Comments on: Batman & Robin & The Facets of the Joker

By: Figserello

Figserello — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:39:50 +0000

@RetroWarbird: Good catch! I was wondering about the Australian guy myself.

And in the song Waltzing Matilda, he’s called the “Jolly” Swagman, which is a Joker-ish adjective.

By: RetroWarbird

RetroWarbird — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:38:42 +0000

One last one.

“The Swagman”, enemy of Dark Ranger? Represents Joker as “the outlaw”. But better still, he wears the traditional gear of Ned Kelly. And who played Ned Kelly in the 2005/6/7 film of the same name?

Heath mother-frigging Ledger.

By: RetroWarbird

RetroWarbird — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:36:59 +0000

I agree with this – I kind of caught from the beginning that Morrison might think gearing Jason Todd toward being Dick Grayson’s ultimate rival would be the strongest possible direction he could move Jason in. And I feel that him having his own costume inspired by the “two men who made him – both Batman AND Joker (Red Hood)” was another part of that.

But I’ll do you one better. While Morrison is using these characters in B&R as “aspects” of the Joker … he’s been doing it all along. The Club of Villains? They are literally all inspired by Joker in the same way that the Club of Heroes are all inspired by Batman. “Le Bossu” even admits it.

Le Bossu represents Joker’s deformity and showmanship.
Pierrot Lunaire represents the creepy clown factor.
Scorpiana represents his use of chemicals and poison.
El Sombrero represents the “master of death-trap/fun house” things.
Charlie Caligula represents the depravity.
King Kraken … well, crap, I don’t know what King Kraken represents.

Morrison has been seeding the idea that like how there are those inspired by Batman, all along, parallel to that there are those inspired by Joker.

Now? The most recent? I think the Pearly King of Crime showed some clear similarities to The Joker … and I think one of the throwaway names in the Tower of London dungeons – the Welsh “Dai Laffyn” was yet another Joker devotee.

By: Funnybook Babylon · Archives · Batman and Robin #6 and #7

Funnybook Babylon · Archives · Batman and Robin #6 and #7 — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:14:11 +0000

[...] because the issue seemed rather sparse to me and partly because Gavok over at 4thletter! just completely demolished the landscape of any of my commentary, so what’s below regarding that issue is heavily [...]

By: david brothers

david brothers — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:32:11 +0000

@Gokitalo: Yeah, in hindsight, Dixon probably wasn’t the best choice. I’m thinking more of the Batman: Fugitive stuff, where Batman pushed away his friends, etc etc. I think Dixon had been removed from the books by then?

And yeah, Grant Morrison actually used Babs very well. I like that he took her from being a Gotham information broker to being a worldwide asset. Brilliant move.