Things are heating up in Detective Comics. Oglivy aka Emperor Penguin is setting off incidents, made to look like they were caused by the Joker since the man who laughs has returned causing chaos within the Bat-family as of late. However, there is something more sinister coming about.
Bruce is investigating the deadly Joker-inspired League of Smiles. He is investigating a number of deaths that have been caused by this so-called group. However within the group, led by a supposed sick doctor with a clown nose, one of them is not comfortable. Rodney the Torch, the newest join-up, does not want to harm the victims at a local youth center, and admits to letting them go upon confrontation by Batman. It is really a true story of what’s happening with today’s youth falling into crime and gangs because of the need to fit it, and is really delicately written. Meanwhile, the MerryMaker awaits in the shadows…..
Writer John Layman does excellent work here. This is the best issue in his run on the series thus far, and he does a good job of making this issue fit in within the “Death of the Family” event but not making it a full-out Joker story. I love the League of Smiles especially since it makes me think of a Jokerized version of the League of Shadows (or Assassins) from the Nolan Batman films. Alongside that, I love the smaller story with Rodney the Torch, and I am left wondering who the MerryMaker is. It reminds me a lot of Morrison’s Oberon Sexton character from his first volume on Batman and Robin. The revelation is something I am definitely looking forward to.
What can I say about Jason Fabok? He has been deserving of an ongoing series since he began drawing variant covers for DC. His art has so much dynamism and uniqueness to it that it makes you appreciate the time you spend reading the comic. Alongside his designs, the way he moves to panels along are brilliant, and really bring you into the story. My favorite part is Batman on a jetpack…. that is so awesome and quite reminiscent of The Dark Knight Returns and David Finch’s work on Batman: The Dark Knight. Alongside that, his skull work is quite great and reminiscent of Ivan Reis’ work on Blackest Night.
One sure thing to say about this dynamic duo is that there is more greatness to come.
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