“It’s Not Funny Anymore” – Part Three
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Color Artist: Arif Prianto
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Review by Kendra Hale
Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #3 is out, and it delivers no mercy. When last we left the series, there were already massive twists and turns facing, not one, but both Jokers. As we arrive at this issue the thrills keep coming as the action gets gritty and violent, and new faces join the fray.
New problems keep popping up and the excitement of the mystery consistently pulls us in, hungry for a bigger bite.
No, I Wanted To Kill Him
As we open, we find ourselves right back on Harley Quinn’s yacht, Correction Ferry, and Jason Todd’s joined her and the Joker. The Sad Robin has no words for Clown Prince of Crime but he does have two fists and no trouble unleashing some anger. Certain facts are coming into the light, ones that make Joker wonder about life and death. Meanwhile, the other Joker, the one who feels faux, finds himself in the Hall of Doom facing the Legion, and it’s immensely obvious that they’re not happy to see him. All this action happens in the first two acts of the book!
Let’s Prep Me
There are so many positives to this issue. The inner monologues are really becoming my favorite things, but there’s one part in the book that genuinely takes the cake for me. It’s not only a tour de force of writing but of artwork as well. Matthew Rosenberg, Carmine Di Giandomenico, and Arif Prianto show us how smart and ruthless the Joker can be, with an interaction where a doctor’s patching him up at the hospital. It’s a moment that’s extreme and delightful all in one. A perfect showcase of humor, horror, and gore all for the reader’s enjoyment.
The selection of covers for the issue all have something for everyone… sometimes more than one something. With talents like Carmine Di Giandomenico, Lee Bermejo, Felipe Massafera, and Ludo Lullabi, it’s impossible to make a wrong choice. Also, like in the last issue, we get an extra tale tailored to either chill your blood or make you laugh, all depending on your point of view.
Conclusion
If there’s one thing I can say about Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #3, it’s that the story grabs you by the throat and holds firm. The endgame remains to be seen but the true mystery’s that of who these Jokers are and which, if any, is the real deal.
With amazing, jaw-dropping artwork and a gripping story, there’s nothing here not to love and sink your teeth into with this series.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment