Created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, Joker debuted in 1940's Batman #1. In the 80 years since then, the Clown Prince of Crime has become, perhaps, Batman's most well-known and beloved villain, having appeared in various movies, TV shows and video games alongside, and in opposition to, the Dark Knight. To celebrate his 80th anniversary, DC is releasing The Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1.
In advance of the book's release, DC has provided an unlettered previews of stories by James Tynion IV, Mikel Janin, Jordie Bellaire, Tom Taylor, Eduardo Risso, Gary Whitta, Greg Miller and Dan Mora. You can see the unlettered previews for the three stories below following their respective plot synopses.
“WHAT COMES AT THE END OF A JOKE?”
Spinning out of the pages of his best-selling run on Batman, series writer James Tynion IV tells the origin story of the sensational new character Punchline! With stellar art from the acclaimed art team of Mikel Janín and Jordie Bellaire.
“KILL THE BATMAN”
In a story set in a not-so-distant future the Joker has finally made his dream come true of killing the Batman and we see the all the DC universe in mourning. But this act doesn’t provide the catharsis the Joker thought it would…he needs an encore…something at Batman’s public memorial perhaps? Written by acclaimed screenwriter Gary Whitta, popular writer/podcaster Greg Miller and rising star comic artist Dan Mora.
“BIRTHDAY BUGS”
The Joker turns birthday clown in this tale by Tom Taylor and Eduardo Risso. When The Joker goes to the home of an accomplice that did him wrong, he finds the man’s young son sitting alone picking apart bugs on his stoop. The boy assumes that the Joker is the clown for his birthday party and tells him that no one is coming. The Joker finds this unacceptable and goes around the neighborhood, “convincing” families to attend the birthday party and make it the best day he’s ever had. As for the boy’s father, he’s in for the worst moment of his life!
In addition to those stories, The Joker will feature work from Scott Snyder, JOCK, Denny O'Neil, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Paul Dini, Brian Azzarello, Lee Bermejo and Tony S. Daniel, among others. There will be a cover gallery looking at Joker's history as well as eight variant covers available for the book itself
The Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 goes on sale June 9 for $9.99.