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13 reviews for:
Batman: Going Sane
Eddie Campbell, Bart Sears, Daren White, Steve Mitchell, Joe Staton, J.M. DeMatteis
3.25 AVERAGE
13 reviews for:
Batman: Going Sane
Eddie Campbell, Bart Sears, Daren White, Steve Mitchell, Joe Staton, J.M. DeMatteis
3.25 AVERAGE
DeMatteis was working on this idea as far back as when DC was about to publish the Killing Joke, and man does it show. The comic was great, and is currently my fourth favorite appearance of the Joker in a DC comic (with The Killing Joke, Emperor Joker and The Dark Knight Returns being the top three). I loved how Joseph Kerr was depicted, since he felt like a separate entity from the Joker and can be read as one of his victims.
There is a second story included with Going Sane. I found Gotham Emergency, written by Eddie Campbell, to be a solid story. While I would give Going Sane 5 stars, Gotham Emergency would probably get 3.5 stars.
There is a second story included with Going Sane. I found Gotham Emergency, written by Eddie Campbell, to be a solid story. While I would give Going Sane 5 stars, Gotham Emergency would probably get 3.5 stars.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This wasn't what I was expecting, but I found it really intriguing. It felt a little like an Elseworld story, but that worked well. It's always interesting to tug at the Batman/Joker connection and this brought out some new elements. I actually found myself rooting for the Joker's sane counterpart.
I had the chance to interview author J.M. DeMatteis for the All the Books Show on his long career in the industry: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/off-the-books-interview-with-jm-dematteis
I had the chance to interview author J.M. DeMatteis for the All the Books Show on his long career in the industry: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/off-the-books-interview-with-jm-dematteis
Wow. Just wow. I think there are very few that question the ranking of the Batman/Joker relationship as one of the best in comic history. Given my limited knowledge of comics as a whole, I'd argue that only Professor X and Magneto even come close, and for entirely different reasons. This arc could not exemplify more all of the reasons why the Batman/Joker relationship is the best in comics.
I will avoid saying too much more due to spoilers, as I think everyone even remotely interested in Batman should read this arc. But I do want to just highlight how perfectly painted their complete reliance on each other is.
I will avoid saying too much more due to spoilers, as I think everyone even remotely interested in Batman should read this arc. But I do want to just highlight how perfectly painted their complete reliance on each other is.
Going Sane is a fun and clever look at what happens when the Joker wins...or at least he thinks so. DeMatteis does a great job of showcasing the Joker's mania. Staton's art was basic but worked for the book. This should be remembered more fondly.
Two interesting Joker stories here, the first has the Joker believing that he killed Batman, so believing that he's accomplished his greatest goal, he basically becomes a normal guy, meets a girl, gets a job, plans to get married. Of course, Batman's not dead, just recovering in the home of a lovely young female doctor upstate, and she convinces him that he's not going insane and is doing the right thing, so Batman returns, Joker's personality re-emerges, and they fight again. It's a neat idea, but comes off a little stiffly.
Campbell's story (there's a co-writer, but I can't recall the name and I'm too lazy to look now) is a little tighter. Joker's planted three bombs. As the hospital emergency room - big props to the writing team to making the ER dialogue read very authentic to my untrained eye - copes with victims of the first bomb, Batman disables the second but winds up dosing Joker with his own toxins. So Batman brings Joker to the hospital for anti-toxin in order to find out where the third bomb is. Nice bit of detective work by Bats (although it's fairly predictable where the third bomb is), and some sharp banter in the hospital. The POV character of a young female doctor, just out of grad school, works very well. Sears' art isn't completely terrible either, a stunning surprise.
Campbell's story (there's a co-writer, but I can't recall the name and I'm too lazy to look now) is a little tighter. Joker's planted three bombs. As the hospital emergency room - big props to the writing team to making the ER dialogue read very authentic to my untrained eye - copes with victims of the first bomb, Batman disables the second but winds up dosing Joker with his own toxins. So Batman brings Joker to the hospital for anti-toxin in order to find out where the third bomb is. Nice bit of detective work by Bats (although it's fairly predictable where the third bomb is), and some sharp banter in the hospital. The POV character of a young female doctor, just out of grad school, works very well. Sears' art isn't completely terrible either, a stunning surprise.
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Joker killed Batman and threw his body into a river, however he had not died although it took some time for him to recover. Meanwhile, the Joker believes that with the objective accomplished, it is time to do something different. He leaves the criminal world and starts a new life, falls in love and even gets engaged to Rebeca.
As expected, Batman returns and so does the Joker and they have a rather mediocre final encounter in my opinion.
I expected a return of the most aggressive joker or in any case violent against what he loves. That particular sensation that he could suddenly explode had me intrigued until the end but it didn't happen and at the same time it was a relief and a disappointment.
In short, it is a small story and without any expectation other than to entertain.
As expected, Batman returns and so does the Joker and they have a rather mediocre final encounter in my opinion.
I expected a return of the most aggressive joker or in any case violent against what he loves. That particular sensation that he could suddenly explode had me intrigued until the end but it didn't happen and at the same time it was a relief and a disappointment.
In short, it is a small story and without any expectation other than to entertain.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated