Batman: Cacophony #1 *spoilers*

[Cipranzi]

I don't think Smith intended people to think that the Joker was seriously proposing butt sex, but was just, well, "joking." It's not beyond the Joker to make way off-color remarks for the sole purpose of getting the most extreme reaction possible from someone.

[n2doop5u]

Originally Posted by TROUBLEZ

That scene didn't make me feel uncomfortable. I just can't see someone like the Joker, who usually is victimizing someone, offering himself to get violated. Plus the art doesn't help either. If the scene was portrayed by someone like Dave McKean or Bill S. (the guy who did Elektra: Assassin) it might work in a more "twisted" way like you described. Maybe it's just the art didn't match the scene.

I also didn't like it when it was suggested in McDuffie's JLA story.

I dunno. To me I felt like I was reading Kevin Smith trying to do be edgy, as opposed to reading a twisted scene featuring the Joker.

I dont doubt that it was kevin smith trying to be edgy. But i think that's an element of the joker. He's always trying to offend people, he wants their reaction. I think thats what works about smith writing joker.

[ZombieHavoc]

Originally Posted by Cipranzi

I loved this book. People complain about Smith's books being too wordy, but I don't mind at all because I love his dialogue, it's what he does best.

I'll admit that the Joker offering up his bum to Onamotapoeia (who is an awesome character, I don't know why no one else has used him) was off putting at first, but the more I think about it, the funnier it gets.

In a recent Wizard interview, he said that editors have called him and asked if he cared if some other writers used the character for other stories, and he kept saying he still had a story he wanted to tell, so 'no, not yet'.

[Mat001]

Well, Frank Miller gave some homoerotic undertones to the Joker in "The Dark Knight Returns", such as saying "Darling" when he sees Batman again for the first time in a decade. Grant Morrison had the Joker wearing high heels and grabbing Batman's butt and telling him to loosen up, in "Arkham Aslyum". Judd Winick had Lex mock the Joker about his obsession with Batman, implying homosexuality on his part. This in the pages of the Outsiders. So it's not like Keving Smith wasn't the first one to touch on that idea. The only difference is that he took it further by saying that the Joker would take cash in exchange for sexual favors. It's twisted is all. If DC could get away with it, there would probably be a joke about animals.

[Crimson Knightman]

Just because the Joker offered anal sex doesn't mean he was going to actually go through with it. If Onomatopoeia proceeded, the Joker could have easily turned around and literally cut off his jewels with a hidden weapon while saying something crazy like, "I'm a real nutcracker!" I pity the person who ever has to have sex with the Joker because chances are, he's into some creepy, freaky, sick stuff that would require you to be downright insane to try it. The Joker is the guy who thinks things like AIDS, Cancer, stillborn children and etc are funny, he lives to be offensive that's his gimmick. So NOTHING the Joker does surprises me.

I thought Cacophony was good. I like Onomatopoeia, he is a very intriguing character and I would love to see what his real deal is behind the mask. I liked the cameo Deadshot made, he is the master at being a smooth operator. I didn't really care for the cameo Zsasz made because it didn't utilize his brilliance as a criminal, instead he was just a one note killing machine. Alan Grant had a way of making Zsasz a cunning yet sadistic intellectual and all I saw here was Zsasz acting like a rabid dog. Other than that, everything else came together. I've never really cared for Maxie Zeus but after seeing him in this story, I can see some potential there. Kevin's greatest challenge is getting this book out on time, it's a three issue mini so it shouldn't be a problem.

BTW, I hope Harley Quinn doesn't show up. I can't stand her.

[Cipranzi]

Originally Posted by ZombieHavoc

In a recent Wizard interview, he said that editors have called him and asked if he cared if some other writers used the character for other stories, and he kept saying he still had a story he wanted to tell, so 'no, not yet'.

Well, that makes sense. I hope after Cacophony we'll start to see him elsewhere in the DCU.

[josh straightedge]

I think people make too big a deal out of the art. I actually can respect the fact that Smith had a story and wanted his friend on art, as it's going to be his biggest artistic project yet and a huge break at possible more work for a bigger company. Not many people put their neck out like that for others. I'm sure if Kevin Smith wanted a huge name artist he could have had it. The story is good too. I enjoyed this so much. As for the Joker being sexual, I put it to headgames that he plays. What, it's okay for him to murder the hell out of anyone and anything but a guy straight outta lockup can't get some action? Weirdos.

[CBikle]

The art really is pretty good. It may not be the kind of art typical to a Batman story, but it's not bad.

[theclichemaster]

The joker is offensive. He is also has an androgynous quality that the writers who write him best touch upon. He doesn't care and that is part of who he is. If people are talking about this scene its because the joker did what he does best, offend. Grant Morrison's Joker sitting on a chair watching the doctor change into the hunchback in RIP was much more subtle and a whole lot more disturbing.

[thedevilsadvocate]

I think its hilarious how no one said anything about Joker throwing razor poop or making remarks about Maxie Zeus.

[Sanlear]

Just read it and enjoyed it enough to want to pick up issue #2. This being Kevin Smith, dare I ask when issue #2 is coming out?

[Cipranzi]

It's supposed to come out the 31st.

[C.O. Jones]

Finally read it a few days ago---glad I bought it---can't wait for next issue.

[Karl O'Neill]

Originally Posted by Cipranzi

It's supposed to come out the 31st.

This should come out next week:) Hopefully, I really enjoyed the first issue, that's after i realised that deadshot didn't actually die.