2. The Arcs Thus Far; Part Two - Death Of A Family
With a history almost as long and as rich and as varied and a nature perhaps even more mercurial than his bête noir the Joker is one of those characters whose handling by a writing team can either irk or elate a readership. In a bold move the Joker had disappeared just as quickly as he had appeared at the New 52's launch and his exit was such horrific one that many wondered how he would return and in what manner. When the Death of a Family arc was announced speculation almost immediately began. Many tried to tie the arc into a long standing rumour of the death of Damian Wayne in an almost carbon copy of Jason Todd's demise in Death in the Family. Suffice to say Snyder and his team had almost as much to live up to as they did when they took over the Batman title itself, and again what was delivered though reverent and refreshing was met with much harsh criticism. Death of a Family is a much a story about the Joker's effect on others as it is a story about the Joker himself, and while the death is not as literal as many had hoped, it's figurative nature is, or was, intended to have consequences beyond the arc itself. If anything this reinforces the ideas of a Batman more in line with the protagonists of hard-boiled and noir fictions. Paranoia and mistrust abound and once again Batman's infallible certainty is swiftly cut down to size. True, as in the Owls arc, Batman triumphs but not without a certain sense of personal cost. Earlier this arc's reverence was mentioned and this is something this writer admires and would like to focus on briefly. Snyder shows a particular sense of savvy when he and the Joker frame the Joker's return around a revisiting of some of the defining moments of his early history. This is a theme that also carries over into some of the crossover titles sometimes to great, but more often, in this writer's opinion, to wasted effect. That said despite being a crossover event the titles outside of Batman aren't necessary to the main arc itself. Snyder et al, ultimately weave a fresh take on the twisted symbiosis between the Joker and Batman, Jester and King, something which at times borders on a slash fanfic, but in a way not too untypical for a Joker story this adds a comical effect to what are ultimately darkly violent proceedings. The way Batman growls and vents his venomous hatred at the Joker, though seemingly out of character, is not to dissimilar to the way the Joker has often treated his own lovesick stalker; Harley Quinn. Also this is another step further removed from Morrison's idea of the Bat God who never loses his cool and in a way evokes something of Keaton's Batman in the first live action movie. Of the arcs thus far this is no doubt this writer' favourite with Snyder, Tynion and Jock's shorts and the events that plays out in Arkham Asylum being exceptional highlights. That said, things could changes if and when the identity of the Red Hood is revealed in the next arc we will look at...