The Joker: The Clown Prince of Crime

What makes "The Joker: The Clown Prince of Crime" interesting is that it features a Joker who's been badly watered down by the dictates of the Comics Code Authority.This trade paperback collects all nine issues of the Joker's short-lived ongoing series, which DC published bimonthly from May 1975-October 1976. The standalone stories were created by rotating teams, including three writers (Denny O'Neil, Elliot S! Maggin, and Martin Pasko), three pencillers (Batman regulars Ernie Chua and Irv Novick, and-praise be his name-Jose Luis Garcia Lopez), and five inkers (Garcia-Lopez, Dick Giordano, Justice League of America regular Frank McLaughlin, Tex Blaisdell and Vince Colletta-the latter two taking time off from wrecking Curt Swan's pencils in the Superman stories of the period). Yet with 10 creators involved, all the stories feel and look as if the same writer/artist team told them.None of them add dimension to the Joker as a character or expand upon his multifaceted relationship of rivalry, obsession, hatred, and love with the Batman. In fact, the Caped Crusader was apparently off-limits to the creators; he doesn't appear in any of the stories, and is mentioned only once in the first story, as being away from Gotham City on Interpol business.And therein lies one of the problems with a Joker solo series; while many entertaining Batman stories have been told without the Joker, the Joker isn't fully and truly alive without Batman as his adversary. So with Batman seemingly off-limits, O'Neil, Maggin and Pasko are forced into telling mostly comedic tales about their protagonist either trying to outdo other villains, including rival Bat-rogues Two-Face and Scarecrow, as well as Superman arch-foe Lex Luthor-or torment lesser superheroes, including Green Arrow and The Creeper.The other problem, as noted above, is the Comics Code Authority. The writers try their best to have the Joker do ghastly things-we see a flame thrower disguised cleverly as a cigarette lighter, acid-filled meringue pies, and a "snake nut can" with a snake that strangles the unfortunate prankee-but the CCA's requirement that criminals had to be punished for their actions every time meant that none of the Joker's schemes could ever work, and that every tale had to end with Joker either confined to Arkham Asylum again or in the process of being arrested. It also forced Joker to challenge either fellow fiends or other heroes with madcap pranks, instead of pushing them to their limits. He had to be the goofy prankster of the 1950s Batman comics rather than the psychopath with the warped, sadistic sense of humor that O'Neil had recently restored to Batman's universe.Clearly, the Joker couldn't thrive when these stories were first published because their scope had to be limited. But, the appeal of retro comics aside, "The Joker: The Clown Prince of Crime" is worthwhile for two reasons. First, it is an important step in the Joker's transition from demented funster back to his darker roots as a criminal mastermind/homicidal maniac. Second, it lays the groundwork for later, better villain-led series, including DC's own "Secret Society of Super-Villains" and "Suicide Squad"-the latter, of course, featuring Harley Quinn, the Joker's ex-psychiatrist/romantic interest/villainous sidekick.

Having owned and read about half of these from 1975 and 1976 I have fond memories of this offbeat series in which the Joker is the protagonist while still being a deranged criminal and killer. As this was the during the time DC was subject to the Comics Code many times Joker had to end up being back behind bars at the end of the different stories. Still this is good for the fun and nostalgia when stories were resolved in single issues.

Before he rose from simply being the archenemy of Batman to becoming one of the most formidable villains in the universe of DC comics,the Joker was given his own comic in 1975 (In fact,I believe he's still the only lone comic book supervillain to achieve this). With the Caped Crusader notably absent from its pages,it told the monthly adventures of the Clown Prince Of Crime going about his trademark criminal schemes,often crossing paths with another DC villain,one of their many masked heroes,and...in one particular issue...a stage actor who somehow came to believe he was Sherlock Holmes.This is the "Bronze Age" Joker,after being given his insanity and murderous edge by the likes of Dennis O'Neal and Neal Adams the year before,but still retaining the outrageousness of a clown/practical joker.Unfortunately,the Comics Code Authority was still enforced at the time,insisting that each story end with the Joker once again apprehended and locked up in Arkham Asylum,the high-security where most of Batman's rogues gallery are incarcerated (and also seem to escape from with regularity).Due to this limitation,the series never found an audience,and was cancelled after its ninth issue...which means readers never got to see the Joker/Justice League clash that was to follow in issue #10.Nonetheless,this is a fascinating,rarely-seen chapter in the history of the Clown Prince Of Crime,and this volume collects all nine issues,featuring artwork from the likes of Irv Novick,Dick Giordano,Jose' Luis Garcia-Lopez and many more.This book will definitely satisfy all lovers of classic superhero comics.

I'm very glad DC found, restored, and collected this series. While much comparison of this Joker is made to the current Joker or incarnations inbetween, I think they miss the good Bronze Age era in which this took place. This series of 9 issues showcases the development of the Joker up to this point and how the DC Universe existed at that time. Having read DC at this time, I find this a fun and refreshing re-visit to the character and the Bronze Age DCU.The cast of guests include Two-Face, The Creeper, Green Arrow and Black Canary (as Dinah Lance), and Catwoman in her classic purple evening gown costume with green cape. The plots are simple and pretty see through, but taken in context of when it was created, it is a delicious treat to nostalgia and a good FUN read. Even though the Joker is still a murderer, we don't experience it in the manner we do in modern comics.I really enjoy this book (and the Bronze Age Universe in general) and highly recommend this book to fans who desire to have an enjoyable, suspension of reality, comic book reading experience.

I love this era of Batman comics! And I love reading about villains!As a physical product, this is wonderful. This is as good as it can be done. I prefer older reprints to be on white newsprint instead of glossy paper because it's closer to how the original issues looked. Great job on the printing and reproduction.The art is great 70s DC art. I love Irv Novick's art.The stories are fun, but just okay. Different writers were assigned to the series and they're all one-parters, so there's no overarching storyline. Plus, DC was not really committed to telling the villains' side of things. The Joker had to come out looking better than his adversaries, which kept the Joker from being his truly maniacal self.Still, definitely worth buying and reading!

Released in the mid 70s I remember buying the individual comics, as an avid Batman and Joker fan of 9 years old. Beautifully reprinted as one book, the 9 capers of the 70s Joker are brought back life. He may be fairly tame by today's standards, but the evil streak is present I.e tipping a dead body into a furnace, squirting acid into faces etc. don't be put off the artwork is superb, and a unique insight into the evolution of Batmans greatest nemesis.

Lovely present

Amazing collection of Joker’s solo adventures that does not include Batman. One of my favourite stories is Joker’s encounter with Green Arrow. Dennis O’Neil and the artist of the 1970s did excellent work. Joker fans will not be disappointed.

It's often refreshing to take a look back at a character who's become bogged down by unnecessary character quirks, and unneeded changes, the Joker is one of those characters.There's no denying modern day comics have been unkind towards the Harlequin Of Hate, doing their best to try to remind viewers of the portrayal by Heath Ledger in 2008's The Dark Knight, turning the mirthful menace into a creepy, unfunny, stalker.This collection here contains the 9 issue run of the Joker's own comic, from the late 70's I believe. It's all fun and games with a bit of mayhem, what the Joker was and should be, funny AND fearsome!

La historia es buena pero no he podido leerla completa porque no se agranda el comic en la pantalla, queda de tamaño pequeño y es dificil leerlo