‘Joker’

Gotham City’s most sadistic villain was inexplicably released from Arkham Asylum, and he intends to take back his city.

Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo’s latest graphic novel, “Joker,” showcases the demented behavior of the Joker as he commits wanton acts of violence in order get back what he has lost.

Told through the perspective of Jonny Frost, an enthusiastic thug who wants to get in good with the Joker, the story goes through every step the two make in order to get leverage on the men running Gotham City’s underworld.

Though the story is straightforward and rather simplistic, the novel is driven by the twisted mindset of the Joker and follows him as he commits every form of violent crime imaginable, with his maniacal cackle always punctuating his crimes.

Bermejo’s art is always intense and often unnerving. One of the few gripes with the novel is the juxtaposition of portrait-like panels to more run-of-the-mill ones, but which are still rather grizzled.

The more realistic depictions occur during dramatic moments that focus on the true nature of either the Joker or Frost, giving those panels extra emotional weight.

Even though the novel is about the Joker, it does not attempt to explain why he does what he does, but rather what he does and how he does it.

This is exemplified by Frost’s narration throughout the novel. Instead of telling the story through the eyes of the Joker, which would try to bring some logic to an otherwise illogical character, Azzarello uses Frost to keep the Joker’s thought process under wraps, only providing Frost’s

interpretation of the Joker.

The behavior of the Joker is what really makes this novel work.

His interactions with crime bosses, villains and everyday people show how truly unpredictable he is and how much fear and respect he demands.

“Joker” is the type of graphic novel that has such layers of complexity and subtlety that it demands multiple readings. The first read-through is jarring, intense and even a little confusing – all in the best way possible – as is the world of the Joker.

For fans looking for more insight into the Joker’s twisted mind, “Joker” will only reveal more questions than answers.