Three Jokers #1 Thoughts

Take some notes Tynion

Overhyped as mess, but its only the first issue so that complaint isn't really valid.

This book is great overall but I have to nitpick:

1. Nonexistent panel economy

Johns seems to be using a cinematic style of page by panel storytelling with the 9 panel grid and don't get me wrong, it looks great, but for a book this long awaited it seems like its just burning money.

2. ALIAS the Clown

Comedian and Criminal are all pretty good, but Clown? I think Killer or Cut-Throat would have been better than mere clown (pretty synonymous with comedian anyways). Regardless of that, Jason turning his brains into Chef Boyardee makes the name irrelevant anyways.

3. "I'm an IDEA..."

The concept of Three Jokers originated form Batman asking the Mobius Chair for the Joker's true identity for which it responded with "There are Three". This concept was highly fascinating due to the ramifications to Batman's mythos and the possible multiversal factors (a deck of "52" cards has "3 Jokers"). However, Johns and Fabok (after 4 damn years of teasing) did eventually reveal that their story would not include any multiversal aspects. I was disappointed, but am looking forward to seeing the rest of the story.

For there to have been three jokers in the DCU this entire time (and another on the way), means that they have to have met/worked together at some point with the implied creation sequence (first joker created the second created the third). At this point it seems like Johns is just rehashing Grant Morrison's wonderful "Clown At Midnight" interpretation where every so often Joker reinvents himself to cause chaos (like the three jokers now). Every time Batman builds a box around the Joker, he has to rebirth himself, super-sanity and all!

Eisner for Fabok 2021

Big themes seem to be birth, death, scars/wounds, trauma. But that comes with the territory of groundbreaking Batman/Joker events.

As as for the panel with the "what do we do next" from an unidentified speaker behind the three jokers, I'm almost certain its a lettering error because the story doesn't give any indication of there being anyone else in that room. And no, its not the fourth joker because they haven't created him yet, as evident by the dialogue.

The scene with Jason and the Batmobile seat implies that Batman is so messed up from his loved ones hurting (Jason and Babs) that he doesn't want anyone to carry the Robin burden anymore. I mean come on, even Damian died and got resurrected!

FATMAN RIP

Babs is great in this, and I caught a Travodart reference from Doomsday Clock. The Fatman killed by one of the Jokers could be a reference to the Silver Age Fatman character who helped Batman by making the criminals laugh to distract them. Now given a name, Kelani Apaka sadly met his end live to the clown prince of crime. Roger Huntoon is a Rick Veitch creation from Swamp Thing; a resident psychiatrist at Arkham better known as "Piggy". Death by rubber chicken is one of the worst ways to go.

Our three mystery men at ACE are an obvious recreation of the failed heist back in Killing Joke, with Jason revealing that they were possible felons picked up from a halfway house.

Also strange that Jason mentions Joker hasn't used Gaggy in years even though a few pages earlier he didn't even know who he was. I know Gaggy from that one BTBATB episode, but he's missing is signature nose here.

Joker and Jason's final conversation is brilliant, and I think its a shame (though it fits perfectly) that our dear clown met his curtain call at the end of the issue.

Not in Batman #428 but a great line nonetheless.

Next issue will most definitely deal with Gordon and Bats confronting the other two Jokers during their "casting call" for the new & improved Joker, as well as the search for the rest of the chemicals + fallout of Jason killing the Clown.

I guess my main motive for criticism and skepticism come from the abundant praise for this book, but I normally do this with lauded works regardless. If a book is said to really be that good, then it must be held to the standard that its fans hold it to. Three Jokers is a good book don't get me wrong, but its no masterpiece to the level of "The Killing Joke", not yet at least.