Owen gleiberman on how todd phillips comic book smash touches the nerve of an america hooked on. Killer smile 100 items books i should read in the near future top contributors to this wiki. Well, it actually opens with sweeping views of the new york city. Joaquin phoenix provides a comic book hero for the left behind with joker, a brilliantly insurrectionist origins story that landed like a. Moreover, joker was devoid of any fantastical, supernatural comic book themes that might otherwise pull us out of our discomfort or help us detach from the horror of phoenixs realistic joker. Written by brian azzarello and illustrated by lee bermejo, it is based on characters from dcs batman series, focusing primarily on the title character. The joker origin movie looks to joaquin phoenix to play. Joker comics article about joker comics by the free. Throughout his comic book appearances, the joker is portrayed as a master criminal whose characterization has varied from that of a violent. Sorrentino uses unique paneling and layouts in so many of the books he works. This edit will also create new pages on comic vine for. The joker is a master criminal with a clownlike appearance, and is considered one of the. Another thing seems overwhelmingly true after watching a film like joker.
The psychology of the joker from joker 2019 fandom. Joker just surpassed every other comic book movie in. Instead, i found myself constantly thinking back to how arthur would create fantasies in his head of happinesswhen he watches the murray franklin show with his mother penny, he places himself in the audience where he becomes the center of positive attention. Joker has added a new page to comic book lore by giving fans a raw, wicked and unsettling new look at the famed. A comic book movie, joker adapts the story of one of the comic worlds most iconic villains, with a generous helping of gritty realism. The joker is a supervillain created by bill finger, bob kane, and jerry robinson who first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book batman april 25, 1940, published by dc comics. The book makes some effort at diagnosing joker, casting him as a. Joaquin phoenix is the new joker, this time in an origin story about the comic book villain who, until now, didnt have one. Killer smile doesnt reinvent batmans most iconic foe, but it does. The trailer, filmed in the imax format, introduces heath ledgers joker to. Whether by way of awardwinning films like the dark knight, emmywinning animated programs like batman. The most lasting comicbook attempt at crafting a joker origin came from one of the most acclaimed names in the medium, alan moore, who wrote the 1988 graphic novel batman. Created by jerry robinson, bill finger, and bob kane. Phoenixs precisely measured dementia exploits the cultural condition that comic book movie culture has already degenerated, especially now that zack snyders dc comics vision has been.
Writer jeff lemire and artist andrea sorrentino are reuniting for joker. Joker is an american graphic novel published by dc comics in 2008. How joaquin phoenixs approach to the joker is different. Oswald cobblepot is never addressed by his real name or his criminal identity, the penguin. Arthur tries to smile and be cheerful despite his terrible surroundings. Drawing comparisons to some of martin scorseses most important, perceptive, and violent. Killer smile concludes this week with the release of the third and final issue of the dc black label miniseries. Killer smile follows the clown prince of crime as he has a fateful encounter with a mental health professional that radically alters the course of a number of lives, and while that premise. The film is a deep dive into the psychosis of one of the most mythic comic book characters in history. The major misstep of joker, and it is a big one, is the use of a new character, jonny frost, as the narrator. Dc comics has officially revealed a first look at joker. Joker is the kind of film that stays with you way after youve seen it. The joker is, unquestionably, one of the most popular characters in comics and yet, theres a good chance that every joker.
This weekend brought the major headline that isis leader abu bakr albaghdadi was killed, after he reportedly detonated a suicide vest during a raid by us special forces in northwest syria. Killer smile doesnt reinvent batmans most iconic foe, but it does bring a welcome dose of psychological horror to gotham city. There were two rather cruel murders joker committed. Despite a similar setting to other books, killer smile sets itself apart. Joker makes for uncomfortable viewing it shows how. Killer smile is a triumphant return to dc comics for both lemire and sorrentino. The unstoppable box office run of joker comic book movies ruled the box office in 2019. Neoliberalism is the true villain of joker truthdig. Joker only ever refers to him as abner as a sign of disrespect. This terrific collection, compiled by comic book historian mike conroy, serves as a fine companion volume to his recently published 500 great comic book action heroes, also available from barrons. I wont reveal whether arthur survives the moviethough joker is that perennial comic book standby. While marvel movies like to pack on the laughs, this one is too deadly serious to put a smile on anyones face.
An agent of chaos known for his malicious plots, wacky gadgets and insidious smile, he has caused batman more suffering than any other villain he has ever faced. Killer smile, the newest addition to dc black labels roster of mature comics according to io9, joker. The joker origin movie looks to joaquin phoenix to play clown prince of crime report. Arkham asylum, or the countless comics stacking comic book shelves and digital libraries, the joker stands unquestionably as the most recognizable and. When he laughs, he almost chokes on them, trying to hold them back so that he can fit. The narration in a 1940 comic described the joker as having a smile without mirth, but romeros joker is mirth personified. The best joker stories for new fans and where to find them the joker is set to have a major 2019 now, heres some of the best stories starring the clown prince of crime and where you can find them. Jokers sole narrative mission is detailing how arthur becomes the joker. Whenever i read a comic with the joker, i read his words in mark hamills voice. Joker cbr cbr the worlds top destination for comic.
His origin, name, and true motivations remain a mystery. Even when a comic is technically about the joker, its difficult to actually cast the clown prince of crime as the main protagonist. Unlike the joker movie, dc comics has always shied away from. The animated series, video game appearances such as the recordbreaking batman. And as with the recent cartoon, it was obvious that doing the same thing wouldnt work, it would be just a repeat.
With his most recent outing in todd phillips 2019 film, the joker has shed dependence on batman in order to find prime screen time, and transcended his traditional role as a simple comic book or movie villain. Theres no way the joker s been entering his house at nightright. Gideon falls has some of the best paneling in comics and this team takes that. Bbc culture what the joker says about the world he. Killer smile dc reveals first look at book two cbr. Bens child has a disturbing and incredibly violent book, mr. The silly, mustachetwirling, piethrowing joker of batman 66 quickly overtook the tragic figure implied by his comic book personas history and people stopped caring about whether or not batman. Killer smile doesnt necessarily have much new to say with its. Heres your first look at interior pages from dc black labels joker. But right now, joker fans definitely have reason to smile. Lemire to write joker, question comics at dc black label. The book makes some effort at diagnosing joker, casting him as a performance artist giving gotham city the art it needs. Killer smile concludes this week with the release of the third and final issue of the dc black label.
The joker is a supervillain and the archenemy of batman. Despite carrying out some utterly heinous acts over the decades, this. The first involved skinning a man alive because he got on the jokers. Weve been selling comics since 1961 our first sale.
Joker, thanos, and darth vader get hilarious parody. The same adaptability that makes him such a compelling character has also brought. As a cinematic portrait of one shattered american, though, it is. The joker, comic book villain created for dc comics in 1940 by writer bill finger and illustrator bob kane. It is a unique take on the batman mythos, set outside regular continuity citation needed and narrated by one of the jokers henchmen.
A collector could easily fill a bookcase with the joker action figures and accessories such as jokermobiles produced since the early 1990s to tie in to the various animated and comic book interpretations of the villain, incluidng a 2005 red hood figure, with a removable hood exposing the jokers sneering face. The comic that explains where joker went wrong the. Dcs black label continues to carve out its niche as a place for people to make more joker comics with joker. The joker is noted for his clownlike appearance and sick humor and is the archnemesis of batman. Continue scrolling to keep reading click the button below to start this article in quick view. According to patrick mcgilligans biography jacks life, batman creator bob kane told him how the original comic book joker was inspired by the 1927 film the man who laughs, starring conrad veidt. There is little resembling fiction to hold us in safetyno toxic waste dumps, tumbling batmobiles, or absurd trolley games to separate us from the. The latest dc film to come from warner bros, joker is hardly just another comic book adaptation. Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. It is written by jeff lemire with art by andrea sorrentino and colors by jordie bellaire.
Jack nicholson has already portrayed comic book joker with a perfect accuracy, so it was yet again an idea of trying to outjoker the joker. Joker explores a real problem that is much on all of our minds, the problem of violent psychosis, and some will recoil from it. The trailers for this movie make it look more like an arthouse film than a superhero movie. Kane and robinson claimed responsibility for the jokers design while acknowledging fingers writing contribution. The joker, clown prince of crime, is batmans archnemesis. The joker is perhaps one of the most bizarre and terrifying villains to descend upon the comic book city of gotham in the last seventyfive years. Theres no way the joker has stood over his sons bed, and put that book in his hands, the one with the, the, the the eisnernominated creative team of jeff.
An analysis of its controversial themes comicsverse. Joaquin phoenix gives an oscarworthy performance in the starring role of arthur fleck, the man who eventually becomes the comic book superhero batmans archrival. Readers will also find a handy index and a bibliography. An agent of chaos known for his malicious plots, wacky gadgets and insidious smile, he. The joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by dc comics.