Product Description

Gotham City is plagued with crime and corruption in places high and low, but one man has taken a stand against evil of all forms: the dark avenger known as Batman. In two tales from early in the Dark Knight's career, first witness the terrifying genesis of the Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime and Batman's nemesis! When a new costumed criminal starts killing millionaires, Batman must stop him before Bruce Wayne becomes a target! Plus, Batman's first team-up with the Green Lantern, in a race to catch a serial killer from both their pasts! Award-winning author Ed Brubaker ("Gotham Central") is joined by artists Doug Mahnke ("Stormwatch PHD") and Patrick Zircher ("Iron Man") for this pair of noir-tinged thrillers!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #44564 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

About the Author
Ed Brubaker is an award-winning writer whose work includes Batman, Captain America, Criminal, Daredevil, The Dead Boy Detectives, Deadenders, Gotham Central, The Immortal Iron Fist, Lowlife, Scene of the Crime, Sleeper and Uncanny X-Men. Doug Mahnke has pencilled Aliens, Batman, Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein and Superman: The Man of Steel. He is now the artist on Stormwatch: Post-Human Division. Patrick Zircher's work includes Iron Man, New Warriors and Thunderbolts.

Customer Reviews

The Joker's year one treat
Now and then a graphic novel comes along that you know will be considered a classic, and this is one of those. This is a Joker story with quality written all over it. Set in year one, this is the tale of Batman's first encounter with the Joker, and Joker's first attempt at killing the population of Gotham.

Taking on a 'year one' Joker story is a brave thing to do and Ed Brubaker does an excellant job. This story is only 71 pages long but the narrative is cleverly written, and the artwork by Doug Mahnke is stunning - especially the Joker illustrations. The story flows well and is easy to read - I only purchased it today and I've read it twice already!

I'm so pleased that there's finally a Joker story to compare with 'The Killing Joke', and that's the biggest compliment I can give this book. I'm not saying it's better but it's a top story. It is certainly worth the extra money to buy the hardback edition, which is just as well because the paperback is not out until next year (Why has it taken so long?).

There are two stories in this graphic novel and the second one - Made Of Wood - features Batman and Green Lantern working together, with Jim Gordon prominent in the story. This is also a good read, and makes this wonderful package even sweeter. Highly recommended.

Joker: Year One
I had heard over and over about how the Jokers first crime was to poison Gotham reservoir, but never actually read the story. Finally I find 'The Man Who Laughs', an excellent telling of Gothams first encounter with the Clown Prince of Crime.
This is a dark, psychotic Joker in the vein of Frank Millers own, ready to kill at the drop of a hat. The story is well told, with good character incites, showing the Jokers genius, as well as more of the early days of Gordon and Batman. The artwork fits perfectly with the tone of the story.

I have just 2 minor complaints, firstly (THIS MAY BE A SLIGHT SPOILER TO THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THE STORY) is when Batman gets to see what it's like
inside the Jokers head, as I always felt that part of their relationship was that Batman never truly understood, he could just make his best guesses. The Joker is supposed to be a chaotic character and this just rationalises him a little more, however it could explain the sympathy Batman feels towards him in books like Killing Joke.
(SPOILER OVER)
The second is that the story is too short, it only takes up about half the book, the second half is the story Made of Wood, featuring a team up between Batman and the original Green Lantern. This story is good, showing his detective roots and having a more noir feel, but this isn't why I bought the book, I wanted more Joker action, and after how good the first story is, it just falls a little flat. Maybe it's just because I'm not a big Green Lantern fan.....

Overall though a very good read, definitely worth adding to a collection

Another classic from Mr. Burbaker!
Having been a Batman and comic book fan since my teens I have to say that this is one of the best Batman titles I have ever read and is definitely up there with Alan Moore's "The Killing Joke".

Ed Brubaker in my opinion is one of the best (if not the best) comic book writers of the last few years and "The Man Who Laughs" is simply superb. It is a "year one" set tale and neatly references "The Killing Joke", matching it in tone and Brubaker's intepretation of the Joker as an insane homicidal maniac is consistent with Moore's.

All I can say really is that if you're a Batman fan you have to own this and if you enjoy it make sure you check out Ed Brubaker's work on Daredevil and Captain America!