I’ve been champing at the bit to dive into this grab from Shore Leave since last Philcon where I moderated a panel on DC Comics movies and television shows and had Keith DeCandido and a stellar panel rockstar the whole thing. Easiest panel ever with that professional firepower.

At the panel, I’d spotted Keith’s copy of The Man Who Laughs, released by Crazy 8 Press, which not only houses some of the finest writers on the scene, but a Justice League of comic book writers and journalists. They flood this fantastic book with essays dissecting more than celebrating decades of the Clown Prince of Crime. The de facto supervillain most people peel from their mouths when asked for their favorite. Joker is certainly up there for me, though I am just as quick to answer The Scorpion from Spiderman, at least the bronze to early modern age era.

This book presents point and counterpoint for the definitive Joker in comics, films and cartoons (for me, Starlin writing, Ledger, Hamill and Romero), debates of sexuality and a historical overview of the Madman of Mirth’s exploits.

Also contributing to this crime clown’s compendium are legends such as Michael Jan Friedman, Aaron Rosenberg, Steve Englehart, Jo Duffy, Robert Greenberger, Rich Handley, Glenn Hauman, Bob Rozakis and many others. Keith’s essay on the Joaquin Phoenix Joker and connecting it to the Bernhard Goetz subway shootings in 1984 was my big “A-ha!” takeaway, considering I dwell on the fact it hiked from Taxi Driver. Jo Duffy positing the character has lost his fun and funny factor is spot-on. I am already chuckling at Zach Galifianaks’ outrageous “human farts” quote from the hysterical Lego Batman Movie in support of her point.

I am a comic book lifer and wannabe script writer whose love of Batman began with Super Friends and reruns of the Batman ’66 show, which I pulled out my ultimate Blu Ray box for a few dips into some BIFFS! POWS! and ZOWIES! Cesar Romero, man, ’nuff said.

Banging work here, Crazy 8 crew. Thank you, Keith, for hightailing to the dealer room to snag my copy during the Meet the Pros sesh.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.