The Super Powered Fancast

The Joker #4

DC Comics

Written by James Tynion IV & Sam Johns

Art by Guillem March & Mirka Andolfo

Colors by Arif Prianto & Romulo Fajardo, Jr.

Letters by Tom Napolitano & Ariana Maher

The Rundown: James Gordon is confronted by the Joker. Bluebird faces extreme danger, while The Queen of Spades meets with an enemy.

Gordon waxes reminiscent in a thoughtful narration as Vengeance tracks the Joker and his crew. When Vengeance confronts her prey, she is met by the Sampson siblings, who also want to capture the clown prince. Chaos ensues, and the Joker makes a power play. Later, the Joker confronts Gordon regarding a curious subject matter and Vengeance makes a surprising move. Meanwhile, the Bat Family track the movements of Cressida.

In the B Story, Bluebird finds herself trapped after a previous confrontation with a new foe. With time running out, she makes a desperate move. Elsewhere, Punchline is taken to the infirmary after an attack. Later, she is visited by The Queen of Spades and an unexpected event changes their relationship.

The Story: Tynion has created an intriguing, and thought provoking, narrative filled with excitement. The Joker’s mentality is always a source of interest for me. I find his motivations oddly alluring. When he doubles down on his own stance in regards to Gordon’s accusations, I can’t help but believe him. Which then lead to a myriad of other questions regarding the state of affairs in Gotham. And the frame of mind of a supposed hero. This series has me hooked, and I am excited for the next chapter.

Punchline is a fun adventure filled with twists and turns. I like how each chapter presents an unexpected element that moves the tale forward. I’m curious to see how this story line plays out.

The Art: The tone of each story is perfectly matched by their corresponding illustrations. In the Joker, the drawings are extremely detailed with a color palate that presents as eerie even with the groupings change from pastels to darker colors. Meanwhile, the bold colors and tightly drawn images in Punchline capture high octane action.

The Joker #4

9.4

9.4/10