The Joker's Asylum

[batpawn]

can somebody who actually ownes it, put some scans in here? would love to see what it looks like.

 

[Venom 1988]

Is each issue written and drawn by different people? If so theres still hope for the rest!

 

[Question]

Batpawn go to this website http://comics.ign.com/articles/885/885698p1.htmlthey have scans. I had bought the issue but it exchanged it it. this is the only website with scans that i know of

 

[deadgoon697]

I stayed away from this thread yesterday in order to have blank expectations for this. And so far everyone is right. The best thing about this is the cover art. The interior art is god-awful and the story is incredibly forgettable. It felt more like the writer was trying to make more of a statement about TV and TV producers than actually tell a good Joker story. Bleh, well at least the cover will look cool when I put it up next to my others.

 

[RazTheGreat]

What the hell is this? This is "art"?

 

[The Denialist]

can somebody who actually ownes it, put some scans in here? would love to see what it looks like.

http://community.livejournal.com/scans_daily/5795150.html#cutid1

Several scans there.

 

[Drz]

I really dont like the drawing style there. It makes Joker look ugly and abit fat even.

 

[rzatherazor]

I skimmed through it, saw glimpses of the art (Didn't read it, though.), almost cried.

 

[Microchip]

Oh god the art in that is messy. The Joker looks horrible. It's a shame, really, the story idea seems pretty neat.

 

[zahanbil]

Okay, completely going against what everyone else thought of the art and saying I actually enjoyed it. Haven't read the completely story yet, but I can't say I really care for it so far... I really wish the writing and story was much better. It seems like sort of a waste and I think people expect much more so close to the film. Any Joker stories need to be praise worthy.

I LIKE the art because it's messy and ugly. I adored the art in the Batman Confidential: Lovers and Madmen arch as well though, and so many people didn't seem to enjoy that. I think the Joker needs to be ugly. I never like a fat Joker, but I always appreciate a creepy as hell, but still somehow alluring Mr. J. He needed to have scars and not purely around his lips if we're going for the acid bath theory. Some of the panels did seem way to rushed through and simplistic at points... That I hate.


I'm an all around conflicted person.

 

[NotAShrimp]

I have to agree with zahanbil here.
I enjoy seeing different takes on the characters and especially the Joker.
If someone doesn't like the drawing style then they don't like it. But I enjoy it and thats all that matters to me.

 

[Dirt Like Me]

I actually enjoyed the issue, and respect the team's attempt to do something different.

I'm fine with the stylistic choice the artist made, but I think the end product was somewhat inconsistent. Some pages look pretty cool, others not so much. As for the story, I really liked it. I think the Joker works best when he's unpredictable, and he was here.

As for the specifics, somebody mentioned earlier that

Spoiler

The Joker doesn't kill anybody in this issue. And he holds back despite everybody (his would-be victims, the TV production crew, the home audience, etc.) waiting for him to do so. But, the Joker--just one time-- refuses to satisfy the world's bloodlust.

I thought this was kind of refreshing, and completely within the character. He has always been much more than a murderer, yet sometimes writers tend to rely too heavily on the device of having the Joker kill a ton of people for shock value whenever he's being used. To me, it was good to see a writer embrace some of these other character elements.

If people approach the comic without expecting The Killing Joke, then they might enjoy it for what it is. I thought it was definitely worth the three bucks and would recommend it.

 

[deadgoon697]

I can't really disagree with what anyones said so far. Even though I personally didn't like the art it's always nice to see another artists interpretation of the character. I cant stand the art of The Dark Knight Returns but the story, IMO, is fantastic. My biggest complaint with this first issue was the story in that it was incredibly dull. I wasn't expecting anything close to the movie, just something a little more interesting to read.

 

[batpawn]

i kinda like the art, you can really see on some scans taht he used pictures of heath ledger as a reference. no, really, i think that the art is kinda fresh and cool.

but the writing... oh my, i haven't read any issue yet, but what i can read on the scans sounds really cheesy.

 

[deadgoon697]

i kinda like the art, you can really see on some scans taht he used pictures of heath ledger as a reference. no, really, i think that the art is kinda fresh and cool.

but the writing... oh my, i haven't read any issue yet, but what i can read on the scans sounds really cheesy.

I noticed a few shots that did slightly resemble Ledger. The writing is its biggest downfall. Like I said before, I can usually ignore art I don't like if the story is great.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I was so looking forward to this, but in the end, I didn't bother picking it up.

The art is atrocious. I can kinda see The Joker's look here being inspired by Heath Ledger's TDK look, and that in itself is fine. No problem with that. The problem is that the art itself just looks like a dogs dinner. Scribbly, but not in a good way.

As for the story, I only skimmed it in the shop, but... meh. I can kinda respect what he's doing, showing that The Joker can be a playful trickster as well as a psychotic killer, but in the current climate, with all the hype around Ledger's dark portrayal, I think it's the latter that people have an appetite for right now.

 

[deadgoon697]

I can agree with this. The majority probably want the more homicidal Joker. My issue wasn't really with that it was more along the lines of bland subject matter.

 

[deadgoon697]

Damn, I should've previewed that before I posted it. Eh, whatev, I'm sure you get the point.

 

[JokerLedger]

One of the best Joker's I've seen!
Love the art in the issue.

 

[batpawn]

One of the best Joker's I've seen!
Love the art in the issue.

i don't love it, but as i said: i really don't think that the drawings are as bad a some people say. there are also some pannels i would almost call "epic".

but then again... the writing really seems to be awfully bad. i understand why the author went this direction: in a time where the joker is basically a manic mass-murder, it really can be refreshing to see him back in the role of the trickster... but only because he is a trickster doesn't mean that he can also be dark and totally psychotic and manic. this comic, on the other side, almost reads like comedy. even his "victims" look like they are bored. i mean, seriously...

"Oh noes, it's... the Joker... *sigh*... AGAIN!"​

...it's almost hilarious.

 

[Nepenthes]

I really, really enjoyed this issue. Why does the Joker have to kill in every story? If his prankster antics are part of the entire point then that's even better. Complaining about his victims looking bored or focusing too much on the TV industry is just ******ed, try reading it again. How can you say that enticing an audience with the prospect of live murder is not dark? To me this issue got to the heart of what the Joker's all about far more than than your average Joker tale will.

And personally I LOVE this type of art, I wish there was more of it on the shelves. I'll be watching out for this artist from now on.

Pleasantly surprised.

 

[The Joker]

I loved The Penguin's issue. Cobblepot was portrayed as sad, compassionate, and completely twisted. The artwork was great, too. This issue more than made up for the disappointing Joker one last week.

Can't wait for Poison Ivy's issue.

 

[Commodore Schmidlapp]

Don't know if this has been mentioned, but in that first issue, in a few panels, the Joker kinda looks like Heath's Joker. Enjoyed the Penguin issue as well.

 

[Pksoze]

Ok on the Penguin issue

Spoiler

The Girls who picked on him were those the same three girls in the limo...I think so but the art is shaky

 

[Tree27]

I REALLLLLY wanna get #1. I'll probably pick it up tomorrow, but all the reviews for it suck,...should I still get it?