Three Jokers #3
DC Comics
Words by Geoff Johns
Art by Jason Fabok
Color by Brad Anderson
Letters by Rob Leigh
Who is the Joker and what makes him who he is? We are still not given a true answer but a lot of the mystery has been unveiled. As an off hand comment that unfolded from the New 52 Justice League, it was a treat to actually see the book being published. Given the reception that Doomsday Clock had, Three Jokers redeemed DC and gave credibility back to Johns.
The story itself was limited in scope and kept focus on the narrative. By doing this, Johns and Fabok was able to keep it tight and flowing without tie-ins and useless sub plots. It was quick to the point and done. By keeping it short and simple, it showed how detailed they were while crafting it.
Johns is at his best when he is able to explore the DC universe and its inhabitants. The freedom, given to him with Three Jokers, enabled him to explore the DC playground and play with characters and history that makes sense when combined together. Being the historical caretaker of characters and events, this issue and series allowed readers to remember that great stories are still at DC and Johns can still write them.
The art has been a consistent treat for each issue. Towards the end we have panels where it is just a profile of the character and the emotions that seep through the pages shows the incredible talent Fabok has. Having Batman give the smallest change in emotions can be felt from the page itself. The balance of details in panels is masterful especially during transitions from action to stationary. It also compliments and molds to the story mentioned in flashbacks.
The story is a great conclusion to the Three Jokers. It doesn’t answer all of our questions but it does allow the readers to feel connected in DC lore. Johns and Fabok were able to establish a Joker story that can fit in any time period, allowing readers to revisit past stories and compare the Jokers. Similar to Doomsday Clock, each generation has their Joker and each one is going to be different.