Batman #23.1

Intro

Here’s another issue of villain’s month and it’s a look at Joker’s unknown soft side. I admit I was really disappointed with this issue because it isn’t really much of an origin story. It just another little story that seems boring about The Joker’s past. It’s really sad because I was really looking forward to this.

Story

The Joker and his minions are breaking into a zoo. But an ape has caught Joker’s eye and remind him of his terrible childhood. So, he ends up taking it with him and raises it with much care throughout the years. But it suddenly dies and raises the question. Did Joker really care for Jack (ape) or was it just simply to fill in the void? The answer may lurk beyond this issue.

The Good

The only thing I can really say was good is the art. It had nice choice of colors and details. I also think it could have delved more into his past about his Aunt abusing him as a child rather than him caring about an ape? I really don’t know if he cared for it because he laughed as soon as it died. It just could have been more interesting to find about his childhood and see why he has become so sadistic.

The Bad

This was a really disappointing issue and it really caught me by surprise. I thought The Joker was going to be one of the best. But it turned out to be one of the worst. His minions were dull and boring and I’m assuming this was before Harley Quinn. And come on he is seriously caring for an ape? I’m sorry but I don’t buy it. It even makes it more pointless that the story will continue in the Batman short stories.

Verdict

I give this issue a 3/5.0 out of 5/10 stars. The only thing I really enjoyed was the art and learning more about his childhood which, I wish was delved more into. But besides that the ape story is just too dull. This was definitely one of the most disappointing Batman titles during villain’s month.