One cannot be heroic without victims in need of rescue. After having swept Gotham fairly clean of petty criminals, Batman is confronted with a new breed of villain, one more interested in violence and destruction than power, glory or riches. But would the Joker even exist if not for the existence of Batman? ( )

This is my favorite Batman story but it's not for everyone. There has always been a certain insanity to the Dark Night. Normal people don't dress up in costumes and become vigilantes. To enjoy this story, you must be willing to accept that. This graphic novel is often cited as yet another origin story for the Joker. While that's true, in some ways this is also an origin story of Batman and not a pleasant one. Yes we all know about the death of Bruce's parents. But this story depict his early crime fighting after the decision to become Batman. Some readers may be shocked at some of his early techniques and claim it's out of character. But I think it's very believable when you remember how strange the entire Batman persona is. ( )

A very nicely done, imaginative retelling of the Joker's beginnings. Batman, too, is going through growing pains of a sort here, for the first time (in this retelling, anyway) allowing love to enter his life. Of course, this presents a vulnerable side that the Joker is quick to happen upon, and it leads to my only regret from this book: the callous appearance that Bruce Wayne allows his love to perceive and believe. This is almost made up for by the different take on the Joker the story exhibits; he is more formidable, still insane, but in an almost logical way. Alfred, too, is more formidable here, quickly becoming a self-trained computer expert when called upon to develop a uniquely powerful and intuitive analytical computer. Artwork here is pretty good, too. ( )