By. Samurai Millo
Publishing
House: DC Comics
Rating: Teen
Language:
English
Written by:
Scott Snyder
Artist: Greg
Capullo
Colors: FCO
PLASCENCIA
Cover Price:
$ 3.99
Number of
pages: 40
Synopsis: The Joker is back and
wants two things: to retrieve his face and take away Batman’s family. The first
one is easy, but the second one will require a meticulous and perverse plan
that will put Batman and all that he holds dear to the test.
These days it
takes a lot for a comic book or a comic book event to get my attention and Batman: Death of the Family was the kind
of event that succeeded in doing so, with frightening ease. On October 10, 2012
(my birthday no less) Batman # 13 hit the shelves and that gave me another
reason to continue reading DC Comics. Issue #13 marks the beginning of a
twisted villainous saga told in 24 parts through key titles within the
Bat-universe. It illustrates the most recent and explosive clash to date
between Batman and the Joker.
The Joker is the
most formidable villain the Caped Crusader ever had. He shares with Batman an
epic rivalry that expands from its first appearance in 1940 in Batman # 1 (Vol.
1, 1940) to the present. As the decades passed, the sophistication and
intensity of these stories has varied according to the demands of the times.
From its beginnings as an eccentric master criminal to its present incarnation
as a sadistic / psychopathic lover of chaos, the Joker is Batman’s most formidable
enemy. The Death of the Family storyline
is probably among the most vicious and decisive battles in the history of both
characters.
The script by
Scott Snyder is simple, direct, and crisp as an Export Soda cracker, freshly
taken out of its tin can. The suspense starts to build up and grab you from
page one. Little by little the pieces fall into place showing Mr. Snyder’s
master craftsmanship. The characterization among the main players of this
adventure is rich in depth and with the nuances that we have come to expect.
Lovers of the good, old-fashioned Bat-stuff will find that the classic exchanges
between Batman and Commissioner Gordon and between Batman and Alfred are still
there. Snyder’s characterization of the Joker is a delightfully sordid and carefully
controlled portrait of a madman. This villain has a master plan and that final
page on issue #13 was hair rising. Issues #13 to #16 include a second story
each that recounts the meetings the Joker has with his fellow colleagues Harley
Queen, The Penguin, The Riddler, and Two Face at specific points during the
main story.
Greg Capullo's penciling
is excellent. His figures have a mixture of caricature and detail that made me
remember his days in the Spawn comic book. Nobody draws a rainy night in Gotham
as Greg Capullo. Nobody puts that delicious attention to the smallest details
that Greg puts in each panel. FCO Placencia is to be commended for doing a
superb coloring through the story.
In short, Batman: Death of the Family has my highest recommendation.
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