“Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo” – Book Four
Color Artist: Arif Prianto
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Review by Adam Ray
Batman & the Joker: Deadly Duo #4 is the best issue yet!
The very minor gripes that flared up when reading the previous issue have all washed away! I was concerned that it was taking a little too long for Batman and the Joker to become the most unlikely pair of buddy cops. Now we get the continued use of their mismatched brands of justice to save a packed train full of hostages.
Silvestri’s harsh lines gives us the visual look of a Gotham that’s beaten up by time and crime. An element of his design that I love is the timelessness of his Gotham city. The modern skylines of an American city are offset by the art deco, “city of tomorrow” style on the white and gold trains. Batman as a character has existed for decades, so keeping the surroundings just as timeless adds to the complexity of his age and prestige.
To say that Batman and the Joker’s partnership is dysfunctional is an understatement. This is why they have such obvious intentions. The grim and brooding hero with a strong moral code is forever fighting the brightly coloured pile of murder chaos. Bringing them together is a story I’ve wanted to see told for a very long time, and it’s being told in a way that subverts and surpasses my expectations.
Conclusion
Batman & the Joker: Deadly Duo #4 has shown off just how unlikely a team they can be. Their methods will always contrast, and they’re never going to get along. The threads of story context are finally coming together, and we’re getting a real sense of the secrets to unlock. All of this is set to immersive and stylish artwork that will draw in anyone. Batman and the Joker Deadly Duo is set to become a definitive Batman story.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment