Overview: In The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #3, Red Hood is on the hunt for the Joker, whom continues to elude him, while the Joker works to revitalize his villainous ties.
Editor’s Note: Due to the anthology nature of this collection, we will feature a synopsis and analysis for each story rather than breaking up the synopsis and analysis. Spoilers are sure to be revealed.
Story #1: “It’s Not Funny Anymore” by writer Matthew Rosenberg and artist Carmine Di Giandomenico
Synopsis: The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #3 begins at Gotham Harbor. The glass shatters as Red Hood grips the pseudo-Joker by the throat, lifting him and throwing him into Harley’s dining room table and chairs. There isn’t any heed given to Harley’s annoyed remarks to not destroy her boat; Jason is too incensed by the fact that he caught Harley, who he believed wanted the Joker dead as much as he did, sharing drinks with the psycho.
She responds that there’s a lot Red Hood doesn’t quite understand, but regardless, she will not be getting blamed for his killing spree.
Red Hood isn’t in a talking mood at the moment; shoving his gun into the Joker’s mouth, he only stops his advance when the clown starts laughing uncontrollably. Demanding to know what’s so funny, Joker asks if he’ll really pull the trigger with his ‘dear daddy’ watching from up there.
Whirling around, Jason stares at empty space, and the Joker, using the oldest trick in the book, disappears off the side of the boat and into the icy waters below.
At the Hall of Doom, Lex Luthor and an assortment of villains stare at the Joker and his posse as Luthor explains to Joker that the Legion of Doom no longer has a need for his services. Despite his mundane attempts to cultivate impressive escapades, the Joker didn’t outgrow Gotham’s brand of small-minded pranksterism; he merely exported it.
Along the banks of the freezing Gotham River, two homeless people crouch, trying to catch fish. Instead, they end up catching the recently poisoned, injured Joker, several days old from his encounter with Red Hood.
Despite the fact that he was dead, he’s now alive.
At Gotham General Hospital, the frantic head doctor in charge, D’Amico, is surprised to receive some assistance from a stranger; it’s been a busy night as the Red Hood went around busting the heads of every gang in town.
Led by the stranger, the two cart the dead woman into a storage room, and the doctor is shocked to realize that man in front of him is the Joker, who then asks for his help; the Joker thinks he might have died and he simply wants D’Amico to tell him what is wrong with him.
After all, the Joker swore to himself that he’d only disarm the bomb he planted under the hospital after he was cured, and so far, they haven’t done anything.
Desperate to save the hospital, the doctor agrees, and after shedding his outer layers to just his boxers, the Joker reveals a body with a tapestry of bullet holes in his chest, along with the one in his temple.
Thirty minutes later, Dr. D’Amico comments on how incredibly lucky the Joker is that there wasn’t more major damage. Ultimately, however, he’s most worried about the hole in the Joker’s head; it’s very likely that the bullet is still in there. Agreeing, the Joker states that there is no time like the present and forces the doctor to perform brain surgery.
Thirty minutes later and across town, police headlights split the air as two officers order a man in a red hood to put his hands in the air and come quietly. Not a few minutes later, both men are on the floor, unconscious, as the Red Hood disappears into the night.
At the hospital, word of the bomb has managed to escape, and the entire building becomes surrounded by officers and concerned emergency service personnel.
Exiting from the storage closet and leaving a trail of bloody footsteps, Dr. D’amico tells his worried staff that everything’s fine; there is no bomb. Leaving the hospital’s main doors and stepping into the snowy night, Dr. D’amico says he just needed to use the bathroom and looks with appeasement at the teams of EMS parked outdoors.
Analysis: And we’re back to our regularly scheduled program, folks, as the Red Hood once again pursues vengeance against the Joker and attempts to kill him. Or, at least one of them, as it’s been made clear that there are multiple Jokers, one that’s managed to escape death more times than is usually possible.
Throughout The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #3, Jason Todd continues his quest to hunt down the Joker and finally kill him with his own two hands. I find it a little surreal, and honestly, somewhat funny (in a bad way) that the Red Hood, who in countless other stories demonstrates himself to be as conniving as the rest of them, fell prey to such a simple ploy by the Joker and fully turned his back and line of sight from such a renowned villain. It simply feels inconsistent with the character.
In this issue, the Joker with a hole in his head determines that perhaps living with a bullet in his cranium isn’t the most efficient way to be doing things, and so orders a poor doctor to help him, or the entire hospital pays. That final surgery scene felt like it would have fit perfectly in a medical horror film, and I’m a bit confused as to what the entire point of this character is. Clearly, he’s extremely mentally deranged, but at this time in the story, I dislike the fact that I’m still in the dark regarding the true plot of this series and that I don’t really care about any of the characters, except maybe Jason Todd.
The other Joker clearly needs to update his resume and cover letter because no organization has any need for his skills, which for me, has been the most entertaining part of the entire story. It’s nice to see progression, at least, and this issue is doing a good job of showing that the times, and people, are moving on, and the old-school ways of doing things are now outdated.
Story #2: “But Doctor, I Am the Joker” by writer Matthew Rosenberg and artist Francesco Francavilla
Synopsis: The backup in The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #3 sees the Joker minding his business when another in the endless stream of so-called superheroes shows up to ruin the day. Big Barda is ready to straight out end the Joker, who, despite being gripped by the throat, is very in love with her, although he isn’t sure if she would be open to dating shorter men.
Shoving him backward, the Joker falls right on tracks that are a road to an oncoming train, which doesn’t stop. Big Barda departs, and the Joker makes a bloody crawl with the remaining upper half of his body back to the side of the train, sad that she left.
A short time later, at Gotham General hospital, the Joker’s goons–Jackanapes and Gaggy–bring him in, only to be held at gunpoint by the hospital security officer. There is a strict no talking gorilla policy at the hospital.
Very quickly, a fight breaks out, and suddenly the entire emergency is engulfed in a fire as the patients and caregivers evacuate. Half an hour later, the Joker sits up on a gurney surrounded by a recently demolished hospital; the Joker’s henchman reports that they couldn’t get in contact with Drs. Elliot, Thorne, Fries, Strange, Crane, Quinzel, Isley, Arkham, Langstrom, Desmond, but got the next best thing.
Dr. Pyg regards the Joker, and several fascinating hours later, the Joker stands up, his torso recently attached to parts of his henchmen.
Analysis: This entire story is just so…weird. I’m really not sure what to think of it but did enjoy some of the outlandish moments. The fact that the security office attempts to arrest the Joker and his goons because of the fact that one is a gorilla that talks, rather than the fact that they’re carrying in a half-disembowered man, is ridiculous and so entertaining.
It is also a bit notable how many doctors there are within the world of DC Comics that are incredibly evil. Additionally, why were parts of Joker’s henchmen used, and why was that his choice? So many questions…
Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with a copy of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Comixology through Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.
The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #3
Overall Score
2.5/5
This series (which, to be fair, is centered around probably my least favorite character in the entire DC Universe) is simultaneously intriguing and also confusingly off-putting. It does a great job with its horror-ish look and feels and is supported by a somewhat crazy narrator. At some point, I’m sure all the characters are going to rendezvous, and I’m both interested and a bit apprehensive about how that reunion will go. I do like the artist's approach, however, with the cool tones that really contrast with the stark red blood and the layout of the panels.
