Batman Newspaper Strip - Story 3
March 20 - June 3, 1944
(The Joker)
Was not expecting to see Joker as the first Rogue's Gallery villain here in the strips, but I'm actually pleased to see him despite what I've said regarding his all too often appearances in the comics. I have to wonder how he will play out in the strip considering they've defanged him quite a bit in the comics.
Moving forward, rather than detailing the story here, I'll just comment on aspects of it as I post the story here as well. My suggestion is to read the story and then check out my commentary.
With the first week, we see a more violent Joker, but that's because he has apparently lost his marbles. (So he was considered sane before?) I find it funny though that the answer to Joker's outbursts is to transfer him from the prison that no one can escape from to a mental institute. And of course, as Joker is being transferred, he has several items, all unrelated, that we'll learn in the second week is going to help him escape.
The second week sees the escape, which is actually well thought out with the transporting guards thinking the Joker committed suicide, and the waiting for the Joker to strike. I also like this. The Joker will not just commit a crime for the sake of it. It has to be worthy of his genius. I also like his hideout tucked away behind a giant safe.
The third week sees the pattern of Joker's crimes come together as he is motivated by a lecture on the importance of symbols that includes the Bat insignia. The problem is, since he made a scene at the lecture, Batman is on to what he's doing when he uses the first of the symbols from the lecture as part of his crimes. So it's easy for the two to determine that the hour glass has something to do with the next crime.
The fourth week has the fairly simple setup of the two heading to a clock company with a clock tower. I do like how Joker goes in disguise and knocks everyone out with his cigar smoke laced with a drug. I also like the reference to the radio show "The Quiz Kids" by Robin. And we're set up with a cliffhanger as Batman dangers from the six on the clock on the tower with Joker taunting.
The bulk of the fifth week is spent with the Joker moving slowly down the clock to get at Batman with his gas gun. He is stopped by Robin, but he has an ace up his sleeve, dynamite tied to the clapper. Batman goes to investigate and finds it true. But then he hears Robin scream. What to do?
For the sixth week, Batman chooses the bell and throws himself between the clapper and the bell to stop the impact. When he finds Robin, he's fine save for some bleary eyes from a flash of smoke from the Joker. And here is where I'm thinking the Joker is becoming more and more tame. The Joker at the start of our Batman saga would have at least taken Robin if not tried to kill him. The two go back to the list of symbols and determine that the next crime will involve piracy - oh boy, piracy. My favorite genre in Batman comics.
Not much happens the seventh week as a tip from a stoolie leads to an abandoned apartment. But there is the clue from the landlady. What I find more interesting is how Batman works more with the police here than in the comic books and I like it. Gordon is more of a character here.
The eighth week proves interesting in that Batman works out the Joker's next target by consulting a book of American slang and we learn it's a movie set where the lead actress is wearing $50,000 in jewels. What I found most interesting is that there are literally three days of panels where we do not see Batman or Robin as the heist goes down.
The ninth week sees the two stopping the crime in a spectacular and yet clumsy fashion as they use a box kite plane to fly over the fence of the studio. Problem is, Robin is hanging on to the landing gear as it's only a one seater and the added weight causes the plane to crash. Still, it gets the job done. Unfortunately, Joker is no where to be seen as they round up his men.
The tenth week has the Batman symbol itself to contend with. And Batman is certain Joker will strike at a presentation of police badges from around the country. Joker is there, as a photographer and when confronted, he pulls out a gun and fires at Batman.
The final week brings the capture of the Joker. What's interesting though is that the Candian newspaper I was getting the strips from - The Kingston Whig - begins a new story midweek. I had to go look for a new source to conclude this story. And when I went to see if the Whig makes up the missing strips the following week, they don't. They simply continue on. It's a shame as like with the movie serials, not all the papers ran the story simultaneously either, so we're dealing with older stories in other papers.
And where are we going next, Citizens? We're back to Detective Comics.
