The Joker: Death of the Family (The New 52) (utgåvan 2013)

As is to be expected from a collection of tie-in comics to a major superhero crossover event, this book is a bit of a mixed bag, but the by far biggest ingredient is lots of Joker-y awesome. Some minor annoying references to ongoing unrelated plotlines in the various books should have been edited out (though they do this to some extent, they do not do it enough), but I expect that in this kind of a crossover. Much more annoying is that the book nowhere makes it clear that this is a companion piece to the main event book: "Batman: Death of the Family", one of the best Batman/Joker stories ever made, and the necessary spine around which these side-stories are built. If you have not read that book, you absolutely should do so before this volume (though they do both include the conclusion to the story, so you won't be lacking closure if you don't, only a lot of the set up).

More thought should also have been put into the ordering of the stories. Since most of them occur at the same time, the order might at first glance seem unimportant, but it would have been a lot cleaner for the reader if, say, the "Batgirl" section (in which she, spoiler alert, ends up kidnapped by the end) was placed after the Red Hood / Red Robin section, since her appearance there takes place before her own. Such little editorial decisions might have improved the book's holistic experience a lot.

I'd also have liked some more denouments to have been included -- the following issue of "Red Hood and the Outlaws", for instance, is very much still about this arc and carries big emotional punch -- but I get that the line has to be drawn somewhere, and the little epilogue that is included, about Bruce, Alfred and Damian going to sleep at night, is touching in its own right.

But all in all, this is a good read, and a great companion piece to the (obviously superior and much more streamlined) main book. It should just have been marked much more clearly (or at all, really) as the kind of tie-in it is. Though ideally, of course, they should have just put both collections in the same big hardcover, and done away with the duplication of the conclusion. ( )

The Joker terrifies me. He always has. In this particular story arc he terrifies me even more because his plan makes sense in its own twisted way. I understand the rivalry he has with the Bat family, and I understand why he thinks they're changing Batman (holding him back, to the Joker's mind).

In particular, the book and the covered tray were extremely frightening to me. The idea that the Joker has a plan is almost too much to bear. And wondering what was on those trays had me nervous right up until it was revealed elsewhere.

Also, I came out of this book drawing hearts all over Damian. Must read Batman and Robin, must read it now.

(Read as individual comics) ( )

A brilliant conclusion to the Joker-Batman confrontation, that involves most if not all, of the Bat family. Great art & a truly psychotic & chilling turn from The Joker makes this collection very memorable. Very intriguing & can stand alone, but really a must for any Batman fan. ( )

I read the Death of the Family in the main Batman title. This is a great collection of everything else. Solid read overall and priced well. ( )

Similar to 'Night of the Owls', a great crossover through the Bat Family of books. ( )