that ending.
I think the Jokers left too many clues, it was so easy to piece it all together. Some parts were just unnecessary. And, as always, I'm left wondering what time this takes place in and where the rest of the batfam are...
Still this was a very solid story. It would've been 4 stars if not for that stellar ending. I would definitely welcome a sequel just to see what happens next with that ending.
Read
December 26, 2023Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok are a writer/artist dream team and Three Jokers is a brilliantly crafted three-part miniseries exploring the idea that there has never been a single Joker. There have always been three. This idea was first teased in a Justice League comic called Darkseid War (also by Johns and Fabok), and Three Jokers finally gives us the answer to that incredible question: how are there three Jokers?
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-batman-c...
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-batman-c...
September 12, 2021
This is a good Batman story. After all of the build-up and endless advertising I was expecting something really world-shattering (or at least -shaking), and I suppose no matter what they did it couldn't have lived up to the level of hype. It goes with the premise that there are three different Jokers, and follows the efforts of Bruce, Barbara, and Jason to stop them from making more. The three different Jokers are quite well developed characters, and comparing them to the three heroes is quite intriguing. Bruce comes off as a bit aloof, Barbara as perhaps a bit too vulnerable, and Jason, well, we all know he's a psycho mess. I guess premature burial after being voted off the page does that to a guy. I enjoyed the story, which is well written and excellently illustrated, but I'm glad I got it from the library instead of blowing thirty bucks on the somewhat slim hardback.
December 18, 2020
Will Batman unravel the mystery of the Three Jokers? and will Barbara Gordon or Jason Todd ever forgive him?
Can he forgive himself?
The answer
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