Let me be clear, dismissing the Joker’s origin story has always been a bad idea. The Joker embodies chaos, and giving him a structured backstory goes against what makes him unique. That being said, I’m surprised to say that Chip Zdarsky’s second issue of the Year One story is quite good. While there are a few aspects that don’t sit well with me, overall, Batman #143 is an enjoyable read.
In the previous issue, the Clown Prince of Crime struggled to come to terms with his new appearance and the supposed death of the Red Hood Gang’s leader. As the Joker tries to reconnect with his past, he encounters Daniel Captio, a former mentor of Batman. Meanwhile, Batman investigates rumors that the Red Hood Gang is still active. In the future, an elderly Joker escapes Arkham and unleashes a Jokerization plague on Gotham triggered by sound.
Now, Daniel Captio trains the Joker, experimenting to eliminate all fear and doubt and create something opposite to Batman. Captio teaches the Joker how to create different personalities within his mind for specific purposes. On the other hand, Old Man Batman finds the Joker and together they head to GCPD where they discover a sane Catwoman guarding the Jokerized Batfamily in a jail cell, just before the Joker sets his endgame in motion.
Yes, it may have been a lot to take in. Daniel Captio is credited as the “creator” of Zur-En-Arrh and responsible for the Three Jokers, which are different aspects of the Joker’s mind rather than separate individuals. In essence, Zdarsky is retconning various aspects of Batman and Joker’s history to present this Year One story. Personally, I have some issues with this, but opinions may differ.
What’s great about Batman #143? Chip Zdarsky skillfully weaves three separate storylines – the Joker’s training, Batman’s pursuit of the Red Hood Gang, and the future’s ultimate confrontation. The issue feels busy at times, but it is not convoluted or confusing, a major improvement from the previous issue. Each plotline is intriguing, leaving readers eager to find out what happens next, which is all you can ask for in a story.
What’s not so great about Batman #143? While Zdarsky manages to keep the three storylines distinct, the issue does feel busy, and one might question the necessity of the future storyline. The “final” battle between Batman and the Joker is interesting, but it feels unnecessary and currently only takes up page space that could have been used to iron out the rough start.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.