In this batman original Joker gets out of the asylum and wants to retake control of gotham with the help of one jonny frost will he sucsede read and find out... Also in this book joker is a sick maniack that laughes at death like the joker we all now and love:) I recommend this book to anyone who is a batman fan or even just graphic novel enthusiest.And if anyone has read the old one i recommend getting the new one because the artwork got beter and the colors got more vvid all and all a geat read.

This book is proof that Azzarello has a truly amazing, unique take on Batman's world, continuing his treatment after his brilliant Broken City arc (a must read for Batman fans) This one was written outside of normal continuity though, which for non-geeks means that it's not the "normal" Batman world, its a unique adaptation that follows it's own rules.

In the world that Azzarello has created, we see a grittier street version of the classic Gotham. This is a world that leaves behind the goofiness, and somehow maintains the eccentricities of the original characters. The result is seeing these men as the criminals they really are, leaving behind the rosy shaded glasses of the normal comic book tom-foolery. In this book we see murder, rape, theft, extortion and cannibalism without the bravado, the coolness, the hype. When reading this, I felt that I was seeing these criminals for the first time again. It was a scary and invigorating tale, that constantly found the reader gaping at what they just read.

As for the art - wow. Lee Bermejo found an amazing palette in this piece. The illustrations of the Joker are up there with the striking portraits by McKean & Bolland. They gave new life and new horror to the classic character. The scene where the Joker does his rabbit joke even had ME in stitches, let alone the other characters in the scene. The Russian roulette sequence was perfectly horrifying, the expressions unforgettable. His designs for the remaining cast were consistent in giving the story the realism that Azzarello demanded in his story telling. And Mick Gray, as always, continues to be one of the most talented interesting hands behind a quill. As soon as you see his inks, you know who you're reading, and understand that it will look incredible, all the way through.

The book isn't for the light hearted and it isn't for fan boys that want something that they know and feel safe with. A drug swilling, senior citizen-mutilating, suicidal, maniac Joker that feels only hatred for everything that surrounds him, ends up being too much of a stretch for those that grew up loving the man with the POP gun. So beware, but also be ready -for a dark, horrifying ride like you've never seen in the Gotham underworld.

An amazing look into life through the eyes of one of Joker's henchmen. Joker is declared sane, and released from Arkham, only to find his territory has been divided by his former henchmen. Choas ensues.
I am just begining to expand my knowledge of graphic novels, and to paraphrase a well worn saying "I don't know a lot about graphic novels, but i know what I like. I like this."

I usually have no problem tearing down and building up Batman books. It's easy: you either like it or you don't. The Joker by Azzarello and Bermejo, is the most difficult book about a Batman character for me to decide on whether I like it for not.

Ever since Heath Ledgers Joker tore into the collective consciousness of Batman fans, it has been tough for the character to be anything but Ledgers version. Azzarello, I think, realizes or predicted this would happen, and so focused his efforts on the darkest, craziest elements of the Joker. And it works. I mean, here's a guy who delights in pure chaos, murder, and mayhem. But I think, Azzarello, went a bit too far. He's a little too forced, a little too murderous crazy for my taste.

Now, that being said, it's not Azzarellos fault that this happened. After all a book dedicated strictly to the Joker is going to be chock full of nastiness. That's a given. But right there, maybe is where it goes haywire. Joker works best as a counterpoint, the dagger in the dark, and not as the focus.

So as far as I'm concerned the book fails in delivering a story that a reader will care about when they are done, but succeeds in leaving the audience perplexed and totally shocked at the Jokers antics. Which is, I think, ultimately the goal of the Joker and Azzarello.