“It’s Not Funny Anymore”- Part Eleven
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Color Artist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Review by Kendra Smart
Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #11 brings readers the beginning of the final battle between the Jokers in Gotham. We get a bonus for some secrets finally being revealed as well. Over the last few issues, we’ve watched as the two Jokers got their respective armies together for the endgame. In this chapter, everyone’s making their way toward the final showdown.
The main cover gives us Joker and his team ready and willing to join in on the mayhem, delivering a stunning example of what readers can expect of the interior art as the cover’s also by Carmine Di Giandomenico. Plus, it features characters like Ratcatcher and Crazy Quilt. I love getting to see the level of art to expect before I pick up a book and this piece solidifies that logic for me.
Bribe, Torture, Kill
We land in the middle of a clean sweep as the supposed imposter Joker is collecting and kidnapping those who look like him for one of his brilliant plans. Meanwhile, just a few blocks away, the alleged true Joker and his team are on the hunt for the imposter. They’re not the only ones making moves though, as Ravager and Manhunter are on the prowl awaiting the arrival of Red Hood. Sadly, they’re less secretive than they probably meant to be.
However, not everything is going according to plan. Fighters that had been on board are scattering and things only get more hectic as the imposter starts unleashing his chaos. The players are all taking the field and Gotham may not survive what is to come. Things will most assuredly never be the same again.
Just A Naked Run
The artwork in this issue, like the cover, is both luscious and chaotic. Carmine Di Giandomenico has delivered perfection with this issue. I adore all the different iterations of Joker we get, as the facial expressions are ridiculously good. Matthew Rosenberg has led readers to a point where the sharks are in the water… no chum required, we just have time to sit back and observe the feeding frenzy. Although, Clayface dipping on Joker was hilariously written.
This is genuinely the pull for this terrific issue, there are so many instances of humor, and they’re all well-placed. That and the fact that the laughs translate so organically is great. They aren’t forced jokes, they move fluidly within the story. Kudos to one of Matthew’s many talents as a storyteller.
Conclusion
We’re so close as the story for Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #11 pushes us right to the climactic battle to follow. Mr. Waffles even leaves readers with the conclusion we were waiting for to be revealed, although what will happen with that information, and what the repercussions will be now that the truth’s been revealed, remains to be seen.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment