Detective Comics #826 *SPOILERS*

[Lex]

For a Batman issue with very little Batman in it, this was very very excellent.

Honestly, I'd say this competes with Gotham Central's "Soft Targets" as my all-time favorite Joker story (is it weird that both of them are Christmas themed?). Pure psychological. Dini really gets into Joker's head and shows just how scary he can be. And I loved how Robin used comedy to defeat Joker.

I can't recommend this issue enough. Buy it! Read it! Hug the pages!

[Young Avenger]

This issue is great. Joker kidnapping Robin and going on a hit-n-run spree was completely random yet it make sense. Joker is one twist dude.

[sly_kat]

haha i loved this issue!! AMAZING!! this is how the Joker should be written:D!! fav quote, "I mean... we never do this... Just hang out":D I LUV IT!!!
oh and how Dini handled the Joker's origin question... awesome work!! What a drive through ;)
And best of all the title, 'slay ride'
.................................................. .........woot woot:eek:

[TheSaltedSuperman]

I have to agree about this being the best Joker story in a long time, partially because it's the first time he actually seemed like a menace in quite a while. Good stuff all around.

[literally exaggerated]

great art too. Joker looked genuinely insane. Not just goofy, but the way a real crazy person looks when you look at their expression.

[Keehar]

Issue #826 rocked. The Joker is one evil, twisted s.o.b.

Loved the little bit of discussion about who the Joker is, and how he really enjoys what he does. And that was really emphasized in the horrific joy ride he took Roblin on.

Dini did a terrific job on this one shot story.

[The Shadow]

I have to agree about this being the best Joker story in a long time, partially because it's the first time he actually seemed like a menace in quite a while. Good stuff all around.

For a loooooooong while I found writers trying to one-up each other on how many people the Joker can kill. I like him much better like this... it's more like he was written in the 1970's by O'Neill and Englehart.

If you want another good Joker story though check out The Man Who Laughs written by Ed Brubaker. I can't say enough good things about the issue.

I LOVED the art in this... the constant focus on the Joker's eyes really let you know this guy is batshit crazy and capable of doing ANYTHING.

Paul Dini is the man!

[stealthwise]

Awesome, awesome issue, easily my favourite of the past ten years.

Robin rules.

[Sean Walsh]

I really hope the Don Kramer dislikers start rethinking their stance on him. His Joker was INTENSE.

[Frankie Dennis]

This issue was phenomenal, Dini balanced the Joker's humor and insanity perfectly.

[Sean Whitmore]

Easily my favorite of the Dini issues.


For a loooooooong while I found writers trying to one-up each other on how many people the Joker can kill. I like him much better like this...

I'm not sure what you mean. He killed a lot of people this issue.


SEAN

[Expletive Deleted]

Is it weird that both of them are Christmas themed?Or that the first Joker episode on B:TAS was a Christmas episode. Joker's issues of "Long Halloween" were the Christmas and New Years issues.

Joker and Christmas is like peanut butter and jelly.

[Shadow ES]

Easily my favorite of the Dini issues.


agreed. I hope his next one is just as good.

[The Shadow]

I'm not sure what you mean. He killed a lot of people this issue.


Oh, for sure... I more meant he wasn't carrying out some massive death plan. I like the old Joker stories and this just seems more like what I remember and like. No real plan... just a batshit crazy guy killing random people without a larger "take over Gotham" plan.

[OverMaster]

Or that the first Joker episode on B:TAS was a Christmas episode. Joker's issues of "Long Halloween" were the Christmas and New Years issues.

Joker and Christmas is like peanut butter and jelly.

That, and Joker's quite fine conclusion to No Man's Land took place in Christmas too.

Forget that Claus fatso, who needs him when you can have a homicidal clown coming down your chimney? :D

[Nefarius]

Look my avatar.Joker is the christmas spirit!!!!!

[brundlefly]

Best Joker, written and illustrated, that I've seen in the Bat-books in a long time (since SOFT TARGETS, like Lex mentioned). Dini captured Joker's wit, random nature, and hair-trigger lethality to a T and Kramer made him look deranged and genuinely scary instead of cartoonish or exaggerated (and a great cover by Bianchi, too). All the Bat books hype has been about "OMG what's Morrison going to do with the Joker??" but this was the Joker issue that I was looking forward to, frankly. And I was certainly not disappointed.

To further bandwagon-jump, I agree with the "best Dini issue so far" posts. :D Best book of the week for me personally, too.

[OverMaster]

Look my avatar.Joker is the christmas spirit!!!!!

Darn, that's a cool Christmas avatar. I even feel tempted to steal it. :p

[Mineralogy]

Joker and Christmas is like peanut butter and jelly.Well he is color-coded red, white, and green, after all!

[tonearcher]

I'm not a big DC reader (aside from 52 and some JLA stuff) but I picked up this comic based on the cover, and when i flipped the pages at the shop saw some blood, which for me is new coming from the Joker. I had no idea he was that sick. I'm a fan of depressing type endings, and I thought that the ending in this was great, when Batman tells Robin the Joker wasn't found and Batman says "... he won't be hurting anyone else for a long time" and when Robin says "That's something I guess" and Batman responds "Sometimes that's all we get."
I thought that was a powerful moment for Batman's character and view on fighting crime. I might start pulling the dark knight.

[TheBatGotHim]

I think this is one of my favorite Batman stories this year. Just great. Dini definately knows how to write a good Joker story.

[Gaspard]

Great issue, loved it! Love the art and the writing. Best Batman issue in the past few months easily, altough I loved the previous Dini 'Tec issues with The Penguin and The Riddler a lot too. Man it was just so cool when he picked Tim up. Just says 'Sup. Awesome line :D Then later on Tim thinking to himself "Just go Batman on his ass". Great stuff.

[stealthwise]

I should probably add that I picked up the issue and then got it home and realized that Kramer drew it, got pissed off, read it anyways, and really enjoyed it.

The art was great for this story.

[carabas]

This was going to be my last issue issue. The book made a miraculous recovery in this issue though.
Quite excellent, it seems like Dini has finally realised he can't write 22 page mystery stories to save his life and decided to diversify a bit.

[rerun]

Awesome issue. The Joker was great- both the writing and art for the character were excellent. Nice to see Robin solo having to outwit the Joker. The art was so refreshing after reading Batman: Confidential.

[TROUBLEZ]

This was a good Joker story. The Joker is one of my favorite Batman villains but it seems most of his stories suck, and artists never really capture him with the exception of a few.
I liked this version of the Joker. He did look crazy, but different from the way we're used to seeing him portrayed. I was expecting to see this story end on a cliff hanger and be atleast a 3-parter, but it was wrapped up nicely. Short but sweet.

I'm saving this one.

[Jeff Cope]

I really hope the Don Kramer dislikers start rethinking their stance on him. His Joker was INTENSE.

Nope.

I stll strongly disliked the art in this issue. I just find Kramer's work to be sub-standard. He seems like a fill in guy.

Detective should have an A-list artist. Between Pacheco on Superman, Kubert on Action and Kubert on Batman it seems 'Tec has drawn the short straw.

Sigh...I guess I still long for the days when Alan Davis drew Detective.

Jeff

[The Shadow]

Nope.

I stll strongly disliked the art in this issue. I just find Kramer's work to be sub-standard. He seems like a fill in guy.

Jeff,

What exactly don't you like about the art? ESPECIALLY this issue?

I agree he's not a superstar in the art department... but this was (IMO anyway) his best art in a looooong time and certainly his best art of Detective. If he drew like this all the time I'd be quite happy.

His Joker was batshit crazy and the art conveyed it. Tim was scared and the art conveyed it. The scenes of the Joker driving and killing people had a sense of urgency and fright. Even when the joker shot the manager it was funny in a macabre sort of way... and the art conveyed it.

[Keehar]

This was a good Joker story. The Joker is one of my favorite Batman villains but it seems most of his stories suck, and artists never really capture him with the exception of a few.

You really feel that way??

What stories of his have you disliked??

[sgt pepper]

Who would have guessed that in a year of Miller and Morrison tackling Batman that Dini would give us the best story of the year (OK, maybe some people would have guessed, Dini's great)?

Anyone else laugh at Joker plowing over the shoppers and shooting the manager? It is supposed to dark comedy, right (or maybe I'm just sick)?

This one wil be collected and remembered as one of the best Joker stories ever.

[xnef1025]

I'm sick too cuz I laughed when he shot the manager. I kinda want to know what he would have done if she'd followed what he said and gotten the order right... :)

[Sean Whitmore]

What made that scene so funny was the timing. He screams at the clerk, demands the manager, and when he shows up, calmly shoots him without any reaction.

Dying is easy. Comedy is hard. :)


SEAN

[Keehar]

My favourite kill was when he ran over that woman. Her boots in the air, shopping bags flying everywhere. I know it was a cruel thing he was doing, but damn it was funny to watch.

[The Shadow]

Who would have guessed that in a year of Miller and Morrison tackling Batman that Dini would give us the best story of the year (OK, maybe some people would have guessed, Dini's great)?
I think Morrison's criminally overrated and not suited to Batman... Morrison needs weird expansive tales to tell (like Doom Patrol, Animal Man, JLA or perhaps best illustrated in Seven Soldiers) not street level Batman stuff.

Miller... ah... the clusterf*ck that is All Star Batman and the waste of paper the series is. Miller hasn't told an amazing Batman story for 20 years... I wasn't holding my breath on ASBatman (though I was hoping for greatness).

Dini seemed the surest of bets and hasn't disappointed me yet.

[brundlefly]

I think Morrison's criminally overrated and not suited to Batman... Morrison needs weird expansive tales to tell (like Doom Patrol, Animal Man, JLA or perhaps best illustrated in Seven Soldiers) not street level Batman stuff.

Miller... ah... the clusterf*ck that is All Star Batman and the waste of paper the series is. Miller hasn't told an amazing Batman story for 20 years... I wasn't holding my breath on ASBatman (though I was hoping for greatness).

Dini seemed the surest of bets and hasn't disappointed me yet.

I agree on the 'Dini > Morrison/Miller on Batman' argument. I checked out ASB&R initially, but dropped it after two issues since I wanted, you know, a good Batman title instead of a satire. And while I liked Morrison's JLA take on Bats, his BATMAN work thus far has been underwhelming. He has no handle on Talia (rewrote her into a one-dimensional femme fatale to suit his story), admitted to not doing his homework on Batman history before writing his run, and is trying way too hard to "shake things up/have a definitive run" with this "Damien" nonsense (since Damien will just get dropped off in the same character limbo orphanage that Lena Luthor's currently living in once Morrison's run is finished). Dini, on the other hand, has a great handle on Batman's rogues (I hope he uses Two-Face soon) and is turning out one solid story after another. Dini's run and FACE THE FACE have been the two big post-IC Batman high points so far for me. I'm hoping to be able to add Diggle's BATMAN: CONFIDENTIAL to that list, too, if his run lives up to expectations.

[Apathy Boy]

I don't know why, but this issue didn't really click with me. I liked it all right, but I wasn't wowed by it like everyone else here.

[Guts/Batman]

I loved it. Hilarious.

"I just put it there to give you false hope." A good Joker story. I'm amazed.

[The Shadow]

I don't know why, but this issue didn't really click with me. I liked it all right, but I wasn't wowed by it like everyone else here.

How come?

Did you read it BEFORE the rave reviews because I HATE it when something is built up so high... and then it's almost impossible for it to meet your expectations based on what everyone was saying.

The book the Da Vinci Code was like that. I'd heard sooooooooo much about it that there was no way for it to be as good as I'd built it up to be.

It was alright... but I prefered Angels & Demons more... because there was no hype whatsoever!

[Gaspard]

The hype factor does suck. Basically ruins it for me with every monthly Bat book since someone always likes it, and then hypes it and then I read it, and then I get disappointed. Or maybe the Bat books just do suck. Except the Dini ones.

[OverMaster]

You know, this issue reminded me a bit of Dini's Joker story in Batman Adventures Annual 1, also worth checking out (and with John Byrne art surprisingly well adapted to the animated style!).

[sgt pepper]

The hype factor does suck. Basically ruins it for me with every monthly Bat book since someone always likes it, and then hypes it and then I read it, and then I get disappointed. Or maybe the Bat books just do suck. Except the Dini ones.

So don't read the boards until you read the comic. Ingenious!

[Guts/Batman]

I don't anymore. I rarely come to this side of the forums anymore.

[Jkid099]

Have to agree with some other posters on how the Joker's actions were humorous because really, this is what a lot of "out of control," driven-over-the-edge, holiday shoppers really do seem like: unable to properly drive in public and nearly run down everyone in sight for the sake of Christmas glee (that is, getting their "Christmas glee shopping done"), wound up so tight about the holiday shopping season that they'll flip out over the tiniest thing on an order and come close to wanting to kill a manager. Ah Joker, you humorous, pasty-faced dark mirror of mankind. :-)

"Oh, what the hell, I can take a joke." WHAM.

Priceless.

[drwho]

I love paul on this book and wish he would never leave it. He is able to cram so much story into one issues where others would turn this into a 6 issue arc of Robin joyriding with the Joker.

[Apathy Boy]

How come?

Did you read it BEFORE the rave reviews because I HATE it when something is built up so high... and then it's almost impossible for it to meet your expectations based on what everyone was saying.

The book the Da Vinci Code was like that. I'd heard sooooooooo much about it that there was no way for it to be as good as I'd built it up to be.

It was alright... but I prefered Angels & Demons more... because there was no hype whatsoever!I read the issue before I read any reviews, and I was very surprised to see such glowing praise for what I thought was a pretty pedestrian story.

Now that I've had some time to think about it, I think my main objection to the story was that Robin was so bloody boring. Dini didn't really do a lot for the character, other than make him a talking plot device. Some of the Joker mayhem was kind of funny, but the issue didn't seem to hang together that well without a compelling protagonist to pull for.

[The Shadow]

my main objection to the story was that Robin was so bloody boring.

Well, it opened with a fight and then Robin was tied up the entire issue in a confined space. There's not a lot of room for action and excitement.

[Apathy Boy]

Well, it opened with a fight and then Robin was tied up the entire issue in a confined space. There's not a lot of room for action and excitement.Oh, I wasn't necessarily looking for action. I was just hoping for more interesting characterization than 20 pages of Tim thinking, "I've got to get out of here!" The narration was terribly, terribly dull and could've come out of pretty much any character's mouth. Tim's supposed to be some great deductive genius, so it would've been nice to see that side of him used rather than the escape artist stuff that we've seen from so many other characters before. (And really, his great escape plan was to remove his glove? I realize there is some element of realism there, but it doesn't make for terribly compelling fiction.)

[SpecialAgentPunk]

This may have been the best Batman comic I have read in the two years I have been reading comics. The runner-ups are either Infinite Crisis related or other Detective Comics of Dini's run.

What are other work's of Dini, I'm sort of a noob. Has he done long arcs/series? Because he has mastered the one-issue the way Hemingway has mastered the sentence. I can absorb so much more of character, dialogue, art, story, excitement from this issue than any current issue of Batman.

Dini handles the nice-Batman so well without having Batman in more than two pages, providing a glimpse of a stable Bat-family in the boat. Robin is full of realism as he narrates his methods and survival skill, and the Joker has never been more psychotically enjoyable.

How long is Dini gonna stay on Batman? What are some of his future projects?
I'm probably overreacting a bit on all this, but there is no feeling better than knowing that your 3 bucks was totally worth every single penny.

[the goddamn batman]

it was good. Dini is great, but I'd like these more if Williams was on the book. Kramer is fine, but he isn't special yet. He's got talent, but he didn't draw the Joker how I like my Joker. So, there you go. I want J.H. back.

821 is still the best issue.