The malevolent machinations of the Clown Prince of Crime are apparently too much for the paltry pages of Batman or even Detective Comics as writer James Tynion IV, artist Guillem March and more will bring the rogues’ gallery’s most famous (and bankable) villain to his own ongoing prestige series The Joker starting in March.
According to a news release from DC, the 40-page ongoing series picks up after an “unthinkable attack” on Gotham City orchestrated by Joker, who becomes an international fugitive. Along with Jim Gordon (who’s chasing Joker on his last manhunt before retirement), the series will also feature Punchline — a character created by Tynion for the recent “Joker War” storyline — and Harper Row/Bluebird in a backup by Tynion, co-writer Sam Johns and artist Mirka Andolfo.
“When I was approached by DC about the concept of an ongoing series spotlighting the Joker, I thought, ‘What would that book even look like?’” Tynion said in the release. “I’m excited to share this story in a way that honors everything that a series about the Joker can be, while coming at if from an exciting, unexpected angle. I’m also thrilled to continue working with Sam and Mirka to expand the Punchline story we began in November as a backup feature in this new ongoing Joker series.
“The ‘Joker War’ was only the beginning of the terror and mayhem we’re creating!”
Tynion began his comics career with backups in the New 52 relaunch of Batman before landing on the Batman Eternal team and eventually putting in a celebrated run on Detective Comics. He then took over the flagship title from writer Tom King starting with last January’s Batman #86.
In addition to The Joker, Tynion and March, an artist with experience on multiple Bat books in addition to Justice League Dark and Gotham City Sirens, will remain on Batman after it returns from its Future State hiatus.
The Joker #1, with variant covers by Frank Quitely, Francesco Mattina, Riccardo Federici and Mark Brooks, is scheduled to be available on March 9, 2021.
Will Nevin loves bourbon and AP style and gets paid to teach one of those things. He is on Twitter far too often.
