“Batman: The Man Who Laughs” by Ed Brubaker

Something has the citizens of Gotham City in hysterics, but it’s no laughing matter.

The Clown Prince of Crime takes the spotlight once again in the hardcover re-release of “Batman: The Man Who Laughs,” a retelling of the premiere of the infamous, green-haired, freak-show-of-a-man who rocks purple suits and a pale, pasty mug that seems to be grinning at a punch line that no one else quite understands.

The 2005 one-shot graphic novel, written by Ed Brubaker, unofficially picks up where Frank Miller’s classic “Batman: Year One” left off, recounting Batman’s first encounter with his most infamous nemesis, the Joker.

When a mass of horrifically disfigured corpses is found in an abandoned factory, Gotham City Police Captain James Gordon confides in the caped crusader for help. Soon enough, a strange, chalk-faced man with a devilish smirk seizes control of the media and announces that he will kill an important Gotham City businessman at midnight.

Ironically, the only drawback in this crime graphic novel is its sensibility. Here, the Joker has been given somewhat of a motive. But any true fan of the DC Comics universe can appreciate that the true essence of the Joker suffers from a serious absence of all logic. His motive is madness and the simple lack of reason is what makes the character fun.

Don’t be fooled, though. Despite his unlikely hint of motive, Brubaker keeps our favorite psychopath far from the realm of sanity. Joker’s antics are wild as ever here, pushing readers to ask, “Is this all premeditated? Or is he making it up as he goes along?”

For instance, when he sets free the inmates of a medical center for the criminally insane, he equips them with a heavy arsenal of firearms. Now, one of the inmates could have easily put two in the back of Joker’s skull and went on about his day. However, you can’t hold that against a criminal genius who seamlessly weaves violent improvisation into greater and more thoroughly orchestrated schemes. He simply doesn’t think that far ahead. The inmates do not attack Joker, but instead grant his wish and go out into the streets to unleash hell upon the city as a diversion to keep Batman busy. Perhaps insanity is best kept at bay in the presence of greater insanity.

This hardcover features an additional, fairly brief story in which the dark knight investigates the re-emergence of a serial killer who once terrorized the city during the days when Green Lantern policed the streets. The Joker does not appear in this tale, and the story isn’t as entertaining as its predecessor. Still, it is an interesting read for those who favor Batman’s more in-depth and novelistic detective adventures.

With “The Man Who Laughs” and then the re-release of Alan Moore’s “The Killing Joke” in March, it’s pretty obvious that the iconic Harlequin of Hate is making a comeback in light of the late Heath Ledger’s preordained, pitch-perfect (and very intimidating) performance in this summer’s “Batman Begins” sequel, “The Dark Knight.”

For Batman enthusiasts everywhere, “The Man Who Laughs” is a nice appetizer before we lay our eyes on the main feast.