The Joker: Hard to Find Any Laugh About Him
February 7, 2009
Top three on the list of most best selling graphic novels and TPBs in 2008 was two hardcover publications, whose both anti-hero leading character was The Joker. The influence of The Dark Knight and Heath Ledger is obvious.
In the third place was The Joker graphic novel by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo. Old characters are not like before: Killer Croc is not a lizard-skinned monster anymore, just a big thug with ugly face, and Harley Quinn is an erotic dancer. The story is told by the eyes of the Jonny Frost, who becomes the Joker's driver. Creepy front cover!
In the second place was 1988 published Batman: The Killing Joke Special Edition by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland, now on the hardcover and re-coloured by Bolland. In The Killing Joke Moore examines the mechanisms of society and presents socio-political criticism. Moore has shown many times, that even superhero comics can be intelligent.
What was in the first place? Watchmen, of course!
The Joker comic book series appeared from May 1975 to October 1976. Series contained 9 issues. How many times a mass murderer has had his own comic book series?
