Azzarello's Joker- worth it?

[Lord of Nonsensical Crap]

This may have been asked before, but is Brian Azzarello's Joker a worthwhile read? I keep seeing it at local book stores and comics shops, and I want to know if its any good at all before I consider getting it.

[Mia]

I liked it alot. I think it's worth it, however it helps if you like noirish, Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello stuff. If you like your comic books to be 'pristine' and don't like stories about life's ugliness and people's meaness. Don't bother with it. Oh and one word of warning. The story is about the Joker. Batman only shows up for about three pages near the end.

[Jared]

It's worth a read, but I wouldn't pay the cover price for it.

[Lester C.]

Have you read 100 bullets? If you are think Lono as the Joker that looks like The
Dark Knight version of the Joker.

[thedevilsadvocate]

It's an interesting What If version of Joker but I wouldn't put it on the calibre of Killing Joke, Man Who Laughs or DKR. My biggest problem was sensationalized violence masquerading as a story. I did like what was done with the Riddler and Two Face had an awesome cameo and I especially liked this Killer Croc.

[Mia]

My biggest problem was sensationalized violence masquerading as a story.

Good point. It was a tad gratuitous. But then again I'm used to it from Azarello's others stuff. That being said I still found the Joker to be more believable than what's in the normal books.

[Blue Blazes]

It's worth a read, but I wouldn't pay the cover price for it.

i did (obviously, as have many others), its worth a read but i dont understand why it was a HC to begin with, hence the high cover price.

[Seraku]

Have you read 100 bullets?

if you liked 100 Bullets definitely check out "Broken City" same creative team, it's essentially 100 Bullets with Batman in it.

Hell Agent Graves makes a cameo

[Maxwell Edison]

I wasnt amazed by it. If you can get it cheap, you should probably get it but it's not worth 20 dollars

[Dare-Devil]

Hello everybody I am a new member,so sorry for any silly mistakes I am gonna made but I ll learn:)for Joker GN I think is one of the best stories I ve read.Lee Bermejo has done extraordinary job as artist with Azzarello,who is my favorite character since I read 100 bullets.Its a very cinematic comic book.and I think Azzarello maybe continues on writing villains than heroes(I also read Lex Luthor man of steel and is very very good.)I didnt like Broken City, but Graves cameo worth it:tongue: :biggrin:

ps:tha man who laughs from Ed Brubaker is coming out and on paperback?
ps2:excuse my english or my mistakes I live in Greece and I dont have the opportunity to talk a lot.

[doctrinedee]

Because it was released around the time of the Dark Knight, I feel the book probably suffered from its own hype. It's definitely worth a read though, if not a purchase; but it did not merit a hardback edition.

And yes, it is more than a little gruesome. I'm not sure the script was slick enough to justify the level of violence, to be honest.

[IamtheRock3]

I liked it

no reason why it shouldnt of made a cheaper Softcover version

no reason hardcover really. Actully hear hardcover, doesnt cost THAT much more then softcover to print.

[Lester C.]

Here is a five page preview of the book that anyone can legally look at for free.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/10/comics_joker.html#photo=1

[monster]

there are some good things and bad things. it's told through the point-of-view through one of the joker's henchman. nothing happens that isn't really predictable.

killer croc looks the best i've ever seen him in a comic. incredibly realistic and scary. on the other hand... riddler was everything opposite.

as far as a joker story, the man who laughs and the killing joke are far better, but this is a decent quick read.

[superattackpea]

I picked up this and Joker's asylum up at the same time, and much preferred the later.

One thing I really disliked about joker was the drug use, i have nothing against drugs in comics in general, but I've always liked the idea of the joker being crazy for no other reason then he's crazy. Also the crying scene with Harley Quin was just completely out of character.

I think Azzarello tried too hard to humanize the joker, and while that approach worked magnificently for Lex Luthor (Lex Luthor: Man of Steel, a story i highly recommend) it just doesn't fit this character.

[Dare-Devil]

I ve just read the man who laughs and I ll agree that is a better story than Joker.Also I ll agree that Azzarello made Joker more realistic and more close to the Dark Knight movie than Killing Joke for instance.And Lex Luthor Man of Steel is better,if theres is a comparison between the two comic books.

[Lew Moxon]

I ve just read the man who laughs and I ll agree that is a better story than Joker.Also I ll agree that Azzarello made Joker more realistic and more close to the Dark Knight movie than Killing Joke for instance.And Lex Luthor Man of Steel is better,if theres is a comparison between the two comic books.

There have been better Joker stories than "Joker" but I doubt there is a better henchman story.

In the end this story isn't really about the Joker, it's about the henchman. If you like the Man Who Laughs, you should read the original version of that story.

[Crimson Knightman]

Azzarello's Joker graphic novel was okay but it didn't really meet my expectations. I wouldn't have it on my top ten favorite Joker stories. To me the classic stories like Man Who Laughs, Devil's Advocate, Killing Joke are superior. I think Azzarello did a better job with Lex Luthor in Lex Luthor: Man of Steel. In fact, it was that Lex Luthor story that made me actually like him as a villain because prior to that, I didn't care about him at all.

[thedevilsadvocate]

Azzarello's Joker graphic novel was okay but it didn't really meet my expectations. I wouldn't have it on my top ten favorite Joker stories. To me the classic stories like Man Who Laughs, Devil's Advocate, Killing Joke are superior. I think Azzarello did a better job with Lex Luthor in Lex Luthor: Man of Steel. In fact, it was that Lex Luthor story that made me actually like him as a villain because prior to that, I didn't care about him at all.

This I agree with.

[dancj]

no reason why it shouldnt of made a cheaper Softcover version

no reason hardcover really. Actully hear hardcover, doesnt cost THAT much more then softcover to print.
It doesn't need a reason. Hardcover is the default initial format for OGNs at DC