Some thoughts about The Joker: 80th Anniversary Super Spectacular

It's the Clown Prince of Crime's Anniversary.

Everyone has their own story about The Joker and just like himself, it can be completely different every time.

Yet annother Anniversary special arrived and, after enjoying the last Robin one, I was having sorta decent expectations about this one. "Sorta" because I'm pretty damn tired about the Joker at this point and let's just say that the first couple of stories here just make that even worse but fortunately that doesn't last.

First comes Scott Snyder (of course) with yet another of his takes about the Joker and if you're familiar with his whole work then you know what this story is all about, overhyping Joker to extreme levels. The plot centers around a psychiatrist who is trying to convince one of the Joker's victims that the Joker is just a man without any real powers only to (of course) been proven wrong towards the end by showing how Joker is quite the supernatural monster and is all uuuuuggggghhhhh. Jock's gothic artstyle was good to look at at least.

Then arrives James Tynion IV and, again, if you're familiar with his work you should know that he's basically a lesser Snyder and has the fixation on the Joker except that this tale is all about his new pet character Punchline and is even more uuuuuggggghhhhh. I just want for her to disappear already. Mikel Janin's artwork is beautiful as usual though.

Bad takes don't last forever though since Gary Whitta and Greg Miller deliver a story where the Joker is actually not taken seriously. I mean the Joker takes himself seriously, this is suited after the death of Batman after all, but that's the, er, joke which concludes in a little fun moment. Dan Mora's artwork is detailed and precise.

Classic writer Denny O'Neil arrives with yet another story where the Joker is not such of an unstoppable force. I mean, the Joker is dangerous and he ultimately wins when he works alongside a Corps but there are times where he's genuinely about to get beaten, best of all is that O'Neil's Joker can actually be funny just as insane. Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez is yet another classic creator and his style is fitting for the tone of the story.

Peter J. Tomasi then delivers one of his most bizarre tales yet where the Joker tries to get under Batman's skin to try to finally defeat him, the storytelling is pretty unique in that regard and reminds me of Grant Morrison's Arkham Asylum. Simone Bianchi's unique artstyle fits the weird atmosphere perfectly.

Another classic Batman writer arrives with Paul Dini's story involving none other than Harley Quinn as expected which focused on Joker's obsession with Batman that will be present until his death, it's perfectly in tone with the rest of Dini's work and Harley's realization at the end it's also adequate for it. Riley Rossmo's artwork continues to be fluid, odd and beautiful, especially during the dream sequences.

Tom Taylor also offers a segment about the Joker giving what seems to be a young psychopath his perfect birthday by pretty much threatening everyone around him. Just as expected from Taylor, it has a lot of violent scenes but there's a certain heart in the whole story. Eduardo Risso's artwork is appropriately dark here.

Eduardo Medeiros and Rafael Albuquerque handle a section about a simple worker trying to save people from the Joker which nicely reflects his dynamic with Batman. Albuquerque himself handles the art and is gorgeous and gothic.

Tony Daniel brings a surprisingly solid part about yet another common man trying to fight the Joker this time dressed as Batman with a pretty violent and fitting ending. Daniel's art continues to be beautiful and detailed.

Finally Brian Azzarello offers a tale that is quite different from his classic Joker graphic novel, one that is much more humourous than that and centers around Joker's obsession with Batman that will take his whole life. Lee Bermejo's artwork is also quite different from usual with a style that is reminiscent to the Silver Age but with his classic dark tone.

Overall, a solid special aside from the first two stories. Worth the money.