May 192016
 

DC’s Rebirth is on the way, and it’s not just the logo that’s getting a makeover. Plenty of characters will be getting a costume refresh in DC’s roster shake-up as well. It seems like the clown prince of crime might be one of them, judging by this gorgeous variant cover by Rafael Albuquerque.

Albuquerque posted the Fried Pie Comics variant cover for Batman #1, due out July 15th to Instagram today—and while he doesn’t explicitly confirm that this is the Rebirth Joker, a presumption can be made, considering it’s gracing the cover of one of the event’s biggest new series.

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While it might not be the Joker’s new design, it would not be surprising if it was, when you consider the more-than-passing resemblance to Jared Leto’s Joker (just, you know, minus the crazy tattoos).

The suit is obviously a callback to the Joker’s threads in The Dark Knight Returns—although we have seen set pictures revealing that Leto’s Joker wears a similar getup at some point in Suicide Squad—but the haircut and general frame of this Joker definitely seem to be evoking the new cinematic take. It wouldn’t be the first time DC’s done this either, with Harley Quinn getting a Suicide Squad makeover in the comics recently [that definitely resembled her Suicide Squad movie counterpart].

(Original article by James Whitbrook at GIZMODO.COM HERE)

Jul 202015
 

Batman and his arch-nemesis The Joker are two sides of the same coin. You can’t have one without the other. Their complicated relationship is captured perfectly with this award-winning sand sculpture, which is titled “My Better Half.”

The sculpture was created by Marielle Hessels of the Netherlands and David Ducharme of Winlaw, B.C., and won first place in the doubles division at Parksville’s annual Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition.

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(Reprinted from original report by Jay Jayson for COMICBOOK.COM HERE)

Jul 062014
 

Everybody remembers the great classic of Alex Ross (know to some as TANGO WITH EVIL) where the classic Joker and Harley are depicted in a black background as in the middle of a dance.

Now artist Thor Mangila has taken a new interpretation on the timeless classic.  What if the same painting was made using the current NEW52 Joker and Harley?  Wonder no more and enjoy this work of art.  Nicely done in my opinion…

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Dec 102013
 

Another masterpiece  dropped into my lap, this time a magnificent painting of Jack Nicholson’s Joker by talented illustrator Jason Edmiston. Jason’s art shows the drama of  cinema  (and you might recognize some of his art from promotional posters of some movie classics) in combination with an artistic realism that is really incredible.  Just take a look at this:

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(To see more of Jason Edmiston’s art as well as an interesting interview with the artist visit HERE)

Aug 252013
 

Bob Harras has announced some details of the upcoming appearace of the Joker in October’s BATMAN #23.1.  Here is an excerpt of what he had said in at the DC COMICS site:

I also told you that a classic and unexpected Batman villain will be appearing in the upcoming Villains Month one-shot, BATMAN #23.1: JOKER. Well today, I’m pleased to tell you that the villain I was talking about was none other than Jackanapes (who readers last saw in BATMAN, INCORPORATED #5). BATMAN #23.1: JOKER takes place many years ago – back when The Joker’s face was still intact. In fact, this unique one-shot marks one of the earliest appearances we’ve seen of this notorious villain so far in the New 52. While at a zoo, the Joker will have a flashback to a childhood memory that will trigger his need to take Jackanapes under his wing. It is here that Joker will take on a new, twisted role: that of a mentor. But why is he training Jackanapes to be a villain? What use will he have for him? –

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And take a look at this Joker design from Andy Clarke:

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See more at the DC COMICS BLOG

Jun 302013
 

I don’t go for the fancy just for fads, but can’t deny that my handsome clown is depicted in all his glory (and with a face!) on the cover of BATMAN 23.1 in September, and he looks even better when you see him “moving” around in the cover as if he was really there…too cute to overlook.  Take a look for yourself!

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Mar 242013
 

On my runs through cyberspace I found this wonderful creation made entirely with colorful, delicious SKITTLES.  It is a nice portrait  of Ledger’s Joker too. A masterpiece of art and sugar…. Reminds me somewhat of Puntillism…a style famous during the late 1800 and early 1900s.   Could not find the name of the artist, but to him/ her…my most sincere gratitude for creating this Joker piece.  It’s amazing. Hope you like it too.

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(If you know the name of the artist, please remit to me so proper credit can be given to this work)

Feb 282013
 

Everybody who have read the DEATH OF THE FAMILY knows that after the dramatic with the Joker-Batman faceoff, Joker came up as the great winner of the night.  He might have not destroyed the Batman family but he has created a great chism between its members.  Batman might be on his own now as the unconditional trust his friends and family had has been tainted by the actions of his past. 

But Joker did not stop there.  He needed to settle one more score and he was not shyabout it.  Should have seen that one coming…but with Joker who really knows what to expect?

For more details, please read this month’s RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS.  Here’s a preview (w/spoilers):

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Jan 142013
 

The preview for the upcoming issue of Batgirl #16 has been released and it looks that Joker and Batgirl will finally tie the knot.  Joker’s disturbed behavior keeps wreaking havoc in the Batman world.

Please enjoy!!

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Nov 252012
 

jokers-backNewsarama contributor Vaneta Rogers had an interview with writer SCOTT SNYDER who revealed details of the continuing “Death of the Family” story arc and where Joker is heading in his plans to erradicate Batman’s allies.

 

Newsarama: Scott, there have been quite a few developments since last time we talked. But probably the most revealing thing we’ve learned about the plot you’ve crafted for this story is that you’ll be revisiting important places from past encounters between Batman and The Joker. How does this tie into your exploration of The Joker as a character, and what does it provide to the story overall?

Scott Snyder: Yeah, I really love framing the story this way because, on the one hand, it is like The Joker is sort of running through his “greatest hits” with Batman and being able to say, you know, “Look at all the great times we’ve had together.”

And you’re going to see a lot more references coming up: everything from Joker-Fish to Five-Way Revenge to Death in the Family. Joker will reference those in incredibly creepy ways.

As much as we wanted it to be there as something fans that know those stories can see and enjoy, we also wanted to have them presented, if we did reenact them through Joker, in a way that would make the fresh, you know? And also make them accessible to new fans.

It was a really fun line to walk for us. We wanted it to be something that would pay tribute to all the great Joker stories in the past and keep them in continuity, and then at the same time, to not depend on readers knowing those stories to enjoy our bigger story.

So it was definitely both fun and very tricky.

Nrama: In issue #14, he seemed to be way ahead of Batman, because he knew what was going to happen and just finished that part of the story on his own, wanting something more. But he seems to be delighted in the Batman. He loves him in his own twisted way, doesn’t he? And feels he’s going through this plan to help him?

Snyder: He really believes in his heart that he’s doing Batman the favor that Batman can’t admit he wants done, which is, he thinks that Batman regrets having accumulated this family because he knows that it makes him slow and weak and all of this stuff, and worried about the world all the time, the way a father would.

And again, like we talked about last time, with me being a father of young kids, that’s where this story came from. It’s that sense

of constant worry about your kids and wishing once in awhile you could just turn it off or put it on pause, you know? But not being able to. And that’s part of being a family.

And that’s the perfect point for someone to come up and whisper in your ear: “I heard that. I heard you think you would love to have just a minute of pause or a minute of refuge from worrying about these people you love. So let me make that easy for you and kill them all, and then you won’t have to worry, because deep down, I know that’s what you want.”

So that’s what Joker believes about Batman, and he’s going to be sort of making his case throughout this story, as to why Batman loves him more than the family, and he loves Batman more than the family loves Batman.

Nrama: The back-up was interesting too, because not only did The Joker bring other villains into it — which we know was coming from solicitations — but you added to the layers of Joker’s relationship with Batman by talking about this “religion of crime” in Gotham and how they’re really all just worshipping Batman.

Snyder: Yeah, I love that art too, the way that Jock has them with their hands tied, dead, in prayer position.

Nrama: Wasn’t that in the script?

Snyder: Yeah, yeah. That was in the direction. I just now love seeing it visually. It was so creepy the way he presented that.

Nrama: This issue also established that The Joker knows the secret identities of the Bat-family. Or at least he says he knows them, right?

Snyder: For us, that’s part of the driving horror and mystery of the story. They were afraid that this is the claim that the Joker is going to make, and now he made it. He’s saying, “I know everything about you. I’ve been in your house. I’ve been under your bed. I’ve been in your closet. There’s nothing that I can’t kill in your life or hurt to break you.” And it’s sort of your worst nightmare.

If that’s true, and what he says is true that Bruce essentially is at fault for that somehow, that’s going to drive the conflict. The question of whether or not what he’s saying is true all around is part of the driving conflict, or is the driving conflict of the story, when it comes to the family and Bruce.

So Joker is playing a game with them, where he’s saying, “I know it, and wait until you see how much I know.” He’s saying, “Wait until you see. I’m going to prove it to you. But I’m not just going to come out and say your names, because that would be too easy. I’m going to show you little by little that I have irrefutable evidence that I know exactly who you are.

And as that evidence mounts, the tension really ratchets up between the family and Bruce. What Joker said in #14 is that it’s Batman’s fault, because he wants this to be the way it is. He wants me to come after you deep down.

Nrama: We also get a really good, close look at Joker’s face in this issue. We also get to experience Greg’s portrayal of The Joker’s interaction with Batman, as he’s moving so unpredictably when he’s talking to him. He also told us in our recent interview that he’s going to be utilizing the flies around Joker’s face in a creative way to help tell the story. We’ve talked before about how important he is to the creation of this book, but can you describe his role in this story in particular?

Snyder: These issues coming up are just amazing. Issue #15 has some of my favorite moments in the whole story. There have been preview images already that show Bruce talking to the whole family.

That conversation, and what transpires between them, is at the heart of the entire story. And to have them all together in costume — Barbara included — isn’t something I’ve had a chance to do yet. I’ve had them working in their own books, and I’ve had them in different ways, like you’ve seen Damian and Dick and Tim with Bruce. And you’ve seen Nightwing with Batman. But to see the family united, at least in location — they’re not united at all in terms of how they feel about each other right now — but having them there together is a tremendous thrill as a writer.

Batman #15 Preview:

Greg’s work on the issue was so important to getting this entire story right, because issue #15 has the big, emotional showdown between the Bat-family characters, as to whether or not they believe what the Joker is saying is true. And the emotion that Greg is able to bring to issue #15, I think will blow people away. It’s a testament to Greg’s ability, the expressiveness of the intimate scenes, where there isn’t bombastic action, or gruesome horror happening — there’s just emotional tension. I was looking at the pages, and even without the dialogue, you can feel exactly what the characters are feeling, panel to panel.

And then issue #16 and #17 just go completely berserk, in terms of what The Joker has planned. So you can only imagine how amazing those are going to be. The pages coming in so far from #16, where some of the more twisted things happen, are just completely out of control. So something like including the flies was completely his idea, and the idea of The Joker’s face kind of rotting and rotting as this story goes on.

So he contributes not only these amazing ideas on the page, visually, but he also contributes great story ideas. He couldn’t be a better partner, honestly. It really is a special relationship.

I’m very close to all the artists I’ve worked with — you know, Rafael and I are extremely good friends, and Jock and I are really good friends, and Yanick and I are friends as well, and you know, Sean Murphy and other artists. I’ve always tried to cultivate relationships with them outside of work too.

But Greg has really become somebody I talk to on a daily basis. We visit each other with our wives and go out to dinner and try to go to cons together. So I can’t say enough good things about him both as a person and an artist. And I can only say that this stuff coming up in #15 and #16 and #17 shows such a range of his incredible skills, that I’m really, really, really excited for people to see.

And two of the guys I just want to mention really quick — the unsung heroes, I think, of the team — are FCO, the colorist, and Jonathan Glapion, the inker. They just work overtime for this one too.

We have a really good team. We’re really super tight, all of us. We’re not really interested in doing anything else right now, in terms of looking for projects individually in different places. No one’s splintering off from this team. We’re really committed to Batman and Gotham for another year.

Nrama: You’ve obviously talked about what’s coming up in the next three issues of the story arc. And I know that last time we talked, you said there would be an explanation for why The Joker allowed his face to be removed. Is there anything else you want fans to know about that’s coming up?

Snyder: I think the great thing about what’s coming up is that we’re just getting started. Issue #13 was just The Joker saying, “I’m back, and I have a plan.” And issue #14 was him saying, “Here’s the beginning of my plan. Here’s me telling you that I know who all of you are, and I’m going to bring you down one by one. In fact, I’m going to present you to Batman, and Batman is going to be the one that kills you in three days from now.”

So if you think about it, he’s really just set things in motion. You know what I mean? So the stuff coming up in #15 is the aftermath emotionally and what happens between the Bat-family.

And issue #15 has a really big secret, also, that’s going to come out

Issue #16 and #17 are just completely bat-sh!t crazy, in terms of what he has planned for them, in terms of the psychological, emotional and physical horror of the story.

And I would just say that The Joker has already said that he’s planning something of a celebration at some point. So I can promise you that it’s going to be the craziest, most twisted thing we could possibly do in this book.

So I’m really excited. I just finished it, actually. I just finished #17. It has my favorite ending that I’ve ever done. So I’m really, really excited about it.

And I promise you that the best stuff is still coming in this story.

Nrama: Then to finish up, is there anything else you want to tell fans about Batman?

Snyder: I definitely want to tell the fans thank you. I just found out that the sales on Batman #13 rival Batman #1, and we couldn’t be more thankful that fans have been so supportive. I think both of us — the creative team and the fans — have really created something special with this book.

 

(Original interview posted by Vaneta Rogers at NEWSARAMA)