A Most Twisted Form of Love
THIS. COVER. IS. FANTASTIC. It's so goofy on a level that genuinely works. Joker's just watching his hastily stacked monitors dressed as a utility worker. The whole makeshift headquarters is just so damn Joker. Everything about this cover is unexpected, and pretty much the opposite of the previous cover. It just feels like this is a rare 'behind the scenes' look at The Joker as he works on a plan. It's genius in the way is so unexpectedly clashes with the intensely creepy tone of the previous cover and the other 'Death of the Family' tie-in covers.
Joker continues his plot against the entire Batman family, and we get to see just how well thought out and implemented it is. We get a few more brilliant inversions of his oldest plots, culminating in his first meeting with Batman recreated. The two of them have been doing a dance of madness through the years, and both are quick to deduce the clues or actions of the other. Batman is still playing catch up, but at a pace that far exceeds what anyone else would be able to achieve, and that's exactly what The Joker is counting on, laying traps at every turn, leading him around by the nose, and laying a very important question of 'how much does he know?' He kidnaps Alfred, but leaves a tape for 'Bruce Wayne.' It's long since been speculated that The Joker knows, but doesn't care, who Batman is, but the rules have changed. (Also Bruce's unwillingness to believe Joker knows may retcon bits of R.I.P.); but it's well utilized in this issue to keep the atmosphere of suspense going.
And finally they meet again, face to face; and what unfolds is likely the greatest single scene with the Joker. Greg Capullo does an utterly outstanding job depicting the new Joker look, with his face stapled and fish-hooked onto his head. He does a phenomenal job at making him appear, not outright overwhelmingly grotesque, but more on the side of unnerving or uncanny. His movements are all very 'Joker,' but his face is so close to human and yet so far; his eyes glaring through eternally open lids, his expression eerily 100% in line with his immobile skin.
Scott Snyder also WRITES the Joker perfectly, as stated in my previous review and by many others. His bizarre and heartfelt speech to Batman oozes the most perverse expression of love. The Joker is in love with Batman, and always has been; that's long been an undeniable core of who The Joker is. He is in love with him in the way that Batman is his entire reason for being, and expresses his love, in return, by dancing the cycle of violence and vengeance that they've been tangoing since Joker first appeared on the scene. But in Joker's eyes, Batman has lost some of that spark that drew his love in the first place. He's gotten softer, more trusting, able to rely on allies, warmer. And the attack of The Court of Owls was the definitive proof. So Joker has found a way to bring back the cold, solitary, violent Bat-King he knows and loves; by killing the family that brings him down. And yet, it's clear that there's deeper mysteries to this plan, as Joker alludes to details in his little book; mysteries it contains, and mysteries of its origin that may break down the trust between Batman's allies and the man himself.
The only flaw I could possibly accuse this issue of, is that the co-feature doesn't quite pack the punch of the one from the previous issue. It establishes some more setup for the finale, and it digs deep into Joker's idea of what Batman is, and what the various members of the city and his rogue's gallery mean to him; but it's not as intense and gripping as the one with Harley. And Jock's art is still good, but not quite as fitting.
In Conclusion: 5/5
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have distilled the pure essence of The Joker down into complete perfection. This is the perfect story to follow The Court of Owls Epic, and it is shaping up to be a perfect Joker story. This is the only way to change The Joker without destroying his roots. The Joker has grown into this monstrous new form of his own experiences and psychosis, and for once it can be said that he will truly, never be the same.
