Review #22: "Slayride" (Detective Comics #826)

[lovedatjoker]

Writer: Paul Dini
Penciller: Don Kramer
Inker: Wayne Faucher
Colourist: John KaliszChristmas with the Joker. It’s bound to be messed up

Comments

[devasic1]

This is my all time favorite joker story (followed by Gotham Central: Unresovled Targets as a close second, which also takes place during the holiday season. Christmas just brings out the best in Mistah J!)

Paul Dini writes the Joker better then anyone in my opinion and here he is in top form, right there with Return of the Joker and Mask of the Phantasm.

I also think this story works best with Robin b/c it makes it more intense since we know Tim is less experienced and not as strong as Bruce is.

All I know is I couldn't stop laughing out loud when I read it and then I would feel guilty about it right after. A perfect joker story as a result. Everyone I know who likes batman at all and especially the joker I give them this story to read and they all love it!

I don't care what anyone says, better then the Killing Joke and WAY BETTER then the new Joker graphic novel by a LONG shot!

[xxkaytayxx]

This was one of my first Joker stories ever, and it is still one of my favorites today. I find that I like almost everything I read of Paul Dini's. I feel that he just knows who these characters are and can write them extraordinarily well, especially the Joker.

I also really enjoyed the art, but you are right about how similar Bruce and the gang looked. I actually had to re-read that scene a few times to figure out who was who, haha.

Well, great review, and now I'm in the mood to reread this wonderful story. I definitely plan to Christmas morning. :)

[lovedatjoker]

I feel like something that has very possibly worked in Dini's favour is his long television history. Writing to that format, you're forced to put a whole lot of story in a very limited time frame, and depending on budget, very effective storytelling with a varied capacity for effects and such. I know Big D has the rep for generally writing too much material that needs to be clipped out ;) but when you listen to him talk about his scripts he reveals some interesting insights.

Particularly these days with how convoluted comic story telling has got, and new writers coming in having often a history of being simply fans or comic writers, I think it really helps his writing to bring that tv writing ethos in.

Not to say he doesn't have natural skillz, because I'm very sure he has oodles, just I think it may have really enhanced his style and capacity to tell a story within a certain page limit.

[potatoplz]

This is my absolute favorite Joker comic; many of my views on my 'definitive Joker' were based on Mistah J from this. :D

I've gotta say the main reason why I love this so much is because it has a perfect balance of comedy and evil on Mistah J's part; something that very few comics have accomplished (or at least out of the one's that I've read). Most of 'em either have so much violence that it drowns out the comedic value of the story or so much comedy that you don't see the whole picture of who the Joker is.

... Not to mention that this comic has sparked a crazy love for the Marx Brothers inside me. Just got their first five movies on DVD for Christmas....

But, er, before I get off track, I just wanted to say thank you for all of the wonderful reviews that you've put up here and for all the time and effort you put into your work. I, for one, truly appreciate it.
Now have a merry Christmas, you insane fangirl you! ^^

[potatoplz]

Good God that last part was cheesy!
But either way, it still applies!! XD

[lovedatjoker]

well, thank you very much for supporting and being along for the ride! XD

and I agree it has that excellent balance. :D